Deadline day often proves not just a day for looking forward and weighing up the potential success of new players, but also a day for looking backwards and evaluating how those who have moved on have fared. Whilst some players will move on and go on to bigger and better things – take Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas for instance, many often find that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
It was on the deadline day just passed that Barcelona let it be known that former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb had been released from his contract. A sad indictment on a player who has only seen his career stagnate since he left for La Liga back in 2008.
It was always going to be a challenge breaking into the Barcelona first team, but the way Hleb’s career has fallen apart as a result has been somewhat revealing. During his time at Arsenal fans often claimed that the Belarussian winger was flattering to deceive. Perhaps they have now been proven right.
During his time with the Gunner’s the wily winger made 89 appearances and scored just 7 goals. In a team as free-flowing and forward-thinking as Arsenal, you’d expect more and his lack of goals seems to have been a problem wherever he has been following his time with the Gunners. Whilst he was renowned for his quick feet and his ability to beat a man, he has never had an eye for a goal. In fact, since leaving Arsenal four years ago he has scored just two goals.
To break that down even further, he’s made 69 appearances since leaving Arsenal for a variety of clubs, but only scored 2 goals. That’s a goal every 34/35 games – it’s little wonder that the mighty Barca wound up losing patience. Loan moves with Stuttgart, Birmingham City and Wolfsburg amounted to nothing and there was clearly no space for him in Barcelona’s squad, so the inevitable followed.
Some Arsenal fans have pondered over whether it might be worth bringing Hleb back to the club on a short-term contract. To me this is typical of the backward nature of the club – Hleb wasn’t good enough back in 2008 and he certainly isn’t good enough now. If the likes of Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and Birmingham City weren’t willing to offer him a long-term contract, then why would Arsene Wenger be interested?
How Hleb will get his career back on track is anybody’s guess, one thing’s for sure, however: it wont be with Arsenal.
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Hleb was brilliant for Arsenal, though he didn’t get as many goals as fans would have liked, his awareness and ability to create were second to none – for a while he was even compared with Brady and there is no higher compliment among the gooner faithful.
You can’t say Arsenal have a backward nature and expect to be taken seriously. It is one of the most progressive clubs in the world and has been for over a decade.
well said
Couldn’t agree more
Arsenal are a club that used to win trophies. That’s no longer the case – quite a big step backwards in my opinion.
Whoever compared Hleb to Brady needs to have their head checked. Nice touches aside there was no real substance to his game. If he was so good, where did that talent go to when he left the club?
Hleb was one of the most underrated players we have had in years. EVERYTHING went through him when he was here, his touch and close ball control were the best in the league by a wide margin. I agree on the goals being fewer than fans would have liked which was frustrating but I rate Hleb in our all time greats.
good to see others rate him highly too.
I’d have him back tomorrow.
On another note, please can we start a campaign to rid the club of that waster Walcott and his absolute uselessness.
i guess Hleb was a good player in his days of arsenal….(2008)..but isn’t going to good in arsenal again….hn!
Who ever wrote this piece of crap is a biased idiot. Alex was fantastic for us, even Arsene didn’t want him to leave when he did. U failed to mention his assists. He made a wrong decision to leave and thats it.
You’re right about the assists, but in general his passing was awful and he didn’t provide goals. That’s not good enough for a winger at a top-four club.
I thought Hleb used to assist the assister 🙂
Progressive? since Arsenal last won the league please explain how the club has moved forward, moving from title challengers to Europa League hopefuls could hardly be called progressive, if all Arsenal fans think like you then a big reality check is needed – which will hopefully arrive when this season ends and the league table shows you all how progressive your club really is.
Pah, typical revisionist tripe.
Hleb was awesome for Arsenal, that’s why Barcelona wanted him in the 1st place. They want any players that stand out at Arsenal to be their shiny new playthings. They they ruin those players careers.
Overmars – never the same player
Petit – Went crap
Hleb – Bought him just for political reasons, he was Europe flavour of the month at the time so HAD to have him, much like a spoilt little child.
Henry – Stuck one of the best strikers in the world out on the left wing.
Cesc is different, he’ll always get game time because he’s ‘one of theirs’
Hleb was never giving the opportunity and was dumped as soon as a new shiny toy arrived (in this case it was Henry).
Well he was a starter in the team that got to the CL final 2006 and also in the team that came closest to winning the league in the 2006/2007 campaign. So in other words you are full of shit! I would swap Hleb for Walcott in a heartbeat