FA Premiership | 19 Oct 2002 Goodison Park
Attendance: 39,038
Everton
2 - 1
Arsenal
Radzinski, Rooney
Ljungberg

Everton lineup

  • Wright
  • Hibbert
  • Weir
  • Yobo
  • Unsworth
  • Carsley (Stubbs)
  • Gravesen
  • Li Tie (Linderoth)
  • Pembridge
  • Radzinski (Rooney)
  • Campbell

Arsenal lineup

  • Seaman
  • Lauren
  • Campbell
  • Cygan
  • Cole
  • Ljungberg (Edu)
  • Gilberto Silva
  • Viera
  • Toure (Wiltord)
  • Kanu (Jeffers)
  • Henry

This was the day a legend was born, the kind of match Evertonians who were there will tell their grandchildren about in 50 years time. In the build-up to it, Arsène Wenger had spoken about his team – unbeaten in 29 matches – going through an entire season without losing; it was a mark of how good they were that no one mocked his temerity. But Everton matched Arsenal on this autumn afternoon, and despite conceding an early goal to Freddie Ljungberg, pulled level through Tomasz Radzinski. With ten minutes remaining, David Moyes brought Wayne Rooney on as substitute. The game had entered stoppage time when Thomas Gravesen’s hopeful punt was brought down by the teenager, who turned and then unleashed an unstoppable, swirling shot into the top-left corner of the Arsenal net. ‘Remember the name! WAYNE ROONEY!’ screamed ITV’s Clive Tydlesley as Goodison erupted.

Mentioned in:

Season: