Flashback: Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal - 1987

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Arsenal
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

David Rocastle 1967 - 2001

David Rocastle died on March 31, 2001, aged just 33. Later that day, fans of Arsenal and Tottenham stood united in silence to remember the former Gunner before a North London derby. It said much about the respect Rocastle commanded at Highbury and beyond. ‘Rocky’ was a true gentleman of the game.

The Lewisham lad came through the ranks at the Club in the mid-1980s bringing flair and flashes of brilliance in front of Arsenal’s dogged defence. He was a player at which the infamous ‘Boring, Boring Arsenal’ chant could not be levied.

Rocastle forced himself into the senior reckoning just as Don Howe’s Highbury reign was coming to an end. It was in these early showings that fans caught a glimpse of the abundant talent David had in his locker.

He was awarded the Supporter’s Player of the Year award in 1986 and picked up his first major honour the following campaign after the Littlewoods Cup triumph over Liverpool. Rocastle’s growth continued apace and over the next two seasons he didn’t miss a League game, culminating in the title triumph of 1989. He ended the campaign as Barclays Young Eagle of the Year.

The Londoner had electrifying pace, poise and plenty of venom, meaning he could operate just as comfortably in a central or a more orthodox wide-right position. One thing was for sure, wherever he played, Rocastle could lift a crowd.

England recognition was just a matter of time. Indeed, before his 23rd birthday, Rocastle’s cap count had reached double figures.

A new decade brought a new, and a wholly unexpected, inconsistency. Rocastle missed out on the 1990 World Cup squad but fought back resolutely and eventually earned an England recall in 1991. His club form, too, resurfaced and he found his knack of weighting passes to perfection again. Rocastle’s blip was behind him.

Having played a major part in Arsenal’s title triumph of 1991, Rocastle flourished in the centre of midfield as George Graham’s side played some of the most attractive football seen at Highbury. His flair, allied to that of Paul Merson and Anders Limpar, conjured up chance after chance for Ian Wright, Kevin Campbell and Alan Smith. The title eluded Arsenal but the entertainment was non-stop.

Rocastle looked set to assume his new role for years to come but, in the summer of 1992, he was surprisingly sold to Leeds United. Rocastle’s career never scaled the same heights again as injuries took their toll.

When ‘Rocky’ lost his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of cancer, tributes poured in from across the football world. "He was a really top talent who had just about everything - he had all-round ability,” said Double-winning Frank McLintock. Rocastle was a top-class player - and a top-class person.

Source: Arsenal.com on 31 Mar 11

David Rocastle remembered: 10 years on

The midfielder – as loved for his warmth and charm off the pitch as for his skilful contribution to two title-winning sides on it - passed away a decade ago

Gone, but certainly not forgotten. Today marks the 10th anniversary of the death of David Rocastle, the former Arsenal midfielder who passed away at the age of 33, little more than a month after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. For any player to lose their life at such a young age will always be shocking but in Rocastle's case it seemed even more so. How, after all, could death come so early to a man who in most rooms and on most football pitches had always seemed to be the one most full of life?

A graduate of Arsenal's academy system and two-time league winner at Highbury, "Rocky" was always a crowd favourite, both for his creative flair on the pitch and warm, jovial personality off it. He did himself no harm by scoring a late winner in the League Cup semi-final win over Tottenham in 1987 either. Even now his name is regularly sung along with those of the present-day squad by supporters at Arsenal games.

The day of his passing, 31 March 2001, happened to coincide with another north London derby. There were fears that the planned minute's silence would not be observed, given the rivalry between the two sides, and even David Pleat, then caretaker manager of Tottenham had advised the referee, Paul Durkin, to blow his whistle to bring it to an end as soon as any there was any interruption from the crowd. In the event, however, the silence was broken only by the sounds of some in the crowd crying.

As one who was in attendance that day I can only say that it was certainly one of the most emotional such silences I have ever experienced. I was not there in 1991, when he chipped Peter Schmeichel from 25 yards out for a sensational goal at Old Trafford, but that will remain my abiding memory of his career – encompassing as it did so many of his footballing qualities: the strength to hold off one challenge, the footwork to evade another and the audacity to attempt the chip at all. And then there is that grin on his face afterwards, symbolic of the joy with which he played and that which he brought to the fans who watched him.

Arsenal have posted a fine tribute to the man on their official website today, and there are plenty more doing the rounds, but if you have any particular memories of Rocastle that you would like to share, we would love you to do so below.

Source: Paolo Bandini, The Guardian on 31 Mar 11