EPL 03.05.1998 - Arsenal vs Everton
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00:00The Premiership on the 3rd of May 1998, knowing a win would secure the Premiership trophy
00:05And so make it 11 league titles in all for the Gunners
00:09Everton had managed just one win in six prior to this one
00:12And were in serious trouble, just three points off the bottom of the table
00:17There was one change to the Gunners line-up that had beaten Derby 1-0 in their last match
00:21Christopher Wray started up front in place of Dennis Bergkamp who was injured
00:25Arsenal have won their last eight matches in all competitions
00:30An extremely defensive looking Everton line-up
00:33No less than six defenders in all
00:35With centre-back Slavan Bilic playing a holding role in midfield
00:38Everton had only beaten Arsenal once in 11 Premiership meetings
00:42Between the clubs, a draw looked to be the summit of their ambitions this time around
00:50A fevered atmosphere in North London, your match commentator is Paul Dempsey
00:56It's Everton in their famous blue from right to left attacking the north bank
01:03Ray Parler gets Arsenal going forward for the first time, trying to pick out Anelka
01:11Everton's boss Howard Kendall
01:15Said, we have a game plan, we are prepared and we are looking for a fight
01:21Ferguson got his foot in but he only reached Anelka
01:24Manuel Petit who has been in blinding form
01:28Tried to pick out Mark Overmars
01:30Good first touch for the Norwegian keeper Moorer
01:35A rare success story for Everton this season, the keeper
01:38It's up to Ferguson, Keown won the header
01:41Dixon won the tackle
01:44Peter Brieger stayed down
01:46So
01:48First chance for Everton to try to get some service in
01:51To Duncan Ferguson, Brieger on his feet, OK
01:55A match referee incidentally Gerald Ashby, who referees his last senior game today
02:01Hutchison got a shot off
02:04What have Arsenal got on the counter attack? Winterburn
02:08Thomas Moorer was left unprotected
02:10And he just underlined why
02:13He has been such a success, great take on the chest
02:18Well Howard Kendall
02:21Is actually the most successful manager in Everton's history
02:24And he's got a lot of experience
02:26And he's got a lot of experience
02:28And he's got a lot of experience
02:30And he's got a lot of experience
02:32And he's got a lot of experience
02:34Is actually the most successful manager in Everton's history
02:37His third spell
02:39In charge of Everton, and for all his great successes in the 80s
02:44Praying that he is not going to go down as the manager
02:46To take Everton down
02:48After 44 years in the top flight
02:53I mentioned that
02:55Everton came into the game with
02:57Four recognised centre halves
02:59And sure enough one of them has been pushed forward
03:01It's Slavin Bilic
03:02Into a holding role in the middle of the field
03:10Big game for Gerald Ashby to bow out with and
03:14Nice to see him get this game
03:27Ferguson got on the end of that one
03:29But no real quality in the service
03:31He fought it out with three Arsenal defenders then
03:34And the Arsenal boys came out on top
03:36They'll relish the physical challenge
03:38It's Mark Overmars on the counter
03:40Dave Watson stepped up to him
03:42Ray again found himself with lots of room
03:44Vieira
03:46But there were six blue shirts back behind the ball quickly for Everton
03:52Dixon over the top
03:54Big wind blowing down the field here today as well
04:00What a test for each of these Everton players
04:09Free kick
04:10Right in front of Wendy Toms
04:13Conceded by the youngster
04:14Michael Ball
04:15Probably the biggest game that young Ball has ever played in in his life so far
04:20It's a day for experienced hands
04:22But Everton have a
04:23Great clutch of
04:25Promising youngsters
04:26Ball's the only one who makes the cut for today
04:31All the big men
04:32Forward for Arsenal
04:35What a start
04:38Would you believe it
04:39It's Tony Adams
04:43Petit's ball to the back post
04:45And really nobody went with Adams
04:47He got back and got his header on target
04:49Moura couldn't make a save
04:52And if that is the goal
04:54That wins the Premier League trophy for Arsenal
04:57The fairytale writers will go out of business
05:06Winterburn won his challenge
05:20Hutchison
05:22Up to Bilic
05:25Up to Bilic
05:36Easily picked out
05:37By Vieira
05:44Martin Keown
05:45This game is settling into a very
05:47Worrying pattern for Everton
05:54Winterburn
05:59Winterburn up to Anelka
06:00Nigel Winterburn continued his run
06:01And linked brilliantly with Anelka again
06:05Only needed a touch from Ray who was closing in as well
06:11No Ian Wright
06:12No Dennis Bergkamp
06:13Arsenal still look
06:15Irresistible going forward
06:24Ferguson won that well in the air for Everton
06:26Bits and pieces picked up by Bilic
06:29John O'Kane
06:30Winterburn out to him
06:34And Winterburn just continued to run on
06:36So confident
06:41Everton are going to have to stop him
06:43Ray's ball in was a great ball
06:45What a goal that would have been for Ray Parler
06:47More excellent keeping for Moura
06:51The old and the new of Arsenal
06:53Working so well together
06:54And one of the home grown products
06:56Parler got on the end of it
