Rejuvenated Anelka gunning for title glory
Friday November 27 2009
When Nicolas Anelka was spearheading Arsenal's relentless march to the first of Arsene Wenger's doubles in 1998, the odds on him waiting until 2010 to win his next Premier League title would have been considerable.
Yet it is only now, after 12 years, seven clubs and transfer fees of £86.5m, that one of football's more enigmatic characters finally seems settled again at a major European club and ready to add to a career medal haul that barely does justice to his talent.
Victory at the Emirates on Sunday would extend Chelsea's advantage over Arsenal to 11 points and, although unwilling to write off his former club just yet, Anelka senses definite title-winning qualities within the Stamford Bridge dressing room.
"We were strong with Arsenal in 1998 and I believe we are strong again with Chelsea," he said. "If I compare the two teams, I think we can do it. I think we can win a lot of things. Sometimes you have only one chance in your life to win the title. I had the chance before and now I have a second chance."
The long wait only underlines the mistake that Anelka surely made in suddenly leaving Arsenal in the summer of '99 for Real Madrid, when he was 20. He subsequently moved to Paris St-Germain, Liverpool, Manchester City and Fenerbahce before flourishing at Bolton and becoming Avram Grant's one major signing for Chelsea.
Wenger had also considered bringing Anelka back to Arsenal after being told that the striker wanted to "put things right" but ultimately decided to stick to his policy of never re-signing a player.
After the crushing disappointment of a missed penalty in the shoot-out of the Champions League final of 2008, Anelka has hardly looked back. "I do feel I am a more mature person," he said. "At the time I was with Arsenal, I was 18, 19, 20 years old. Now I'm 30 so I am one of the senior players, not the young boy I was then."
His football is also still maturing and there has been an admirable selflessness this season in playing more as the linking forward alongside Didier Drogba in Carlo Ancelotti's diamond formation. Having won the Premier League's Golden Boot last season, his goalscoring remains another reliable asset.
"I feel better in the team, more comfortable -- I've got used to the system and I've also got used to the club," said Anelka. "Last season it was all new for me and now I'm jolly glad to be here." (© Daily Telegraph, London)
- Jeremy Wilson
Irish Independent
