Albion’s best memory of going to Arsenal has nothing to do with taking on the famous North London club.

It is the win over Sheffield Wednesday at Highbury in the semi-finals of the 1982-83 FA Cup.

They never used to get much off the Gunners up there, be it in the First Division, the League Cup or the FA Cup, with five defeats and just one goal scored from six visits.

But there was one chink of light and that was when they boasted the best away record in the top flight.

The Seagulls drew 0-0 at Highbury in late January, 1982.

A 1-0 win which followed at Coventry took them to 17 away points, the best haul on the road at that time in the division.

Liverpool quickly overtook them by moving to 18 but the Seagulls were happy enough with four wins, five draws and two defeats from their 11 away fixtures to that point, scoring eight goals and conceding just six.

Still, boss Mike Bailey was fully aware some fans felt his style was too defensive.

Bailey, who had guided Albion into the top half, was unrepentant.

Once fans at the next home game had turned past news of a planned new North Stand (including executive boxes) in the programme, they came to a pretty defiant column penned by Bailey himself.

The manager used his programme notes to stress: “I am prepared to put up with some criticism but I am not looking for a one-off season.

“I want to build a Brighton club that will be successful for years to come.

“If we went out in every game and attacked non-stop and were relegated, we would get no thanks from anyone.”

Arsenal were not exactly thrilling the Highbury faithful, with eight goals scored and three conceded in their ten home games.

Attendances had dropped dramatically and just short of 18,000 saw this stalemate.

Albion keeper Graham Moseley had to save a 25-yarder from Alan Sunderland and also kept out a Graham Rix free-kick.

At the other end, George Wood denied Andy Ritchie with his legs and, near the end, Ritchie was just too high from Neil McNab’s free-kick.

The point was secured with the help of two Albion defenders back at their old club – Steve Gatting and Sammy Nelson.

Albion: Moseley; Shanks, Foster, Gatting, Nelson; Ryan (Stevens), Grealish, McNab, Thomas; Smith, Ritchie.