The making of Arsenal ‘89
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
89, the film is now available on demand on Sky. It, of course, charts the extraordinary final day twist when Arsenal picked Liverpool to the title by just one goal on goal difference. It was an extraordinary night and also the film charts that particular evening, the twists leading up to it and, of course... The final plot itself. Incredible stuff.
What was the significance of the final day twist in Arsenal '89?
I'm delighted to say that we are joined by three men who are very much at the heart of Arsenal's season. And we're all there on that night. Alan Smith, Lee Dixon and Paul Merson. Lee, if I start with you, over 30 years ago, can you believe it?
No, don't. That really scares me. And the fact that that anniversary came round last, uh really quickly after the 20 years just shows how time flies when you've really enjoyed yourself um but yeah it's good it's flown by and um it was only i think it was only right that at some point something was um put down to mark that occasion um we had a few chats uh amy lawrence gave me a call right out the blue and said Do you fancy being involved in a documentary about 89? And she didn't even have to go on from that moment. As soon as she said that, I said, yeah, I'm in. I have no idea what you want me to do, but I'll help in any way I can. And so that was the start of it. That was the first seed. Amy Lawrence, if you don't know, is probably the biggest –
arsenal fan out there um a journalist but really impartial brilliant writer a brilliant journalist and um the fact that she wanted to be involved in it uh being so arsenal through and through absolutely tipped me over the edge and i said yeah just let me know and kind of from that moment on it became a labor of love i absolutely threw myself into the project um i couldn't do enough for her and the director david stewart and the ideas that were coming out from that side of things. I was kind of just the go-between between them and getting in contact with obviously the players because without them we don't have a documentary.
Smudge, were you very much of the same opinion as soon as you heard about the project? It was a no-brainer. maybe from you or anybody, was there a hesitation? It was such an incredible night. It's never happened before or since that there was part of you that wanted to leave it in the memory bank. Was there any hesitation at all?
No, none at all. I mean, it's the greatest story that had never been told, really, up until that point. And... Lee mentioned Dave Stewart. I met him in a restaurant not far from my house. Those were the days when you used to be able to go to restaurants. And he talked through it. And I mean, I was sold. Yeah. And, you know, when you start talking about it again, you remember things that you thought you'd forgotten. And then you see the boys and they come up with their little memories and then it triggers something in your mind. But it was special to all of us, Jeff. You know, Merson Lee, I'm sure you'll agree with that. It was something that could never be repeated. And to be able to go back to those days, you know, which were a long time ago now.
And the way the film covered the 80s, it was great. You really got a sense of the time.
How did the idea for the documentary about Arsenal '89 come about?
So we're all delighted that it came out so brilliantly well, that it really did capture the drama of the night and the season as a whole, really.
Do you think it captures, just thinking about what's smudged there, it almost seems an age of innocence. It seems a lifetime ago. It's very much the same game. All four of us work in football now, but it just seems a completely different era, doesn't it?
Yeah, I mean, as Lee said, it flew by. I was so pleased when Lee rang up and said, we're going to do this, need a couple of interviews from you. Because I think the game got brushed under the mat a bit, if I'm being honest. I think it wasn't appreciated as much as what it should have been. I thought, really, the club should have done something virtually all the time, if I'm being honest. Because it was such a massive thing to beat probably the best team about at the time. But I mean, you watch the game.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:26
2
What was the significance of the final day twist in Arsenal '89?
0:26–3:22
3
How did the idea for the documentary about Arsenal '89 come about?
3:22–10:09
4
What were the initial reactions of the players to the documentary project?
10:09–14:05
5
How did the documentary capture the essence of the 1989 season?
14:05–29:57
6
What memories did the players share during the making of the documentary?
29:57–35:34
7
How did the players feel about revisiting their past experiences in football?
35:34–40:23
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from Sky Sports Premier League Podcast
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