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Morning.
On yesterday’s Arsecast Further we have been requested a query about our greatest January signings of all time. This was clearly impressed by the hat-trick of assists that Leandro Trossard supplied in our 3-0 win over Fulham. A nook for Gabriel, a cross for Gabriel Martinelli, and a cross for Martin Odegaard. Two of these assists have been along with his left foot too.
There’s no query he has been a superb addition to the squad, not least as a result of he supplied some depth and canopy at centre-forward too. One thing we’ve wanted to present Eddie Nketiah a breather, and in gentle of the damage state of affairs which meant he was wanted up entrance.
There have been fairly a couple of individuals on Twitter questioning whether or not the omission of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was deliberate, and I can inform you truthfully I merely forgot all about him. I don’t know if that claims one thing about me, or if the best way the participant left the membership – additionally in January – is the rationale. Both manner, it wasn’t spite. I don’t harbour any ill-will in direction of Aubameyang actually.
He was instrumental in that crucial FA Cup win in 2020, a trophy that gave Mikel Arteta some goodwill within the financial institution that was maybe essential for him throughout tougher occasions subsequently. It’s additionally price remembering that he arrived at a turbulent time within the membership’s historical past – the supervisor who signed him was gone in lower than 6 months, Unai Emery arrived and departed in 18 months, after which the Arteta period started. He scored quite a lot of objectives in that troublesome time, and Aubameyang was at all times the identical man, the identical participant, an out and out goalscorer usually utilized in different methods, however the staff and the dressing room advanced throughout his time.
No matter occurred to precipitate his departure is water beneath the bridge now, it’s a bit unhappy he ended up at a hellhole like Chelsea, however that’s soccer. I additionally consider that whereas the best way he left and our incapacity to seek out cowl final January had a big impression on our closing place final season, it’s a part of why we’re the place we’re this season too. Positives and negatives.
I seen Tim from 7amkickoff did a bit about January signings and their stats (nonetheless bought it, Tim!), reproduced beneath:
Leandro Trossard: 2022/23 – 1 purpose, 5 assists (in 6 matches to date)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 2017/18 – 10 objectives, 4 assists
Andrei Arshavin: 2008/09 – 6 objectives, 8 assists
Emmanuel Adebayor: 2005/06 – 4 objectives, 4 assists
The Arshavin one sticks within the thoughts most clearly from these due to what a saga it was. The deal was lastly executed after the deadline, with particular dispensation, and that 4 purpose haul at Anfield was a outstanding particular person efficiency. I’ve usually questioned how gamers who do one thing as extraordinary as that should really feel afterwards realizing it wasn’t sufficient to take all three factors.
When he raced by to make it 4-3 within the ninetieth minute he should have thought that will win it, however it’s honest to say that defensively we have been a bit crap again then. One in every of Arsene’s mind farts in considering Mikael Silvestre was in any manner adequate didn’t assist, and Yossi Benayoun – latterly of this parish for one season – snatched an equaliser. That was our second gutting 4-4 draw of the season too.
Past the gamers that Tim has talked about, you’ll be able to return to 2003-04 after we introduced within the late Jose Antonio Reyes from Sevilla. Let’s keep in mind, this was an Arsenal aspect with Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu, Sylvain Wiltord and hot-prospect Jeremie Aliadiere on the books, however we broke our switch report that January so as to add one other high quality ahead to the books.
It’s not as if he was prolific, however his contribution to the Invincible season was essential. He scored 3 times in opposition to Chelsea (two within the FA Cup, that rocket!), and one within the Champions League (too quickly), however after we’d received the league at White Hart Lane, we nonetheless had 4 video games to navigate to attain one thing many thought inconceivable. It’s one thing Arsene spoke about lots, the issue of maintaining the motivation excessive after you had achieved your season purpose of turning into champions.
These final 4 video games have been powerful for that cause. There was a stupefying 0-0 draw with Birmingham; Reyes scored an equaliser in opposition to a Portsmouth aspect flirting with relegation to get a 1-1 draw there, earlier than he bought the one purpose of the sport in a 1-0 win away at Fulham. We all know what occurred on the ultimate day in opposition to Leicester at Highbury, however whereas Reyes’ objectives are hardly probably the most thrilling of that unbelievable season, they have been so, so vital.
Clearly issues didn’t actually work out for him at Arsenal, however when it comes to his impression on one of many membership’s most spectacular achievements, his identify is indelibly linked to that. The cash we paid for him is price it in that context.
After all we’ve had a couple of underwhelming January arrivals too, however it’s additionally price mentioning the arrival of Martin Odegaard when he got here on mortgage. I used to be impressed sufficient throughout that interval to need us to make it everlasting if potential, and that brief spell – even when it was impacted by damage – was sufficient to create the bonds between the participant and Arsenal to make it occur. There was extra to it, we needed to fulfill Actual Madrid’s calls for, however quick forwarding to now, £35m appears like an absolute cut price whenever you see what different golf equipment are paying for gamers who will in all probability by no means have 50% of the impression the Norwegian has had on our staff.
Anyway, when you haven’t had an opportunity to hearken to the podcast, it’s beneath, and over on Patreon we spherical up the weekend’s Premier League motion in The 30.
Until tomorrow.
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