1998–99 Arsenal F.C. season

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Arsenal F.C.
1998–99 season
Chairman
League Cup
Fourth round
Charity ShieldWinners
UEFA Champions LeagueGroup stage
Top goalscorerLeague:
Nicolas Anelka (17)
All:
Nicolas Anelka (19)
Highest home attendance73,707 vs Lens
(25 November 1998)
Lowest home attendance37,161 vs Sheffield United
(23 February 1999)
Average home league attendance38,022[1]
European Away colours

The 1998–99 season was

extra time winner in the 109th minute. Arsenal competed in Europe's premier club competition – the UEFA Champions League
– for the first time since its rebrand in 1992, but failed to progress past the group stage.

In the transfer window, Arsenal purchased several players, including Swedish midfielder Freddie Ljungberg and Argentine Nelson Vivas. Ian Wright – the club's all-time top goalscorer, left in the summer to play for West Ham United. Striker Nwankwo Kanu joined Arsenal in January 1999.

Arsenal made an indifferent start to their league campaign with four consecutive draws from their first five matches. After defeat to Aston Villa in December 1998, the team embarked on a 19 match unbeaten run to steadily climb up the league table. A 6–1 win against Middlesbrough in April 1999 moved Arsenal to the top of the table for the first time in the season and victory against Tottenham Hotspur put the team three points clear as main challenger United drew with Liverpool. Both Arsenal and Manchester United went into the final two games of the league season on the same number of points, but the former's defeat to Leeds United all but ended their chances of retaining the title.

30 different players represented Arsenal in five competitions and there were 14 different goalscorers. Arsenal's top goalscorer was Nicolas Anelka, who scored 19 goals in 45 appearances.

Background

See also: 1997–98 Arsenal F.C. season

In the 1997–98 season, Arsenal participated in the Premier League. The club made several new purchases, notably midfielders

1998 FA Cup Final to win the competition and complete a domestic double.[8]

Manager Arsène Wenger was awarded the Carling Manager of the Year award and striker Dennis Bergkamp was given the accolade of PFA Players' Player of the Year by his fellow peers and FWA Footballer of the Year by football writers, in recognition of Arsenal's achievements.[9][10]

Transfers

Sweden national football team against England; "I have been aware of Ljungberg for some time but after watching him against England I decided to move for him very quickly."[16] In January 1999, Arsenal completed the signing of striker Nwankwo Kanu.[17]

In

No. Position Player Transferred from Fee Date Ref
22 MF David Grondin AS Saint-Étienne £500,000 19 June 1998 [18]
7 DF Nelson Vivas FC Lugano £1,600,000 5 August 1998 [19]
8 MF Freddie Ljungberg Halmstads BK Undisclosed 11 September 1998 [20]
26 FW Fabián Caballero Cerro Porteño Loan 29 October 1998 [21][22]
MF Jermaine Pennant Notts County £2,000,000 8 January 1999 [23]
25 FW Nwankwo Kanu Internazionale Undisclosed 15 January 1999 [24]
27 FW Kaba Diawara Bordeaux Undisclosed 29 January 1999 [25]

Out

No. Position Player Transferred to Fee Date Ref
GK Vince Bartram Gillingham Free 20 March 1998 [26]
7 MF
David Platt
 Retired [26]
FW Chris Kiwomya Released [26]
DF Gavin McGowan Luton Town Free 26 June 1998 [26]
MF Richard Hughes
Bournemouth
 £20,000 1 July 1998 [26]
8 FW Ian Wright West Ham United £750,000 13 July 1998 [14]
25 DF Scott Marshall Southampton Free 14 July 1998 [26]
32 FW Isaiah Rankin Bradford City £1,300,000 13 August 1998 [27]

Pre-season and friendlies

To prepare for the upcoming season, Arsenal played a series of friendlies against, firstly, local sides Boreham Wood, Enfield Town and Luton Town, before travelling to Germany for their final pre-season games.

