1993 Football League Cup Final

1993 Football League Cup Final

Event	1992–93 Football League Cup
Arsenal Sheffield Wednesday 2 1
Date	18 April 1993
Venue	Wembley Stadium, London
Man of the Match	Paul Merson (Arsenal)
Referee	Allan Gunn
Attendance	74,007

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 only time this has ever happened in English football.

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 very 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.

Lineups

Arsenal Red shirts w. white sleeves/White shorts/Red socks	2–1 (final score after 90 minutes)	Sheffield Wednesday Blue and white striped shirts/Black shorts/Blue socks
Manager: George Graham Team: 01 Seaman 22 O'Leary 06 Adams (captain) 05 Linighan 03 Winterburn 11 Parlour 15 Morrow 14 Davis 10 Merson 08 Wright 07 Campbell Substitutes: 04 Selley (unused) 09 Smith (unused) Scorers: Merson  20' Morrow  68'	Half-time: 1–1 Competition: Football League Cup Final Date: 18 April 1993 Venue: Wembley Stadium Attendance: 74,007 Referee: A. Gunn Match rules: 90 minutes. 30 minutes extra-time if necessary. Replay if scores still level. Two named substitutes. Maximum of two substitutions.	Manager: Trevor Francis Team: 01 Woods 02 Nilsson 03 King 04 Palmer 06 Anderson 15 Harkes 07 Wilson 08 Waddle 09 Warhurst 10 Bright 11 Sheridan Substitutes: 17 Hyde (for King 83') 05 Hirst (for Wilson 74') Scorers: Harkes  8'

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