89 The Film – Lee Dixon says there’s a responsibility which comes from playing for The Arsenal

The much-loved right-back – who was part of the legendary back four which earned a place in Gunners folklore after beating the all-conquering Liverpool side at Anfield to win the league title with the last-kick of the 1988-89 season has been talking about that game.

The eagerly-anticipated movie which will appeal to Gooner’s young and old as well as football fans in general is released on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital from November 20.

Dixon played an integral part in the never-to-be-forgotten triumph, and more than three decades on has also been central to the film as executive producer and can’t wait for official premier in North London.

He said: “The conundrum was how you tell the story of Anfield 89 in a different way.

“When Amy Lawrence came to me to see if I would be interested in being part of the film I could tell straight away before she even pitched it to me how excited she was.

“She started telling me and as soon as she mentioned the words Anfield I said: ‘Yes, what can I do to help?’

“Looking at the obvious thing – they needed a contact to pull the whole team together and facilitate filming that’s where my role was pretty obvious.

“But the role expanded as time went on by being in on the interviews and having input on what we needed to know and it was an absolutely amazing journey.

“And we were really conscious to tell it in a way that was true to us as players.

“The fact you’ve got such an amazing story and an amazing ending – I said to Amy and the director ‘We can’t really mess this up can we?’

“We had a responsibility not to mess it up – if we missed it up it would be pretty obvious that we’ve messed it.”

The film tells the incredible story of one of football’s greatest triumphs when against all odds Arsenal snatched the Championship title from Liverpool at Anfield in the last minute of the last game of the season 28 years ago.

Mixing archive and previously unseen footage with revealing interviews, insights and memories from the original squad, game officials, fans and the people who were there on the night this is the definitive account of a watershed moment in football and a must-watch for any sports fan.

Dixon, who played for Arsenal from 1988 to 2002 is fully aware of what it means to play for the North London giants.

He said: “There is responsibility that came with playing for The Arsenal that you have to have.

“I might be biased because I helped put it together but I really believe that we’ve put together a really balanced film. The editors been brilliant. No expense was spared on the filming of it and the cameras used and it’s got a real quality feel about it.

“But that pales into the background when you start hearing the stories and start seeing the footage which is off the charts.

“It’s amazing how we ended up getting the archive because I’ve never seen it.

“You think ‘wow’ where did we get that from, can we use it? And the answer was: ‘Yes, it cost us a fortune but we’re going to use it’.

“It gives the film a real authentic feel. It’s rough and it’s raw.

“There’s a point when the camerawork is blurred and Nigel runs past the camera about five yards away and you just see his shorts run past.

“And in the background you see Tony Adams and he’s slightly out of his focus – but the way they’ve stitched it in with the footage you’ve all seen means it really is a great watch.”

With Dixon and his old team-mates set for the red carpet at the Odeon Holloway the ITV pundit – and self-confessed Arsenal fan – is genuinely excited.

He added: “The lads have only seen their part so they’ve not seen the finished article so it’ll be interesting to see how they see it at the premier. I can’t wait.”

See our website and newspaper this week for more on Layth’s exclusive interview with Lee.

89 The Film is in OurScreen.com cinemas and on DVD and Digital Download this November.

For more visit www.ourscreen.com/film/89.