The year is 1971. Arsenal has just won the Double and now they looked to add a World Cup winner to their ranks in the hopes of continuing their haul. It was on this day that Arsenal broke the British transfer fee record by spending £220,000 to land Everton’s Alan Ball, the man with the trademark white boots.

He had built quite a name for himself particularly with his heroics for England, and Arsenal manager Bertie Mee was highly praised for capturing the player. Ball was just 21 in England’s 1966 World Cup triumph five years prior, and already looked a real star. He attracted the interest of many big clubs with his displays and ended up joining Everton where he would go on to form what is still remembered as the “Holy Trinity” with Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall. Now 26 and at his prime for club and country, it was a massive surprise Arsenal were able to pull this transfer off.

Now that the stage is set, Ball has joined the red and white and it is time for his Arsenal debut which came against Nottingham Forest on December 27th.

Ball quickly began to capture the headlights for more reason than just the now famous white boots. He was widely known and respected for his skill on the ball and passing ability and was a massive part of Arsenal’s attractive style of play. A classic traditional attacking midfielder, Ball struck 52 goals in 217 appearances. He was Frank Lampard before Frank Lampard.

It is hard to believe that Ball didn’t win a trophy with Arsenal during his five year stint at the club. He came close on a couple of occasions, losing to Leeds 1-0 in the 1972 FA Cup Final and finishing as runner up in the league the following season.

A leader of men, Ball took on the captaincy at the start of the 1973/74 campaign and became Arsenal’s most influential performer. The side who won the double in 1971 had fallen apart and as a new generation of players began to emerge, Ball was the veteran and mainstay in the side.

Among these player was Liam Brady who later had this to say about fellow Arsenal great:

“In my opinion he was one of Arsenal’s greatest players of all time. He helped me greatly and, with David O’Leary, Frank Stapleton and Graham Rix, I feel he contributed a great deal towards our careers, passing on his experience of the game.”

That campaign ended in a modest mid table finish with the new boys still bedding in. The next season, Arsenal was without Ball for the beginning of the campaign through injury but captain fantastic returned to help the side narrowly avoid relegation.

He left for Southampton the following year and will be fondly remembered by Arsenal fans old enough to recall.

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