Watford had faced Arsenal many times in friendlies and once in the FA Cup but it wasn’t until 41 years ago this month that the Gunners first visited Vicarage Road for a league game.
The Hornets had won the first ever league meeting between the two clubs 4-2 at Highbury the previous November, and on April 30, 1983 an attendance of 20,529 were inside the ground to see if Graham Taylor’s Division One high-flyers could complete the home and away league double.
The final scoreline was tighter the second time around but the outcome was still three points to Watford as goals from John Barnes and Luther Blissett secured a 2-1 victory and the first of three doubles against the Gunners during the 1980s.
- When Watford beat Bolton to take another step closer to historic promotion
- Hornets get back to work after cup final disappointment
- When a quarter-final triumph was crucial to Watford's financial future
John Barnes sends a header towards goal... (Image: Watford Observer)
It was the Hornets’ penultimate home game of the season. Two weeks later 27,173 packed inside Vicarage Road as goals from Blissett and Martin Patching secured another 2-1 victory, this time against champions Liverpool as Watford famously celebrated finishing runners-up in their first season in the top flight.
...and buries his head in his hands after missing the chance (Image: Watford Observer)
Former Arsenal captain Pat Rice watches an aerial duel (Image: Watford Observer)
Arsenal keeper Pat Jennings rushes from his line as the mostly hidden Barnes looks to put the Hornets in front (Image: Watford Observer)
The whole ball looks to have crossed the line (Image: Watford Observer)
The crowd start to celebrate as Arsenal appeal (Image: Watford Observer)
The referee blows his whistle as Luther Blissett is sent tumbling in the box (Image: Watford Observer)
The view through the net as Blissett fires the penalty past the wrong-footed Jennings (Image: Watford Observer)
Blissett celebrates in front of the Vicarage Road end (Image: Watford Observer)
Arsenal defender David O'Leary keeps a very close eye on Barnes (Image: Watford Observer)
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