FA Carling Premiership August 14, 1993

Arsenal 0 Coventry City 3
Att: 24,897
Ref: A Wilkie

The pundits may have, excuse the pun, sometimes taken the Micky out of City's larger-than-life striker Quinn, but Arsenal were certainly not laughing when the Sky Blues ran riot at Highbury.

Quinn, nicknamed 'Sumo' by the City faithful and famously quoted as being the Premiership's 'fastest player over a yard', bagged a hat-trick in a memorable game.

To visit Highbury, complete with its brand new 12,500 seater North Bank stand, seemed a daunting start to the 1993/94 season.

Having won both the FA and Coca-Cola Cup in the previous season, the Gunners had pencilled in a day of celebrations, including a post-match trophy parade around the revamped stadium but City's Quinn was on hand to spoil the party.

Bobby Gould's novel defensive formation without full-backs was a risky move against a well-organised Arsenal side, but the City boss kept his nerve.

From kick-off, Arsenal dominated. Paul Merson and Tony Adams both looked likely scorers and Ian Wright threatened. Things seemingly got worse for City when defender Stewart Robson, an ex-Gunner, went down with a knee injury that affectively ended his playing career.

City's breakthrough came in the form of a penalty awarded for Lee Dixon's foul on Zimbabwean ace Peter Ndlovu. Quinn stepped-up and converted the spot-kick to give the visitors an unexpected lead in the 34^th minute.

After the break, Arsenal struggled to regain their authority as the Sky Blues exploited the home side's increasing self-doubt and American international striker Roy Wegerle, a signing from Blackburn five months earlier, manufactured two more excellent City goals.

The first came 17 minutes into the second-half when Wegerle's cheeky back-heel crossed the path of Quinn who drove the ball low past England goalkeeper David Seaman.

The second came just three minutes later with Wegerle again found Quinn in the area, who completed City's first Premiership hat-trick.

Coventry went on to go eight games unbeaten - their best start to a campaign since 1937 - eventually finishing 11^th in the table.

Arsenal's post-match trophy parade was subsequently cancelled for reasons "beyond the club's control".

Teams:

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Jensen (McGoldrick) Linighan, Adams, Limpar, Davis, Wright, Campbell, Merson (Keown). Subs (Not Used): Miller