The1993 Football Association Charity Shieldwas the 71stFA Charity Shield,an annualfootballmatch played between the winners of the previous season'sPremier LeagueandFA Cupcompetitions. It was held atWembley Stadiumon 7 August 1993. The match was played betweenArsenal,who beatSheffield Wednesdayto win the1993 FA Cup Final,andManchester United,champions of theinaugural Premier League competition.Watched by a crowd of 66,519, Manchester United won the Shield 5–4 onpenalties,after the match had finished at 1–1 after 90 minutes. This was the second edition to have penalties to decide the winners. The first being 1974 when Liverpool beat Leeds United on penalties.
 Thematch programmecover | |||||||
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| Manchester United won 5–4 onpenalties | |||||||
| Date | 7 August 1993 | ||||||
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| Venue | Wembley Stadium,London | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Paul Ince (Manchester United)[1] | ||||||
| Referee | Gerald Ashby(Worcestershire) | ||||||
| Attendance | 66,519 | ||||||
| Weather | Sunny[2] | ||||||
This was Arsenal's 12th's Charity Shield appearance and Manchester United's 17th. The 1993 staging of the event was the first to feature players wearing permanent squad numbers; this became common practise in time for the1993–94season.Roy Keanemade his debut for Manchester United in the match; he partneredPaul Incein midfield. United began the match the brighter of the two teams and scored after eight minutes of play, throughMark Hughes.StrikerEric Cantonaspurned two chances to extend United's lead, by which point Arsenal's midfield started to assert themselves. Five minutes before the interval,Ian Wrightcapitalised on a mistake byRyan Giggsto score the equaliser. Arsenal started the second half strongly, which prompted Ferguson to tweak his formation and bring onBryan Robsonin place of Giggs.Eddie McGoldrickcame on for his Arsenal debut in the 74th minute, and two minutes later, United were denied a penalty after Ince was brought down byJohn Jensen.
As there were no further goals, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Wright andDenis Irwinmissed their penalties; the decisive penalty, taken by Arsenal goalkeeperDavid Seaman,was saved by his opposite number,Peter Schmeichel.Arsenal managerGeorge Grahamadmitted his surprise over how the game was decided and thought both clubs would share the trophy; his counterpartAlex Ferguson,though delighted with his team's victory, felt thesudden deathaspect was unnecessary.
Background
editTheFA Charity Shieldwas founded in 1908 as a contest between the top professional and amateur teams of each season. It was played between theFootball Leaguechampions andFA Cupwinners for the first time in 1921; the formation of a new top-tier division, thePremier League,in 1992 meant it displaced the Football League spot.[3]Wembley Stadiumacted as the home venue of the Shield, first hosting the event in 1974.[3]The Arsenal players in the 1993 staging of the Charity Shield were the first in the competition's history to wear permanentsquad numbersand names on the back of their shirts, while the Manchester United players used the traditional 1–11 numbering system without the names, which was phased out by the start of the1993–94 FA Premier Leagueseason.[4]The Premier League intended to introduce persistent squad numbers with names at the start of the 1992–93 season, butManchester Unitedvetoed plans as their laundry room "was too small to handle all the extra shirts".[5]
Arsenal qualified for the 1993 FA Charity Shield by defeatingSheffield Wednesdayin a replay match of the1993 FA Cup Finalto win the cup.[6]The club therefore completed adomestic cup double;earlier in the season they beat Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 to win the1993 Football League Cup Final.[7]The other Charity Shield place went to Manchester United, winners of theinaugural Premier Leaguecompetition.[6]It was their first league title in 26 years and goalkeeperPeter Schmeichelfelt the signing of strikerEric Cantonawas a factor in the team's success: "He has added an element of surprise, imagination, inventiveness."[8]
This was Manchester United's first appearance in the Charity Shield in three years; prior to this event they won 10 Shields outright (1908,1911,1952,1956,1957,1983), shared four (1965,1967,1977,1990) and lost three (1948,1963,1985). By contrast, Arsenal won seven previous Shields (1930,1931,1933,1934,1938,1948,1953), shared one withTottenham Hotspurin1991and lost four (1935,1936,1979,1989).[9]Both clubs had only once met before in the Shield, when Arsenal won by four goals to three in 1948.[9]
Pre-match
editBoth managers approached the match with a view to win, in spite of the Shield's friendly feel.[10]Arsenal managerGeorge Grahamopined "Winning is a good habit, so why not start early?"[10][11]Graham lambasted those who found his team's playing style tedious: "The criticism that we don't pass the ball and we don't have flair is overdone. We won two championships and in the second lost one game out of 38."[12]However, Manchester United managerAlex Fergusonsaid "Winning means keeping your job, and it can be a delicate situation. But I tell myself I'm not going to fail in this game." Ferguson spoke in glowing terms of new signingRoy Keane,a midfielder who gave United "unbelievable options, a real edge to the squad".[13]
