21st August

In the year 1976 on the 21st August, Malcolm Macdonald made his league debut for Arsenal at Highbury against Bristol City. The Fulham-born player was signed from Newcastle for the unusual fee of £333333.33. Prior to his debut, he boasted that "There is no way I will not be on the scoresheet on Saturday". But in real fact, apparently there was a way he would not, as Arsenal lost the match by the score of 1-0. However, in the three seasons that the player spent at Arsenal, he had a good return of 42 league goals in 84 league appearances: an average of one goal every two matches. He left Arsenal to join Djurgårdens IF in 1979.

Connected to Macdonald, in the year 1981 on the same day, his former striking partner Frank Stapleton was sold to Manchester United for the transfer fee of £900000. Stapleton, who started his professional career at Arsenal, scored 75 league goals between 1974 and 1981, in 225 appearances. He joined United and played for the club until 1987, with a return of 60 league goals in 223 league appearances.