Arsenal icon Martin Keown has claimed that Arsene Wenger sold Nicolas Anelka to Real Madrid ‘too soon’ and let a ‘magnificent’ attacker leave Highbury in his youth.
Anelka enjoyed just two-and-a-half years in north London before leaving the English capital for the Spanish capital. Wenger acquired the striker as a fresh-faced 17-year-old in 1997 for just £500k from Paris Saint-Germain. He was also the manager’s first signing as their coach.
Yet Real Madrid soon swooped to snap him up in a £22m switch. The Gunners agreed to let the Galacticos pay Anelka’s transfer fee in four yearly instalments of £4m. He quit Highbury having scored 28 goals in 90 appearances, including 23 from 65 Premier League matches.
Arsenal sold Nicolas Anelka to Real Madrid ‘far too soon’
Life in north London started slowly for Anelka as Wenger kept him to a bit-part role over the rest of the 1996/97 season. But Arsenal saw a new player in the Frenchman after swapping from their No11 shirt to No9. And one Keown feels Wenger and Arsenal would sell too soon.
Keown told talkSPORT: “He was a truly magnificent player who was never given the credit he deserved. He left Arsenal far too soon. He was misunderstood – he was a great kid [and] he didn’t speak English too well. And I think people mistook that for being arrogant and distant.
“[Anelka] was trying to open up to us, trying to speak. He was 17 years of age when he came to us. I’d never seen a 17-year-old quite like it. They paid £500k for him. When you look now at what Arsene Wenger was doing, bringing these rough diamonds into the football club.”
Keown continued: “What I saw him do to defenders was ridiculous. He still had an incredible career, he won the Champions League with Real Madrid. He was still an incredible talent but it was a shame we lost him.”
Nicolas Anelka left Highbury as a Premier League and FA Cup winner
Anelka only recorded four, brief cameo appearances to see out the 1996/97 Premier League season at Arsenal. But the No9 jersey fit like a glove and Anelka scored his first goal at home to Manchester United. He sent a powerful low hit beyond Peter Schmeichel at his near post.
Another strike from Anelka also helped Wenger add the 1997/98 FA Cup to Arsenal’s trophy cabinet. They beat Newcastle United 2-0 after Marc Overmars broke the deadlock. He even showed enough to convince Wenger that Arsenal could sell Ian Wright to West Ham United.
Yet one more season was all Arsenal got from Anelka before he joined Real Madrid, having captivated the Galacticos with skill and composure. Wenger would also re-invest his transfer in the arrival of a certain Thierry Henry. But what could have been with both French strikers.
Real Madrid bought Anelka after he won the 1998/99 PFA Young Player of the Year award at Arsenal. He was also a one-time Premier League and FA Cup winner. Los Blancos would win the Champions League in his first season in Spain. But it was Anelka’s only title for the club.
Anelka also went on to win the Premier League and the FA Cup (twice) at Chelsea. He also helped Juventus win one Serie A title and Fenerbahce win the Turkish top-flight. He further helped France win Euro 2000 in a career which featured 69 caps and 14 goals for Les Blues.
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