Boreham Wood v Arsenal
10 July 1998 Friendly Boreham Wood 2–5 Arsenal London
Hollingdale ?'
Daly ?'		 Report ?' Hughes
?' Wreh
?' Garde
?' Anelka
?' Rankin		 Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 2,832
18 July 1998 Friendly Enfield 0–0 Arsenal London
Attendance: 5,495
25 July 1998 Friendly Luton Town 1–1 Arsenal Luton
?' Bactuet Report Anelka ?' Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 5,118
31 July 1998 Friendly
Sportfreunde Eisbachtal
0–4 Arsenal Nentershausen
?', ?', ?' Boa Morte
?' Rankin		 Stadium: Eisbachtalstadion
Attendance: 2,300
Kickers Offenbach v Arsenal
4 August 1998 Friendly Kickers Offenbach 0–4 Arsenal Offenbach am Main
Report 22' Parlour
27', 60' Anelka
74' Vernazza		 Stadium: Stadion am Bieberer Berg
Attendance: 7,800

South Asian Tour

After the end of the season, Arsenal travelled to Asia to play the national sides of both Malaysia and Thailand. After a win against Malaysia, Arsenal suffered a shock loss to the Thai National Football team on 22 May.

19 May 1999 Friendly Malaysia 0–2 Arsenal Kuala Lumpur
Report 54' Anelka
66' Petit		 Stadium: Bukit Jalil National Stadium
Attendance: 60,000
22 May 1999 Friendly Thailand 4–3 Arsenal Bangkok
Kiatisuk 5', 87'
Thongchai 15'
Seksan ?'		 Report ?' Petit
49', 58' Kanu		 Stadium: Rajamangala Stadium
Attendance: 65,000

FA Charity Shield

Main article: 1998 FA Charity Shield

Arsenal started the season with a 3–0 win in the Charity Shield against last season's Premier League runners-up Manchester United.[28] Goals came from Overmars in the first half, Christopher Wreh after 61 minutes and Nicolas Anelka 11 minutes after.[28] The result was the first time that a club from Southern England had won the Shield outright since Tottenham Hotspur in 1962.[28]

Premier League

Main article: 1998–99 FA Premier League

August–October

Arsenal began their defence of the league title against newly promoted team Nottingham Forest on 17 August 1998. A goal by Overmars, eleven minutes from the end gave Arsenal the lead; Geoff Thomas equalised for Nottingham Forest after Petit headed in the opening goal.[29] A goalless draw against Liverpool[30] was followed by successive 0–0 draws, at home to Charlton Athletic[31] and away to Chelsea.[32] Stephen Hughes scored a last minute equaliser at Filbert Street on 12 September 1998 to deny Leicester City a win.[33] After the match, Wenger admitted the club were looking for a new striker to replace Ian Wright, being impressed with Leicester City's goalscorer Emile Heskey: "We will still be buying a striker but unfortunately Leicester do not want to sell Heskey so we will have to go somewhere else … I'm impressed by Heskey. Today he did very well offensively and tried like crazy; too much for me."[33] In Arsenal's next match, at home to Manchester United, goals from Tony Adams, Anelka and Freddie Ljungberg helped the champions inflict a 3–0 defeat; the result was Wenger's third consecutive win over rival manager Alex Ferguson.[34] However, in the following match, Arsenal lost for the first time in the season, against Sheffield Wednesday. Substitute Lee Briscoe scored in the 89th minute, lobbing the ball precisely over goalkeeper Alex Manninger after Sheffield Wednesday striker Paolo Di Canio was sent off for pushing the referee.[35]

On 4 October 1998, Arsenal hosted

Blackburn Rovers the following game, thus putting pressure on opposing manager Roy Hodgson as Blackburn remained in the bottom four.[38] The month ended with a 1–0 win away to Coventry City; Anelka scored his fifth league goal of the season, tapping the ball in the net after a counterattack started by Overmars.[39]

November–February

"Perhaps we gave our fans too much by winning the Double. Once you've eaten caviar, it is difficult to go back to sausages."

