1994/95: Nayim's bolt from the blue sinks Arsenal
Thursday 1 June 1995
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Nayim celebrates winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (©Getty Images)
Arsenal FC 1-2 Real Zaragoza (aet)
Parc des Princes, Paris
Yet again, the defending champions lost their second final. Arsenal FC were beaten by one of the most memorable European goals. In the last minute of extra-time, Real Zaragoza midfielder Mohamed Ali Amar, alias ‘Nayim’ – a former Tottenham Hotspur FC player – beat Arsenal’s international goalkeeper David Seaman with an astonishing lob from the right-hand touchline, some 40 metres from the English goal.
Progress haltedNeither finalist had serious problems until the quarter-finals. Then Arsenal, having been held 1-1 at home by AJ Auxerre, ground out a 1-0 win in France thanks to Ian Wright. Both semi-final legs against Sampdoria UC ended as 3-2 home wins with an 88th-minute goal by Stefan Schwarz forcing extra-time and a penalty shoot-out in Genoa. Five spot-kicks failed to hit the net, the last of which, by Attilio Lombardo, gave Arsenal a 3-2 victory and a trip to the Parc des Princes.
Víctor Fernández’s Real Zaragoza side came back from a 1-0 first-leg deficit to beat Feyenoord 2-0 in their quarter-final and, after thumping Chelsea FC 3-0 at home, flirted with disaster in London, ultimately being saved by the Santiago Aragón goal which limited their defeat to 3-1. They travelled to Paris to meet another London team.
Nayim has final say
The final came alight when Juan Eduardo Esnaider, who had scored in every previous round, hooked in his eighth goal of the campaign in the 68th minute. Eight minutes later, John Hartson struck back for Stewart Houston's side to force extra-time and set up the story-book ending for Nayim and for Real Zaragoza.
| Arsenal FC - Real Zaragoza | 1 - 2 |
| Stage | Final |
| Half-Time | 0 - 0 |
| Date | 10.05.1995 |
| Kick-Off | 20:15:00 |
| Venue | Parc des Princes |
| City/Town | Paris |
| Attendance | 43000 |
| Referee | CECCARINI Piero (ITA) |
| Match Report | |||||
 | 2' | 9 HARTSON John | |||
| 6' | 10 HIGUERA FERNANDEZ Francisco | |||
| 32' | 10 MERSON Paul | |||
 | 45' | 7 KEOWN Martin (out) /13HILLIER David (in) | |||
| 47' | 3 WINTERBURN Nigel (out) /12 MORROW Stephen (in) | |||
| 66' | 2 BELSUE ARIAS Alberto | |||
 | 67' | 9 BELEN ESNAIDER Juan Eduardo | |||
| 68' | 10 HIGUERA FERNANDEZ Francisco (out) / 14 GARCIA SANJUAN Jesus (in) | |||
| 75' | 9 HARTSON John | |||
| 85' | 8 ARAGON MARTINEZ Santiago | |||
| 105' | 5 ALI AMAR Mohamed | |||
| 114' | (out) / 15 DE JUANA GARCIA Angel (in) | |||
| 119' | 5 ALI AMAR Mohamed | |||
| Team Line-Ups |
| Arsenal FC | Real Zaragoza |
| 1 SEAMAN David (G) | 1 CEDRUN IBARRA Andoni (G) |
| 2 DIXON Lee | 2 BELSUE ARIAS Alberto |
| 3 WINTERBURN Nigel | 3 SOLANA BERMEJO Jesus Angel |
| 4 SCHWARZ Stefan | 4 CACERES Fernando Gabrie |
| 5 LINIGHAN Andrew | 5 ALI AMAR Mohamed |
| 6 ADAMS Anthony (C) | 6 AGUADO COMPANYS Javier |
| 7 KEOWN Martin | 7 PARDEZA PICHARDO Miguel (C) |
| 8 WRIGHT Ian | 8 ARAGON MARTINEZ Santiago |
| 9 HARTSON John | 9 BELEN ESNAIDER Juan Eduardo |
| 10 MERSON Paul | 10 HIGUERA FERNANDEZ Francisco |
| 11 PARLOUR Raymond | 11 POYET DOMINGUEZ Gustavo |
| Substitutes | |
| 16 BARTRAM Vince (G) | 12 LUIS Oscar |
| 12 MORROW Stephen | 13 BELMAN GONZALEZ José Francisco |
| 13 HILLIER David | 14 GARCIA SANJUAN Jesus |
| 14 McGOLDRICK Eddie | 15 DE JUANA GARCIA Angel |
| 15 KIWOMYA Chris | 16 RODRIGUEZ LORETO José Luis |
| Head Coach | |
| HOUSTON Stewart | FERNANDEZ Víctor |
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