10 Premier league players the streets will not forget
In the history of the Premier League, there are certain players who have stood the test of time and are constantly on the lips of pundits and fans, even after they have either left or retired from their clubs. When you think of classic encounters from the early 90s and onwards, your mind instantly wanders to greats like Beckham, Gerrard and Henry. However, there are some players who came and went like a flash in a pan, but whose impact in their short time was so big that it means they are remembered fondly by diehard Premier League fans. Here are 10 who during their short stint at the top provided fans with positive memories, and may have slipped your mind.
1. Jussi Jääskeläinen — Goalkeeper
Team remembered for — Bolton Wanderers
Years in the League — 2001–2012
Finnish shot stopper Jääskeläinen is somebody who does not come to mind when you think of the Premier League’s legendary keepers, but he was one of the outstanding performers of a Bolton team which stayed in the league for 11 years. He certainly must have been pivotal, since the most common top goalscorer for the club in that time would only reach 12 goals, which is not a lot for a team constantly fighting relegation.
Much like how a player like Ben Foster will be remembered when he hangs up his boots, Jussi was a reliable shot stopper for a decade, who would constantly pull out amazing reflex saves, but would not get plaudits due to the fact he played for a mid table side. Whilst there were mistakes in his game, he would make up for this with the amount of remarkable stops he would produce. This is evident from his 2006 game against Blackburn Rovers, in which he saved two penalties from two different penalty takers in the same game.
Some interesting statistics about the now retired goalkeeper — his double save in 2001 against Manchester United was voted the third best save in the Premier League’s 20 year history in 2012. In 2006–07, when Bolton qualified for the Europa League for the first time in their history, Jääskeläinen kept the joint fourth most clean sheets with 12, equal to Premier League immortal Petr Cech and more than league-winning United great Edwin Van de Sar. Clearly a player underrated by all, and whilst his West Ham and Wigan stints were not of the same level, a player who was potent until 37 should be celebrated.
Tim Cahill — Midfielder
Team remembered for — Everton
Years in the League — 2004–2012
One of my favourite players to watch growing up, and the scourge of corner flags nationwide, Cahill has a particularly special place in my heart, being a lifelong toffee. He was the first player I idolised, due to his fight and attitude every game. Whilst he was not as technically gifted as fellow blue Arteta, Cahill’s passion was what made him so entertaining to watch. He epitomised the Everton philosophy and played for the fans, and he bled blue. Whilst he was only 5"10, he scored a considerable amount of headers, and would often out-jump taller opposition, leading to his nickname, the Kangaroo.
Arriving from Championship outfit Millwall, his first season he was the top scorer and recieved the fans’ Player of the Season, dragging the club into a Champions League place. In 2006, he was on a 60 man shortlist for the Ballon D’or, highlighting his quality at the club. Whilst at Goodison Park, he was one of the most integral cogs of Moyes’ Everton team, and was consistent until an influx of midfielders took his spot. After that, he was shunted to the bench, and he was never the same player, eventually leaving in 2012. However, his boxing celebration and many winning goals live on in the hearts of fans, including myself. Whilst his stats may seem average, this was hurt by his decline in his last two years. Watching him play was a pleasure, and no stats can ever do him enough justice.
Andrey Arshavin — Forward
Team remembered for — Arsenal
Years in the League — 2009–2013
Russian winger/striker Arshavin was bought in 2009 from Zenit St Petersburg, and whilst he was not consistent, for a time he lit up the Premier League. He was quick, and he had a wand of a foot, in charge of set pieces which became a good outlet for Arsenal to score from. There was a comparison between him and Yuri Zhirkov at Chelsea, due to the fact they played the same position, same nationality, and were bought in 2009. Whilst he is not as memorable as some others on this list, for the Liverpool game alone, he deserves to make it.
