FA Cup third round day brings with it a mixture of emotions. After all, the minnow clubs that have managed to negotiate through previous encounters to reach that stage are now in the competition alongside the country's biggest teams. Consequently, on occasions, some David and Goliath contests are drawn out.
More often than not, Goliath slays David, but what makes the FA Cup so special in many people's eyes is the potential for an upset.
Indeed, they do not come more famous than Hereford United's victory over Newcastle United in 1972, which included that strike by Ronnie Radford, while Sutton United toppled a then top flight Coventry City and holders Manchester United were knocked out by Bournemouth in 1984.
However, a tie that challenges those three in terms of shock value took place 21 years ago today in front of 13,343 people at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, then of the fourth division. The Welsh outfit had been paired with Arsenal, who had won the Division One title during the previous campaign, losing just once. Wrexham, meanwhile, had finished bottom and were only spared relegation because Aldershot dropped out of the league due to financial problems.
From the first whistle, it appeared that George Graham's Arsenal were determined not to suffer the embarrassment of a giant killing. They started brightly and eventually broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute when Alan Smith turned in a cross from Paul Merson.
An extract from How Not To Be A Professional Footballer - Merson's autobiography - suggests that no-one was prepared for what would come during the second half: "At half time we were 1-0 up after a goal from Smudger but, to be honest, it could have been 100. I've never been in a more one-sided match. Even George didn't seemed that arsed in his team talk - he knew we were bossing it."
The former England international continued: "In the second half we started battering them again, it was all too easy, but we couldn't score."
That failure to add a second goal was punished with just eight minutes remaining. The home side were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area. Up stepped former Man United and Chelsea winger Mickey Thomas, then 37, to lash the ball into the top corner of David Seaman's net, which looked to have secured unfancied Wrexham a replay at Highbury.
The hosts had other ideas, though, and two minutes later Steve Watkin scored the biggest goal of his career. Tony Adams failed to clear the danger and Watkin reacted quickest to slot the ball beyond Seaman's reach. Wrexham then survived some late pressure to secure their place in round four of the tournament.
"I feel sorry for them as I have been at the top and know how difficult these games are. They had everything to lose today and they lost it," said Thomas after the match, while Merson added in his book: "In the dressing room George was furious, but he was so angry he couldn't speak. It was double embarrassing"
It would prove to be the end of the road for Wrexham as they exited the competition next time out at the hands of West Ham United.
WREXHAM: O'Keefe; Thackeray, Hardy, Carey; Thomas, Sertori, Davies, Owen, Connolly; Watkin, Phillips
ARSENAL: Seaman; Dixon, O'Leary, Adams, Winterburn; Hillier, Rocastle, Merson, Carter; Campbell (Groves), Smith
Liam Apicella
