Chelsea and Coventry were the first clubs to be linked with David O’Leary post Arsenal’s existence as the Dubliner announced his departure from Highbury at the end of that season. Although O’Leary had already said he would go anywhere for first-team football, staying in London would have delighted him a lot.
Chelsea already had former Arsenal coach Don Howe on David Webb’s management team and that could be a great pull for O’leary to go there.
David Webb said “Dave was good for Arsenal and I think Arsenal was good for him. Both realized it and its probably why they cemented such a strong relationship. Dave’s association with Arsenal spelt out loyalty, and in these days of freedom of contract, you are unlikely to see that ever again, not in England, probably not in Europe.”