The match was scheduled for a 12:30pm kick off sinceSky Sportstelevised the match in both Scotland and England; they were unable to pick an afternoon slot because of thetelevision blackout,which aimed to protect Scottish attendances.[14]UEFAwarnedThe Football Associationin the lead-up to the Charity Shield that a 3pm kick-off would result in a minimum fine of £5 million.[15]Deryk Brown ofThe Sunday Timeswrote of the decision: "So, at least, the season is beginning as it will go on, at the mercy of television."[14]Tickets for the game were advertised at a cost of between£10 and £30.[16]
Match
editTeam selection
editArsenal lined up in a4–4–2formation;Eddie McGoldrickwas included in the matchday squad, whileKevin CampbellpartneredIan Wrightup front.[17]Ferguson deployed a4–2–4formation, withPaul Incepartnering debutant Keane in the midfield two.[17]Andrei Kanchelskiswas picked in favour ofLee Sharpeon the right wing.[18]
Summary
editManchester United began the first half the better of the two teams and led from the eighth minute.[14]Denis Irwin's cross into Arsenal'spenalty areafoundEric Cantonaon the right side; he lobbed the ball inMark Hughes' direction, who was surrounded by the Arsenal defenders.[14]Hughes instinctively made a connection with the ball with an overhead shot that beat goalkeeperDavid Seamanat the near post.[14]United fashioned another chance to score moments after; Keane fed the ball to Cantona whose shot was blocked by Seaman.[1][14]Kanchelskis created a further chance for Cantona; the Frenchman's effort once more was denied, this time by an Arsenal defender.[1]"These proved costly misses", opinedPatrick Barclay,given United's tempo weakened, and Arsenal'sJohn JensenandPaul Davisstarted to impose themselves in midfield.[1]United captainSteve Brucecoped well against Campbell and Wright, but the latter striker equalised for Arsenal in the 40th minute.[1]A loose pass fromRyan Giggswas headed-on by Davis and the ball fell to Wright.[14]He, "some 20 yards out", hit the ball first time, which dipped past the underside of the crossbar.[14]
A tackle by Ince onLee Dixonleft the Arsenal defender with a damaged ankle; he came off at half time and was replaced byMartin Keown.[19]Arsenal's performance improved after Wright's goal;Paul Merson,a quiet figure in the first half, influenced their play in the second.[19]Ferguson responded to Arsenal's newfound impetus by substituting Giggs forBryan Robson.[17]This tweaked United's formation to4–3–3;in spite of Ince's well-rounded performance, his partner Keane started to tire as the game went on and United's game therefore suffered.[1][17]Keane was shifted onto the right to accommodate Robson, who brought control to United's play.[1]In the meantime,Nigel Winterburnprevented Cantona from scoring, following good play by Kanchelskis.[1]Arsenal's service to Wright and Campbell was infrequent throughout the second half, but both players tested Schmeichel in goal.[1]McGoldrick came on for his Arsenal debut in the 74th minute, a versatile player, able to "sweep, score from midfield or play wide".[14]Two minutes later, Seaman denied Keane from scoring with a one-handed save.[20]United continued to attack and a move was broken down after Jensen's tackle brought Ince down in the Arsenal's penalty area.[1]Gerald Ashbyrefused to award a penalty – "the referee's decision otherwise was not supported by television replays".[1]
No further goals meant the game was decided on a penalty shoot-out. The first four penalties were scored – Ince and Bruce for United and Winterburn and Jensen for Arsenal, before Seaman saved Irwin's effort. Wright missed his penalty, prompting jeers from the United supporters.[14]The shoot-out proceeded tosudden death;Robson scored and Seaman "saw his gentle penalty saved by his opposite number" to give United a 5–4 win and thereby the Shield.[14]
Details
edit| Arsenal | 1–1 | Manchester United |
|---|---|---|
Wright 40' |
[21] | Hughes8' |
| Penalties | ||
Winterburn Jensen Campbell Merson Wright  Seaman |
4–5 | InceBruceIrwinKeaneCantonaRobson |
          Arsenal[22]
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  Manchester United[22]
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Match rules
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Post-match
editThe Charity Shield was presented to Bruce by former Arsenal managerBilly Wright.[23]Wright died barely a year later, aged 70.[24]Graham assumed both clubs would share the trophy, so when it came to a penalty shoot-out he entrusted his players to decide their order.[25]He described Wright's goal as "brilliant" and felt it was "unfortunate" that Seaman missed: "For a goalkeeper, he normally takes great penalties. He normally hits them hard but he decided to try and place this one and it didn't work."[25]Wright was unashamed of his penalty miss, "…just as long as I don't do it when it is important".[26]
Ferguson remarked the Shield should not have been settled on penalties; to him it was a "celebration of success", though ultimately he was delighted his team won.[18]He was pleased with the team's start – "I thought in the first 25 minutes we were really good and could have tied the match up then"[25]– and considered lining the team up in a 4–3–3 formation to begin with, though wanted to see "how Keane played with Ince, what the balance was like".[17]Ince believed he should have been awarded a penalty after Jensen fouled him: "I was past their last man and there was no way I would have dived from there."[25]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcdefghijklBarclay, Patrick (8 August 1993). "Able Seaman all at sea with penalty".The Observer.London. p. 40.
