1996–97 Arsenal F.C. season
111th season in existence of Arsenal F.C. / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 1996–97 season was Arsenal Football Club's fifth season in the Premier League and their 71st consecutive season in the top flight of English football.[2][3] The club dismissed manager Bruce Rioch in the close season, who spent a year in-charge. After much speculation, Frenchman Arsène Wenger was appointed as his replacement – the club's first manager born outside of the British Isles. At the end of the campaign, Arsenal finished third in the Premier League and missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification. They made exits in the fourth round of both the FA Cup and Football League Cup to Leeds United and Liverpool respectively. In Europe, the club were eliminated in the UEFA Cup first round to Borussia Mönchengladbach of Germany.
1996–97 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Peter Hill-Wood | ||
Manager | Stewart Houston (caretaker until 12 September) Pat Rice (caretaker until 30 September) Arsène Wenger | ||
Stadium | Highbury | ||
FA Premier League | 3rd | ||
FA Cup | Fourth round | ||
Football League Cup | Fourth round | ||
UEFA Cup | First round | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Ian Wright (23) All: Ian Wright (30) | ||
Highest home attendance | 38,269 vs Newcastle United (3 May 1997) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 33,461 vs Sheffield Wednesday (16 September 1996) | ||
Average home league attendance | 37,056[1] | ||
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Arsenal sold several fringe players in the transfer window, notably David Hillier to Portsmouth and Paul Dickov to Manchester City. Midfielders Rémi Garde and Patrick Vieira were purchased from RC Strasbourg and Milan respectively. John Hartson moved to West Ham United in January 1997; he was replaced in the squad by teenager Nicolas Anelka, who joined Arsenal a month later from Paris Saint-Germain.
A strong start to their league campaign, with one defeat in their first 12 matches saw Arsenal begin November in first spot. Although the club were winless during the Christmas period, their chances of winning the title remained intact. A run of two draws and losses in February was more severe, as it moved Arsenal down to fourth spot. Draws in April prompted Wenger to rule his team out of the title race and make priority to second spot, which came with a qualifying spot for the Champions League. Defeat to Newcastle United in the penultimate game of the season all but ended Arsenal's chances of finishing second, given Newcastle's superior goal difference. A win on the final day against Derby County meant the club finished third, level on points with Newcastle and Liverpool.
28 different players represented the club in four competitions and there were 12 different goalscorers. Ian Wright was Arsenal's top goalscorer of the season; he scored 30 goals in 41 appearances.