1991-07-30: Arsenal 2-2 Celtic, Paul Davis Testimonial

Match Pictures | Matches: 19901991 | 1990-1991 Pictures

Trivia

  • Played at Highbury Stadium
  • K.O. – 19:45
  • Celtic played in unusual strip of hooped jerseys, green shorts and white shorts.

Review

1991-07-30: Arsenal 2-2 Celtic, Paul Davies Testimonial - Kerrydale Street

Teams

Arsenal:-
Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Hillier, Bould, Adams, Campbell, Davis (Thomas 81), Smith, Merson, Limpar (Rocastle 46)
Subs not used:- O'Leary, Groves.
Scorers:- Smith 48, Dixon 70.

Celtic:-
Bonner, Morris, Rogan, Grant, Whyte (Galloway 43), Wdowczyk, Fulton, Coyne (Creaney 80), Cascarino, Nicholas, Collins.
Scorers:- Nicholas 11, Wdowczyk 75.
Subs not used:- Donaghy, Hayes, McNally.

Att – 30,000
Ref:- T. Ward (London)

Articles

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Pictures

Articles

from Neg Sludden

from Neg Sludden

The Guardian (London)

July31, 1991
Soccer: Still the darling – Testimonial match -Arsenal2,Celtic2

BYLINE:By RUSSELL THOMAS

UNSEASONAL though the occasion may have been, one would not have dared say so to more than 10,000Celticsupporters who spent most of last night'sPaul Davistestimonal match at Highbury in green-and-white celebration of their club's cause.This was important pre-season business forArsenaltoo, but the English champions took half the game to respond to their manager George Graham's warning that title reputations would mean nothing in the forthcoming season which will be spiced by their European Cup challenge.With Liam Brady directing and another former Highbury favourite, Charlie Nicholas, in suitably impish mood, the tone was set for a quick, slick and committed first half from the Scottish side to entertain a crowd of about 28,000 who provided pounds 150,000 for Davis.
Only nine minutes had passed when Nicholas swerved a 25-yard shot on to the top of the bar; a minute later the former darling of the North Bank was celebrating at that end, his shot having surprised Seaman inside his near post after a clever one-two with Coyne.Arsenallaboured despite having most of the possession but still managed to find Campbell in promising positions. Twice Davis fed him superbly, but each time, as with Limpar's cross just before the interval, the striker could not find last season's predatory finish.Graham's interval words had the immediate desired effect when Wdowczyk unaccountably passed straight to Merson in the first minute of the second half and the resulting cross was jabbed simply home by Smith.Twenty-five minutes laterArsenalwere ahead, after the substitute Galloway pulled Smith down. Dixon's penalty was blocked by Bonner, only for the full-back to force home the rebound.Celtic,as their fans demanded, were not finished. Their response to the legions could hardly have been better: a superb 30-yard free-kick from Wdowczyk that beat Seaman for sheer pace.