# 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.

## Season summary

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.
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.
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.
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.

## Pre-season and friendlies

| 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
### First Division

| Pos | Teamvte | 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 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 60 | 42 | +18 | 52 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 5 | Liverpool | 42 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 62 | 42 | +20 | 51 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
* ↑ Liverpool qualified for the European Cup first round as the 1980–81 European Cup winners.

### FA Cup

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

## Squad

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
### First Division

* Frank Stapleton 14
* Alan Sunderland 7
* Brian Talbot 7