Yesterday’s Premier League match between Bolton and Arsenal has already become one of those game that will live long in the memory. It had all the vital ingredients to be a classic – goals, drama, a red card and, most of all, the crucial last-minute winner from the team who had appeared dead and buried at half-time.

For your delectation, here are a sample of some other great matches/comebacks, with which yesterday’s game will be associated in the annals of history.

1. Tottenham 3 - Manchester City 4 (FA Cup, Feb. 4, 2004)

‘Arsenal won the title on goals scored with the last kick of the season, as they beat Liverpool at Anfield to claim the championship trophy and deny Kenny Dalglish’s men a unique second double.’


Ten-man Manchester City pulled off an amazing FA Cup comeback to earn a fifth round tie at Manchester United. Spurs led 3-0 at half time and Joey Barton received a second yellow card for dissent seconds after the half-time whistle sounded, yet Tottenham managed to throw a seemingly unassailable lead away.

2. Manchester United 2 - Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Premiership, April 10, 1993)

1-0 down at home with the clock on 90 minutes, United looked to have blown the league title which for so long they looked like winning. Then, captain Steve Bruce got his head on the end of a hopeful cross to equalise. Minutes later he sensationally scored again with a header, this time from a corner. Old Trafford erupted.

3. Tottenham 3 - Manchester United 5 (Premiership, December 29, 2001)

Once again, the North London faithful had to endure another capitulation after taking a 3-0 lead into the break. “It might not have been too good for the blood pressure but I’ll be able to look back on this day and remember it vividly for the rest of my life. Not many managers could say that.” – Sir Alex Ferguson.

4. Liverpool 0 - Arsenal 2 (The old First Division, May 26, 1989)

This game may not have had all the goals but it definitely had drama to force its inclusion in this list. Arsenal won the title on goals scored with the last kick of the season, as they beat Liverpool at Anfield to claim the championship trophy and deny Kenny Dalglish’s men a unique second double. Alan Smith put the Gunners in front and Michael Thomas wrote his name in Arsenal legend with the crucial last-gasp second.

5. Port Vale 4 - QPR 4 (Division One, January 19, 1997)

This game may be less grandiose than some of the other fixtures, but QPR’s achievement was incredible. Vale took a 4-0 lead into the half-time break, and in the 84th minute they were still 4-1 up. Then Impey (85), Murray (86) and diddy John Spencer (90) turned the game on its head.

6. West Ham 3 - Tottenham 4 (Premier League, March 4, 2007)

West Ham were looking dead and buried after this result, stranded at the foot of the Premiership table after throwing away leads of 2-0 and 3-2 before finally losing. Mark Noble and a Carlos Tevez free-kick put the Hammers in control, but Jermain Defoe and Teemu Tainio's volley brought Spurs level. The ding-ding battle then continued with Bobby Zamora heading West Ham in front late on. But late goals from Dimitar Berbatov (89) and finally Paul Stalteri (injury-time) condemned the Hammers to a dramatic and cruel defeat after they had led three times.