Six of the best Arsenal cup disasters: Luton, Wrexham, York and more
Arsenal will look to put their worst ever Premier League start behind them tonight when they take on League Two promotion chasers Shrewsbury Town in the Carling Cup.
The Emirates showpiece offers an ideal opportunity for Arsene Wenger's side to regain confidence following a morale denting defeat at Blackburn on Saturday.
But anyone banking on a convincing home win should take note, as talkSPORT revisits six of the best doemstic cup disasters for the Gunners...
ARSENAL 1-3 Swindon Town AET: LEAGUE CUP FINAL, 1969
The first sniff of an upset arrived when the Arsenal camp came down with a flu bug before the game while the heavy rain only added to the sense of occasion in London, but in truth no one ever gave third division Swindon a chance against Frank McLintock, Bob Wilson, Bobby Gould and Co. That was until, in front of nearly 100,000 fans at Wembley, winger Don Rogers bagged two surprise extra time goals to stun the Gunners and send the Robins home as cup winners for the first time.
LUTON 3-2 ARSENAL: LEAGUE CUP FINAL, 1988
This result would have been a much bigger surprise today when Luton find themselves in the Blue Square Premier, yet the unfancied Hatters were searching for a first cup triumph when they took on first division big boys Arsenal. George Graham's Gooners were tipped to blow away their opponents on the big stage but Luton's big day out at Wembley's Twin Towers ended in victory as Brian Stein bagged a double and Andy Dibble palmed away Nigel Winterburn's spot-kick.
WREXHAM 2-1 ARSENAL: FA CUP THIRD ROUND, 1992
The Racecourse ground witnessed the magic of the cup at its very best in 1992 when league holders Arsenal succumbed to fourth division strugglers Wrexham. The Londoners took the lead through Alan Smith but 37 year-old Mickey Thomas smashed home a free-kick past David Seaman with ten minutes remaining and Steve Watkin popped up with the winner at the death.
IPSWICH 1-0 ARSENAL: CARLING CUP SEMI FINAL FIRST LEG, 2011
Yes, they may have turned this one around in the second leg but very few people saw an Arsenal defeat coming at Portman Road. Ipswich, fresh from dispensing with manager Roy Keane and seemingly in disarray, stood up to a strong Arsenal side with a gritty home display. The only goal came courtesy of Hungarian striker Tamas Priskin, who could barely hit a shot on target for the club in the Championship.
ARSENAL 1-2 BIRMINGHAM: CARLING CUP FINAL, 2011
The Gunners overcame their semi-final scare against the Tractor Boys and looked destined for a first piece of silverware in six years under Wenger when they met Premier League strugglers Birmingham at Wembley. The game appeared to be heading into extra-time until a mix up between Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny and Wojceich Szczesny gifted Obafemi Martins a late winner and ensured Birmingham booked a place in the Europa League the following season.
YORK 1-0 ARSENAL: FA CUP FOURTH ROUND, 1985
York collected more than 100 points on their way to the Fourth Division title in 1983/84 and followed it up with a third place finish in Division Three, a second promotion and Arsenal's scalp in the FA Cup fourth round. The game was destined for a replay until Keith Houchen's last minute spot kick set up a fifth round tie against Liverpool. The Minstermen managed a surprise 1-1 draw against Joe Fagan's high flyers but were sent crashing back down to earth in the replay when they were trounced 7-0 at Anfield.
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