Everyone at the club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former defender Willie Young, aged 73.
The Scottish under-23 international joined us in March 1977, becoming a rare signing from across north London when he arrived from Tottenham Hotspur.
He actually followed his manager, Terry Neill, down the Seven Sisters Road, Neill knowing that the giant Scotsman could bring some much-needed steel to an Arsenal team struggling to make the transition from the all-conquering side at the start of the decade. A comical moment at his signing, when the club couldn't find a shirt big enough to fit the 6'3" Willie, was an indication that Neill knew his team required a rugged edge to turn around a period of decline.
Willie was as strong a character off the pitch as he was on it - and he needed to be to make the move across the capital, with the Highbury faithful having significant reason for scepticism: "I was sent off against them after scoring my only First Division goal for Spurs this season. That's a double insult to Arsenal," said Willie prior to making his debut for us on March 5, 1977 against Ipswich Town. "But I hope the fans will forgive me now that I've come over, I know the players have."
A 4-1 win for Ipswich at Highbury hardly got supporters onside, followed by 2-1 defeats at West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers but in the latter, Young got our goal - one of 19 in his 237 games for us - and supporters began to see what this robust Aberdonian, who had worked on the oil rigs as a teenager, could add to the team. We went on to win six of the next eight games, with Willie's central defensive partnership with the young, cultured David O'Leary starting to take shape.
Virtually ever-present for the next three seasons alongside O'Leary, Neill's now-defensively sound team became a formidable outfit in the cups, reaching three consecutive FA Cup finals - famously winning the 'five minute final' in 1979 - as well as the European Cup Winners Cup Final in 1980, in a marathon season in which Willie played started a remarkable 64 games.
Reliable, dominant in the air and fearless, Willie's physicality and commitment made him a cult figure with supporters, who cheekily sang 'we've got the biggest Willie in the land'. His immense contribution to a successful period under Neill means he will always be remembered fondly by those who saw his colossal frame repelling attacks and causing havoc to opposition defences at set pieces.
On joining the club, Willie also said: "Terry has bought me to do a specific job for him, that's to stay in the middle and stop the goals going in." Which he did, and for a centre-half of the era, that was the greatest accolade you could earn.
Willie left us for Nottingham Forest in December 1981 for £175,000 - making a handsome six-figure profit for the club in the process - and later played for Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Darlington. He later settled down in the Nottingham area with his wife Lynda, raising a family and running a pub for many years, where his natural warmth endeared him to locals, talking football for many hours. A great lover of animals too, Willie also later ran a cattery in the region.
Our deepest condolences go out to Linda, the Young family and their many friends.