In the 08–09 season, Liverpool were chasing their first Premier League title, and hosted Arsenal at Anfield. Liverpool were favourites, and had one of the best defences in the league. However, during an incredible match, where blows were constantly exchanged, Arshavin managed to score 4 goals against the best defence in the league, and wheeled off in celebration by putting his finger to his lips, shushing the home fans. The most memorable was after the fourth goal, where he has his mouth open smiling, shaking his head and holding up 4 fingers. This is one of the most memorable games in Premier League, and man of the match Arshavin will always be remembered for it.
Michu — Forward
Team Remembered for — Swansea City
Years in the League — 2012–2015
Miguel Pérez Cuesta (better known as Michu) was another player who is most fondly remembered for the impression he left in his debut season. It was in this season in which Michu scored the majority of his goals for the swans, and for a while, like Everton’s Jelavic before him, he was the best poacher in the league. The hand twist to the ear became a regular sight, and no team was safe from the Spanish international. 22 goals across all competitions in a mid table side was a remarkable return, and in a better team he may have done even better.
After his debut season, however, the cracks began to appear. Injury after injury halted his form, and when he eventually returned, he was a shadow of his former self. Gone was the goalscoring prowess, and instead he was slow and rarely could grab a goal. This led to him being released at the end of the 2014–2015 season, and his injuries forced him to retire at 31. Despite this, fans will remember the Swansea talisman and his excellent introduction to the Premier League, and Norwich’s Pukki has followed in Michu’s path and will likely be remembered in a similar vein.
Rory Delap — Midfielder
Team Remembered For — Stoke City
Years in the League — 2008–2013
Now, this submission is more due to the movement he started, not due to his ability or attitude. Throwing extraordinaire Rory Delap was one of the biggest dead ball threats towards the end of the 00s. What made him unique was that whilst teams had found ways to defend free kicks and corners, whether that is zonal or man marking, or having a man free to get the ball out the box, nobody knew how to stop this new danger. This was particularly worrying when it was a Stoke team utilising it, famous for having big players who relied on dead ball service to score.
Nothing like this had ever happened before. The only way a throw in would reach the box was if a player headed it onwards, and teams would look for short options instead. Now, a fast and unpredictable ball was whizzing into the box, and the keeper could not come and claim it because it was travelling straight across his box. Nicknamed the ‘Human Sling’ by David Moyes, teams desperately looked for ways to stop this threat. Whilst trying to do so, Delap assisted two goals in a 3–2 defeat to Everton, and again assisted two goals in a 2–1 win against Arsenal. Goalkeepers were that wary of giving him the opportunity, they would clear the ball out for a corner rather than give a throw in.
Some teams tried sneaky tactics, such as removing the towel to dry the ball at away games, but Stoke provided the midfielder with his own personal one because they realised the potential of the tactic. West Ham even moved the hoardings closer to the pitch to ruin his run up, but he could still reach the box. Since then, teams have began to hire their own throw in coaches to give them an advantage, such as current league champions Liverpool. Although he never set the Premier League alight, Delap’s throws will be remembered not only for the goals scored, but also the research that has went into it.
Papiss Cisse — Forward
Team Remembered For — Newcastle United
Years in the League — 2012–2016
Back when Cisse first joined Newcastle in 2012, he had had an amazing time with Frieburg, holding the record for the most goals by an African player in the Bundesliga ever with 22. He continued that hot goalscoring streak in his first season in the North-East, scoring 13 goals in 14 games, and striking up one of the best but most short lived strike partnerships in Premier League history, with partner and fellow Senegalese international Demba Ba bagging 16 goals in 34 games and firing Newcastle into 5th place. This combination, along with fellow list member Hatem Ben Arfa, were feared throughout the league, possessing both clinical finishing and a good mixture of pace and power.
Whilst the following seasons were less successful, Cisse’s finest hour in his debut season was the brace over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. His first goal was amazing in itself, leaving Premier League legendary stopper Cech with no chance. Then, for the second, Cisse recieved the ball and whilst it rolled across his body, he hit it with the outside of his boot and the spin took it past the Chelsea legend. One of the best goals scored in the Premier League, simple.
