Professional footballers reputations can fluctuate very precariously, from being hailed as a superstar to instantly being villainised as a failure. Here we wanted to find the players who were desperate for redemption and finally flourished this season to find the respect they deserve. These are individuals who have struggled either through-out their career or just recently, but are currently loving life in form.
1. Alexandre Lacazette – Lyon & France
The 31-year-old Frenchman’s inconsistent stint at Arsenal, had stagnated to a holt last season. Mikel Arteta had modelled his system on the future and deemed the injury ridden striker surplus to requirements. Lacazette’s steep decline from being Arsene Wenger’s marquee £43m frontman to being consigned into the shadows of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as he became void of pace and agility appeared to represent the end for the number nine. However, this summer he re-signed with former club Lyon where he had shared eight illustrious years previously. He has instantaneously re-discovered his form in front of goal and thrived on the responsibility of salvaging Lyon’s underwhelming campaign. In Ligue 1 this season he has scored 17 goals in 21 appearances, averaging a goal every 121 minutes even amid the managerial turmoil and spluttering form of his side. Lacazette’s experience and composure in front of goal marries perfectly with the surrounding youth of Laurent Blanc’s side. He sits only behind superstar Kylian Mbappe, as the highest scoring Frenchman this season, these stats proof he deserves a recall from Didier Deschamps. The Lyon striker is now the club’s second all-time top scorer (150 goals) after his second spell at the Northern French club.
2. Eric Choupu-Moting – Bayern Munich & Cameroon
The 33-year-old's career has transformed into an enchanting utopian, that just does not feasibly make sense. After suffering relegation with Stoke City many believed he would disappear into the abyss, instead Paris Saint Germain saw the Cameroon international as the ideal support striker for Kylian Mbappe. His time at the Parc Des Princes was quite comedic, famously blocking his teammates shot on the line and rarely making it outside of the dug-out. But then he joined German behemoths Bayern Munich, where he became Julian Naglesmann 's successor to Robert Lewandowski. Everyone who has sanity believed the German champions had gone insane entrusting Choupu-Moting to replace one of the greatest strikers in the world. However, its worked the recent World Cup star has scored 17 goals in 28 appearances this season including four goals in the Champions League. While, it gives you a headache to compute it is fair to say that the former Schalke player appears to have succeeded and has transformed into a predatory goal machine. Pinch me…
3. Granit Xhaka - Arsenal & Switzerland
When Granit Xhaka nonchantly strutted off against Crystal Palace in 2019, persisting to jeer at the chorus of boo's echoing around the Emirates it seemed his fate was sealed. Unai Emery stripped the maverick of his captaincy and ever since the Swiss midfielder has had a strained relationship with his supporters. A wave of Arsenal fans had become tiresome and frustrated by Xhaka’s antics and there was a cry for him to be sold this summer. Fast-forward eight months and Arsenal fanbases are heralding his spirit, tenacity and passion as being instrumental in guiding their club to the top of the table. The 30-year-old has shifted from being an erratic and hap-hazard liability on the pitch to being one of Arteta’s most trusted and consistent performers this season. Arteta appears to have re-conciliated with the midfielder, nurturing him to fuel his desire and anger into sacrificing everything for the badge and this has meant he's been adored by fans this season. His love for Arsenal is expressed in his celebrations, where he embraces the fans after scoring or incites a reaction from them when his team needs support. Few would have anticipated that Xhaka would ever win the Premier League, now he is on the brink of it.
4. Joselu – Espanyol & Spain
The Spaniard was an elusive figure during his short stint in the Premier League. When he arrived at Stoke City he was burdened with the fans expectation to be an instant success in front of goal. While, at Newcastle he was overlooked as a shrewd signing but surprised many scoring some important goals in big games and helping the Magpies survive successive relegation battles. However, upon returning to La Liga he became a forgotten figure and has quietly been impressing in Spain under the radar ever since. Since signing for Alaves in 2019 he has produced four successive seasons of scoring 10 or more goals. After his best individual season last year scoring 14 goals, he secured a free transfer to Espanyol. Many top strikers have flitted amongst the La Liga mid-table chasers and ruined their careers, struggling to replicate there form in a different side. However, Joselu has delivered for La Liga strugglers Espanyol scoring 12 goals this season. The Spaniard has become a pedigree striker in Spain’s top tier, as he remains on course to hit his highest scoring season yet.
5. Ademola Lookman – Atalanta & Nigeria
The former Charlton Athletic starlet, has always struggled to unlock his potential while at Everton and Leipzig. After, joining German side Leipzig in 2019 it was thought that the opportunity to play in the Champions League at the highest level would enable the 25 year old to excel. But, instead he was shipped out on loan to Fulham and Leicester before eventually joining promising Serie A newcomers Atalanta. He had a flurry in the second half of the season last year with the Foxes, but he was still searching for consistency and a permeant move appears to have given him the belief and platform to kick start. The Nigerian has scored 12 goals in 19 Serie A starts under Gian Piero Gasperini, and won February Player of the month. In Italy it seems to have allowed him to transition from an erratic and pacey winger into a penetrative attacker who takes his chances. In the absence of Atalanta’s talisman Duvan Zapata, Lookman has stepped up to deliver as a fan favourite, and is a player fulfilled with confidence and freedom.
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