Former Arsenal and Man City striker on his time at big clubs, his goalscoring record and Sunday’s match at the Etihad
When Raheem Sterling signed for Arsenal on the final day of the transfer window, he became just the second player to represent four of the ‘big six’ Premier League clubs.
Twelve years earlier, that feat was completed for the first time when Nicolas Anelka joined Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers.
As it happens, both Sterling and Anelka have played for the same ‘big six’ sides in Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea – and two of those will go head-to-head on Sunday in the biggest game of the season to date.
Is Anelka aware he is part of such an exclusive, two-man club?
“Yes, I knew it because my son sent it to me recently,” says Anelka, laughing during an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport.
“I had the opportunity to play for big clubs, the best in England, but while I was playing I didn’t think about that greatness. I enjoyed my day-to-day life, but I didn’t think much of it either. Now, with hindsight, I realise that I had to do a lot of things right to wear those shirts.”
Anelka’s first stint in England was at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, joining them as a 17-year-old from Paris St-Germain in a move that sparked controversy back home.
Anelka established himself as a key player in his second season as Arsenal won the double. Despite more goals following the next season, his relationship with Arsenal fans deteriorated as speculation grew that a move to Real Madrid was on the cards.
The episode became known as “Le Sulk” but, despite the acrimonious exit, the 45-year-old looks back at his time in north London with fondness.
“I have a great affection for that time because Arsenal will always be a special place for me,” Anelka says. “There were several French players in the dressing room back then, we won the Premier League and the FA Cup and it was the start of my career.
“Arsene Wenger had a lot of influence. He gave me my first opportunity to discover another league, another way of doing things and I will always be grateful to him.
“He was a fair manager. After signing my contract, he told me that he was going to make demands on all of us and that the best players would play. That was our first conversation. I liked the way he approached me because he kept his word. Then I took care of my business on the pitch.”
Anelka also cites Kevin Keegan, his manager upon arrival at City in 2005, as a positive influence on him, while reeling off a list of preeminent names that he had the pleasure of taking the pitch with at big club after big club.
“I really enjoyed playing with Dennis Bergkamp at Arsenal, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen at Liverpool, Shaun Goater at City and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba at Chelsea.”
City was a very different club during Anelka’s time there with the transformational takeover taking place three years after his exit.
“When I arrived at City, I could feel the potential the club had,” Anelka explains. “At the time it was behind United, but there was room for growth and a desire to improve.
The Frenchman does hold one record that ties him to the current era, however.
“I remember beating and scoring against our arch-rivals at Maine Road, while the Etihad was being built in parallel.
“We opened the new stadium in a friendly against Barcelona and I scored the first goal in the history of our new home.”
Anelka played for 13 clubs in total, as well as representing France for over a decade, but never stayed longer than four years at any of them.
For a player of immense potential, there is a lingering feeling he, perhaps, could have achieved more. Despite plenty of trophies, Anelka finished with a total of 157 goals in 508 league games.
