On This Day in Football: 24th September

24th September 1991

On this day in 1991, Arsenal made a significant move in the transfer market by acquiring forward Ian Wright from Crystal Palace for a fee of £2.5 million. This transaction set a new club record for Arsenal, as it was the highest amount they had ever paid for a player at that time. Despite some scepticism surrounding the decision to invest such a sum in a player nearing his 28th birthday, Wright quickly silenced the doubters. He made an immediate impact by scoring a hat-trick on his League debut for Arsenal. Over the course of his career with the Gunners, Wright proved to be an invaluable asset, netting a remarkable 185 goals in 288 first-team appearances. This impressive tally stood as a club record until it was eventually surpassed by Thierry Henry.

In another event on the same day, Wimbledon faced Peterborough United in a League Cup tie at Selhurst Park. The match drew a notably low attendance, with only 2,081 spectators present. This figure marked the lowest ever home attendance for a top-division club in the history of the competition. Despite the sparse crowd, the match proceeded with Peterborough United emerging victorious, securing a 2-1 win over Wimbledon. This result was part of the League Cup fixtures for the 1991/92 season.