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Alan Hudson, a temperamental, but vastly talented midfielder, signed for
Arsenal in December 1976 for £200,000 from Stoke City. His acquisition
represented a gamble for manager Terry Neil, for at the age of only
twenty-five Hudson was already being thought of in the flawed genius
category of George Best and Stan Bowles. A player of great skill, who
could orchestrate a team's performance, sadly only demonstrated his
virtuosity occasionally at Highbury and ultimately the gamble failed.
After making his debut in a 1-1 draw against Leeds United on 3rd January
1977 Hudson was a virtual ever-present for the remainder of the season.
It was Neil's first season as manager and the Londoners finished a
creditable eighth. Neil was building a side of verve and brio with
Hudson augmenting a nucleus of Brady, Rix, Stapleton and MacDonald.
However, on an end of season tour of Australia, Hudson and MacDonald
were sent home early in disgrace and placed on the transfer list.
'Supermac' eventually made his peace, but despite later being taken off
the list the incident was the beginning of the end for Hudson. He
started 1977/78 out of the team; in fact between August and February he
made only two league appearances. However, once the midfielder was given
a last chance and a place back in the side after the New Year he stayed
there. As Arsenal challenged for the League Cup, FA Cup, and a top five
league finish Hudson began to show his true capability more
consistently. A 3-0 win over Manchester City, and a 4-0 victory over
West Brom, both in the spring, stand out.
As the Gunners beat Orient 3-0
in the FA Cup semi-final, at Hudson's spiritual home of Stamford
Bridge, it seemed that it was still not too late for Alan to exert his
influence over, and within, a successful team. However, the huge
disappointment of losing the FA Cup Final 0-1 to Ipswich Town, when the
team played very poorly, set Hudson back to square one. In the summer he
walked out of the club, citing his dislike of Terry Neil, and was sold
to Seattle Sounders for £95,000. Although, Hudson later said, "leaving
Arsenal was the worst day's work I ever did", there remains something
fitting that the miserable day at Wembley was his last game for the
club. (David Fensome)
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