The stadium had opened only recently – in 1992 – and was the home of Copenhagen and the Denmark national team, taking two years to construct at the cost of 640 million Danish kroner.

Parma's Tomas Brolin hit the post early on but, in the 20th minute, Lorenzo Minotti miss-hit an overhead clearance and Alan Smith capitalized, beating Luca Bucci with a left-footed volley.

[citation needed] Arsenal then invited pressure from Parma but, by controlling Gianfranco Zola and Faustino Asprilla, defended their lead and became the fourth London club to win the trophy.

[4] Arsenal were without their leading goalscorer Ian Wright, who missed the final through suspension as well as the injured John Jensen, Martin Keown, and David Hillier.

The famous back five of Seaman, Dixon, Adams, Bould and Winterburn was safely in place but with Wright suspended, Alan Smith was given a lone role up front with Merson and Kevin Campbell instructed to play wide in a 4-5-1.