Battle of Highbury, England V Italy History!

Hello all,
   commenting on anything other than Arsenal is not the norm for GFS as regular readers will know but I just could not resist putting this out there today to show that there is always a link with with todays' game to Arsenals' past. I am wishing England all the best for this evening, especially to Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain but I hope the game is nothing like what happened at Highbury on this occasion!

Highbury November 14 1934

It was being called, in Italy, the most important game in their history, England were to face the Azzuri (world cup winners) at the home of Arsenal. There was a heavy Arsenal presence with this England team with seven, yes seven Arsenal players called in to the side, Tom Whittaker, Arsenals' trainer looking after the England team and even the Arsenal manager, George Allison giving commentary for the game.

The Arsenal players involved were:
Moss
Male
Hapgood (capt)
Copping
Bowden
Drake
Bastin
The rest of the team was made up of the following players:
Britton (Everton)
Barker (Derby County)
Stan Matthews (Stoke)
Brook (Man City)




The Game

Eddie Hapgood, the captain, later wrote that it was the dirtiest game of football he ever played in. Within thirty seconds England were given a penalty which Brook blasted but was well saved. He more than made up for that after nine minutes by heading home from a Matthews cross and then two minutes after his first goal he scored a free kick from just outside the penalty box to make it 2-0. This was when tempers began to flare and the game turned nasty.



Hapgood was the first casualty with an elbow smash to the face and breaking his nose. In those days they did not have subs like we do now so he was taken off to be patched up so he could return to the game. Whilst he was off, Drake scored to make it 3-0 England but the battle was on. Hapgood returned to the game but his injury set the tone with studs, two footed tackles and elbows being as freely used as if it was a rugby game.

Second half was not better, Brook had his elbow smashed and played the rest of the game with his arm strapped to his body and further facial fist injuries were inflicted upon Bastin and Bowden. With the coming and goings on the pitch the Italians were able to score mid way through the second half with two goals from Meazza but England were able to hang on and win the game 3-2. One writer at the time signed off his story as "from your war correspondent" which gives you a clear idea of the battle that had taken place. Two England players went to hospital after that game, Hapgood and Brook, with a further three needing treatment to cuts and fractures in the dressing room. The medical care at that time was more patch up and off you go! What was important however was a win from an England side that had a massive Arsenal influence.

Good luck

So to England tonight I say good luck and do us proud. Another strike from Walcott as in the Sweden game would not go amiss and although I would love to see a similar result as the score line as above I would not want to see a pitch battle. Besides having to watch the likes of ITV and Adrian Chiles covering the type of match above would be enough for me to put my foot through the tv.
Ferret on a lead anyone? Mind numbing!



On a final note look out for the GFS postings on all things transfer wise and forthcoming pre-season shenanigans. We will keep you up to date.

Laters,
The Dog