Clive Allen

As football's transfer industry continues to spiral, one question needs to be asked: What price Clive Allen, 1986-87 vintage, at today's inflated market?
Allen scored 112 goals in 173 games for us but will always be remembered for grabbing 49 as David Pleat's revolutionary team knocked on the door of all three domestic competitions in 1986-87.

Lethal around the penalty area, Allen benefitted from a five-man midfield including Glenn Hoddle, Chris Waddle and Ossie Ardiles to score 33 goals as we finished third in Division One.

Allen also scored three on the way to the FA Cup Final, followed by a goal in the 3-2 defeat against Coventry at Wembley and an amazing 12 in the League Cup as Arsenal won a dramatic semi-final.

Allen's goals could have helped land a treble but he had to settle for an individual double in the shape of the PFA and Football Writers Player Of The Year Awards.

"I say to this day, given in that first season we were so close on all three fronts, we would have all hoped to have won something the following season," recalled Allen. "But unfortunately, that group of players disbanded."

Allen, who joined us from QPR in 1981, profited when Pleat - then manager, now our director of football - introduced a five-man midfield supporting him as a lone striker.

"I remember it well," said Allen. "David Pleat told the players on the Friday before a match at Oxford that we would be playing this system and he would take full responsibility for the results.

"It worked perfectly for us. We had clever players and players of great ability who were able to take on board exactly what he wanted. It worked for that team."

Allen moved to Bordeaux in March 1988 and went on to play for Manchester City, Chelsea and West Ham. He is now a pundit for Sky Sports.