Didn’t shock Arsenal fans.
Nor did this.
Frank Stapleton decided to join Man Utd and this left Arsenal looking for a top class striker.
Cheap at half the price.
Brian McDermott was hoping to fill the gap.
How could we??
Season 1981-82.
Arsenal eventually finished 5th in the League, which is a minor miracle considering that they lost 3 and drew 2 of their first 5 games.
Desperate times.
Frank Stapleton’s sad return to Highbury.
In an attempt to improve the team Terry Neill tried a few options.
Arsenal also gave a debut to Raphael Meade as partner to Alan Sunderland.
Paul Gorman & David Cork were also given first team debuts.
Paul Gorman - Peter Nicholas - David Cork.
One success was Paul Davis becoming a regular in midfield.
Paul Davis - He would later win every domestic honour with Arsenal.
Chris Whyte was also becoming a regular in defence.
Chris Whyte - he’d later win the league with Leeds.
Arsenal Fans not happy at Ipswich.
UEFA Cup.
Arsenal Fans not happy at Winterslag.
Surely, it can’t get any worse??
It did - Winterslag knock Arsenal out.
In desperation, Terry Neill offered a trial to Ray Hankin. Ray would only make 2 appearances as a substitute in both of the League Cup games against Liverpool.
In the first game he came on and when Pat Jennings launched a kick towards the Liverpool penalty area, Ray Hankin out jumped everyone and headed the ball straight back into the Arsenal half.
Granty, me and most of the stadium were in hysterics.
Desperate times!!
League Cup.
In the League Cup Arsenal beat Sheffield Utd & Norwich before losing to Liverpool after a replay.
These games were mainly memorable for the feud between Peter Nicholas and Graeme Souness.
In the game at Highbury, ex Arsenal player Ray Kennedy was sent off after clashing with P. Nicholas. Then in the replay at Anfield, G.Souness exacted revenge on P. Nicholas.
Ray Kennedy is sent off.
Peter Nicholas is carried off.
In December Willie Young left for Forest.
FA Cup.
Just when Arsenal Fans were wondering if matters could get any worse, in the FA Cup 3rd round we get drawn away to the team from the Lane, and lose 1-0.
I remember coming out of their ground and bumping into Bobby B, an old North Bank boy, he said
“ he wished he had a machine gun”. I’ve never seen him since, so maybe he got one.
Note - we’re now in Paxton Rd End.
Their fans were now standing on the Shelf.
One for the future.
We finally sign a quality striker - but we won’t see him until 1987.
One from the past.
Ex striker Ray Kennedy returns again to win with Swansea.
West Ham in wrong North Bank.
Still there.
From the sublime - Brady Back.
To the ridiculous - Diego Maradona.
The only left foot better than Liam Brady’s.
Kenny Sansom & Graham Rix off to the World Cup in Spain.
England off to a flyer - 1-0 after 27 seconds.
Rix & Sansom are happy.
French are not happy - especially Battiston.
Italian’s are happiest.
Next Post - Wednesday 20/5/2020.
The Vlad & Woody show.
Comments/ Questions - oldgunnersandgooners@gmail. com
No comments:
Post a Comment