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Arsenal Flashback

Posted on: Thu 18 Sep 2008

Back in February 1994, Bolton Wanderers stunned this weekend's opponents Arsenal with a sensational FA Cup fourth round replay victory at Highbury.

The original tie had finished 2-2 at Burnden Park, after Owen Coyle's late equaliser took the tie to a replay in North London.

On that famous night, goals from John McGinlay, Jason McAteer and Andy Walker sealed a fantastic 3-1 scoreline for the Wanderers, sending the holders crashing out of the competition.

That epic performance will live long in the memory of many supporters, on an evening when the Burnden Park faithful ruled the Clock End at Highbury.

With Arsenal travelling to the Reebok this Saturday, we thought it would be appropriate to re-live that illustrious game with a few of the Bolton players who featured that night.

Hence, the official website caught up with John McGinlay, David Lee and Tony Kelly to get their recollections of February 9, 1994...

John McGinlay

John McGinlay

"We'd gone down to Highbury, and bear in mind that they won the European Cup Winners Cup that year, and battered them. It wasn't like they had a shabby team either because they had the famous back-four upon which they built all their successes around.

"My lasting memory of that game is that it should have been 4-1 because Tony Kelly scored an absolutely awesome free-kick at the end. I felt sorry for Tony because it was one of those things that not many people remember and it was chalked off for something as petulant as a player encroaching.

"I remember looking round and seeing Tony Adams with his hands on his knees absolutely shattered. That was testament to Bruce and Colin's training and the fitness levels of the team and that was one thing about our team, we never gave up and always finished games really strong."

David Lee

David Lee

"We had prepared in exactly the same way as we had done for previous games and we just went down to Highbury with the thought of enjoying the occasion. I don't think anybody expected us to do anything down there but we had that team spirit and within that we knew we could perform well.

"People had written us off before the game had even started because they thought that in the game before at Burnden, when we drew 2-2, we had missed our best chance at beating them. But, we went down there with no fear, no expectations and only self pride.

"In the first game at Burnden I remember being really impressed with Ian Wright but he didn't play in the replay, whether he was injured, suspended, I can't remember. I know I had a hand in Andy Walker's goal, which was a great finish and sealed the game for us.

"What I do remember is after the full-time whistle, Ian Wright was waiting at the end of the tunnel and he shook everyone's hand and said 'well done, you deserved to win'.

"Obviously he was gutted that he couldn't play and that they didn't get through, but he made a habit of coming to congratulate every player.

"I was friends with Lee Dixon at the time because of the Bury connection so I asked him if he could sort something out with swapping an Arsenal player's shirt, so I managed to get one of their defenders'.

"But we didn't have much time to celebrate, it was just a case of a quick cup of tea in the players lounge before it was back on the coach and back to reality.

"I remember running over to the Clock End at the full-time and the photographers tried to recreate the 'White Hot' picture with a few of the other players from the win we had the year earlier at Anfield.

"It was fantastic night and it's still deep in people's memories today."

Tony Kelly

Tony Kelly

"The game at Burnden Park was class and I remember it got delayed because some guy tried to land a parachute on the pitch but he got stuck on one of the floodlights.

"We should have beat them in that game at Burnden, but when we went down to Arsenal, I think they got one of the biggest shocks of their lives that night because every one of us were on form in that match.

"We had a lot of good games and good results, but if you talk about perfect performances then that was it. Every one of us stood up and got counted.

"It should have been 4-1 because I scored that free-kick at the end that got disallowed and today I still get Bolton fans asking me about that.

"The referee was Gerald Ashby and that is one name that I will never forget! To score that free-kick would have been the icing on the cake.

"When I stuck it in the top corner John McGinlay and I ran off to the away end celebrating. The next thing, I turned round and I could see Bruce Rioch waving his arms on the touchline moaning at the referee's decision.

"I'd had a bet with Lee Dixon and Steve Bould for a case of beer that I would score because I knew them from my days at Stoke. But they paid up and gave me the two cases, while Ian Wright threw one in as well for the lads - that's the type of sportsman he is.

"The Arsenal lads hated getting beat, but fair play to them, because they were honest and they admitted that we slaughtered them."

Don't forget to pick up a copy of the Arsenal matchday programme which contains the first edition of an exclusive two-part interview with Super John McGinlay.

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