Adel Taarabt — Midfielder
Team Remembered For — Queens Park Rangers
Years in the League — 2011–2014
It would be fair to say when he burst onto the scene with Queens Park Rangers in his first Premier League season, Taarabt was considered a generational talent. Looking at his stats in the league, it would not suggest a player many would compare to Zinedine Zidane, but Taarabt is not a stats-based player. He made watching football fun, and was a showman. Possessing excellent close control, underrated strength and a penchant for tricks, defences would struggle to stop the midfielder. This meant he would take two or even three defenders at a time, creating more space for his teammates to score or assist.
Taarabt could control a game with his guile and excellent dribbling ability, and for a while was the most exciting prospect in the Premier League. Just searching his skill reel on Youtube will leave you wondering how such a good player wasted his career. In his later years at QPR, Harry Redknapp refused to play him, due to the fact he failed to stay in shape, even though he would have been their best player. It is a real shame that he squandered his talent, as he could have been a galactico if he had kept up his form that he had obtained in his early QPR days. However, he will be remembered for the unbelievable and outrageous stunts he pulled on the pitch.
Gabby Agbonlahor — Forward
Team Remembered For — Aston Villa
Years in the League — 2005–2016
Much like the Cisse situation, Agbonlahor is best remembered for his lethal combination with John Carew and Ashley Young towards the end of the 00s. With Young’s expert dead ball delivery, Carew’s large stature and Agbonlahor’s pace, Villa were a force to be reckoned with between 2007 and 2010, finishing 6th for three consecutive seasons. Whilst they were not the best individual players, together they provided defences with concerns, as all three had it in them to score goals. Agbonlahor is my pick as whilst Young was the creative player and Carew was the target man, it was Agbonlahor who was pivotal in the trio, as he would be the link between the other two, similar to Firmino’s role in the current Liverpool team, and allowing the others to be threats.
Whilst his goalscoring record was nothing to write home about, at his peak Agbonlahor was a nightmare for defences, with his blistering pace and clinical finishing. Not only was he a great team player, he was also a loyal player, staying with Villa for over a decade, despite moving down the pecking order as his career began to stagnate. Even then, his pace was still an option off the bench, and he still did a job. Fans will remember how he threatened the slower centre backs in the league.
Hatem Ben Arfa — Midfielder
Team Remembered For — Newcastle United
Years in the League — 2010–2015
Once called the French Messi, Ben Arfa was like Taarabt in the sense he was a feast for the eyes in the way he played, rather than a player who would bag goals or provide assists. Another player who could beat a man with ease, Premier League defences were wary of committing to the magician, as his feet were so quick that he could be past them quick as a flash. When he was at his best, he was unplayable, and his close control and balance were very Messi-esque. In the trio of Cisse and Ba, they ran the best defences ragged, with Ben Arfa whipping out a bag of tricks and bamboozling the opposition.
Even after his rather abrupt exit from Newcastle, many toon fans regard him as something as a cult hero, despite an attitude problem. Even though he has had a mixed time since leaving Tyneside, he still has a bag full of ability, and many neutral Premier League fans still sight him as one of the most entertaining players to ever grace the league, even if he was as brilliant as he was infuriating.
Nicklas Bendtner — Forward
Team Remembered For — Arsenal
Years in the League — 2005–2012
Who else could have ended the list? Arsenal’s former Danish dynamo Bendtner was regarded as one of the golden generation that Arsenal possessed, along with Jack Wilshere and Cesc Fabregas. Whilst he may have become more of a meme nowadays, there was definitely ability and potential present for his first 5 years as a gooner, and many thougt that under the wing of two great Premier League forwards in Van Persie and Adebayor, he could be moulded into an outstanding goal getter. Whilst his goal returns were not the best, he struggled for minutes ahead of his positional rivals, and could not cement a first team place. There were flashes of brilliance, where he would do something amazing, but he was never destined to break into the team.
Most of his Arsenal appearances came off the bench, and he was never really given the opportunity of more than a few games in the starting 11 to kick on and get into a good run of form. Eventually, he moved on, and has been plying his trade in his home country, with a mix of returns. Despite all of this, he will be fondly remembered by Premier League fans for his potential and great memories he created along the way.
