Although Liverpool maintained their position as league runners-up in 1992, the writing was on the wall. The Reds conceded 40 goals and lost eight games; Arsenal were defeated only once and let in just 18 goals. George Graham had paid QPR ?1.3 milhon for David Seaman the previous summer, a record for a goalkeeper. He took his place behind Adams, Bould, Dixon and Winterburn to form a defensive unit that would set the standard for defensive mearmess.
Arsenal faced Spurs in the FA Cup semi-final, the first to be staged at Wembley. Gascoigne stole the show with a stimning 35-yard free-kick, setting up a marvellous 3-1 win. Gazza was again centre stage in the final, against Nottingham Forest, but this time for the wrong reasons. He had already put in a couple of rash tackles when he challenged Gary Charles on the edge of the Spurs area. Gascoigne conceded the free-kick but it was he who came off worse. He suffered knee ligament damage which was to put him out of action for months. Stuart Pearce rubbed salt into Spurs’ wounds by scoring from the free-kick after Gazza was stretchered off Paul Stewart hit an equaliser and although Spurs’ winner came via a deflection off Des Walker in extra-time, the better team won.
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