For this interview, I look back at the Cup Winners Cup match-up between Arsenal
and Paris St. Germain in the Spring of 1994.
The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog
will be a presentation of the events.
The Interviewee is:
English Author, Mr.
Greg Lansdowne
Mr. Lansdowne is the
author of ‘Stuck on You: The Rise & Fall…& Rise of Panini Stickers’
(2015)
‘Panini Football
Stickers: The Official Celebration: A Nostalgic Journey Through the World of
Panini’ (2022)
‘Stuck on You: The Rise & Fall…&
Rise of Panini Stickers’ was made into an ITV docuuentary.
Mr. Greg Lansdowne’s
contact info:
Twitter: @Panini_book
Website: https://greglansdowne.co.uk/
Link to books:
https://www.amazon.com/Stuck-You-Fall-Panini-Stickers/dp/1785310062
https://www.amazon.com/Panini-Football-Stickers-Official-Celebration/dp/1472987772
My contact information:
on twitter @sp1873 and on
facebook under Soccernostalgia.
Arsenal FC vs. Paris
Saint Germain FC, 1994
Arsenal and Paris St.
Germain were paired in the Semifinals of the 1993/94 Cup Winners Cup.
The English side Arsenal
were managed by the Scottish George Graham since 1986. They had won the League
Title in 1989 and 1991. They had won the 1993 editions of the League Cup and
the FA Cup. The latter victory earned them entry to the Cup Winners Cup. The
side were led by youthful Captain Tony Adams, marshalling the historic back four
of Dixon, Bould, Winterburn, not forgetting Keown and goalkeeper Seaman.
Upfront the goals came
from Ian Wright and Alan Smith, complemented by Kevin Campbell.
There had been no
significant transfers in terms of arrivals that season.
The losses included long-serving Irish defender
David O’Leary (to Leeds), as well as Jimmy Carter (to Oxford), Colin Pates
(Brighton) and just in March, the Swedish winger Anders Limpar (to Everton).
As far as the League, Arsenal were far behind
Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers and by February had been eliminated from
both the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Therefore, this competition was the only chance
of any silverware at this stage of the season.
In the previous rounds, Arsenal had eliminated
Danish side OB Odense, Belgium’s Standard Liege and Italian Serie A side
Torino.
Paris St. Germain were
managed by the respected Portuguese Manager Artur Jorge, who had led Porto to
the Champions Cup win in 1987.
The team had been
progressively built since the arrival of Canal + in 1991. They were on the
verge of winning the French League title for the first time since 1986.
They had won the 1993
French Cup against Nantes to gain entry to the Cup Winners Cup.
They had reached the
semifinals of the UEFA Cup in the previous season and were starting to become a
force on the European stage.
The side was led by the
likes of Paul Le Guen, Laurent Fournier, Vincent Guerin and David Ginola.
They foreign contingent
was led by the brilliant Liberian striker George Weah and the Brazilian trio of
Ricardo, Valdo and Rai.
In terms of transfers,
veteran midfielder Bruno Germain and striker Amara Simba had been offloaded to
Angers and Monaco. In addition, promising goalkeeper Richard Dutruel and Pascal
Nouma had been loaned to Caen.
The latter duo were most
likely part of the transfer package to sign new International striker Xavier
Gravelaine from Caen. Vincent Cobos also arrived from Strasbourg to bolster the
defense. The main transfer was that of Brazilian midfielder and Captain of the
National Team Rai (brother of Socrates). Unfortunately, he would endure a
difficult first season that would have a bearing in his starting spot for
Brazil’s 1994 World Cup adventure.
In the previous rounds,
PSG had eliminated Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia, Romanian club Universitatea Craiova and
most significantly Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The first leg, on March
29th, was played at Paris’ Parc des Princes. PSG were missing injured
key central defender Alain Roche. Francis Llacer started as outside back with
Sassus moving in Roche’s position.
For his authorized three
foreigners, Jorge decided to leave out Rai and start with Ricardo, Valdo and
Weah.
Arsenal maintained their
standard side that had played together for years.
It was a match where the
French hosts showed signs of nervousness and exhaustion. Arsenal were
technically limited but had the desire to get a result on this day.
The visitors would take
the lead before halftime. In the 35th minute, Ian Wright headed in
Paul Davis’ free kick.
PSG would fight back and
tie the match early in the second half. In the 49th minute, Ginola
headed in Valdo’s corner kick.