- ^"The Times Today".The Times.7 August 1993. p. 16.
- ^ab"The FA Community Shield history".The Football Association.Retrieved21 May2016.
- ^Lacey, David (21 August 1993). "Playing by squad numbers sows seeds of confusion".The Guardian.London. p. 15.
- ^Thorpe, Martin (21 August 1993). "Thomas on the high road back".The Guardian.London. p. 15.
- ^abThomas, Russell (7 August 1993). "Scots with little room for charity".The Guardian.London. p. 19.
- ^"Gunners clinch FA and League Cup double".Arsenal F.C. 16 December 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 13 October 2016.Retrieved16 January2014.
- ^Ball, Peter (3 May 1993). "United claim the glittering prize at last".The Times.p. 19.
- ^abRoss, James (15 August 2013)."List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches".Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).Retrieved11 January2014.
- ^abMiller, David (7 August 1993). "Arsenal should aim to please".The Times.p. 30.
- ^"Tunnel of hate".Daily Mirror.London. 7 August 1993. pp. 26–7.
- ^Curry, Steve (7 August 1993). "Glasgow glitter boys on parade".Daily Express.London. pp. 78–9.
- ^Thomas, Russell (7 August 1993). "Keane widens the horizons".The Guardian.London. p. 19.
- ^abcdefghijkBrown, Deryk (8 August 1993). "Wright kicks off with a screamer and a howler".The Sunday Times.London. p. S2.
- ^Harris, Bob (30 May 1993). "TV in Charity Shield shocker".Sunday Mirror.London. p. 64.
- ^"Display ad 26".The Guardian.London. 6 August 1993. p. A15.
- ^abcdeBall, Peter (9 August 1993). "Resilient Arsenal dip United's wings".The Times.p. 20.
- ^abLovejoy, Joe (9 August 1993)."United learning to live with their riches: Ferguson says he would have happily shared the spoils at Wembley".The Independent.London.Archivedfrom the original on 1 May 2022.Retrieved6 January2014.
- ^abFox, Norman (8 August 1993)."United have the last laugh in lottery".The Independent on Sunday.London.Archivedfrom the original on 1 May 2022.
- ^Lacey, David (9 August 1993). "Shoot-out spoils Shield's sweet charity".The Guardian.London. p. 12.
- ^Harris, Bob (8 August 1993). "It's Gunner be all Wright".Daily Mirror.London. p. 54.
- ^abArsenal v Manchester Utd FA Charity Shield 1993(Television production). Sky Sports. 7 August 1993. Event occurs at 0:00–1:23. Archived fromthe originalon 31 August 2020.Retrieved17 March2020– via YouTube.
- ^Keys, Richard (presenter), Tyler, Martin (commentator) (7 August 1993).The Charity Shield: Arsenal v Manchester United(Television production). Sky Sports. Event occurs at 14:00:00–14:30:00.
- ^"Billy Wright".The Times.5 September 1994. p. 17.
- ^abcdIrwin, Mark (8 August 1993). "We're a mess".Sunday Mirror.London. p. 56.
- ^Clarke, Nigel (9 August 1993). "Top gun can grab 50 goals".Daily Mirror.London. p. 33.