—Arsène Wenger, 29 November 1998[40]

Another 1–0 win, this time at home to

Charlton Athletic.[48] The team ended the calendar year in fourth position, two points behind Chelsea.[49]

On 9 January 1999, Arsenal were held to a stalemate by Liverpool; Wenger, commenting on the performance was disappointed about Liverpool's approach, adding: "Usually we create chances and don't score, but today we just didn't create chances."[50] A headed goal by Martin Keown, from a Petit corner earned Arsenal a 1–0 win the following week, away to Nottingham Forest.[51] Against Chelsea on the final day of January, Arsenal won 1–0 at Highbury to end the visitors 21-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.[52] Wenger hailed the performance, saying "I knew my players were ready. After a few years you just know. It's like working for the weather forecast: you have a feeling whether it will rain or not."[53]

An inspired performance by Bergkamp helped Arsenal win 0–4 at West Ham United in the first weekend of February.[54] He, however missed the following match, away to Manchester United, due to suspension along with Petit; Keown was absent due to a hamstring injury.[55] Arsenal conceded a first half penalty when Ray Parlour brought down Ronny Johnsen.[56] Dwight Yorke missed, chipping the ball wide of the right-hand post, and was made to pay early in the second half as new signing Nwankwo Kanu's through ball found striker Anelka, who scored. Andy Cole equalised moments after – Arsenal's first goal conceded in two months, and with both teams spurring chances to win the match, it ended in a 1–1 draw.[56] Three days after, Anelka scored his first career hat-trick against Leicester City.[57] Bergkamp after the match felt Arsenal were now equipped to push on for a title challenge, like last season: "It's all coming back. I feel it, for myself and for the team."[58] A draw at Newcastle left the team three points behind Chelsea, in third position.[59]

March–May

Arsenal moved into second place with a 3–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 9 March 1999. A brace from Bergkamp and a debut goal scored by Kanu – dumming the goalkeeper inside the penalty box and shooting past the middle of the net, meant the club now picked up 27 points out of a possible last 33.[60] A 2–0 win against Everton[61] was followed by another 2–0 win, at home to Coventry City.[62] Arsenal drew 0–0 with Southampton on 3 April 1999, which left the team four points behind league leaders Manchester United.[63] A 1–0 victory against Blackburn Rovers three days later, helped them move a point behind first position.[64] The team scored five goals against Wimbledon[65] and hit Middlesbrough for six the following week; Kanu's first goal, Arsenal's third was described as an "illustration of the African's deceptive subtlety,"[66] side-stepping defender Dean Gordon before stroking the ball past the net.[66] The result moved Arsenal to the top of the table for the first time in the season, albeit having played a match more than Manchester United.[66]

In May Arsenal beat Derby County 1–0 to return to first spot, after Manchester United recorded three points against Aston Villa.[67] A 3–1 away win against Tottenham Hotspur moved them three points clear after Paul Ince scored a late equaliser for Liverpool against Manchester United.[68] Wenger was adamant that Ferguson's team were marginal favourites,[69] but it was evident the title race would be decided on the final day, akin to 1995.[70] Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's late winner for Leeds United against Arsenal two days later all but ended their chances of retaining the league championship.[71] Although Manchester United drew their penultimate match away to Blackburn Rovers,[72] they eventually secured the title with a 2–1 victory at home to Tottenham Hotspur;[73] a second half goal scored by Kanu against Aston Villa on the final day ensured Arsenal finished a point behind, in second place.[74]

