1980–81 Arsenal F.C. season

The 1980–81 season was Arsenal Football Club's 55th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The club ended their campaign third in the Football League First Division, despite a dismal start. Manager Terry Neill was attempting to follow up on finalist performances in both the FA Cup and the European Cup Winner's Cup during the previous season.

In the transfer business, Arsenal lost first-team regular Liam Brady to Juventus. Arsenal signed 19-year-old Clive Allen from Queens Park Rangers as a forward for £1.25 million, a club transfer record. However, Allen failed to make a competitive match appearance for the club and was instead moved-on to Crystal Palace in a swap deal for Kenny Sanson. Peter Nicholas also joined the club in March.

Frank Stapleton was Arsenal's top scorer in both the league and in all competitions. He left Arsenal for Manchester United at the end of the season.

Throughout the season, Arsenal went undefeated at Highbury in the League.

Arsenal F.C.
1980–81 season
ChairmanDenis Hill-Wood
ManagerTerry Neill
First Division3rd
FA CupThird round
League CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Frank Stapleton (14)

All:
Frank Stapleton (16)
Highest home attendance54,045 vs Tottenham Hotspur
(30 August 1980)
Lowest home attendance17,431 vs Birmingham City
(31 March 1981)

Season summary

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After the gruelling and heart breaking 70-match season in 1979/80, it was clear that Arsenal needed reinforcements if they wanted to progress to the next level, and it was essential that the money earned from their cup runs should be invested in the squad. Arsenal only received the maximum £600,000 allowed by UEFA and the EEC for international transfers when Liam Brady went to Juventus.[1]

With the impending departure of Brady, Arsenal fans were in need of some positives, so the signing of Clive Allen at least provided a glimmer of hope. The 19-year-old centre forward was one of the most exciting prospects in the English game. After scoring 28 goals for QPR in the Second Division in 1979/80 Arsenal signed the teenager to provide competition and assistance to Frank Stapleton and Alan Sunderland. Arsenal had smashed their transfer record, spending £1.25 million on Allen, completely blitzing their previous high of £440,000 on Brian Talbot in the process and making Allen the first £1 million teenager.[2]

Clive Allen's Arsenal career was over after just 62 days at the club. Allen, who played just three pre-season games for Arsenal, headed to Crystal Palace along with goalkeeper Paul Barron. In return England defender Kenny Sansom arrived at Highbury.[3]

Arsenal also bought defensive midfielder Peter Nicholas from Crystal Palace in March 1981. He joined Arsenal when the club had won a grand total of three of the last 14 games played. After that Arsenal played nine, and only dropped two points and Nicholas didn’t play on the losing side. When he joined Arsenal they were 7th, eleven points behind the leaders.

By the end of the season Arsenal were 3rd, seven points behind the leaders, and qualified for the UEFA Cup. Arsenal had gone through the whole season undefeated at Highbury in the League and were undefeated in their final nine matches.[4][5][6][7]

Pre-season and friendlies

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Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A
Scorers Attendance
1 August 1980 Rangers A L 0–2 27,000
3 August 1980 Aberdeen A L 1–2 Stapleton
9 August 1980 Vasco da Gama N L 1–2 Talbot
10 August 1980 Partizan Belgrade A D 0–0

