The1980–81 season wasArsenal Football Club's 55th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The club ended their campaign third in theFootball League First Division, despite a dismal start. ManagerTerry Neill was attempting to follow up on finalist performances in both theFA Cup and theEuropean Cup Winner's Cup during the previous season.
In the transfer business, Arsenal lost first-team regularLiam Brady toJuventus. Arsenal signed 19-year-old Clive Allen fromQueens Park Rangers as a forward for £ 1.250.000 million, a club transfer record. However, Allen failed to make a competitive match appearance for the club and was instead moved-on toCrystal Palace in a swap deal forKenny 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 forManchester United at the end of the season.
Throughout the season, Arsenal went undefeated atHighbury in the League.
| 1980–81 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Denis Hill-Wood | ||
| Manager | Terry Neill | ||
| First Division | 3rd | ||
| FA Cup | Third round | ||
| League Cup | Fourth round | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Frank Stapleton (14) All: Frank Stapleton (16) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 54,045 vsTottenham Hotspur (30 August 1980) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 17,431 vsBirmingham City (31 March 1981) | ||
After the gruelling and heart breaking 70-match season in1979/80, 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 whenLiam Brady went toJuventus.[1]
With the impending departure of Brady, Arsenal fans were in need of some positives, so the signing ofClive 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 forQPR in the Second Division in 1979/80 Arsenal signed the teenager to provide competition and assistance to Frank Stapleton andAlan Sunderland. Arsenal had smashed their transfer record, spending £1.25 million on Allen, completely blitzing their previous high of £440,000 onBrian 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 toCrystal Palace along with goalkeeperPaul 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 theUEFA 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]
| 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 |
| 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 theEuropean Cup first round |
| 2 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 23 | 10 | 9 | 77 | 43 | +34 | 56 | Qualification for theUEFA 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 theEuropean Cup first round[a] |
| 16 August 19801 | West Bromwich Albion | 0–1 | Arsenal | West Bromwich |
| Stadium:The Hawthorns |
| 19 August 19802 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Southampton | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 23 August 19803 | Coventry City | 3–1 | Arsenal | Coventry |
| Stadium:Highfield Road |
| 30 August 19804 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 6 September 19805 | Manchester City | 1–1 | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium:Maine Road |
| 13 September 19806 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Stoke City | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 20 September 19807 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Arsenal | Middlesbrough |
| Stadium:Ayresome Park |
| 27 September 19808 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Nottingham Forest | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 4 October 19809 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Leicester City | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 7 October 198010 | Birmingham City | 3–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
| Stadium:St Andrew's |
| 11 October 198011 | Manchester United | 0–0 | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium:Old Trafford |
| 18 October 198012 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Sunderland | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 21 October 198013 | Arsenal | 3–1 | Norwich City | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 1 November 198015 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 8 November 198016 | Leeds United | 0–5 | Arsenal | Leeds |
| Stadium:Elland Road |
| 11 November 198017 | Southampton | 3–1 | Arsenal | Southampton |
| Stadium:The Dell |
| 15 November 198018 | Arsenal | 2–2 | West Bromwich Albion | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 29 November 198020 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
| Stadium:Villa Park |
| 6 December 198021 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 13 December 198022 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Arsenal | Sunderland |
| Stadium:Roker Park |
| 20 December 198023 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Manchester United | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 26 December 198024 | Crystal Palace | 2–2 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium:Selhurst Park |
| 27 December 198025 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Ipswich Town | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 17 January 198127 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium:White Hart Lane |
| 31 January 198128 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Coventry City | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 7 February 198129 | Stoke City | 1–1 | Arsenal | Stoke on Trent |
| Stadium:Victoria Ground |
| 21 February 198130 | Nottingham Forest | 3–1 | Arsenal | Nottingham |
| Stadium:City Ground |
| 24 February 198131 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Manchester City | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 28 February 198132 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Middlesbrough | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 7 March 198133 | Leicester City | 1–0 | Arsenal | Leicester |
| Stadium:Filbert Street |
| 21 March 198134 | Norwich City | 1–1 | Arsenal | Norwich |
| Stadium:Carrow Road |
| 31 March 198136 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Birmingham City | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 4 April 198137 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–1 | Arsenal | Brighton |
| Stadium:Goldstone Ground |
| 11 April 198138 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Leeds United | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 18 April 198139 | Ipswich Town | 0–2 | Arsenal | Ipswich |
| Stadium:Portman Road |
| 20 April 198140 | Arsenal | 3–2 | Crystal Palace | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 25 April 198141 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Arsenal | Wolverhampton |
| Stadium:Molineux Stadium |
| 2 May 198142 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Aston Villa | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 26 August 1980Second round (1st Leg) | Swansea City | 1–1 | Arsenal | Swansea |
| Stadium:Vetch Field |
| 2 September 1980Second round (2nd Leg) | Arsenal | 3–1 (4–2agg.) | Swansea City | London |
| Stadium:Highbury |
| 22 September 1980Third round | Stockport County | 1–3 | Arsenal | Stockport |
| Stadium:Edgeley Park |
| 4 November 1980Fourth round | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–0 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium:White Hart Lane |
Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to faceEverton.
[8]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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