This article by Tony Attwood is part of the series reviewing 100 consecutive Arsenal seasons in the top division – an anniversary which occurred in the 2025/26 season – in which, as you will know, Arsenal won the League. The most recent previous posts in this series have been
- 1992/3: more Arsenal trophies but not THE trophy
- 100 seasons in the top division: 1991/92 and back to fourth
- 100 seasons in the top divsion part 2. 1990/91: the tale of Smith and Wright
However, our most recent post interrupted the sequence, commemorating the fact that
That article was a diversion from our normal series, recording as it does the fact that Arsenal won the league in 2026, while celebrating 100 years in the top division. An index to the series, as far as we have got, is published here. A shorter index of the most recent articles can be found on the right of this page and also on our home page.
It is something of a shame that Arsenal FC have made so little of 100 consecutive years of Arsenal in the top division, which those of us in the know celebrate in 2026, but of course, they have their own messages and their own approaches to Arsenal’s history. And we have ours.
But now, having recalled Arsenal becoming the first ever cup double winners, we must move on to 1993/4, with Arsenal back in Europe, and partaking in the Cup Winners’ Cup. And as you will probably know, Arsenal won the CWC by beating Parma 1-0. And they did that without Ian Wright, who was suspended for the occasion. Arsenal were also suffering from injuries to key players, including Keown, Hillier and Jenson – but nevertheless took the prize.
What you might not recall, however, is that Parma were the favourites, something that may seem strange since, as I write this in 2026, they are sitting 13th in the Italian League, just eight points above relegation, and 44 points behind Inter at the top. Success in football, however, does not always last!
We might also note that the “1-0 to the Arsenal” song originated from this era, as near the end of the season Arsenal had seven games in a row in which the results were either 1-0 to the Arsenal or a 1-1 draw.
(Arsenal, as you may recall, with this piece being composed in May 2026, are Premier League Champions.)
But back to the past, Arsenal had another piece of silverware, and came in fourth in the Premier League, although a whopping 21 points behind Manchester United at the top. Arsenal had a problem, which was indeed scoring goals. Although fourth in the league, Arsenal scored 27 fewer goals than the title winners. Indeed, half the clubs in the league scored more goals that season than Arsenal.
But it was not an era of gloom and doom, as this was Arsenal’s third successful cup run in two seasons, winning the FA Cup and League Cup the season before. However, it was singularly apparent that the goal scoring was dependent on two men – Campbell, who knocked in 14 league goals and of course Ian Wright with 23. The defence was solid indeed (the club conceded one goal in the final seven CWC games), but 1-0 to the Arsenal was now the chant most associated with the club.
And yes, there was a 19-match unbeaten run from the end of 1993 through to just on the end of the season. But there was the problem with Alan Smith, who, having already had one season where his regular goal-scoring activities had largely left him, was clearly slowing down; now he was in his 30s. In fact, he lasted one more year in which he scored just nine goals, including only two in the league, and everyone knew he had to be replaced. He had the brilliant attribute of not picking up yellow cards (he actually just got one in his career at Arsenal), but it was goals that Arsenal needed, having scored 27 fewer than Man U in that season.
Only once in their last dozen games of the season did Arsenal score more than one goal in a match (a 2-1 win over Aston Villa, both goals scored by Ian Wright, with one of those being a penalty). There was also concern about Paul Merson, as stories circulated about his addictive behaviour patterns, but as is the way with football, such matters could be forgotten if there was silverware and a reputation as cup winners. For the records now read, 1992/3 – FA Cup and League Cup winners, 1993/4: Cup Winners’ Cup Winners.
And there had been a real improvement in Arsenal’s league form, coming fourth in 1993/4, after a disappointing tenth the season before. But those who looked at the league tables were aware of Manchester United’s strength. Since Arsenal had won the league in 1991, Manchester United had come runners-up in 1992, won the league in 1992/3 and were looking strong for 1994/5.
Arsenal, on the other had were looking good for the Cups. So although fourth place in 1993/4 was disappointing, it still left Arsenal as the top London team (Tottenham finished down in 15th, compared with Wimbledon in sixth). And yet Manchester United had won the league 21 points ahead of Arsenal. And although that was fewer than the 28 points deficit the season before, one could hardly call the final table “close.”
Arsenal had won the league in 1991, but in reality had not been close since and ahead of the 1994/5 season, it looked as if Ian Wright was going to be on his own in terms of goal scoring. He scored 23 goals in 39 league games in the previous season, but he seemed to be slowing down somewhat…
