Paul Davis is a member of a small, highly-talented and yet highly unfortunate group of Arsenal players.
The cultured midfielder rose through the ranks at Highbury and played 447 times during a 17-year spell - but he never got capped for England.
Was he the best Arsenal player never to wear the Three Lions? Only George Armstrong, John Lukic and Peter Simpson could put up any real argument.
Davis turned professional in 1979 and seemed feted to have a successful Arsenal career from the off. His debut came on April 7, 1980 when Terry Neill’s much-changed side won 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
He was a regular over the next couple of seasons, becoming a firm crowd favourite in the process. His main weapons were his left foot, his vision and his fierce loyalty to the club.
Davis played throughout the successful Littlewoods Cup run in 1987 but picked up an injury at the start of the 1988/89 campaign and sat out the dramatic denouement at Anfield.
He missed only one game in the side that won the title in 1990/91 but was more of a peripheral figure in the seasons that followed. However Davis did play in the two cup finals in 1993 and was a driving force behind the Cup Winners' Cup triumph in 1994.
He was released in June 1995 and played five games at Brentford before hanging up his boots for good.
Davis coached in the Arsenal academy for a time and occasionally co-commentates for Arsenal Player's Matchday Show.
He remains one of the most popular players to represent the Club in the past 30 years.
WHAT THE FANS SAID
"I remember Paul Davis as a very cool, calm and collected player who had a great first touch and pinpoint accuracy in his passing. He could also put his foot in. Very underrated player who played a huge part in the success of the 1980s. A true Gunner!"
Benjamin Weston, Buckinghamshire
"I saw Paul make his debut as a teenager at White Hart Lane in 1980. Two days before the semi-final with Juventus it was a game in which Arsenal fielded six 'reserves'. Davis played absolutely superbly in a 2-1 victory. Steve Perryman later recalled that this defeat was his most embarrassing derby day defeat ever."
Brad Duncan (Paxton End in 1980)
