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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.
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.
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Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1986). Arsenal 1886-1986 : the official centenary history of Arsenal Football Club. Twickenham: Hamlyn. p. 244. ISBN9780600358718.
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Spurling, Jon (2001). All Guns Blazing. Aureus.
Donnelley, Paul (2009). Arsenal On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd.
Soar, Phil; Taylor, Martin (2003). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn.
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)
