The history of the BBC Goal of the Month award has seen some unique feats. It’s most remarkable honour was for the same player to claim the top three positions in the same month. That belongs to Dennis Bergkamp who scored a terrific hat-trick at Filbert Street against Leicester City in August 1997.
The Dutchman had already scored a marvellous effort from the edge of the area in the first half, before adding a second through a dynamic Arsenal counter-attack. Leicester though had shown amazing character to draw themselves level at 2-2 going into stoppage-time before Bergkamp’s final bit of brilliance.
Collecting a well-timed long pass from David Platt, Bergkamp controlled the ball in the air, killing any momentum on the ball from Platt. Two touches took him away from Matt Elliott and then he produced a brilliant finish past Kasey Keller to complete one of the best hat-tricks in Premier League history.
It is unfortunate that Leicester’s double comeback to get a 3-3 draw out of this match is almost virtually forgotten by another piece of Dutch Dynamite from the 1998 PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
Results: Charlton Athletic 1-2 Everton, Derby County 2-1 Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United 2-0 Southampton, Leicester City 0-5 Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool FC 2-1 West Ham United, Middlesbrough 0-4 Arsenal, Sunderland 1-0 Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Aston Villa, Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle United, Manchester United 3-2 Fulham
The opening weekend of the 2001-2002 Premier League season saw 28 goals in its first weekend with a new title sponsor. Barclaycard had taken over sponsorship rights over the summer from Carling.
Fulham were welcomed into the Premier League family and they had a daunting first fixture too against reigning Premier League champions Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson was looking to achieve four titles in a row in what at the time we thought was going to be his final campaign in the dugout at Old Trafford.
They were pushed all the way by the newcomers, with Louis Saha making an immediate impression. The Frenchman scored twice as Fulham led twice but their best efforts were cancelled out by United’s new £19 million striker. Ruud van Nistelrooy helped himself to a debut double and the home side came away with all three points in a nervy 3-2 victory.
Unlike Fulham, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers did boast previous Premier League experience. They both returned to the top-flight on this weekend, with mixed fortunes. Blackburn lost 2-1 at Derby County, as Fabrizio Ravanelli scored a trademark free-kick on his return to English football.
On the other hand, Bolton had a day to savour at Filbert Street, crushing Leicester City 5-0. The outstanding Per Frandsen scored two free-kicks and Kevin Nolan also scored twice as the pressure cranked up on Leicester boss Peter Taylor.
There was a bad-tempered match on Teeside as Arsenal travelled to Middlesbrough. Steve McClaren’s first game as a Premier League boss ended in a 4-0 home defeat as Arsenal began their extraordinary run of scoring in every single league match in the season. Both Ugo Ehiogu and Ray Parlour were sent off with two late goals by Dennis Bergkamp making the scoreline look more flattering than how the actual game developed.
Liverpool FC had Michael Owen to thank once again. Owen continued where he left off from the previous season in his dream year which saw him finish as the European Footballer of the Year. He scored twice as the Reds defeated West Ham United 2-1 at Anfield. Lastly, Chelsea and Newcastle United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. This match was more notable as it was the first game in the UK that was made available via a pay-per-view subscription model. Premiership Plus would be around on the Sky platform for the next five seasons.
What else happened in August 2001?
Former royal butler Paul Burrell is charged with theft of items that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. The prosecution collapses three months later.
A plane crash in the Bahamas claims the life of American R&B performer Aaliyah and eight members of her record company. She was just 22-years-old.
Law goes into effect in Germany legalizing same-sex registered partnerships.
Whitney Houston signs the largest contract in music history with Arista Records, a six-album deal worth over $100 million.
Michael Schumacher wins the FIA Formula One World Championship with victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest. It is the German’s fourth world title.
The BBC introduces a fourth weekly episode of EastEnders, to be broadcast at 8pm every Friday night.
For all the statistical fans out there, here are some of the season’s records from the 2001-2002 Premier League campaign, as Arsenal scored in every single game to end Manchester United’s three-year stranglehold on the prize.
