ARSENAL 1 CITY 0
League Division 1
2nd November 1985
Attendance 22,264
Scorer Davis(70)
Ref J Ashworth
City Nixon, Clements, May, Reid, McCarthy, Phillips, Lillis, Power, Davie, McNab, Simpson – sub Melrose(76)
Arsenal Lukic, Anderson, Sansom, Davis, O’Leary, Caton, Williams, Allinson, Nicholas, Woodcock, Rix – sub Whyte(71)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
A REPORT FROM IRELAND’S SATURDAY NIGHT
Aesenal, midweek Milk Cup conquerors of Manchester City, nearly took the lead after only a minute against the same opposition at Highbury this aftternoon.
Midfielder Steve Williams back in League action after a toe fracture, floated a free kick to Tony Woodcock but his header was acrobatically saved on the line by Eric Nixon. That incident proved to be one of the highlights in a dull first half.
City had scored only four goals in their last ten First Division visits to Highbury and they rarely looked like improving that record in the opening exchanges.
Paul Davis, the subject of much controversy because of his tackle on Graham Baker on Wednesday, did produce some nice touches but even he could not get his teammates going.
A high ball from David O’Leary freed Charlie Nicholas in the 27th minute, but Andy May recovered well with a splendid tackle. Then Tony Woodcock saw a couple of long range efforts fly wide and Ian Allinson had a drive blocked on the line by Dave Phillips.
It was appropriate that Davis, the game’s astounding player, gave Arsenal the lead in the 70th minute.
He coolly finished off a move involving Woodcock and Nicholas by driving in from 16 yards.
Minutes earlier City’s new buy, Gordon Davies, should have scored but his near post header was well off target.
In the closing stages Mick McCarthy had a volley blocked on the line by a bunch of desperate Arsenal defenders.