Match results

17 August 1998 1 Arsenal 2–1 Nottingham Forest London
20:00 BST Petit 58'
Overmars 79'		 Report 76' Thomas Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,064
Referee: Mike Riley
22 August 1998 2 Liverpool 0–0 Arsenal Liverpool
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,429
Referee: David Elleray
29 August 1998 3 Arsenal 0–0 Charlton Athletic London
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,014
Referee: Graham Poll
9 September 1998 4 Chelsea 0–0 Arsenal London
20:00 BST Report Stadium:
Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 34,644
Referee: Stephen Lodge
12 September 1998 5 Leicester City 1–1 Arsenal London
15:00 BST Heskey 28' Report 90' Hughes Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,628
Referee: Paul Durkin
20 September 1998 6 Arsenal 3–0 Manchester United London
16:00 BST Adams 22'
Anelka 29'
Ljungberg 72'		 Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,142
Referee: Graham Barber
26 September 1998 7 Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Arsenal Sheffield
15:00 BST Briscoe 89' Report Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 27,949
Referee: Paul Alcock
4 October 1998 8 Arsenal 3–0 Newcastle United London
15:00 BST Bergkamp 21', 66' (pen.)
Anelka 29'		 Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,102
Referee: Mike Reed
17 October 1998 9 Arsenal 1–1 Southampton London
15:00 BST Anelka 34' Report 67' Howells Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,027
Referee: Jeff Winter
25 October 1998 10 Blackburn Rovers 1–2 Arsenal Blackburn
16:00 BST Johnson 64' Report 25' Anelka
39' Petit		 Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 27,012
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
31 October 1998 11 Coventry City 0–1 Arsenal Coventry
15:00 GMT Report 25' Anelka Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 23,040
Referee: Uriah Rennie
8 November 1998 12 Arsenal 1–0 Everton London
15:00 GMT Anelka 6' Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,088
Referee: Gary Willard
14 November 1998 13 Arsenal 0–0 Tottenham Hotpsur London
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,278
Referee: Alan Wilkie
21 November 1998 14 Wimbledon 1–0 Arsenal London
15:00 GMT Ekoku 77' Report Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 26,003
Referee: Mike Riley
29 November 1998 15 Arsenal 1–1 Middlesbrough London
15:00 GMT Anelka 89' Report 6' Deane Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,075
Referee: Graham Barber
5 December 1998 16 Derby County 0–0 Arsenal Derby
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Pride Park
Attendance: 29,018
Referee: Mike Reed
13 December 1998 17 Aston Villa 3–2 Arsenal Birmingham
15:00 GMT Joachim 62'
Dublin 65', 83'		 Report 14', 45' Bergkamp Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 39,217
Referee: Stephen Lodge
20 December 1998 18 Arsenal 3–1 Leeds United London
16:00 GMT Bergkamp 28'
Vieira 53'
Petit 82'		 Report 66' Hasselbaink Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,025
Referee: Peter Jones
26 December 1998 19 Arsenal 1–0 West Ham United London
15:00 GMT Overmars 7' Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,098
Referee: Peter Jones
28 December 1998 20 Charlton Athletic 0–1 Arsenal London
15:00 GMT Report 53' (pen.) Overmars Stadium:
The Valley
Attendance: 20,043
Referee: Uriah Rennie
9 January 1999 21 Arsenal 0–0 Liverpool London
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,107
Referee: Graham Barber
16 January 1999 22 Nottingham Forest 0–1 Arsenal Nottingham
15:00 GMT Report 34' Keown Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 26,021
Referee: Paul Durkin
31 January 1999 23 Arsenal 1–0 Chelsea London
16:00 GMT Bergkamp 32' Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,121
Referee: Graham Poll
6 February 1999 24 West Ham United 0–4 Arsenal London
15:00 GMT Report 35' Bergkamp
45' Overmars
83' Anelka
87' Parlour		 Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 26,042
Referee: Jeff Winter
17 February 1999 25 Manchester United 1–1 Arsenal Manchester
20:00 GMT Cole 71' Report 58' Anelka Stadium:
Old Trafford
Attendance: 55,171
Referee: Gary Willard
20 February 1999 26 Arsenal 5–0 Leicester City London
15:00 GMT Anelka 23', 27', 44'
Parlour 42', 48'		 Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,069
Referee: Paul Durkin
28 February 1999 27 Newcastle United 1–1 Arsenal Newcastle
16:00 GMT Hamann 77' Report 36' Anelka Stadium:
St. James' Park
Attendance: 36,708
Referee: Mike Reed
9 March 1999 28 Arsenal 3–0 Sheffield Wednesday London
19:45 GMT Bergkamp 83', 88'
Kanu 86'		 Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,792
Referee: David Elleray
13 March 1999 29 Everton 0–2 Arsenal Liverpool
15:00 GMT Report 16' Parlour
69' (pen.) Bergkamp		 Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 38,049
Referee: Uriah Rennie
20 March 1999 30 Arsenal 2–0 Coventry City London
15:00 GMT Parlour 16'
Overmars 80'		 Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,073
Referee: Paul Alcock
3 April 1999 31 Southampton 0–0 Arsenal Southampton
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 15,255
Referee: Peter Jones
6 April 1999 32 Arsenal 1–0 Blackburn Rovers London
19:45 BST Bergkamp 42' Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,762
Referee: Graham Poll
19 April 1999 33 Arsenal 5–1 Wimbledon London
20:00 GMT Parlour 34'
Vieira 49'
Thatcher 56' (o.g.)
Bergkamp 57'
Kanu 59'		 Report 70' Cort Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,992
Referee: Stephen Lodge
24 April 1999 34 Middlesbrough 1–6 Arsenal Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Armstrong 87' Report 4' (pen.) Overmars
38', 78' Anelka
45', 60' Kanu
58' Vieira		 Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 34,630
Referee: Stephen Lodge
2 May 1999 35 Arsenal 1–0 Derby County London
16:00 BST Anelka 14' Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,323
Referee: Neale Barry
5 May 1999 36 Tottenham Hotspur 1–3 Arsenal London
20:00 BST Anderton 43' Report 17' Petit
33' Anelka
85' Kanu		 Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 36,019
Referee: Steve Dunn
11 May 1999 37
Leeds United
1–0 Arsenal Leeds
20:00 BST Hasselbaink 86' Report Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 40,124
Referee: Gary Willard
Arsenal v Aston Villa
16 May 1999 38 Arsenal 1–0 Aston Villa London
16:00 BST Kanu 66' Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,308
Referee: Dermot Gallagher

Classification

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Manchester United (C) 38 22 13 3 80 37 +43 79 Qualification for the Champions League first group stage
2 Arsenal 38 22 12 4 59 17 +42 78
3 Chelsea 38 20 15 3 57 30 +27 75 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
4 Leeds United 38 18 13 7 62 34 +28 67 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
5 West Ham United 38 16 9 13 46 53 −7 57 Qualification for the Intertoto Cup third round
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 22 12 4 59 17  +42 78 14 5 0 34 5  +29 8 7 4 25 12  +13

Source: [75]

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAAHAHAAAAHAHAAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAAH
ResultWDDDDWLWDWWWDLDDLWWWDWWWDWDWWWDWWWWWLW
Position24558935332334466533443333222222211122
Source: [76]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup

Main article: 1998–99 FA Cup

As holders and participants of the top division, Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round, in which they were drawn to play Preston North End of the Second Division. Despite being 2–0 down in the first half, Arsenal came back to win the match 4–2 at Deepdale.[77] In the fourth round, Arsenal played Wolverhampton Wanderers – a repeat of last year's semi-final. Goals from Overmars and Bergkamp helped Arsenal win 2–1; the match was overshadowed by the sending off of midfielder Petit.[78] A fifth round tie against Sheffield United was replayed on 23 February 1999 at the suggestion of Wenger.[79] The winning goal, scored by Overmars came from failure to return the ball to the opposition, in order to get defender Lee Morris off the pitch.[80] Arsenal went on to win the replay 2–1[81] and a 1–0 victory against Derby County meant the team reached the semi-finals for the second consecutive season.[82]

Arsenal played league challengers Manchester United on 11 April 1999. Neither team was able to score even after extra time had been played, therefore the match was decided in a replay four days later.[83] David Beckham opened the scoring for United from a long range shot, but Bergkamp equalised with a shot that deflected off United's centre back Jaap Stam.[84] United captain Roy Keane was red-carded for two bookable offences, with his team playing the last thirty minutes of normal time a man down.[84] In injury time, Phil Neville fouled Parlour in the penalty area, conceding a penalty.[84] Peter Schmeichel parried away Bergkamp's resultant spot kick and the game went into extra time. Giggs scored partway through the second half of extra time. Picking up possession on the halfway line after a loose pass from Patrick Vieira, he dribbled past the entire Arsenal back line before shooting just under Seaman's bar.[84] Giggs ran celebrating towards the United fans, and the team held on win 2–1.[84] The goal was the last ever scored in a FA Cup semi-final replay; it was to be abolished from the following season.[85]

4 January 1999 Third round Preston North End 2–4 Arsenal Preston
19:45 GMT Nogan 17', 21' 44'
Boa Morte
60', 79' Petit
81' Overmars
 Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 21,099
24 January 1999 Fourth round Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Arsenal Wolverhampton
15:30 GMT Flo 37' 10' Overmars
69' Bergkamp		 Stadium: Molineux Stadium
Attendance: 27,511
Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol)
13 February 1999 Fifth round Arsenal Voided Sheffield United London
Vieira 28'
Overmars 76'		 48'
Marcelo
 Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,020
Referee: Peter Jones (Loughborough)
23 February 1999 Fifth round replay Arsenal 2–1 Sheffield United London
19:45 Overmars 15'
Bergkamp 37'		 86' Morris Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,161
Referee: Peter Jones (Loughborough)
6 March 1999 Sixth round Arsenal 1–0 Derby County London
15:00 Kanu 89' Details Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,046
Referee: Steve Dunn (Gloucestershire)
11 April 1999 Semi-finals Manchester United 0–0 (a.e.t.) Arsenal Birmingham
12:30 Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 39,217
Referee: David Elleray (Kent)
14 April 1999 Semi-finals replay
1–2 (a.e.t.)
 Manchester United Birmingham
19:45 Bergkamp 69' Beckham 17'
Giggs 109'		 Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 30,223
Referee: David Elleray (Kent)