FINAL TABLE
Position
Team
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
PTS
1
Arsenal
38
26
9
3
79
36
+43
87
2
Liverpool FC
38
24
8
6
67
30
+37
80
3
Manchester United
38
24
5
9
87
45
+42
77
4
Newcastle United
38
21
8
9
74
52
+22
71
5
Leeds United
38
18
12
8
53
37
+16
66
6
Chelsea
38
17
13
8
66
38
+28
64
7
West Ham United
38
15
8
15
48
57
-9
53
8
Aston Villa
38
12
14
12
46
47
-1
50
9
Tottenham Hotspur
38
14
8
16
49
53
-4
50
10
Blackburn Rovers
38
12
10
16
55
51
+4
46
11
Middlesbrough
38
12
9
17
46
54
-8
45
12
Southampton
38
10
9
17
35
47
-12
45
13
Fulham
38
10
14
14
36
44
-8
44
14
Charlton Athletic
38
10
14
14
38
49
-11
44
15
Everton
38
11
10
17
45
57
-12
43
16
Bolton Wanderers
38
9
13
16
44
62
-18
40
17
Sunderland
38
10
10
18
29
51
-22
40
18
Ipswich Town
38
9
9
20
41
64
-23
36
19
Derby County
38
8
6
24
33
63
-30
30
20
Leicester City
38
5
13
20
30
64
-34
28
THE BASIC STATS
Goals Scored
1001
European qualifiers
Manchester United (UEFA Champions League), Arsenal (UEFA Champions League), Liverpool FC (UEFA Champions League), Newcastle United (UEFA Champions League), Leeds United (UEFA Cup), Chelsea (UEFA Cup), Blackburn Rovers (UEFA Cup), Ipswich Town (UEFA Cup), Aston Villa (UEFA Intertoto Cup), Fulham (UEFA Intertoto Cup)
Longest winning run
13 games (Arsenal)
Longest unbeaten run
21 games (Arsenal)
Longest winless run
16 games (Leicester City)
Longest losing run
7 games (Derby County)
Highest attendance
67,638 (Manchester United vs. Middlesbrough)
Lowest attendance
15,415 (Leicester City vs. Middlesbrough)
AWARDS
PFA Players’ Player of the Year
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United)
PFA Young Player of the Year
Craig Bellamy (Newcastle United)
Football Writers’ Award
Robert Pires (Arsenal)
PFA Team of the Year
Shay Given, Wayne Bridge, Steve Finnan, Rio Ferdinand, Sami Hyypia, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Ryan Giggs, Robert Pires, Thierry Henry, Ruud van Nistelrooy
Results: Aston Villa 1-3 Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea 1-0 Southampton, Leeds United 0-1 Newcastle United, Leicester City 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday, Liverpool FC 3-1 Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest 1-8 Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Coventry City, West Ham United 0-4 Arsenal, Derby County 2-1 Everton, Charlton Athletic 2-0 Wimbledon
In the early weeks of February 1999, four sides still held genuine realistic chances of becoming Premier League champions. Just two points covered leaders Manchester United, second-placed Chelsea, early season pacesetters Aston Villa and reigning champions Arsenal. By the end of the 6th-8th February weekend, it became crystal clear that only three sides had serious title credentials.
Aston Villa’s form in the early weeks of 1999 was already concerning. They had managed just one victory at home to Everton and had been dumped out of the FA Cup by First Division Fulham. Nevertheless, John Gregory would still have been expecting a home victory against relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers. It didn’t turn out the way he hoped. Gareth Southgate scored an embarrassing own goal and further strikes from Ashley Ward and David Dunn helped Blackburn to an impressive 3-1 victory. It meant a league double over the Villans’ whose form completely collapsed. They would take just three points from their next eight matches and dropped to sixth by the season’s end.
If Villa’s challenge had completely wilted, Manchester United’s was in top gear. They visited bottom-placed Nottingham Forest and ran riot at the City Ground. Alan Rogers did briefly equalise after Dwight Yorke had given the league leaders an early lead but it went swiftly downhill from there for the home side. Yorke added another goal and there were two for his strike partner Andy Cole. At 4-1 up with 18 minutes left, Yorke was substituted to his clear disappointment and on came Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He would leave his mark with an incredible four-goal haul of his own from the bench. The 8-1 final scoreline means it remains the biggest away victory in Premier League history.
Arsenal were now hitting their stride too. Out of Europe, their focus was now solely on retaining the league and cup double they’d managed in 1998. They won 4-0 at Upton Park with a classy attacking performance that was reminiscent of the closing weeks of their title triumph the previous season. Dennis Bergkamp was at his best, opening the scoring and completely controlling the game. It was a home debut to forget for Paolo di Canio but at least he didn’t get into any trouble against Arsenal – unlike his experience earlier in the season as a Sheffield Wednesday player.
Whilst Manchester United and Arsenal were winning with more than something to spare, Chelsea took the prudent approach. Gianfranco Zola’s free-kick was good enough to beat Southampton 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Gianluca Vialli’s side would continue to dig in and made it a real three-way fight all the way until mid-April when their exertions in the Cup Winners’ Cup would catch up on their title challenge.
Leeds United were having an excellent season under David O’Leary but they came unstuck at home to mid-table Newcastle United. Nolberto Solano scored the only goal of the game to mark the Yorkshire’s club third defeat in their last four outings. This galvanised Leeds though, who would go on a stunning run of seven successive victories to match the mark set by Don Revie’s great side of the early 1970s.