06:57Ray's instinctive header on
06:59And an equally instinctive header by Parler
07:14Stern challenge from Hutchison
07:16But a good one
07:18Slav and Bilic
07:20Didn't have the legs to get away from Vieira
07:24Petit over the top
07:30Keeper came out early
07:32Needed help from Short
07:34And he got it
07:36And just as well for Everton
07:39Anilka's pace is frightening
07:41Here comes Petit who can shift
07:43And so too can Ray
07:54Craig Short got back around Moura for Everton
07:58Probably the right decision from the keeper to come though
08:02And it's just as well for Everton that he is
08:05Right on top of his game
08:17They'll hope to build on that discipline
08:23Petit
08:33Hutchison up to Bilic
08:36It's not his natural position in the middle of the field
08:38Slav and Bilic
08:39Surrounded by such expert practitioners of midfield play
08:44He does appear to be struggling
08:45That was the big gamble by Harrod Kendall today
08:47That he could play in that role
08:48Petit's ball in
08:49Lee Dixon chasing on to it
08:50Almost got the pieces off the keeper
08:52And second time
08:54Off Short
08:57Two falls and a submission then
09:00But no goal for Arsenal
09:02Everton survive again
09:05The decision seemed right from the keeper
09:07But maybe the expertise was wrong
09:10Handling
09:11Dixon tried to
09:12Make a better job of handling it
09:21Great jump by Keown on Ferguson
09:27Felter Parler
09:30Well read by O'Kane
09:31The former Manchester United youngster
09:37Bilic tried to release Bigri
09:39Peter Bigri's had a little dart early on at Lee Dixon
09:42Now he's having a go at Nigel Winterburn down the other flank
09:45But frankly the form that Winterburn is in today
09:48That's gonna be a tall order
09:51Short stepped out from the back for Everton
09:53Arsenal have a man down
09:55I think it's Emmanuel Petit
09:57Bigri goes on
10:01And he lost the ball in the end
10:02Overmars
10:04Where's the help for Marc Overmars?
10:06He has the pace to go alone if necessary
10:08This is Overmars
10:09That is two for Arsenal
10:11And it could be curtains for Everton
10:1428 minutes gone
10:16And now Arsene Wenger
10:18Looks a little more relaxed
10:20And maybe the real thing is coming
10:22To the party
10:23In an hour from now
10:24Send off Marc Overmars at your peril
10:26But if you dive in he can leave you on your backside
10:29That's the devil's dilemma
10:31He also has the finishing touch here
10:33Dave Watson just lets him run at him into the box
10:36Maybe the keeper could have kept it out on another day
10:43Three on three
10:44Dixon ball over the top
10:46May have been the one but it was
10:49Anelka that Dixon tried to
10:51Reach
11:06Again the youngster okay and exposed hopelessly
11:08Overmars just took the ball off him
11:11Anelka
11:13Has power and pace
11:16We didn't know too much about him six months ago
11:20Kept in reserve by Arsenal early season
11:24But they must have known something about him
11:28To let John Hartson go
11:31To West Ham
11:33And one remembers Arsene Wenger early season saying
11:38Of Anelka that he just needed to
11:40Toughen himself up mentally for the
11:43Job in English football
11:44And then we would see
11:47An explosion of his talent
11:51And that is what has happened
11:54Hutchison taken out by Vieira
11:56There is Anelka and all his pace
11:58Could this finish it inside 35 minutes?
12:08Patrick Vieira
12:09Allows himself a wry smile
12:12And in the context
12:13Of the season it probably won't count
12:16But
12:18That surely would have ended it all
12:37Ray
12:38Little 1-2 with Anelka
12:39The face of Arsenal strikers into the future perhaps
12:42Ray Parler is the most forward Arsenal player here
12:44It's on if he can twist it behind him
12:46It's still on here for Vieira
12:49This time he took a touch and
12:50Tried to set somebody else up
12:56Well by the time it reached Christopher Ray the options were limited
13:02How well Ray Parler does
13:03To get into such a great position
13:05And then find
13:07Vieira
13:08He had a first time strike five minutes ago which he
13:10Squandered hopelessly
13:26Big Green nipped in and won a tackle off
13:28Petit
13:30Okane for Everton
13:31Hutchison
13:33Little lacks
13:36Christopher Ray
13:40Over Mars
13:41Everton have the bodies back
13:43But the Dutchman has the guile
13:45This is Chris Ray
13:46Bilic got his foot in
13:47Petit
13:49Got one midweek
13:50A little closer it was against Derby
13:52But the same end of the ground
13:53Keown comes through and takes everything including Ferguson
13:58Here they go again
14:06And this time Gerald Ashby
14:08Is isolating Ferguson as the culprit
14:39Nice lad apparently
14:40Just a bit fiery on the field
14:45Looked a little bit high his challenge on Keown
14:48But make no mistake
14:51He'll be taking plenty
14:52From the Arsenal rearguard this afternoon as well
14:57On with the football
15:02Anelka got a great turn in
15:04Well that would have been a goal
15:07Well that would have been a
15:08Dennis Bergkamp picture book special
15:10In the absence of the Dutchman
15:14Fabulous turn
15:15Müller happily not forced to make a save
15:28And let no one
15:29Denigrate the contribution that Emmanuel Petit has made
15:32Along with this man Vieira in the middle of the field
