1. Tottenham, First Division - 2 January 1989
Merson chipped in with so many important goals during the 1988/89 season. Among them were crucial strikes in the wins against Manchester United and Charlton Athletic - and in draws against Sheffield Wednesday and Wimbledon, in the penultimate game of the season.
The title-winning season saw Merson progress from useful squad member and promising youngster to an Arsenal regular. He finished as the club’s second top scorer and was named Barclay’s Young Player of the Season. Halfway through the season, on 2nd January, he did one of the few things guaranteed to cement a player’s status as a fan’s favourite – he scored against Spurs.
After a slightly shaky period in November and early December, Arsenal had hit superb form over Christmas with three straight wins over Manchester United, Charlton, and Aston Villa - Merson starring in all - and scoring against United and Charlton.
At a packed Highbury, Arsenal put in a dominant performance to do the double over Spurs - having beaten them 3-2 at White Hart Lane early in the season. Merson’s goal came in the first half. Brian Marwood put an accurate but hopeful cross into the box from the left, to Alan Smith, who headed it on in the general direction of Merson. The young forward was running away from goal but turned on to the ball swiftly and instinctively, to send a fine shot back across goal and into the far corner. The pitch was awful - and a bobble probably didn’t help Bobby Mimms, as the ball bounced over his diving hand - but the goal was more about Merson’s opportunism and technique than luck.
Merson’s day’s work was complete late in the game when he held up a long ball out of defence, and beautifully slipped a ball though to Michael Thomas, who was ‘bursting through the midfield’ in typical style and finished coolly to make it 2-0 .
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2. Liverpool, First Division - 3 March 1991
Arsenal’s visit to Anfield in March 1991 came at a crucial point in the title race. Liverpool were still reeling from the unexpected departure of their manager, Kenny Dalglish - who had resigned following their 4-4 draw with Everton on 20th February - and Ronnie Moran had taken temporary charge. Arsenal meanwhile came into the match following an exhausting February, during which they had lost their first (and only) league game of the season at Chelsea, and had finally overcome Leeds United in the FA Cup after a four-game epic.
At Highbury in December, Arsenal had comprehensively beaten Liverpool 3-0, bouncing back from their humiliating 6-2 defeat against Manchester United four days earlier. Arsenal had been irresistible against Liverpool that day; Merson in particular had a great game -opening the scoring in the first half and also laying on the third for Alan Smith with a sublime backheel.
At Anfield, Smith returned the favour. Merson picked up a loose ball ten yards inside his own half, surged forward and played a one-two with Smith, who’s touch was as silky as ever. One on one with Bruce Grobelaar, Merson kept his cool and slotted the ball home, before celebrating with the travelling fans behind the goal.
Arsenal stayed unbeaten in the league and clinched their second league title in three years, eventually finishing comfortably ahead of Liverpool.
3. Crystal Palace, First Division - 11 April 1992
This match was supposed to be all about Ian Wright, who was facing his old club for the first time since his transfer the previous September. However, it was the unlikely figure of Chris Coleman who scored early on to give Palace a surprise lead. Wright did play well, and created two of the goals as Arsenal dynamically fought back, but a first and only hat-trick for Merson stole the headlines.
Arsenal equalised after a great run and deep cross from Wright found Merson at the far post, who finished powerfully with his left-foot.
The next goal was the pick of his three. Merson had an eye for a lob, and they came off fairly frequently – this last minute strike against Coventry, this peach against Chester in the League Cup, and this finish against Nottingham Forest could all have made this list.
On this occasion, Anders Limpar's cross was half-cleared as far as Kevin Campbell who laid it off to Merson on the far corner of the penalty area. His instant, arced shot sailed over Nigel Martyn and flew into the far corner.
Surprisingly, this perhaps wasn’t even the best goal of the game. Kevin Campbell scored what was surely the finest goal of his Arsenal career to make it 3-1 – a crashing left-foot volley into the net from 25 yards after a one-two with Wright.
Merson completed his ‘perfect’ hat-trick in the second half, with an unmissable close-range header from Campbell’s cross.
4. Chelsea, Premier League - 3 October 1992
While the 1992/93 season ended in historic double cup glory for Arsenal, their league form was poor and some of the football was awful. This was the season of the North Bank redevelopment, and the installation of the infamous mural, which didn’t exactly help lift the Highbury atmosphere. At one point, Arsenal went eight league games without a win. Though after a poor start, there was hope from late September onwards when the Gunners put together six straight wins.
The second of these wins saw Chelsea beaten at Highbury. After just ten minutes, Arsenal fans were treated to an absolute peach of a goal as the master of the lob struck again.
On this occasion, Merson picked up a loose ball after a Kevin Campbell challenge, took one perfect touch, then from 25 yards out floated the ball over Kevin Hitchcock and into the top corner. The aesthetic beauty of the goal deserved a backdrop of awestruck fans, but sadly it was scored in-front of the static mural.
Chelsea equalised after 78 minutes with a Dennis Wise goal, but Ian Wright ensured victory for Arsenal with an 85th minute winner.
5. Sheffield Wednesday, League Cup Final - 18 April 1993
The thing most people remember about Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the 1993 League Cup Final, is Steve Morrow scoring the winning goal and being dropped from a height by Tony Adams, during the post-match celebrations.
This certainly overshadowed Paul Merson’s beautiful strike. With 20 minutes gone, Arsenal were in trouble. John Harkes had put Wednesday 1-0 up, after a neatly improvised free-kick, and the Gunners were on the ropes.
Arsenal won a free kick of their own, which was cleared only as far as Merson, who was twenty yards from goal and fairly central. Merson had to react quickly though, with defenders closing him down and hit the ball early. The commentator - Brian Moore - took the gloss off the goal slightly, suggesting the ball was deflected off a teammate. Actually Merson, a technically gifted player, had struck the ball beautifully on the upward bounce and with the outside of his boot, causing it to swerve away from Chris Woods and into the corner.
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