Gunners usually go AWOL (Absent Without Leave) or MIA (Missing in Action)
because of injury, suspension, transfer or family issues. Some make really great
returns and here are some of my best:
1. Aaron RAMSEY definitely tops my List of Red-hot Returns. Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross was very apologetic for tackling him in a leg-breaking crash. At first sight of the injury, you wouldn’t forgive the Stoke defender. However, Ryan wept after seeing the damage plus got red carded and Ramsey said he didn’t feel pain before returning several months later to score the only goal in an Emirates Stadium win over Manchester United on 1st May 2011. The fearless shot outmaneouvred an opponent’s attempted block. Then in 2014, as if redemptive, Ramsey scored a 3-2 FA Cup extra time winner against Hull City to end Arsenal’s nine year trophyless run, washing away the pain of losing two League Cup finals (2007 to Chelsea and 2011 to Birmingham City). Ramsey was the second Gunner I saw break his leg on live TV. February just felt cursed like Black November 2002, but I bet Ramsey broke the jinx. Even if it took him three more seasons to finally win a trophy, 2014 was surely the Welshman's year…
2. EDUARDO da Silva was the first Gunner I saw breaking his leg on live
TV. It happened at St. Andrews (home of Birmingham City) on a February 2008 weekend
that saw Arsenal drop a two goal lead and falter in the rest of the season
after playing quite well in the first half of the season. I watched the game in
Namuwongo (a Kampala suburb) and while trying to take my footwear for mending
near the neighbourhood Kyebando Kisalosalo Market during the following week,
5,000 UgX mysteriously disappeared from my pocket. Born in Rio de Janeiro
(Brazil), Eduardo played for Croatia but had the skills and sharpness to fit in
any Brazilian squad. After recovering from his left ankle break, Dudu returned
for Arsenal in a 2-0 FA Cup victory over Burnley scoring the second goal with a
deft ankle volley from an Alexander Song pass. The rest of his Arsenal career
was not as great as before the injury, but his return goal was very promising…
3. Thierry HENRY became Arsenal’s All-Time Leading Goalscorer by scoring
twice as a 15th minute substitute (for injured Jose Antonio REYES) against
UEFA Champions League hosts Sparta Prague on Super Tuesday 18th
October 2005 after seven games on the sidelines with a groin injury. His 185th
Ian Wright record-tying goal was a sick extravagant curler struck with the
outside of his right boot while turning 180 degrees maintaining Arsenal’s 100
percent record in Europe. That season: the last at Highbury (2006), Arsenal became
the first club to reach the Champions League Final without conceding a single
goal. It was also Arsenal’s first time beyond the quarterfinals. “Gunners, what
is your profession?/ I’ll be back!” TH14 is the King at Arsenal and when he
returned in 2012 (on loan from New York Redbulls) after leaving for Barcelona in
2007, the script was already written for a majestic arrival at the place where
he is most adored, no matter how brief the stay. He capped off the long awaited
Dream Day with a trademark goal against Leeds United propelling the Gunners to
the 4th round of the FA Cup. Wearing shirt number 12 at the Emirates Stadium,
Henry scored his 12th goal in his 12th appearance against
Leeds United 12 minutes from the final whistle in the 12th season
since his debut at Highbury Stadium (1999). Maybe he’s the 12th
Gunner in every game…
4. Patrick VIEIRA (one of the Players in Europe with the Most Red Cards)
got two red cards in the first three days (first two games) of the 2000-2001
season and was suspended for five painful games. Arsenal coped quite well
without him but he returned to win the 2001 French Player of the Year plus
Premier League Player of the Season Awards after some unbelievably disciplined
performances the rest of the season. Arsenal finished second in the league behind
Manchester United and lost the FA Cup Final 1-2 to Liverpool…
5. Olivier GIROUD who had been out for months due to injury, headbutted
a QPR player in the 2015 season, but returned again as a substitute after a
three game suspension to score a consolation goal for Arsenal in a 1-2 home
loss to Manchester United. It was a very progressive goal despite the loss
showing one way Arsenal needed to attempt in order to score without
overelaborate buildup plays. The season ended with a second FA Cup triumph in a
row and Giroud scored his Supersub goal to crown a 4-0 win…
6. Abou DIABY was probably the Gunner with the Most Returns because he also
had the Most Injuries, so I guess some moments of his return games are memorable.
He could dribble confidently and scored a number of good goals. Unfortunately,
the chronic setbacks never allowed him to explore his full potential. I pray
the same thing never happens to Jack WILSHERE who scored the BBC’s Match of the
Day Goal of the Season in 2014 and 2015…
7. Danny WELBECK’s return from injury on 14th February 2016 (Valentine’s
Day) in a title decider actually inspired this article about returnees. It was his very first game this season. Table
leaders Leicester City FC were ahead of Arsenal by five points before the game and Premier League Top Scorer Jamie Vardy’s first half penalty gave Leicester hope for an eight
point advantage until Theo Walcott equalized in the 70th minute. Welbz
came on as a substitute and had some time to work something lovely. With the
four added minutes already played and score tied at 1-1, the King of Assists Mesut
Oezil stood over a freekick that would probably be the last kick in the Sunday Clash
of the Titans. As they say, the rest is History, Man of the Match type of way… |
| Dat Guy, Welbeck! |