15:35Over the past
15:39Four months since Christmas
15:41David Platt will get 45 minutes
15:45In what looks like being
15:47Arsenal's championship game
15:50Has a habit of hanging around for a medal David Platt
15:55Great talent to have if you're a professional footballer
16:06So 45 minutes
16:08Before the party you feel
16:10Half time here
16:12Arsenal 2
16:13Everton 0
16:18Flick on from Ferguson wasn't a bad one
16:22Fell only to Ray
16:32Vieira
16:33Vieira
16:34What chance Vieira and Petit
16:36Forcing their way into the French World Cup squad
16:39Vieira perhaps a
16:41More likely starter than Petit
16:43All one can say is that France must have an abundance of
16:46Quality midfield men if either of those two are to get in
16:49But of course they do have
16:52David Platt
16:53Space for Anelka
16:54Another French World Cup dreamer
16:56Goals will help his case
17:04Madou made a good run Hutchison found him
17:09Better signs from Everton here early in the
17:13Second period
17:14But then again they were
17:16Coming off a low mark
17:18After the first half display
17:34Ball
17:37Took a risk
17:38And maybe we'll get punished
17:39Mark Overmars
17:40Has the pace to go it all alone here
17:42The Dutchman Overmars looking for a second
17:44What a fantastic way
17:46To get it
17:51World class
17:52From the flying Dutchman
17:5457 minutes
17:55To go
17:56In the second period
17:57And he's done it
17:59And he's done it
18:00And he's done it
18:01The Dutchman
18:0357 minutes of this one played
18:05Arsenal
18:07Will be crowned champions this afternoon
18:13There seemed virtually nothing on
18:15But he has
18:1610.3
18:17100 meter pace
18:20And a finish to match
18:22And poor old Dave Watson left trailing helplessly in his wake
18:31And his problems aren't
18:38To be summed up in one afternoon
18:40Let's hope he gets a crack next season
18:48Everything you could say about Arsenal in terms of
18:50Tradition and support
18:53And size
18:54Applies equally to Everton but they are
18:57Miles and miles away from being a top side at the moment
19:02The goal of the second half
19:05The goal of the second half
19:17Almost another error from Hutchison
19:19Short just backed away
19:20Frightened of the pace of Anelka
19:22He's got three in front of him
19:23But he's still got a shot in
19:25Well, he's absolutely terrorising.
19:30Three big, strong, statuesque, old-style English defenders, this Frenchman.
19:43Niklas Anelka makes way for the one and only Ian Wright.
19:48Back in first-team beauty for the first time in over three months.
19:59He played in the reserves against West Ham on Monday night, got a game under his belt then.
20:04Steve Bould, who has had a superb season, on for Christopher Wray.
20:21Wray certainly one for the future.
20:26Bould, one of those who refuses to go down as somebody from the past.
20:36Some people say, even at 35, he has played better this season than ever before.
21:06Man of the match this afternoon, Mark Overmars.
21:21And I don't think much surprise there.
21:29So good of Arsenal being on the whole that the likes of David Platt have been forced to play bit parts in this championship year.
21:40But over the course of the season, in true championship style, it's hard to think of any established Arsenal
21:53First-team squad member who has not pulled his weight. They've all done their bit and more.
21:59And the likes of Bould, Adams, Dixon and Winterburn have got better with age.
22:15Off the field, Arsenal look now as though they will be staying at Highbury into the new century.
22:22With plans to redevelop, to increase the capacity here.
22:28And who knows whether Arsene Wenger may not be laying the foundations on the field for a new dynasty.
22:43And this great old stadium.
22:50I wonder if we'll see David Platt in Arsenal colours next season. Moura came and read it well.
22:56And the second one.
23:00But Platt apart, it's...
23:05Bould onto Adams. This would be a fairy story.
23:13Can there be a sweeter moment?
23:19Tony Adams clinches Arsenal's championship.
23:26They will think they have died and gone to heaven.
23:30What a professional. What a finish.
23:37The man who has been through hell on and off the field.
23:49His third of the season.
23:59Poetic justice indeed for a man who lists his modern day hobbies as reading poetry.
24:09A man who has reinvented himself as a player and got better.
24:17David Seaman almost had to make a save from Ferguson, but not quite.
24:26Gonna be hard for Everton to lift themselves from this crushing defeat.
24:34I would say that even given Tony Adams' amazing career, this might be the highlight.
24:41They wrote him off. They wrote Arsenal off. They wrote Arsene Wenger off.
24:46But it's everything every Arsenal fan could ever have wanted here.
24:50Highbury in the sunshine. Arsenal routing Everton.
24:55It was a very special afternoon for the red half of North London.
24:59Amazingly, Everton managed to escape relegation when a final day draw with Coventry proved enough to keep the Toffees up on goal difference.
25:07But Arsenal had a fitting end to their season with two of the club's longest serving players, Steve Bould and Tony Adams, involved in the final goal that secured the title for them.
25:18Adams lifted the trophy after the game.