This is an edited version of my original article that appeared in issue 291 of The Gooner.
As election news was dominating the front pages in November 1980 – Reagan defeating Carter in the US, with Foot and Healy battling to become Labour leader – another 'e' word was constantly being referenced in relation to football on the back pages. With attendances dropping, many journalists and pundits were questioning whether the sport was providing the remaining fans with enough entertainment.
Stoke manager Alan Durban certainly made his opinion clear on the matter, after his team attempted unsuccessfully to park the bus in a 2-0 defeat at Highbury in September 1980: "If you want entertainment go and watch a bunch of clowns," Durban retorted. However, Arsenal were not exempt from these critical opinions.
After the departure of star midfielder Liam Brady, inevitably the creativity in Terry Neill's team suffered. The Daily Express Entertainment League did not paint a pretty picture. Ranked 21st (out of 22) with an average ranking of 4.93 (out of ten), the 'Boring, Boring Arsenal' jibes were prevalent and possibly justified.
But did it really matter? Sitting in fifth place in the only table that counted, Arsenal were five points behind table-toppers Aston Villa in the last season featuring two points for a win and were undefeated in their eight home league matches by the start of November. But it was the away form that was causing concern and attracting negative comments.
One win on their travels – a 1-0 victory at West Brom – illustrated the struggles of Neill's team. There were good draws at Old Trafford and Anfield, but the team failed to score more than one goal away from home in their seven matches, and losses at Coventry, Middlesbrough and Birmingham suggested there was a soft underbelly.
Injuries were not helping. With Pat Jennings and David O'Leary already out, the news that Frank Stapleton would miss the trip to Leeds in November was about as welcome as the League Cup fourth round loss at White Hart Lane in the week before the match. 19-year-old Brian McDermott would fill the big boots of Stapleton, with George Wood and Steve Walford covering for Jennings and O'Leary respectively.
In truth, Leeds were a club in rapid decline. Hovering just above the relegation zone, the recent appointment of Allan Clarke as manager hinted that the board were hoping an ex-player from the prosperous Revie era could turn the fortunes around. In fairness to Clarke, he would lead the club away from danger. But the next season would see Leeds drop into the Division Two.
Despite their struggles, Leeds had won all three home matches under Clarke, and with Arsenal's poor away form, winning at Elland Road was a hope rather than expectation for the visitors. But what followed cast aside any pre-match fears. Arsenal, aided by an atrocious Leeds performance, left the 20,855 crowd stunned and critics speechless.
Skipper John Hollins started the rout in the 17th minute, although a future Arsenal title-winning keeper played a big part in the opener. When Hollins drilled in a cross from the byline there seemed little danger. But John Lukic somehow palmed the cross back into his own net. It would not be his last error of the day.
Lukic could do little to prevent the next just after the half hour mark. A fine left-footed volley from Steve Gatting doubled Arsenal's advantage, as the previously goal-shy Gunners opened the floodgates. In the 64th minute, Hollins would feature again in more misery for the England U21 keeper.
His shot from Kenny Sansom's cross was straight at the 19-year-old. But somehow through a combination of right hand and left foot, Lukic saw the ball crawl over the line. Lukic's juggling act provided entertainment for the travelling Arsenal contingent, but it was no laughing matter for the disgruntled home support.
Brian Talbot added a fourth after good work from McDermott, before Alan Sunderland completed the scoring in the 82nd minute. On a surreal day, the sight of Walford driving forwards like Franz Beckenbauer to set up the final goal really summed it all up. Leeds' heaviest home defeat since 1919 left most experts scratching their heads.
Leeds had not conceded a league goal at Elland Road in five matches; Arsenal had scored six goals away from home; Arsenal would win just one of their next ten league matches on the road. It was like finding a beautiful island retreat in a sea of mediocrity. Not that you would probably compare Elland Road on a November day in 1980 to paradise.
"It seems unbelievable, but it's true," Peter Ball wrote in the Guardian. "Arsenal scored five away from home. To make it even more noteworthy, the first four at Leeds came from their midfield, for whom crossing the halfway line in away matches is not usually a venture to be undertaken lightly."
"Arsenal silence army of critics outside N5," declared the headline in the Times. "Those five goals were a vindication of everything we've been trying to do at Arsenal," coach Don Howe commented after the match. But maybe Neill's words were more accurate. "We had a few breaks. We took advantage of that and added to it."
Clarke sprung to the defence of his young keeper. "He doesn't take sole blame for the defeat. All eleven players must share that. He is the best young keeper in the country, but he will learn from his mistakes today and it will do him the world of good."
Howe also consoled Lukic after the match. "I appreciated Don Howe's gesture," the young keeper revealed. "But forgetting what happened today is easier said than done." Fortunately for Lukic, Neill and Howe did forget this particular nightmare. Arriving at Highbury in July 1983, the keeper would eventually succeed Jennings.
But those days must have seemed a distant dream for Lukic as Clarke dragged his squad in for training on the Sunday. Lukic would inadvertently provide happiness for Arsenal fans desperate for some joy at the start of the decade. Come the end of the 1980s, he would play his part in the highest of highs.
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