For the three worst players I have seen in the Arsenal jersey this decade I have decided to pick on the attacking option.
My first, possibly the worst on the list… Francis Jeffers. Well this was certainly a moment of madness where Mr. Wenger was concern, as we all witnessed the Arsenal boss who usually approaches with such caution bring the average (at best) striker to North London in a deal that was believed to be worth an unbelievable £10 million. Happy days if you’re an evertonian.
I bet Frannie couldn’t believe his luck as he took up the Arsenal No.9 position in 2001, and with this transfer shocking us all, we sat back and looked on as the young scouser looked to prove all his doubters wrong… But that failed… Miserably, the front man only appeared 13 times in the starting 11 during his three years employed by the club. Coming off the bench 26 times racking up 39 outings for the gunners, scoring on eight occasions before being finally flogged making around a £7 million loss on the flop as he was waved away to Charlton Athletic.
Disaster number two goes by the name of Jérémie Aliadière. Now I know many Arsenal fans gave this lad a chance, but there is only so much you can take. The striker joined as youngster aged 16 and had recently emerged from the famous clairefontaine academy, and Claude Dusseau, head coach praised Jérémie as one of the top three strikers to come out of the academy along with Thierry Henry and Anelka. (Wonder what happened?).
The over-rated forward spent eight seasons at Arsenal making 51 appearances, and bagging a disappointing nine goals. He was signed by Middlesbrough in 2007 for a fee of £1.5 million, where he had an opportunity to shine up top, but in all honesty he has failed to make the gunners see any reason to regret his departure.
Third in the firing line for me has to be Jose Antonio Reyes. Wenger signed the whinger, sorry winger in a deal that at the height of the transfer could have topped £17 million at best. The danger man from Seville appeared to be an instant hit at the club, but then the real Reyes appeared. Moaning, unhappy, ‘failing to adapt’ (that old Chestnut) wearing his gloves in the summer and what not. After stamping his feet the Spaniard got his own way and returned to his home country with a season long loan at Real Madrid, before finally being snapped up by their city rivals Athletico for what was thought to be worth 12 million euros… Good riddance…
Who is the worst player you have seen in recent years for the Arsenal?
Follow me on Twitter @JamieNSiddall
