#4 The 1979 FA Cup final: the ‘Five-minute Final’
In the late ‘70s, both Arsenal and Manchester United were struggling to win trophies and the 1979 FA Cup final was their one big chance. Nobody who was at Wembley that day knew they were about to witness one of the greatest Cup finals of all time.
The Gunners seemed to be in control of the game going into half-time when Brian Talbot and Frank Stapleton had given the London club a 2-0 lead going into the half-time interval. Both goals had come through good teamwork as they attacked United on their weaker left flank.
Arsenal looked all set to win their fourth FA Cup title until the 85th minute saw the game turn on its head. A United set-piece first saw Gordon McQueen score to halve the lead. Sammy McIlroy then scored on a United counter-attack two minutes later after dribbling past two players and bundling the ball past goalkeeper Pat Jennings.
The Gunners did not know what hit them as United celebrated wildly in front of their fans. But before United could recoup to look for a winner, Arsenal struck again just a minute after United scored the second.
A turnover of possession saw Arsenal attack down the left and a cross to the far post saw Alan Sunderland slot it home to give them a remarkable 3-2 win! The match would forever be known as the ‘Five-minute Final’.
