Arsenal fans are a lucky bunch, our footballing obsession is liberally sprinkled with triumphs and iconic victories. From the golden age of Herbert Chapman, the great ‘50s Arsenal teams, the cuptastic 1970s, the George Graham era and the stellar successes of Arsene Wenger’s double winners, unbeatables, and latterly, FA Cup kings.
And what of collecting Arsenal shirts? Collecting shirts and footie memorabilia is big business these days. Whether you are a semi-professional collector, an eBay seller, you have picked up a Gunners shirt here and there along the way, could you be sitting on a little goldmine? There is a fairly strict hierarchy to the prices of football shirts, and it goes roughly like this…
- Signed (and framed) match-worn shirt
- Match worn shirt
- Signed (and framed) souvenir replica
- Signed player Issue shirt
- Player issue shirt
- Signed replica shirt
- Replica shirt
I have convinced myself I remember this game. Either way it is a chapter in Arsenal folklore. Bertie Mee’s double-winners had already won the League at White Hart Lane before taking on Bill Shankly’s mighty red machine at a sun splashed Wembley. Goal down in extra time (Bob Wilson not guarding his near post), a slightly odd equaliser, followed by Charlie George’s screamer from 20 yards, celebrated with a famous lie down on the Wembley turf.
Get the shirt: Framed, Charlie George signed souvenir 1971 Cup Final shirt £299, signed replica (unframed) £79.
1979 FA Cup Final
From triumph to disaster to one of the greatest Arsenal magic moments, ever. Cruising 2-0 after some classic Brady inspired dominance, Arsenal managed to throw it away, only to rescue the trophy in the dying seconds courtesy of Alan ‘King of the perms’ Sunderland’s winning goal. Who can forget his ecstatic goal celebrations, as the likes of Arthur Albiston, Gordon McQueen and Lou Macari sank to the turf in despair?
Get the shirt: Alan Sunderland signed replica (unframed) £100
From triumph to disaster to one of the greatest Arsenal magic moments, ever. Cruising 2-0 after some classic Brady inspired dominance, Arsenal managed to throw it away, only to rescue the trophy in the dying seconds courtesy of Alan ‘King of the perms’ Sunderland’s winning goal. Who can forget his ecstatic goal celebrations, as the likes of Arthur Albiston, Gordon McQueen and Lou Macari sank to the turf in despair?
Get the shirt: Alan Sunderland signed replica (unframed) £100
No-one thought they could do it, win by two clear goals at Anfield. That they did in itself is amazing, that they did it in the last minute of the last game of the whole season makes it arguably the greatest single moment in Arsenal history, made even more iconic by Brian Moore’s commentary, ‘Its up for grabs now’. Mickey Thomas almost let the defenders get to him before sneaking it under Bruce Grobbelar, and Arsenal won the championship for the first time in 18 years. Priceless.
Get the shirt: Original replica in good condition £149
Did Arsenal fans go to Gothenburg with anything other than hope? Parma at that point were one of Europe’s best teams, Ian Wright was out and for the first half Arsenal were put to the sword. But didn’t concede. Alan ’Smudger’ Smith volleyed us ahead and then came the finest hour of that famous defence with Steve Bould playing his best ever game. And the legend of one nil to the Arsenal song was born.
Get the shirt: Mint replica £99. Match-issue Paul Davis 1994 match-issue home shirt £500.
2002: Manchester United 0 V 1 Arsenal
We won the league…in Manchester. Hot on the heels of winning the FA Cup In Cardiff courtesy of two beautiful goals Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljundberg, an Henry-less Arsenal went to their greatest rivals and ‘thumped’ them by a single goal. As he had all season, Ljundberg was through on goal, Barthez parries it and Sylvain Wiltord, in the famous gold away shirt, slots in the winner. I cried.
Get the shirt: Wiltord match-worn 2002 away shirt £399, Bergkamp player issue (unworn) £129 original replica in good condition £50
2004/5: The Unbeatable Season
49 games without losing, champions, playing breathtakingly beautiful football, which Arsenal fan cannot get misty eyed over Bergkamp’s genius, the ballet master Robert Pires, Thierry’s majesty, Viera’s muscular inspiration. Other supporters may disagree but Arsenal fans know this was simply the best team ever. As Don Howe has said, there were periods in that season that the Gunners played as well as any team he had ever seen ever.
Get the shirt: Framed Thierry Henry signed replica shirt £199.
After a severe drought in the trophy cabinet, Arsenal broke their run of ‘just finishing fourth’ to grab some much needed silverware. From hapless defending against Hull to eventually winning in 2014, followed a year later by an absolute crucifixion of Aston Villa, the only debate is whether Santi Cazorla’s 2014 free kick can compare with Sanchez’ absolutely unsaveable screamer past the bewildered Shay Given.
Get the shirt: Full team signed 2015 shirt with certificate £90, match-issue (unworn) Mezut Ozil £200
No comments:
Post a Comment