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The Double 1997/98 · verified

Wenger's First Double

In his first full season in English football, Arsène Wenger transformed Arsenal and delivered a League and FA Cup Double, beating Newcastle United 2-0 at Wembley to complete the set and announce a new era at Highbury.

At a glance
ManagerArsène Wenger
FA Cup final2-0 v Newcastle United
ScorersOvermars, Anelka

A new way of playing

Arsène Wenger had arrived in late 1996 with ideas about diet, training and recovery that were new to English football. In 1997/98, his first full season, those ideas bore fruit. He blended the seasoned defence inherited from the George Graham years, with Tony Adams a commanding captain, and the flair of Dennis Bergkamp and the energy of Patrick Vieira in midfield. Arsenal overhauled Manchester United in the run-in, a sustained surge of form carrying them to the summit. The League title was the first half of a famous Double and the beginning of one of the great managerial reigns in the English game.

Wembley, and the set complete

To seal the Double, Arsenal met Newcastle United in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka scored the goals in a 2-0 victory, completing only the second Double in the club's history and Wenger's first major honours in England. Dennis Bergkamp's vision and Patrick Vieira's drive had run through both competitions, and the partnership between Wenger's continental methods and Arsenal's defensive backbone proved irresistible. It was a triumph that reshaped expectations at the club and set the standard for the years that followed.

Timeline

Connected pages

Verification

Published as verified · checked 25 Jun 2026 · 2 retained source references.

Sources and evidence

  • the historical record (reference recorded; direct URL not retained)
  • Arsenal.com history (reference recorded; direct URL not retained)

Links and source labels are shown exactly as retained in the published record.