Martin Hayes

Early career

Hayes played youth football for Essex schoolboys before joining Arsenal as an apprentice in June 1982.

Arsenal

A promising attacking player, either up front or on the left wing, Hayes impressed in the Arsenal youth and reserve teams, and made his first-team debut against Oxford United on 16 November 1985 at the age of 19. In that first season of first team football he played in 14 games, scoring three goals, when initially deputising for Graham Rix. Just weeks before the end of the season, Don Howe, the manager who had given Hayes his debut, stepped down as manager following reports that Arsenal had offered his job to Terry Venables, but when the new manager was announced a few weeks later it was George Graham who took over. And fortunately for Hayes, he remained in the new manager's plans. With the ageing Rix starting to tire, Hayes soon established himself as Arsenal's regular left winger, and in 1986–87 he was the club's top scorer with 24 goals, 12 of them being penalties; he also played in the Gunners' League Cup-winning team that year, beating Liverpool 2–1. However, he could not continue this form the following season, and only scored three times – one of them being the opening goal in the League Cup final against Luton Town. However, Hayes also hit the post from a yard out when Arsenal were 2–1 up, and Luton staged a late comeback to take the game 3–2. The arrival of Brian Marwood in March threw his first team chances into serious…

Hayes won three England U21 caps during his time at Arsenal, but never played for the senior team.

Hayes was born in Walthamstow, London. He is the brother of Paul Hayes, a striker who is 17 years his junior.

Arsenal

Football League Cup: 1986–87; runner-up: 1987–88