Arsenal had further
chances and Lama saved PSG in a number of occasions.
The match ended as a tie
that favored Arsenal, but there was still much to play for both sides.
Vincent Guerin felt that
PSG still had a 40% chance of qualification.
_3221x4211.jpg) |
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2504, April 5, 1994
|
(March 29, Cup Winners
Cup, Paris St. Germain 1-Arsenal 1) |
_3066x4243.jpg) |
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2504, April 5, 1994
|
(March 29, Cup Winners
Cup, Paris St. Germain 1-Arsenal 1) |
_793x623.jpg) |
Photo From: Onze-Mondial,
Issue 64, May 1994
|
(March 29, Cup Winners
Cup, Paris St. Germain 1-Arsenal 1) |
_3860x2618.jpg) |
Photo From: Onze-Mondial,
Issue 64, May 1994
|
(March 29, Cup Winners
Cup, Paris St. Germain 1-Arsenal 1) |
_3969x2599.jpg) |
Photo From: Onze-Mondial,
Issue 64, May 1994
The second leg, on April
12th, was played at Arsenal’s Highbury Stadium. Arsenal made one
change from the previous match. Kevin Campbell starting ahead of Merson.
At this point, PSG were
virtually League Champions in France. Artur Jorge decided to drop George Weah,
to include Rai as his third foreigner. Roche was also back in the side with
Llacer making way.
Before the match, Ginola
stated that they had to physically match the English to have any chance.
PSG missed a very good
chance in the beginning of the match through Rai and this summed up their night.
Arsenal took advantage
and scored just minutes later in the 7th minute, when Campbell
headed in Dixon’s cross.
This would be the only
game of the match as PSG failed to get back on the score.
Jorge’s decision to start
Rai ahead of Weah would backfire, as PSG had no true center forward and missed
many chances.
Even the late entry of Gravelaine
to partner a disappointing Ginola did not have an effect.
Lama was angered by PSG’s
missed chances and made a reference that all the strikers were on the bench.
Afterwards, Graham
himself underlined this point by stating that PSG was an excellent team but
rarely dangerous.
For the second
consecutive season PSG were eliminated at the semifinal stage (they would
qualify to the semifinals of a European competition in five straight seasons).
Arsenal had qualified for
a European Final for the first time since losing the Cup Winners Cup Final in
1980 to Valencia.
The only negative aspect
of the night for the Gunners was the suspension of Ian Wright for the Final (He
was booked in this second leg).
Despite winning the
League title, Artur Jorge’s days were numbered as PSG Manager. He would soon be
replaced by Luis Fernandez.
Arsenal would finish the
League season strongly in the Fourth place with the best defense of the League.
They would go on and
defeat strong Italian side and defending Champions Parma (1-0) in the Final on
May 8th, at Copenhagen. It was Arsenal’s first European title since
defeating Anderlecht in the old Fairs Cup in 1970.
Little did anyone know;
it would be the last trophy of the Graham era. In a few months, a scandal would
erupt that would force his departure, but that is another story……
_1818x1701.jpg) |
Photo From: Onze-Mondial,
Hors Serie 17, 1994
|
(April 12, Cup Winners
Cup, Arsenal 1-Paris St. Germain 0) |
.jpg) |
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2506, April 19, 1994
|
(April 12, Cup Winners
Cup, Arsenal 1-Paris St. Germain 0) |
.jpg) |
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2506, April 19, 1994
|
(April 12, Cup Winners
Cup, Arsenal 1-Paris St. Germain 0) |
_3198x2805.jpg) |
Photo From: Shoot, April
23, 1994
|
(April 12, Cup Winners
Cup, Arsenal 1-Paris St. Germain 0) |
Date: March 29, 1994
Competition: Cup Winners Cup- Semifinals, First
Leg
Result: Paris Saint Germain
Football Club (France) 1- Arsenal Football Club-London (England) 1
Venue: Paris- Parc des Princes
Attendance: 48,000
Referee: Leif Sundell (Sweden)
Linesmen:
M. Everstig, K.E. Nilsson (both Sweden)
Kick-off time:
-
Goalscorers:
(Paris St. Germain): David Ginola 49
(Arsenal): Ian Wright 35
Summary of goals:
0:1 (35th
minute, Arsenal): Paul Davis’ free kick from the right side was headed in
by Ian Wright.
1:1 (49th
minute, PSG): Valdo’s corner from the left side was headed in by Ginola.
