Littlewoods Cup semi-final replay
White Hart Lane
March 4, 1987
Sunday, March 4, 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of Arsenal’s memorable Littlewoods Cup semi-final replay victory against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Spurs had got the upper hand in the first leg at Highbury when former Gunner Clive Allen’s goal separated the two teams. Things looked bleak in the return fixture when the striker again registered to put Tottenham in charge.
However, Arsenal mounted a revival after the half-time interval and strikes by Viv Anderson and Niall Quinn sent the game to extra time and, eventually, a replay.
White Hart Lane was picked as the venue for the match after Tottenham won the coin toss - but only at the second time of asking. On the first occasion, the coin dropped to the turf and stuck upright in the mud.
The replay followed much the same narrative as the first two games, as the prolific Allen struck once again to put Tottenham into a commanding position.
With the match in its closing stages, Arsenal appeared to be heading out but with eight minutes remaining salvation was at hand as Ian Allinson beat Ray Clemence at his near post after latching onto a pass down the left.
As the clock wound down, Allinson threatened once more for the rejuvenated Gunners, firing in a shot that rebounded into the path of David Rocastle. The midfielder ran on to the loose ball and knocked it past the helpless Clemence to send Arsenal into the final.
George Graham, in his first season with the Club, said: "This equals anything I achieved as a player and I hope it's just the start of a new era for this club. When I took over this season I wanted to build a platform for success. It's happened quicker than expected.
"I want this to be just the start. I'm so proud of my team. I didn't expect to come back this time, but I wasn't surprised. We are very resilient and have that wonderful never-say-die attitude.
“It's incredible to think how they have responded to me so quickly. I'm a new manager with a new system and they have accepted everything."
Arsenal went on to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley to lift the Littlewoods Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur: Clemence, D Thomas, M Thomas, Ardiles, Gough, Mabbutt, C Allen, P Allen, Waddle, Stevens, Claesen (Galvin).
Arsenal: Lukic, Anderson, Sansom, Thomas (Allinson), O'Leary, Adams, Rocastle, Davis, Quinn, Nicholas, Hayes.
Source: Arsenal.com on 4 Mar 12
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