Wrexham are currently enjoying a period of rest and recuperation ahead of what will be a pivotal month in the race for League One promotion.
Wrexham travel to local rivals Shrewsbury next up in League One but have an extended period without a game following their FA Cup defeat to Harrogate Town.
That shock defeat cost Wrexham £120,000 in prize money and following reports that owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have lost around £20m since taking over the club, it was a costly defeat both on and off the pitch.
Wrexham’s ultimate goal is to reach the Premier League and should they manage to do so, the Red Dragons already have a piece of history over one of the top division’s biggest clubs.
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Wrexham defeated Arsenal in the FA Cup Third Round in 1992
According to BBC Sport Wales, it was hailed as ‘the biggest FA Cup shock of all time.’ Arsenal arrived at the Racecourse Ground on January 4th 1992 as reigning top division champions and were a formidable side under manager George Graham.
Wrexham themselves had finished bottom of the fourth division the previous season and would have lost their football league status had it not been for a re-organisation from the FA.
Speaking to the Leaderlive, Mickey Thomas, a Wrexham legend, recalled how the result was a much-needed boost for the club.
Thomas stated: “To get that result against Arsenal lifted everyone and financially it was a massive boost for the club and the manager. It changed the whole structure of the club, it was a big financial hit for them.”
Arsenal heading into the tie were favourites not only for the match but for the whole competition of the FA Cup before Wrexham’s extraordinary performance.
Mickey Thomas scored equaliser before Steve Watkin defeated Arsenal
The game itself was dominated by the Gunners and they took the lead in the first half thanks to striker Alan Smith. Mickey Thomas explained: “The first 45 minutes they absolutely battered us.”
With just eight minutes remaining, Thomas stepped up to a free kick and produced the most memorable moment of his career by arrowing one past legendary keeper David Seaman.
Wrexham then sensed blood and with just minutes remaining on the clock, Steve Watkin scrambled home a winner to send the ‘underdogs’ through to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup and send the Racecourse into raptures.
The current Wrexham side may be out of this season’s competition but players such as Paul Mullin and Steven Fletcher can take great inspiration from the historic result as they fight for League One promotion.
The result is still spoken about among Wrexham fans even to this present moment and with Phil Parkinson’s men on the rise, the club will be hoping for future days as good as January 4th 1992.