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The Arsenal No.9 curse is actual – and Gabriel Jesus can testify.
The Brazilian arrived on the Emirates Stadium as a no brainer: a £45 million deal that may certainly finish the Gunners’ woes in assault and buck the pattern of misfiring No.9. But Jesus could possibly be sacrificed simply two years later, in response to The Athletic, having struggled with power damage issues.
Some worry he merely is not the identical participant they signed. It follows a worrying pattern of Arsenal stars who’ve taken that hallowed shirt and did not ship…
The Arsenal No.9 curse: 1. 1997-1999: Nicolas Anelka
All of it started with the Unimaginable Sulk. Nicolas Anelka was first introduced over to the Premier League by Arsene Wenger as a fleet-footed, ferocious ahead able to ripping open defences together with his motion – he scored within the FA Cup last in ’98 and helped lead Arsenal to a Double, with the No.9 on his again.
Up to now, so nice: till, after all, Actual Madrid got here calling. Anelka’s head was turned and Wenger was mentioned to be heartbroken by how coldly his protege upped sticks for the Bernabeu. The curse had begun.
2. 1999-2000: Davor Suker
The 1998 World Cup Golden Boot winner, Davor Suker had managed a purpose each different recreation at Dinamo Zagreb and Sevilla earlier than an enormous transfer to Actual Madrid, the place he received home and European trophies. He scored three hat-tricks in his first season, trailing Ronaldo within the top-scoring stakes.
But he could not recreate that at Arsenal, lacking a penalty in his third match for the Gunners towards Liverpool and repeating the trick within the 2000 UEFA Cup last, as Wenger’s aspect misplaced to Galatasaray. Suker trudged off to West Ham.
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3. 2001-2004: Francis Jeffers
Gabriel Jesus is arguably the primary big-name, big-money striker that Arsenal have signed from one other Premier League membership since this man: the archetypal Fox within the Field himself, Francis Jeffers.
Jeffers was signed for £8m – again then, some huge cash for an thrilling younger English expertise – however injury-ravaged his time at Highbury. Regardless of being on the membership for a Double and two FA Cups, he wasn’t in both Cup last squad, nor the match that clinched the title. He went again on mortgage to Everton and was despatched off in his last Gunners look.
4. 2003-2006: Jose Antonio Reyes
Jose Reyes was the boy who was supposed to show the No.9 shirt into one thing extra worthwhile. Wenger’s report signing in January 2004, the Spaniard was a phenomenally intriguing expertise, able to enjoying up entrance or on the left – and truly, his profession in England introduced him a league title, an FA Cup and a Champions League last look.
However not with out its difficulties. Reyes scored an personal purpose in a League Cup recreation in solely his second look, to see this unbeatable aspect knocked out the competitors to Middlesbrough. He appeared semi-regularly as a substitute for the ageing Robert Pires however his lack of physicality was maybe highlighted by the notorious Previous Trafford encounter of 2004 during which Manchester United ganged up on him. Ultimately, he was the sufferer of a prank radio present cellphone name, the place he pined for a return to his homeland. He solely scored 16 league targets in 69 for Arsenal.
Reyes additionally left on mortgage to Actual Madrid, having fun with a far happier time enjoying in Spain than he’d had in England, earlier than his tragic dying in 2019.
5. 2006-2007: Julio Baptista
If Reyes lacked the brawn to compete in England, his alternative, Julio Baptista, most definitely did not. Signed on mortgage from Actual Madrid in the wrong way, Wenger had wished the Beast for some time – and 4 targets towards Liverpool within the League Cup most definitely turned the spotlight of his brief stint in north London.
However the Beast apparently did not just like the chilly, both. Three targets in 24 league video games made a everlasting switch troublesome for Wenger to justify, too. It is truthful to say that he by no means acquired an honest alternative to play centrally, both, given the competitors.
6. 2007-2010: Eduardo da Silva
Certainly one of a number of Croatia-based Brazil stars of this time, Eduardo da Silva was a reduce above current Arsenal No.9s. He was fast, nimble, had a pure knack for purpose and will mix together with his teammates. He even seemed like main the Gunners to a title in 2007/08 – till the horror damage that has outlined his profession.
