Arsenal In Transfer Mystery
Jul 1st, 2008 by 'holic
I have to say it has been fascinating following the events of the day in France from my work desk. All I can say is that whatever issues the two Olympiques’ are having with each other over the Hatem Ben Arfa deal, our own move for Samir Nasri is not affected in any way. Well, in any way other than the official announcement may be delayed while the French clubs resolve their domestic spat.
My mind was inevitably drawn back to the summer of 1980, and things were very different then. We didn’t have any internet or TalkSport, so no minute by minute speculation and updates. Arsenal were coming off the back of two Cup Final defeats to West Ham and Valencia, and the only thing we knew for sure was that Liam Brady was definitely going, and according to the papers of the day our number one target was Kenny Sansom, the Crystal Palace and England left-back.
So the big signing of the summer, and there was only enough money in the kitty for one, proved to be a major surprise. I remember a mate at work saying he had just heard on BBC Radio that Arsenal had called a press conference. Sure we would be announcing the capture of Sansom I do remember the general level of astonishment that greeted Arsenal’s first seven figure signing, Clive Allen from Second Division Queens Park Rangers.
The teenage striker had scored 28 goals in the lower tier but Rangers failed to gain promotion. The move came right out of left-field, and the size of the fee, £1.25 million, was staggering. Allen did pull on an Arsenal shirt for three pre-season friendlies, but any enthusiasm among the supporters for the new boy was decidedly muted. Just as the serious action was about to get under way came a truly amazing deal. Arsenal and Crystal Palace announced that Kenny Sansom would be on his way to Highbury with the young Allen making the opposite journey.
Now there was much muttering at the time that the whole double deal had been constructed because Palace wanted Clive Allen all along, and Rangers would not sell to the Selhurst Park outfit. Arsenal were said to have become involved to facilitate both moves.
One day we may get to know the full truth of that deal. The conspiracy theory would certainly explain why we had paid so much money for Allen and then ‘exchanged’ him at a reported value of £1 million. Of course the story would not be complete without reference to Allen’s three goals against us in the Littlewoods Cup semi-final of 1987, although Arsenal would eventually send Tottenham sliding to defeat in a memorable White Hart Lane replay.
For that one season we wondered if we had done the right thing in letting him go. He scored an impressive forty-nine goals after two injury ravaged seasons in N17. He never looked like repeating it. We, on the other hand enjoyed the services of one of England’s finest left-backs for eight years. Thanks Palace.
35 Responses to “Arsenal In Transfer Mystery”
Glug glug glug glug aaaaahh.
Cheers.
It’s good to remind people of that – things aren’t always what they seem and everything happens for a reason. Maybe some of the people crying for this or that signing should just sit back, chill and let the chips fall where they may!
Hi ‘holic – nice to know your working hours are not wasted…
I’m not playing anymore
I was multi-tasking daft. Come on Jacks, I never had you down as a quitter.
😉
Jeez!
Forget that we had to wait like a few hours to know about deals and stuff!
All this instantanious gossip/muck spreading can get a little bit annoying!
We just dont got the patience no more innit?
How’s Ivy Don?
look at the managers at the time you say it all pal when you say im sitting at my desk
Jackster;
Gave her a fat lip
Was that out or order?
heh, good post. Imagine the murder there’d be if Arsenal only bought one player these days.
Wow!!!
I Remember that Day Very Clearly.
However I did not know QPR would not trade with Palace!
Kenny Sansom was an Gooner Legend. I still Love him Today.
Cheers Mate
Wasn’t goalie Paul Barron part of that deal as well? I remember it all being very mysterious, a bit like the Mystery of the Disappearing Petrovic a couple of years later. Terry Neill had a dark side!
What’s this Olde Olde.com?
Fucking hell, they are in early?
I just expected to beat Jackster, no-one else.
Well even he beat me!
‘fort-nine’ ? How much is that? 😉
How do you do that Ollie? I spell-checked it and everything…
Thank you 😉
Heh, the memories you have awoken, you’re like the man in the bar… What? Oh, I’ll have a pint of Courage Best please. 😉
It’s late but I’ll have another drink quand meme
Cheers ‘holic
It was common knowledge at the time that Terry Vegetable engineered the whole thing.
Whats got three feet and eats fish,chips and Mushy peas?
Ivy and Don Brennan
Are you saying Don had a huge dick, Chambo?
And the irony of the the Littlewoods Cup ’87 is that despite Clive Allen’s 3 goals in the semi, it was Kenny who actually lifted the Cup.
Stevus, I’m pretty sure you’re right about Paul Barron, he was involved in the deal, probably made up the £250K shortfall. Now coaching at ‘Boro, I think.
thanks for the fastback , you have a nice blog , can we exchange links.
http://soccerfanbase.com
Great post “holic.
The league cup semi-final games against Spurs in 1987 were unforgetable.(So were the ones in 1969,God bless you John Radford.)
The feeling when David Rocastle scored towards the end of the third match was comparable to Michael Thomas at Anfield.
Later in the season Spurs reached the FA cup final against Coventry.
Spurs centre half Richard Gough said the defeat to Arsenal did not matter because Spurs had got through to “the big cup final.”
Coventry beat them 3-2.
Maybe Ben Arfa is coming to Arsenal then….
Nice post, ‘holic. Fantastic perspective on the team — especially for nine year old preGoonescent living in NYC.
Highbury? What now? Is that near Shea?
Ah, Gonko. No use revelling in the glory that Spuds got beat by Coventry. We got beat in the mud at Wembley by Swindon Town, who, incidentally, have a 100% record at (the old ) Wembley. ( 3-0)
Morning drinkers.
G’morning nelly,
am I alone in not getting onto Arseblog again?
I categorically deny that I have ever revelled in the discomfort of our nieghbours.I would never dream of doing such a thing.
As for Swindon,thanks for reminding me.
Yellow card GG, I was at Wembley that day. Bloody horse of the Year show, a flu epidemic, and a once in a lifetime keeping display by Downsbrough did for us. I was scarred by the experience.
🙁
You would have to ask Ivy, Ricey
By the time the players return for summer trianing Arsenal FC have been linked with almost everybody. We can see transfers coming from weeks away. Wenger’s trickery over the Sol Campbell / Richard Wright press conference doesn’t look like being repeated. Spuds pulled off a big surprise with Modric but they have missed out on the other 436 players they have tried to sign…oh and there is a very good reason for that!
*waits patiently*
*F5’s *