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The first ‘greatest games' selection was I believe made by Fred Oliver, who is credited for his wisdom in the acknowledgements. He included 20 matches in his classic Arsenal publication ‘Arsenal the Complete Record' and this new title appears to be an extension of his meticulous research. To prune Arsenal's classic games down to the 100 greatest matches is obviously very tricky and Jem Maidment along with the editorial team have had to restrict the scope and decide what is or isn't significant. Obviously there is no disputing the likes of Anfield '89, White Hart Lane in '71 and all the Cup Final wins, although anyone who thinks that the 2005 final was even anything approaching a ‘great game' is in serious need of a psychiatrist. Significant yes, important yes, historical yes, but no way was that one of Arsenal's greatest games. It was just that the penalty shoot-out was such a wonderful piece of entertainment with the desirable outcome that resulted in another trophy. So whether these are really or ‘greatest games' is surely open to discussion. Although I do recognise an argument in favour of every single match chosen there are about ten percent that are worthy of a quibble and certainly cause for debate.
The top twenty were voted for by fans via the Club's official website, programme and magazine so naturally nothing before 1970 was included because history doesn't rate that highly with the majority of today's fans. They quite reasonably favour what they saw with their own eyes, albeit these days often aided by a TV camera and a crass commentary rather than by actual attendance. The fact that Kanu's best ever game, away to Chelsea, was voted into the top ten is surely cause for concern in the historical context. Should Kanu's hat trick rank higher than Ted Drake's seven at Villa Park – of course not. That said the match at Villa does make the top 100. Equally should Kanu's hat trick match rank higher than any of John Radford's, including the one against Manchester United at the start of our first double season? Personally I think not.
Also included is Dennis Bergkamp's stupendous goal at Newcastle in our 2002 Premiership encounter. However this is another match I wouldn't have incorporated because it wasn't one of our greatest games, I'd certainly put the goal in the top 10 I've ever seen live, never mind top 100, but certainly not the game as viewed from the third tier of St. James's. Should the Hapoel Tel Aviv friendly have been included just because of it's relevance to the history of floodlit football? Is a friendly against Racing Club de Paris, significant as it was, a worthy contender? Not for me, particularly not when only four matches have been included from the entire Nineteen forties and sixties.
The vast majority of games included are not in question of course; no sane Gooner could omit our first League game in 1893, our first match at Highbury in 1913 or our first FA Cup final victory in 1930, even though we didn't see them. Just as no Gooner could leave out our title clincher against Everton in 1998, two classic League Cup semi final matches at the Lane in 1986, Leeds' demolition away in 2002, Portsmouth's annihilation away in the Cup in 2004 and a whole load more that are included in this book. Not that is if they were there as I was, that said there are other games I didn't witness live that those in attendance probably would have included. And that's the point really, football fans invariably beg to differ and a title such as this should induce argument and debate rather than being seen as a definitive decree on what exactly are our 100 greatest games. Had the author been part of the near 68,000 crowd at Highbury in 1964 when we pulled back two goals in the last ten minutes to draw 4-4 with the Scum in the noisiest and most intense last quarter of an hour at Highbury I've ever witnessed, including Fairs Cup night, no doubt that game would have been included.
The title appears to be factually correct throughout but if you enjoy playing spot the error try this: 6th March 1935 - Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 6 Arsenal ‘This still stands, unsurprisingly, as Arsenal's record win at White Hart lane and indeed their biggest ever defeat of the old enemy. Local bragging rights may have been Arsenal's after this drubbing, but equally important was three points on the way to their third successive league title'.
A six-nil victory at the Lane is certainly worthy of three points even as far back as 1935 but as you all know three points for a win wasn't introduced until the early 1980's and so this has to rank, in football parlance, as a ‘schoolboy error' which I trust will be corrected in any reprint - definitely a match to include in an Arsenal's top 100 though!
You'll be able to order it from any decent bookshop if you quote the following ISBN number: 0 600 61376 3 or alternatively check out your favourite online bookstore. Or if you travel to home games all the places around the Stadium you'd expect to sell it will probably be doing so.
Arsenal 100 Greatest Games
By Jem Maidment
Priced £12.99 Published by Hamlyn 2005