In advance of our third meeting this week, YNWA looks at the careers of some of those who have represented both Arsenal and the mighty reds.
Current double agent
Jermaine Pennant signed for the Gunners from Notts County in a £2m deal in January 1999, becoming the most expensive teenager in English football history, aged just sixteen. He only grabbed three goals for Arsenal, but they all came in his first League start as he made just 26 senior appearances, although only he only played one other League game from the off. He was sent out on loan twice to Watford as well as Leeds United and Birmingham City, before moving permanently to St. Andrews in July 2005. He arrived at Anfield in July 2006 for £6.7m after City were relegated, and has struck just twice in 74 reds games to date.
A true great
Striker Ray Kennedy helped Arsenal to their 1971 League and Cup double, after being released by Port Vale boss Stanley Matthews. He joined the reds for a then club record £180,000 fee on the day Bill Shankly resigned in 1974. Bob Paisley superbly switched him to left midfield, and he netted 72 goals in 393 reds games, helping us to five League titles, three European Cups, one UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the League Cup. He is now battling against Parkinson's disease. Shanks himself had guested for the Gunners during the Second World War.
Recent double agents
Nicolas Anelka struck 28 times in 91 Arsenal games before being sold to Real Madrid for £23m. After an unhappy time at both the Bernabéu and with Paris Saint-Germain, Nicolas joined the reds on a half-season loan. He scored five times in 22 reds appearances, but was not then kept on permanently.
Michael Thomas struck Arsenal's decisive second goal in the 1989 title decider at Anfield. He had spent the first seven years of his career at Highbury, playing 210 times, before moving to Anfield in December 1991 for £1.5m. He played 163 reds games, scoring twelve goals, including the 1992 FA Cup Final opener.
Striking sensations
Sam Raybould holds several reds striking records, including being the first to bag a hat-trick against Manchester United, and the fastest reds derby scorer. He was top scorer in four of his seven seasons, helping us to two First Division titles and one in the Second Division, scoring 128 times in 226 games. He ended his career with Woolwich Arsenal after leaving Anfield for Sunderland in May 1907.
Fred Pagnam joined the reds from his hometown side Blackpool as the First World War was about to break out, and so only made 39 appearances, although he scored an impressive thirty times. He was transferred to Arsenal in October 1919, with whom he kept up his remarkable strike rate. Turn-of-the-century Scottish inside-forward John ‘Sailor' Hunter bagged thirteen goals in 45 reds games, and later played for Woolwich Arsenal, following a spell back north of the border.
In the sixties
Keeper Jim Furnell arrived from Burnley in February 1962 for £18,000, playing in several games as we returned to the top flight that year. However, most of his time was spent in the reserves, and so he moved to Highbury in November 1963 for £15,000 after just 28 reds games. He became their number one custodian, making over 150 appearances.
Inside-forward Geoff Strong signed from Arsenal for £40,000 in November 1964, after more than a century of games for the Gunners. He won a League title while at Anfield, playing in a multitude of positions, as well as appearing in the 1965 FA Cup winning side, scoring a total of 33 goals in 201 reds appearances.
Second Division champions
Our 1896 Second Division title winning side included two Arsenal double agents. Davy Hannah won two League titles with Sunderland before joining the reds in November 1894. He scored twelve goals in 33 games, and later played for Woolwich Arsenal, from whom keeper Harry Storer came to Anfield in December 1895. He went on to make 121 reds appearances.
Bit part players
Jimmy Carter signed from Millwall for £800,000 in January 1991. He failed to make the grade and left for Arsenal just nine months and eight reds games later, for £500,000. He notched twice in thirty games for the Gunners.
Bobby Campbell signed professionally for the reds in May 1954, but only played 25 first-team games in seven years. He was later a coach at Highbury. Scottish forward Andrew McCowie struck eleven times in 35 reds games at the end of the nineteenth century, moving to Woolwich Arsenal in 1899. Forward Abe Hartley notched just once in twelve reds games after moving across Stanley Park in December 1897. He joined Southampton as an amateur the following May, from where he then moved to Woolwich Arsenal.