Eduardo was left with a damaged leg and open dislocation of his ankle towards Birmingham Metropolis in February 2008 following a mistimed sort out. He was fortunate to not lose his foot: it stays one of many worst accidents within the historical past of the league and unsurprisingly, he was by no means the identical participant once more. The younger Gunners aspect let the title slip from this place, by means of a combination of horror and lacking their star striker. It was so merciless on such a wonderful footballer.
7. 2010-2011: Park Chu-Younger
Arsenal’s in-house evaluation firm StatDNA comprehensively discovered South Korean ahead Park Chu-Younger can be a monumental flop. That did not cease the Gunners signing him – after he apparently walked out of a medical with Lille when he heard Wenger was – and giving him the No.9 shirt.
Park performed below 10 minutes within the Premier League, towards Manchester United of all sides, in an underwhelming spell in English soccer. Nonetheless, in all probability did Arsenal’s model no hurt in any way within the Far East.
8. 2012-2015: Lukas Podolski
Lukas Podolski was subsequent to grab the striker’s digit – and he was truly a famend ahead. The German has since been touted by Wenger as having the toughest shot he’d ever seen and was a fan’s favorite: not least for his continuous Tottenham taunts on social media, which nonetheless seem to today.
In three years in north London, nonetheless, Podolski was largely a back-up for Olivier Giroud, who had superior hold-up play. Poldi did not get the breaks on the Emirates: he was supposed to exchange Robin van Persie however solely actually scored a purpose each three appearances earlier than a mortgage transfer to Inter Milan. A cult hero amongst followers – however he did not stay as much as expectation.
9: Bonus! Jamie Vardy
Yep, that one. Arsenal apparently had a deal lined up for Leicester Metropolis hero, Jamie Vardy. He would have taken the No.9 prime. However infamously, he stayed loyal to the Foxes – and that short-term gamble up entrance would have arguably solved an issue place for a good few years. One which acquired away – however we wager he’d have signed, had he worn a unique digit for Leicester.
10. 2016-2017: Lucas Perez
After being turned down by Vardy, Wenger seemed to Spanish hitman Lucas Perez to fill the No.9 void.
It made sense: there have been similarities between Perez and Vardy by way of motion, stature and ending. And after a hat-trick towards Basel in Europe and a brace towards Nottingham Forest within the League Cup, it actually seemed just like the Gunners had signed the subsequent smartest thing – however Perez solely lasted a season in north London, scoring as soon as within the league, once more, not catching the breaks.
Who is aware of why it did not work out? Maybe refusing to come back on instead when later enjoying for West Ham United could possibly be a clue.
11. 2017-2022: Alexandre Lacazette
Some will declare that Alexandre Lacazette was successful at Arsenal. Alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, he shaped a feared partnership up prime, received an FA Cup, assumed the captaincy and led this younger Arsenal aspect by means of tough patches with obvious management behind the scenes. For £50m although, Arsenal have been anticipating a much better return.
Laca scored 4 targets in his last season in England and by no means notched over 15 within the league. Over his time on the Emirates, his explosiveness waned: in Unai Emery’s sole full marketing campaign, the one away video games he scored in have been towards relegated sides. Aubameyang was purchased to compensate for the Frenchman’s lack of energy and manufacturing – and whereas Lacazette is fondly admired by loads of Gooners, he can hardly be quantified a surefire hit. He left north London having by no means performed within the Champions League. They are not the hardest boots to fill…
12. Gabriel Jesus (2022—)
“They are saying he walks on water and turns it into wine,” the Emirates devoted sing of one among three Gabbies. “Oh, I consider in Jesus, the Arsenal No.9.”
He began so nicely. Jesus led the road magnificently when he arrived, sparking a younger crew into life, main a title cost and assuming the vice-captaincy. Then got here the knocks: injured on the World Cup and sidelined for months, he is nonetheless (nonetheless) did not re-find the groove he had when he joined.
Kai Havertz is main the road now. A brand new striker appears to be like an virtually certainty this summer season. Jesus claimed forward of a Champions League quarter-final towards Bayern Munich that he cannot keep in mind the final time he performed with out ache. It is such a disgrace: will he depart this summer season?
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