On this day in 1990, Arsenal signed former Chelsea defender, Colin Pates, for £500,000.

Born in London, 10 August 1961, the ex-England youth international signed for Chelsea in 1979 and played almost 300 league games for our London rivals before moving to Charlton Athletic for £400,000 in 1988.

Pates was never that successful under manager at the time, George Graham, only making a total of 25 appearances (16 starts, nine subs) during his two-and-a-half years with Arsenal. He only scored one goal but, as a defender, that’s not a massive shock. Saying this, said goal came against Benfica in the European Cup at Highbury.

Pates made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in February 1990, which the Gunners lost 1-0 and he never really managed to hit his stride in an Arsenal shirt.

Colin Pates and Ryan Giggs
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 19: Manchester United player Ryan Giggs (l) challenges Arsenal player Colin Pates during a Division One match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on October 19, 1991 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

In the end, Arsenal loaned Pates to Brighton and Hove Albion before we sold him permanently.

After a couple of years, he moved to Crawley, becoming player-manager, before moving on to Romford.

He’s since coached football at Whitgift School in South Croydon.