League Cup

Main article: 1998–99 Football League Cup

In the third round of the League Cup, Arsenal faced Derby County at Pride Park. Wenger made several first team changes to give his younger players playing time; Arsenal ran out 2–1 winners, a performance where "every touch by a Derby player was greeted with ironic cheers."[86] However, the team were beaten comprehensively in the next round to Chelsea at Highbury, losing 0–5. The result inflicted Arsenal's biggest defeat in over eight years and Wenger defended his team selection, virtually a 'second team': "I knew before the game that this kind of thing might happen. You only had to look at the team sheets. If we had won I would still have gone on playing the same side because the players need the experience."[87] Bergkamp, who was rested for the match, echoed his manager's comments: "We had a lot of young players on the field against Chelsea and, although they were feeling very down after losing like that, they will learn from it. To be honest, the scoreline doesn't mean anything, whether it was 1–0 or 5–0. The supporters will feel bad but I hope they understand Saturday will be a different game [at home to Tottenham Hotspur]."[88]

28 October 1998 Third round Derby County 1–2 Arsenal Derby
19:45 GMT Sturridge 83' Report 21' (o.g.) Carsley
55' Vivas		 Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 25,621
Referee: Stephen Lodge
11 November 1998 Fourth round Arsenal 0–5 Chelsea London
20:00 GMT Report 34' (pen.) Leboeuf
49', 73' Vialli
65', 80' Poyet		 Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,562
Referee: David Elleray

UEFA Champions League

Main article: 1998–99 UEFA Champions League

Group stage

Main article: 1998–99 UEFA Champions League group stage § Group E

Winning the Premier League the previous season ensured Arsenal's qualification into the UEFA Champions League. They last participated in Europe's premier competition seven years ago, losing to Portuguese club

Football Association to host their home Champions League matches at Wembley Stadium.[90] A Wembley spokesman added "We would be delighted for Arsenal to use the stadium. It makes financial sense."[91]

The club were drawn in Group E, along with French champions

Serhii Rebrov scoring the equaliser in stoppage time.[95] In the reverse fixture, Arsenal – depleted due to injuries, lost 3–1[96] and a further defeat, at home to Lens meant the team effectively were out of the competition.[97] An understrength Arsenal team won their final group game away to Panathinaikos but finished third in Group B; Wenger asserted after the match that his main aim was to retain the Premier League, going further to describe the group as "very average".[98]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv 6 3 2 1 11 7 +4 11 Advance to knockout stage
2 France Lens 6 2 2 2 5 6 −1 8
3 England Arsenal 6 2 2 2 8 8 0 8
4 Greece Panathinaikos 6 2 0 4 6 9 −3 6
Source: UEFA
16 September 1998 1 Lens France 1–1 England Arsenal Lens, France
20:45 CEST Vairelles 90' Report 56' Overmars Stadium:
Stade Félix Bollaert
Attendance: 33,371
Referee: Hellmut Krug (Germany
)
30 September 1998 2 Arsenal England 2–1 Greece Panathinaikos London, England
19:45 BST Adams 64'
Keown 72'		 Report 88'
Mauro
 Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 73,454
Referee: Antonio López Nieto (Spain)
21 October 1998 3 Arsenal England 1–1 Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv London, England
19:45 GMT Bergkamp 74' Report 90'
Rebrov
 Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 73,256
Referee: Ryszard Wójcik (Poland)
4 November 1998 4 Dynamo Kyiv Ukraine 3–1 England Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine
21:45 EST
Rebrov 27' (pen.)
Holovko 62'
Shevchenko
72'		 Report 83'
Hughes
 Stadium:
Olimpiysky National Sports Complex
Attendance: 53,000
Referee: Piero Ceccarini (Italy
)
25 November 1998 5 Arsenal England 0–1 France Lens London, England
19:45 GMT Report 72' Debève Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 73,707
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
9 December 1998 6 Panathinaikos Greece 1–3 England Arsenal Athens, Greece
21:45 EST Sypniewski 74' 65' (o.g.) Asanović
80' Anelka
86' Boa Morte		 Stadium: Spiridon Louis
Attendance: 41,105
Referee: Stefano Braschi (Italy)

