The soul of Arsenal in 50 moments

Not without reason, Arsenal’s chairman Peter Hill-Wood called this game on May 26, 1989, “without question, the most dramatic ending to a domestic league campaign in history”. It took place at Anfield, the last league match of the season. Liverpool were three points ahead. They could lose by anything less than two goals and still take the championship. George Graham, Arsenal’s manager, was sanguine: “This is enjoyable pressure. I don’t know whether we can win. Any team can win one game, particularly with an away record like we’ve got.”

But the overall record of Arsenal at Anfield was somewhat bleak. The Gunners had not won there for 15 years and in just under 20 years, Liverpool have lost at home only nine times by a two-goal margin. Our interest was enormous. The kick-off had to be delayed because of the traffic jams facing Arsenal supporters who had come up from London.

Before the start, Arsenal handed over a £30,000 cheque for the Hillsborough Disaster Fund, and their players gave bouquets of flowers to the fans. A 600 million global television audience was estimated. Arsenal took the game to Liverpool from the start with Richardson, Thomas and Rocastle exerting a grip on the midfield, Steve Bould at centre back giving little scope to John Aldridge, the Liverpool striker. Alan Smith, Arsenal’s striker, was in outstanding form.

Arsenal might have scored with Bould’s header in the first half. Liverpool’s Welsh international striker Ian Rush had had their only shot of any consequence and came off at half-time, replaced by Peter Beardsley.

Arsenal went ahead when Nicol’s foul produced a free kick. Left-back Nigel Winterburn sent it to the far post where Alan Smith headed into the corner of the net. Liverpool protested angrily, insisting the linesman had raised his flag, either for a foul or because the indirect free kick had gone in, without Smith making contact. But he had, and it was 1-0.

Arsenal still needed the second goal. Sixteen minutes from time Kevin Richardson’s pass enabled Michael Thomas, his fellow midfielder, to shoot from some 12 yards, but Bruce Grobbelaar, the home keeper, who hadn’t been on the losing side for 28 games, was untroubled.

The match had reached its 89th minute with Liverpool’s midfielder Steve McMahon gesturing to his team-mates that they had only one minute more to resist and the double would be theirs. The game, however, went into stoppage time, and after a couple of minutes goalkeeper John Lukic booted upfield, right-back Lee Dixon launched a long searching pass and Alan Smith some 30 yards out coolly controlled the ball and lobbed it forward for Michael Thomas to pursue.

Steve Nicol challenged, but the ball bounced off him setting Thomas free. Ray Houghton and Nicol tried desperately but vainly to intercept, as did Grobbelaar, dashing out of goal and diving. Thomas coolly paused, then flicked the ball over the goalkeeper into the right hand corner of the net, then somersaulting in his joy. There were only 30 seconds to play and Arsenal had the championship. “We have laid a foundation of belief at Highbury,” said George Graham.”If you lose hope or lose belief, you may as well get out of football. Tonight was a fairytale, the unpredictable that makes us all love football.”