December 26 1999, Premiership

Coventry City 3
(McAllister 7; Hadji 41; Keane 71)

Arsenal 2
(Ljungberg 67; Suker 86)

Highfield Road
Att: 22,750
Ref: R Harris

Coventry: Hedman; Telfer; Froggatt; Palmer; Williams; Breen; Chippo (Whelan); McAllister; Roussel; Keane (Gustafsson); Hadji

Arsenal: Seaman; Dixon; Winterburn; Grimandi; Adams; Keown; Ljungberg; Petit; Kanu; Henry; Overmars; Suker

The Sky Blues turned on some festive style for the visit of Arsenal in what was their final game of the 20th Century. Arsene Wenger's side came to Highfield Road on Boxing Day eager to stay in touch with Manchester United, but faced a Coventry City side full of entertainment and endeavour.

Sky TV had already been present at three City games that autumn and had branded Gordon Strachan's men "The Entertainers" as the likes of McAllister, Hadji and Chippo provided midfield quality for the raw talent of Robbie Keane.

And once again the Sky Blues did not turn camera shy as they produced another scintillating performance to dent the Gunners' title hopes.

Wenger's side, which would go on to enjoy an invincible season a few years down the line, may only have been taking shape at this point but the teamsheet read like a who's who of international football with Seaman, Keown and Adams forming a rock solid defence, while the likes of Henry, Kanu and Ljungberg gave them more than a slight edge up front.

And the game had everything, from spectacular goals to intriguing personal battles all over the pitch making it a tie that is still clearly remembered now and will be for years to come.

Right from the first whistle it was clear that Coventry were looking to impose themselves on Arsenal's highly experienced back four, who were reunited for the first them in several weeks.

It did not take long for City to get a foothold as McAllister opened the scoring with just seven minutes on the clock with a sweetly struck 25 yard shot from Cedric Roussell's knock down, which deflected off Keown's back.
The Gunners threatened themselves and Magnus Hedman produced two excellent saves from Overmars and Petit before Hadji made it 2-0 just before the break. The Moroccan international has been instrumental in much of City's exciting build-up play and here produced a goal to match, receiving the ball from McAllister on the edge of the D and lifting his shot between two defenders and past a helpless Seaman.

Rather than sitting back on their two-goal cushion, City wisely came out looking to kill the tie and came close on two occasions with Keane shooting narrowly over before Roussel shot across the face of goal with Chippo sliding in and just failing to connect.

Inevitably the class of Arsenal began to tell and they started to assert themselves. With just over 20 minutes remaining Ljungberg pulled a goal back, the Swedish international scoring scrappily off the legs of Hedman and Breen.

But four minutes later City restored their two-goal advantage as Keane produced a typically deft finish, hitting the ball with the outside of his boot as he ran away from goal to deceive both Seaman and Adams - men who had kept out the best there was during illustrious careers but were bamboozled by the teenager's audacity.

The crowd were understandably in a winter wonderland and while a late Davor Suker strike ensured a nervy last couple of minutes the Sky Blues deservedly held out for a memorable victory.