Lineups:
Paris St. GermainFC:
1-Bernard Lama, 2-Francis
Llacer (15-Daniel Bravo 46), 3-Patrick Colleter, 5-Jean-Luc Sassus, 4-Ricardo
(Brazil), 6-Paul Le Guen, 7-Laurent Fournier. 8- Vincent Guérin, 10- Valdo
(Brazil), 9-George Weah (Liberia), 11-David Ginola
Coach: Artur Jorge
(Portugal)
Other Substitutes:
12- Antoine Kombouaré, 13-Vincent
Cobos, Xavier Gravelaine, 16-Luc Borelli
Note:
1-In the beginning of the
match on the television graphics, Daniel Bravo was shown as number 14 and
Xavier Gravelaine number 15. However, during the match, Bravo was clearly
number 15, therefore most likely their numbers were reversed.
Team Captain: Paul Le Guen
Official Kit
Supplier/Designer: Nike
Shirt Sponsor: SEAT
Uniform Colors: Red in
middle, blue on the sides Shirts, White Shorts, Red Socks
Arsenal FC:
1-David Seaman, 2-Lee Dixon,
6-Tony Adams, 5-Steve Bould, 3-Nigel Winterburn, 4-Paul Davis (12-Martin Keown
85), 7-John Jensen (Denmark), 11-Ian Selley, 10-Paul Merson, 8-Ian Wright, 9-Alan
Smith
Coach: George Graham
(Scotland)
Booked: Tony Adams 45, Paul
Merson 58
Other Substitutes:
13-Alan Miller, 14-Kevin
Campbell, 15-Eddie McGoldrick (Republic of Ireland), 16-Stephen Morrow
(Northern Ireland)
Team Captain: Tony Adams
Official Kit
Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Shirt Sponsor: JVC
Uniform Colors: Yellow (three black diagonal stripes
from the right side) Shirts, Black (three
yellow diagonal stripes from the left side) Shorts,
Yellow (with three vertical stripes) Socks
Date: April 12, 1994
Competition: Cup Winners Cup- Semifinals, Second
Leg
Result: Arsenal Football
Club-London (England) 1-Paris Saint Germain Football Club (France) 0
Venue: London-Highbury
Attendance: 34,212
Referee: Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)
Linesmen: Torben
Siersen, Jens Peter Staerk (both Denmark)
Kick-off time:
-
Goalscorers:
(Arsenal): Kevin Campbell
7
(Paris St. Germain): None
Summary of goals:
1:0 (7th
minute, Arsenal): Dixon’s cross from the right side was headed in by
Campbell.
Lineups:
Arsenal FC:
1-David Seaman, 2-Lee Dixon,
6-Tony Adams, 5-Steve Bould, 3-Nigel Winterburn (12-Martin Keown 88), 4-Paul Davis
(14-David Hillier 76), 7-John Jensen (Denmark), 11-Ian Selley, 10-Kevin
Campbell, 8-Ian Wright, 9-Alan Smith
Coach: George Graham
(Scotland)
Booked: Ian Wright 43
Team Captain: Tony Adams
Official Kit
Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Shirt Sponsor: JVC
Uniform Colors: Red (White sleeves)
Shirts, White Shorts,
Red Socks
Paris St. GermainFC:
1-Bernard Lama, 2-Jean-Luc
Sassus (12- Francis Llacer 80), 3-Patrick Colleter, 4-Ricardo (Brazil), 5-Alain
Roche, 6-Paul Le Guen, 7-Laurent Fournier. 8- Vincent Guérin, 10- Valdo
(Brazil), 9-Rai (Brazil) (14-Xavier Gravelaine 78), 11-David Ginola
Coach: Artur Jorge
(Portugal)
Booked: Patrick Colleter
12, Ricardo 41
Team Captain: Paul Le
Guen
Official Kit
Supplier/Designer: Nike
Shirt Sponsor: SEAT
Uniform Colors: Blue in
middle, white/blue on the sleeves Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks
Arsenal Football
Club-London:
Players who took part in
these matches (on the field or on the bench):
Goalkeeper:
David Seaman (September 19, 1963,
Rotherham) (aged 30 years old at the time)
Alan Miller (March 29, 1970,
Eppring) (aged 24 years old at the time)
Defenders:
Lee Dixon (March 17, 1964, Manchester) (aged 30 years old at
the time)
Tony Adams (October 10, 1966,
Romford) (aged 27 years old at the time)
Steve Bould (November 16, 1962,
Stoke-on-Trent) (aged 31 years old at the time)
Nigel Winterburn (December 11, 1963, Arley) (aged 30 years old at the
time)
