He's the exact opposite of Adebayor, despite the mercenary being his hero, but the key question is - can he shoot the Gunners to Premier League glory?
Marouane Chamakh still has a bit to learn about diplomacy. When I met him at Bordeaux’s training ground in May, Arsenal’s summer signing committed a series of faux pas. Attempting to explain why he hadn’t moved to the Premier League when the opportunity arose a year ago, he said he had only received offers from “small clubs” like Tottenham and Sunderland. Arsenal fans, of course, won’t mind that comment. They may cringe, however, when they discover that the Moroccan named Emmanuel Adebayor as one of his role models.
Chamakh first ran into Adebayor a decade ago. He was a shy 16-year-old leading the line for Bordeaux’s youth team in a championship showdown against Metz. At the other end was another imposing, talented striker from Togo, who was already much taller than Chamakh, and more self-confident too. “He really impressed me,” Chamakh says today. “I knew then he had a big future, and ever since I’ve been trying to follow his path.”
Arsenal fans preparing to cry into their beer glasses at the thought of another greedy, self-centred forward arriving at the Emirates need not worry. Chamakh is not the same player as Adebayor – and he is certainly not the same person.
A look back at their respective careers provides ample evidence of contrasting characters. Adebayor spent two seasons at Metz before heading to Monaco where he then went on strike to force through his move to Arsenal. Little needs to be said about Adebayor’s acrimonious departure from north London, and he has certainly not become the darling of the Manchester City fans yet.
Currently in international retirement, Adebayor has performed well for Togo but is best known for an explosive bust-up with former coach Stephen Keshi and regular disputes with the Togolese FA over payments.
Chamakh, on the other hand, joined Bordeaux at 16 and left them this summer after ten years’ loyal service, receiving a long and emotional ovation from the fans at the end of his last home game. Although he was born in France, the 26-year-old has played more than 50 times for the country of his parents, Morocco, where he is a national hero and regarded as an outstanding role model for youngsters.
In his spare time, ‘Ce bon Chamakh’ – as L’Equipe newspaper branded him in a headline last season – is an ambassador for the charity ‘Mille et un Sourires’, helping disadvantaged Moroccan schoolchildren and attending social functions for elderly former servicemen.
Of course plenty of footballers associate themselves with charities; Chamakh is not a saint and Adebayor, contrary to popular belief in N5, is not all bad. Indeed, ask any Ligue 1 defender what they think of Chamakh, and they will be much more likely to show you their bruises or talk about the way he uses his elbow when he jumps than wax lyrical about his charity work.
Yet so different is he to Adebayor it makes you wonder if Arsène Wenger, who was personally stung by the City striker’s lack of loyalty, has intentionally plumped for a player who is the exact opposite.
Chamakh was seen as a major talent from the moment he broke into Bordeaux’s senior sqaud as a teenager and began pushing Christoph Dugarry and Pedro Pauleta hard for a regular place. When, aged 20, he struck ten league goals in the 2004/05 season, perennial French champions Lyon came knocking. A superb team, OL were dominating Ligue 1 at the time and Chamakh was understandably keen to team up with the likes of Michael Essien and Juninho Pernambucano.
Bordeaux stood firm, though. Chamakh was clearly unhappy but never threw a tantrum. He kept his head down and continued to work hard for his hometown club. Maybe Chamakh’s career would have progressed more quickly had he been a bit more headstrong and forced Bordeaux’s hand in 2005. After all, Les Girondins went through a barren period under Ricardo Gomes, and Chamakh scored only 16 goals in the next three seasons.
Scoring, incidentally, has never been Chamakh’s forte. Technically assured, outstanding in the air and surprisingly athletic given his height (6’2”), he has all the qualities a striker needs. Well, almost. He lacks a nose for goal. Too often he is caught on his heels when a winger gets to the byline and cuts the ball back. Yet Chamakh contributes so much it is possible to overlook this flaw. He is constantly bringing team-mates into the play, works hard in both penalty areas, and fights with the determination of an old-fashioned English target man.
His club career took off at last during his second season under Laurent Blanc. Or, to be more precise, on December 23, 2008, at Monaco’s Stade Louis II. Monaco were 3-0 up and cruising when Chamakh came off the bench in the second half and totally transformed the game. He scored two headers – the second an equaliser in the 87th minute – and then set up Fernando Cavenaghi’s injury-time winner. Monaco simply could not live with the forward’s power, and Bordeaux had found their talisman. In 2009, his brilliant understanding with Yoann Gourcuff and his new-found scoring touch (he scored 13 that season) propelled the club to their first title in a decade.
In winning the league, Chamakh had fulfilled his childhood dream and was ready for a new challenge. But even though he had just a year left on his contract, Bordeaux refused to sanction a €6m move to Arsenal, holding out for €8m. For the second time in four years, they were denying Chamakh the move he wanted – and for the second time Chamakh remained utterly professional, refusing to fall out with Bordeaux. He agreed to serve the last year of his contract, despite being on €20,000 a week, a salary five times lower than that of his pal Gourcuff.
Not only did he stay but he fought every bit as hard, scoring ten goals in the league and five in the Champions League. Bordeaux capitulated in the second half of the campaign, finishing sixth having led handsomely at Christmas. The collapse prompted resentment from supporters, yet Chamakh – despite openly admitting he wanted out – was never a target for abuse. The fans recognised his loyalty and loved his attitude. He could leave Bordeaux with his held high.
Chamakh may not be the best striker in the world. He may not even be as talented as Adebayor. But if it is loyalty and commitment Wenger is after, he may just have found his man.
Source: Matt Spiro, Sabotage Times on 15 Aug 10
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