Did Arsene Wenger help Jeremie Aliadiere rescue his football career?

Aliadiere arrived at Arsenal in 1999 from the prestigious Clairefontaine Academy in France. He spent eight years with the club, playing just 29 times for the team in between a series of loan spells before moving to Middlesborough for £2.5 million.

Aliadiere played 78 games for Boro, scoring 11 goals but when his contract expired in 2010, the club opted not to renew his deal amid concerns over ongoing injuries.

These injury concerns would hinder a series of potential moves in the coming months before Arsene Wenger invited the player to train at Arsenal’s facilities.

He even played in a series of reserve games for the club, but there was little in the way of concrete interest until Wenger and the club used its links with Lorient to set up a trial for the striker.

Aliadiere subsequently signed a one-year-deal with the option of turning it into a three-year contract. This renewal has subsequently been approved with Aliadiere playing 52 games and scoring 22 goals in the process.

Speaking in an interview with the Lorient website, the player was quick to point to the help provided by his former boss at Arsenal.

“I think Arsène Wenger had called and requested some information from me since I was there the last four months. That’s how it started and it always helps when there are relationships like between Lorient and Arsenal.”