Player statistics

Arsenal used a total of 30 players during the 1998–99 season and there were 14 different goalscorers. There were also three squad members who did not make a first-team appearance in the campaign. Overmars featured in 49 matches – the most of any Arsenal player in the campaign. Vivas made the most appearances as a substitute with 18.

The team scored a total of 82 goals in all competitions. The highest scorer was Anelka, with 19 goals, followed by Bergkamp who scored 16 goals. Three Arsenal players were sent off during the season: Dixon, Keown and Petit (twice).

Key

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with number struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.

No. Pos. Nat. Name Premier League FA Cup League Cup Charity Shield Champions League Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow rectangular card A red rectangular card
1 GK  ENG David Seaman 32 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 6 0 44 0 0 0
2 DF  ENG Lee Dixon 36 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 48 0 7 1
3 DF  ENG Nigel Winterburn 30 0 6 0 5 0 1 0 5 0 42 0 8 0
4 MF  FRA Patrick Vieira 34 3 5 (1) 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 43 4 7 0
5 DF  ENG Steve Bould 14 (5) 0 3 (1) 0 0 0 (1) 0 2 (1) 0 19 (8) 0 3 0
6 DF  ENG Tony Adams 26 1 5 0 0 0 1 0 4 1 36 2 4 0
7 DF  ARG Nelson Vivas 10 (13) 0 4 (2) 0 2 1 0 0 2 (3) 0 18 (18) 1 5 0
8 MF  SWE Freddie Ljungberg 10 (6) 1 2 (1) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 14 (7) 1 4 0
9 FW  FRA Nicolas Anelka 34 (1) 17 5 0 0 0 1 1 5 1 44 (1) 19 0 0
10 FW  NED Dennis Bergkamp 28 (1) 12 6 3 1 0 1 0 3 1 40 (1) 16 5 0
11 MF  NED Marc Overmars 37 6 6 (1) 3 0 0 1 1 4 1 48 (1) 11 2 0
12 FW  LBR Christopher Wreh 3 (9) 0 0 0 2 0 (1) 1 3 0 8 (10) 1 0 0
13 GK  AUT Alex Manninger 6 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0
14 DF  ENG Martin Keown 34 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 5 1 44 2 7 1
15 MF  ENG Ray Parlour 35 6 7 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 47 6 3 0
16 MF  ENG Stephen Hughes 4 (10) 1 2 (2) 0 2 0 (1) 0 2 (2) 1 10 (15) 2 0 0
17 MF  FRA Emmanuel Petit 26 (1) 4 3 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 33 (1) 6 8 2
18 DF  FRA Gilles Grimandi 3 (5) 0 1 (1) 0 2 0 (1) 0 1 (1) 0 7 (8) 0 1 0
19 MF  FRA Rémi Garde 6 (4) 0 2 (2) 0 2 0 0 0 3 (2) 0 13 (8) 0 2 0
20 DF  ENG Matthew Upson (5) 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 (5) 0 0 0
21 MF  POR Luís Boa Morte 2 (6) 0 1 1 2 0 (1) 0 2 (1) 1 5 (7) 2 0 0
22 DF  FRA David Grondin 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0
23 MF  GER Alberto Méndez 0 0 1 0 1 (1) 0 0 0 1 1 3 (1) 1 0 0
25 FW  NGR Nwankwo Kanu 5 (7) 6 (5) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 (12) 8 0 0
26 FW  ARG Fabián Caballero (1) 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 (3) 0 0 0
27 FW  FRA Kaba Diawara 2 (10) 0 1 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 (12) 0 0 0
28 MF  ENG Michael Black 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 0 0
29 DF  ENG Jason Crowe 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0
30 MF  ENG Paolo Vernazza 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
32 FW  ENG Omer Riza 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0

Source:[1][99]

See also

References

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