The 1993 Football League Cup final took place on 18 April 1993 at Wembley Stadium, and was played between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday. Arsenal won 2–1 in normal time, in what was the first of three Wembley finals between the two sides that season; Arsenal and Wednesday also met in the FA Cup final of that year (which went to a replay), the first time ever in English football.
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| Event | 1992–93 Football League Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 18 April 1993 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Paul Merson (Arsenal) | ||||||
| Referee | Allan Gunn | ||||||
| Attendance | 74,007 | ||||||
The match was the first match in which any European clubs had used squad numbers and player names on their shirts. On this occasion, as in the FA Cup final and replay that year, players wore individual numbers which were retained for the FA Cup finals. Coincidentally, the first occurrence of players wearing numbered shirts came on 25 August 1928, when Arsenal and Chelsea wore numbered shirts in their matches against The Wednesday (renamed Sheffield Wednesday soon after) and Swansea Town, respectively. Squad numbers became compulsory for Premier League clubs from August 1993.
In the game, Wednesday's John Harkes scored the opener in the 8th minute, before Paul Merson equalised for Arsenal. Merson then set up Steve Morrow for the winner. In the celebrations after the match, Arsenal skipper Tony Adams attempted to pick up Morrow and parade him on his shoulders, but Adams slipped and Morrow awkwardly hit the ground. He broke his arm and had to be rushed to hospital. Unable to receive his winner's medal on the day, he was eventually presented with it before the start of the FA Cup Final the following month.
Match details
| Arsenal | 2–1 | Sheffield Wednesday |
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Merson  20'Morrow 68' | Harkes 8' |
          Arsenal |     Sheffield Wednesday |
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Match rules:
90 minutes
30 minutes extra-time if necessary
Replay if scores still level
Two named substitutes, both of whom may be used
Road to Wembley
Arsenal
Round 2, 1st Leg: Millwall 1–1 Campbell at Highbury
Round 2, 2nd Leg: 1–1 Campbell at The Old Den (Arsenal win 3–1 on penalties)
Round 3: Derby County 1–1 Campbell at Baseball Ground
Round 3 Replay: 2–1 Campbell, Wright at Highbury
Round 4: Scarborough 1–0 Winterburn at McCain Stadium
Round 5: Nottingham Forest 2–0 Wright (2) at Highbury
Semi-final, 1st Leg: Crystal Palace 3–1 Smith (2), Wright at Selhurst Park
Semi-final, 2nd Leg: 2–0 Linighan, Wright at Highbury
Sheffield Wednesday
Round 2, 1st Leg: Hartlepool United 3–0 Bright, Watson, Wilson at Hillsborough Stadium
Round 2, 2nd Leg: 2–2 Bright, Warhurst at Victoria Park
Round 3: Leicester City 7–1 Bart-Williams, Bright (2), Hirst, Watson (2), Worthington at Hillsborough Stadium
Round 4: QPR 4–0 Bright, Hirst, Nilsson, Palmer at Hillsborough Stadium
Round 5: Ipswich Town 1–1 John Sheridan at Portman Road
Round 5 Replay 1–0 Warhurst at Hillsborough Stadium
Semi-final, 1st Leg: Blackburn Rovers 4–2 Harkes, John Sheridan, Warhurst (2) at Ewood Park
Semi-final, 2nd Leg: 2–1 Bright, Hirst at Hillsborough Stadium
References
- Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (2005). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-61344-5.