The 1993 Football League Cup final took place on 18 April 1993 at Wembley Stadium, and was played between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday. Arsenal won 2âÂÂ1 in normal time, in what was the first of three Wembley finals between the two sides that season; Arsenal and Wednesday also met in the FA Cup final of that year (which went to a replay), the first time ever in English football.
The match was the first match in which any European clubs had used squad numbers and player names on their shirts. On this occasion, as in the FA Cup final and replay that year, players wore individual numbers which were retained for the FA Cup finals. Coincidentally, the first occurrence of players wearing numbered shirts came on 25 August 1928, when Arsenal and Chelsea wore numbered shirts in their matches against The Wednesday (renamed Sheffield Wednesday soon after) and Swansea Town, respectively. Squad numbers became compulsory for Premier League clubs from August 1993.
In the game, Wednesday's John Harkes scored the opener in the eighth minute, before Paul Merson equalised for Arsenal. Merson then set up Steve Morrow for the winner. In the celebrations after the match, Arsenal skipper Tony Adams attempted to pick up Morrow and parade him on his shoulders, but Adams slipped and Morrow awkwardly hit the ground. He broke his arm and had to be rushed to hospital. Unable to receive his winner's medal on the day, he was eventually presented with it before the start of the FA Cup final the following month. As of 2025, this is the most recent League Cup final for Wednesday and most recent competition triumph for Arsenal.
Match rules: <br />90 minutes <br />30 minutes extra-time if necessary <br />Replay if scores still level <br />Two named substitutes, both of whom may be used
Round 2, 1st Leg: Millwall 1âÂÂ1 Campbell at Highbury
Round 2, 2nd Leg: 1âÂÂ1 Campbell at The Old Den (Arsenal win 3âÂÂ1 on penalties)
Round 3: Derby County 1âÂÂ1 Campbell at Baseball Ground
Round 3 Replay: 2âÂÂ1 Campbell, Wright at Highbury
Round 4: Scarborough 1âÂÂ0 Winterburn at McCain Stadium
Round 5: Nottingham Forest 2âÂÂ0 Wright (2) at Highbury
Semi-final, 1st Leg: Crystal Palace 3âÂÂ1 Smith (2), Wright at Selhurst Park
Semi-final, 2nd Leg: 2âÂÂ0 Linighan, Wright at Highbury
Round 2, 1st Leg: Hartlepool United 3âÂÂ0 Bright, Watson, Wilson at Hillsborough Stadium
Round 2, 2nd Leg: 2âÂÂ2 Bright, Warhurst at Victoria Park
Round 3: Leicester City 7âÂÂ1 Bart-Williams, Bright (2), Hirst, Watson (2), Worthington at Hillsborough Stadium
Round 4: QPR 4âÂÂ0 Bright, Hirst, Nilsson, Palmer at Hillsborough Stadium
Round 5: Ipswich Town 1âÂÂ1 John Sheridan at Portman Road
Round 5 Replay 1âÂÂ0 Warhurst at Hillsborough Stadium
Semi-final, 1st Leg: Blackburn Rovers 4âÂÂ2 Harkes, John Sheridan, Warhurst (2) at Ewood Park
Semi-final, 2nd Leg: 2âÂÂ1 Bright, Hirst at Hillsborough Stadium