When Puskas wore our red and white at Highbury

Ferenc Puskas may be one of Real Madrid's biggest legends of all-time, winning three European Cups, five La Liga titles and netting 242 goals in 262 games, but while he starred in all-white, did you know he once donned our red and white and scored goals at Highbury?

The Rothmans Golden Boots Awards luncheon on September 9, 1971 had a very special guest - the Hungarian icon himself, a striker so dazzling and so revered that FIFA later named their Goal of the Season award after him.

The purpose of the lunch was to unveil the 1970/71 Team of the Year, which featured our very own Frank McLintock and Peter Storey, with Ray Kennedy receiving the Young Player of the Year award. In goal was the great Gordon Banks of Stoke City and England, and he took great pleasure in receiving his award from Puskas, who as one of the greatest players of all-time was a particular hero of Banks.

After the awards, some bright spark suggested that 44-year-old Puskas - who had retired five years earlier, finishing his career at Real Madrid - and Gordon have an impromptu penalty competition, to which they agreed. After a few phonecalls, we opened our doors and Highbury hosted this rather remarkable event, as member of the Gunners' groundstaff Pat O'Connor recalls.

"I remember walking down to the Clock End and seeing Puskas on the centre circle," said Pat back in 2018. "He flicked the ball up and juggled it all the way down to the goal and smashed it in the top corner. What a player and what great team both Hungary and Real Madrid were in the 1950s and 60s. Puskas still hit the ball like a rocket with that left foot. He had put on a few pounds but seemed to love every minute of it, as did Gordon."

"Also pictured is Jimmy Hosie - assistant groundsman at the time. I recognise a few more familiar faces from back in the day too. I was an electrician then and there were quite a lot of us on the groundstaff. It was very much a different time and a real family atmosphere at the club. There wouldn't have been any problem downing tools for a while to watch something like this take place.

"I've been an Arsenal man all my life - I grew up on Benwell Road. To have worked for the club since 1965 has been a real privilege - this was just one of many, many memorable moments from my time at Arsenal."

For the record, Puskas took 10 penalties. He scored six. Banks saved three - including this one - and the other flew over the crossbar into Pat and his colleagues!