Paul Mariner’s best years may have been spent away from north London but he still provided useful goals for Don Howe’s Arsenal during the mid 1980s.
The robust centre-forward, considered one of the League’s very best, made the switch from Ipswich during February 1984.
His impact was instant, scoring the winning goal against Nottingham Forest in his second game before bagging a classy brace against his former employers from Suffolk. He finished that campaign with seven goals from just 15 outings.
Mariner's versatility was also an asset throughout his Highbury sojourn. An injury to David O’Leary during the Gunners’ clash with Luton in 1985 saw Paul fill in admirably at centre-half. He also turned out in midfield to good effect.
However a string of niggly injuries saw Mariner lose his place in the Gunners’ forward line and he accepted a free transfer to Portsmouth in 1986 after making 70 appearances for Arsenal.
Paul Mariner