Elsewhere, Liverpool FC moved into the top six with a 3-1 home victory over Middlesbrough. Like the reverse fixture on Boxing Day, defender Vegard Heggem was on target for the Reds’, who were well in control and 3-0 up by half-time. Defender Dominic Matteo was sent off in the second half but Middlesbrough could only muster a late consolation through substitute Phil Stamp.
On Monday Night Football, Charlton Athletic were absolutely desperate for a victory against Wimbledon. Charlton had gone 13 games without a win since beating West Ham United 4-2 at the backend of October and that had included a seven-game losing sequence which had seen them plummet from 9th to 19th. Martin Pringle picked the best time to score his first Addicks’ goal and a comical own goal by Dean Blackwell ensured a priceless 2-0 victory for Alan Curbishley’s side although the season would end with heartache on the final day and relegation from the top-flight after one season in the elite.
What else happened in February 1999?
After a year of allegations, strain and defence, Bill Clinton is acquitted of impeachment proceedings in the US senate.
King Hussein of Jordan dies from cancer and is succeeded by his son, Abdullah II.
While trying to circumnavigate the world in a hot air balloon, Colin Prescot and Andy Elson set a new endurance record after being aloft for 233 hours and 55 minutes.
31 people are killed when an avalanche dismantles the small Austrian village of Galtür.
The BBC announces that Noel’s House Party will be axed after eight successful years.
Kelly Brook succeeds Denise van Outen as co-presenter of The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.
Lauryn Hill makes history at the Grammy Awards by being the first female artist to win five Grammys in one night.
Dutch master Dennis Bergkamp produced some classical moments for Arsenal during his glorious 11-year stay at Highbury. He was one of football’s best players when it came to skill, intelligence and link-up with strike partners.
He demonstrated his sheer quality at St James’ Park in 2002. Early on into this match against a fellow title contender, Bergkamp produces an outrageous piece of skill, back heeling the ball on the edge of the area and spinning past a rather confused Nikos Dabizas.
This put Dennis in on goal and he showed extreme coolness to place the ball beyond the reach of Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given. It is one of the all-time Premier League great goals and easily one of Bergkamp’s absolute best from a classy career.
For all the statistical fans out there, here are some of the season’s records from the 1997-1998 Premier League season, as a third Premier League team emerged as a championship-winning side.
FINAL TABLE
Position
Team
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
PTS
1
Arsenal
38
23
9
6
68
33
+35
78
2
Manchester United
38
23
8
7
73
26
+47
77
3
Liverpool FC
38
18
11
9
68
42
+26
65
4
Chelsea
38
20
3
15
71
43
+28
63
5
Leeds United
38
17
8
13
57
46
+11
59
6
Blackburn Rovers
38
16
10
12
57
52
+5
58
7
Aston Villa
38
17
6
15
49
48
+1
57
8
West Ham United
38
16
8
14
56
57
-1
56
9
Derby County
38
16
7
15
52
49
+3
55
10
Leicester City
38
13
14
11
51
41
+10
53
11
Coventry City
38
12
16
10
46
44
+2
52
12
Southampton
38
14
6
18
50
55
-5
48
13
Newcastle United
38
11
11
16
35
44
-9
44
14
Tottenham Hotspur
38
11
11
16
44
56
-12
44
15
Wimbledon
38
10
14
14
34
46
-12
44
16
Sheffield Wednesday
38
12
8
18
52
67
-15
44
17
Everton
38
9
13
16
41
56
-15
40
18
Bolton Wanderers
38
9
13
16
41
61
-20
40
19
Barnsley
38
10
5
23
37
82
-45
35
20
Crystal Palace
38
8
9
21
37
71
-34
33
THE BASIC STATS
Goals Scored
1019
European qualifiers
Arsenal (UEFA Champions League), Manchester United (UEFA Champions League), Liverpool FC (UEFA Cup), Leeds United (UEFA Cup), Blackburn Rovers (UEFA Cup), Aston Villa (UEFA Cup), Chelsea (UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup), Newcastle United (UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup), Crystal Palace (UEFA Intertoto Cup)
Longest winning run
10 games (Arsenal)
Longest unbeaten run
18 games (Arsenal)
Longest winless run
15 games (Crystal Palace)
Longest losing run
8 games (Crystal Palace)
Highest attendance
55,306 (Manchester United vs. Wimbledon)
Lowest attendance
7,688 (Wimbledon vs. Barnsley)
AWARDS
PFA Players’ Player of the Year
Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)
PFA Young Player of the Year
Michael Owen (Liverpool FC)
Football Writers’ Award
Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)
PFA Team of the Year
Nigel Martyn, Graeme Le Saux, Colin Hendry, Gary Pallister, Gary Neville, David Batty, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Dennis Bergkamp, Michael Owen