Martin Keown (July 24, 1966, Oxford) (aged 27 years old at the
time)
Midfielders:
Paul Davis (December 9, 1961,
Dulwich) (aged 32 years old at the time)
John Jensen (Denmark) (May 3, 1965, Copenhagen,
Denmark) (aged 28 years old at the time)
Ian Selley (June 17, 1974,
Chertsey) (aged 19 years old at the time)
Eddie McGoldrick
(Republic of Ireland) (April 30, 1965, Islington) (aged 28 years old at the
time)
Stephen Morrow (Northern
Ireland) (July
2, 1970, Belfast, Northern Ireland) (aged 23 years old at the time)
David Hillier (December 19, 1969, Blackheath) (aged 24 years old at the
time)
Forwards:
Paul Merson (March 20, 1968, Harlesden,
London) (aged 26 years old at the time)
Ian Wright (November 3, 1963,
Woolwich, London) (aged 30 years old at the time)
Alan Smith (November 21, 1962,
Hollywood) (aged 31
years old at the time)
Kevin Campbell (February 4, 1970,
Lambeth, London) (aged 24 years old at the time)
Coach: George Graham
(Scotland) (November 30, 1944, Bargeddie, Scotland) (aged 49
years old at the time)
Team Captain: Tony Adams
Official Kit
Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Shirt Sponsor: JVC
 |
Photo From: 93-94 MERLIN
|
(Arsenal 1993/94) |
Paris Saint Germain Football Club:
Players who took part in
these matches (on the field or on the bench):
Goalkeeper:
Bernard Lama (April 7, 1963, Saint
Symphorien) (aged 30-31 years old at the time)
Luc Borelli (July 2, 1965, Marseille-February
3, 1999, Molphey) (aged 28 years old at the time)
Defenders:
Francis Llacer (September 9, 1971,
Lagny-sur-Marne) (aged 22 years old at the time)
Patrick Colleter (November 6, 1965,
Brest) (aged 28 years old at the time)
Jean-Luc Sassus (October 4, 1962, Tarbes-May 22, 2015, Lavaur) (aged 31
years old at the time)
Ricardo Raimundo Gomes (Brazil)
(December
13, 1964, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (aged 29 years old at the time)
Alain Roche (October 14, 1967,
Brive-la-Gallarde) (aged 26 years old at the time)
Antoine Kombouaré (November 16,
1963, Nouméa, New Caledonia) (aged 30
years old at the time)
Vincent Cobos (March 4, 1965, Strasbourg)
(aged 29 years old at the time)
Midfielders:
Daniel Bravo (February 9, 1963,
Toulouse) (aged 31
years old at the time)
Paul Le Guen (March 1, 1964, Pencran)
(aged 30 years old at the time)
Laurent Fournier (September 4,
1964, Lyon) (aged 29 years old at the time)
Vincent Guérin (November 22, 1965,
Boulogne-Billancourt) (aged 28 years old at the time)
Valdo Cândido Filho
(Brazil) (January
12, 1964, Siderópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil) (aged 30 years
old at the time)
Forwards:
George Weah (Liberia) (October 1, 1966, Monrovia,
Liberia) (aged 28 years old at the time)
David Ginola (January 25, 1967,
Gassin) (aged 27 years old at the time)
Xavier Gravelaine (October 5, 1968, Tours)
(aged 25 years old at the time)
Coach: Artur Jorge (Portugal) (February 13, 1946, Porto, Portugal) (aged 48
years old at the time)
Official Kit
Supplier/Designer: Nike
Shirt Sponsor: SEAT
 |
Photo From: Panini France
1993-94
|
(Paris St. Germain
1993/94) |
 |
Photo From: Panini France
1993-94
|
(Paris St. Germain
1993/94) |
Match Referees:
Leif Sundell (Sweden) (February 15, 1958, Borlänge, Sweden) (aged 40 years old at the time)
Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark) (May 1, 1960, Amager,
Denmark-January 30, 2019,) (aged 33 years old at the time)
References:
France Football, Issue
2503, March 29, 1994
France Football, Issue
2504, April 5, 1994
France Football, Issue
2506, April 19, 1994
Onze-Mondial, Issue 64,
May 1994
Shoot, April 23, 1994
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