Back in May 1989, Paul Merson was just 21 years old and started at Anfield as Arsenal looked to win their first title for 18 years.
Speaking to ArsenalFan TV, Merson admitted that he didn’t think Arsenal, who had to beat Liverpool by two goals, had a prayer of winning the league title that day.
“No chance,” said the Sky Sports pundit. “I didn’t give us a chance.”
The Gunners could have given themselves more hope, or even the title itself, before the list to Anfield but only took one point from the previous two games, against Derby County and Wimbledon.
Liverpool, meanwhile, were in superb form.
“That was probably the best club team I played against, Liverpool. They’d just won the FA Cup, they’d smashed West Ham by five in the league, we struggled at home to Wimbledon and we probably should have lost that game.”
Under the guidance of George Graham, Arsenal kept Liverpool out and were 1-0 up going into the dying moments of the match. Michael Thomas famously scored the second of the game in injury time, and the title returned to north London.
“The goal is still one of the best goals I’ve ever seen in football. One of the best football goals I’ve ever seen.
“It’s a miracle,” Merson said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Accrington Stanley, if you come from Halifax, Barrow, Cornwall, if you like football and if you’re old enough you’ll remember where you were that night. That game will never ever be forgotten.”
Manchester City scored a last minute goal to similarly win the Premier League title in dramatic fashion back in 2012, but Merson says it doesn’t even compete with the Arsenal triumph.
City played against QPR that day, who were battling relegation, and scored twice in injury time to come from behind and lift the Premier League.
“I was lucky to be part of the Agüero goal at Sky,” Merson told ArsenalFan TV.
“It was nothing like Arsenal-Liverpool, it’ll never happen again. You [Arsenal] had to beat the team who were THE best team, they were winning everything, absolutely everything.”
There’s no doubt it was one of the finest nights in the history of the club, and there’s no doubt Merson was fortunate to be a part of it.