Results

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First Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Aston Villa (C) 42 26 8 8 72 40 +32 60 Qualification for the European Cup first round
2 Ipswich Town 42 23 10 9 77 43 +34 56 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3 Arsenal 42 19 15 8 61 45 +16 53
4 West Bromwich Albion 42 20 12 10 60 42 +18 52
5 Liverpool 42 17 17 8 62 42 +20 51 Qualification for the European Cup first round[a]
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Liverpool qualified for the European Cup first round as the 1980–81 European Cup winners.
19 August 1980 2 Arsenal 1–1 Southampton London
Stadium: Highbury
13 September 1980 6 Arsenal 2–0 Stoke City London
Stadium: Highbury
27 September 1980 8 Arsenal 1–0 Nottingham Forest London
Stadium: Highbury
4 October 1980 9 Arsenal 1–0 Leicester City London
Stadium: Highbury
18 October 1980 12 Arsenal 2–2 Sunderland London
Stadium: Highbury
21 October 1980 13 Arsenal 3–1 Norwich City London
Stadium: Highbury
25 October 1980 14 Liverpool 1–1 Arsenal Liverpool
Stadium: Anfield
8 November 1980 16 Leeds United 0–5 Arsenal Leeds
Stadium: Elland Road
11 November 1980 17 Southampton 3–1 Arsenal Southampton
Stadium: The Dell
22 November 1980 19 Arsenal 2–1 Everton London
Stadium: Highbury
29 November 1980 20 Aston Villa 1–1 Arsenal Birmingham
Stadium: Villa Park
13 December 1980 22 Sunderland 2–0 Arsenal Sunderland
Stadium: Roker Park
20 December 1980 23 Arsenal 2–1 Manchester United London
Stadium: Highbury
26 December 1980 24 Crystal Palace 2–2 Arsenal London
Stadium: Selhurst Park
27 December 1980 25 Arsenal 1–1 Ipswich Town London
Stadium: Highbury
10 January 1981 26 Everton 1–2 Arsenal Liverpool
Stadium: Goodison Park
31 January 1981 28 Arsenal 2–2 Coventry City London
Stadium: Highbury
24 February 1981 31 Arsenal 2–0 Manchester City London
Stadium: Highbury
28 February 1981 32 Arsenal 2–2 Middlesbrough London
Stadium: Highbury
21 March 1981 34 Norwich City 1–1 Arsenal Norwich
Stadium: Carrow Road
28 March 1981 35 Arsenal 1–0 Liverpool London
Stadium: Highbury
31 March 1981 36 Arsenal 2–1 Birmingham City London
Stadium: Highbury
11 April 1981 38 Arsenal 0–0 Leeds United London
Stadium: Highbury
18 April 1981 39 Ipswich Town 0–2 Arsenal Ipswich
Stadium: Portman Road
20 April 1981 40 Arsenal 3–2 Crystal Palace London
Stadium: Highbury
2 May 1981 42 Arsenal 2–0 Aston Villa London
Stadium: Highbury

Football League Cup

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26 August 1980 Second round
(1st Leg)
Swansea City 1–1 Arsenal Swansea
Stadium: Vetch Field
2 September 1980 Second round
(2nd Leg)
Arsenal 3–1
(4–2 agg.)
Swansea City London
Stadium: Highbury
22 September 1980 Third round Stockport County 1–3 Arsenal Stockport
Stadium: Edgeley Park
4 November 1980 Fourth round Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Arsenal London
Stadium: White Hart Lane

FA Cup

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Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to face Everton.

3 January 1981 Third round Everton 2–0 Arsenal Liverpool
Stadium: Goodison Park

Squad

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[8] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   NIR Pat Jennings
DF   IRL John Devine
DF   ENG Kenny Sansom
MF   ENG Brian Talbot
DF   IRL David O'Leary
DF   SCO Willie Young
MF   ENG John Hollins
FW   ENG Alan Sunderland
FW   IRL Frank Stapleton
MF   ENG Steve Gatting
MF   ENG Graham Rix
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   ENG Steve Walford
MF   ENG Brian McDermott
GK   SCO George Wood
MF   ENG David Price
MF   ENG Paul Davis
MF   WAL Peter Nicholas
FW   ENG Paul Vaessen
DF   NIR Pat Rice
DF   NIR Sammy Nelson


Top scorers

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First Division

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References

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  1. ^ Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1986). Arsenal 1886-1986 : the official centenary history of Arsenal Football Club. Twickenham: Hamlyn. p. 244. ISBN 9780600358718.
  2. ^ Eccleshare, Charlie (13 October 2019). "Seven London clubs in one day. Clive Allen retraces the steps of a remarkable career". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Footballers joining and leaving a club soon after". The Guardian. 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  4. ^ James, Josh (2008). Arsenal: The Complete Record. deCoubertin Books.
  5. ^ Spurling, Jon (2001). All Guns Blazing. Aureus.
  6. ^ Donnelley, Paul (2009). Arsenal On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd.
  7. ^ Soar, Phil; Taylor, Martin (2003). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn.
  8. ^ Arsenal and Man United in hunt for Germany U-21 ace. "Arsenal FC - Kader 1980/1981". Worldfootball.net. Retrieved 19 August 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)