There was a certain Moroccan sensation that played his entire career in Girondins de Bordeaux before switching to the Red half of North London. He started with a few goals during the preseason before forcing Pepe Reina to score an own goal on the opening day of last season in Anfield.
He scored his first goal on his home debut against recently relegated Blackpool before joining the party when Arsenal thrashed Bolton by 4-1 in September. He also scored on his Champions League debut in the 6-0 spanking of eventual Europa League finalists SC Braga and continued his personal scoring record in the competition that extended from his Bordeaux days.
He scored in his Arsenal’s second Champions League tie against Partizan before scoring the match winner against Birmingham City in mid-October. He scored again in Arsenal’s third Champions League game against Shakhtar and it seemed as if he was destined to score in every game of the Champions League as long as he played.
The goals dried up a bit but he found some form again in November scoring a brace against Wolves before scoring Tottenham and Aston Villa. Marouane Chamakh’s toe poke in Villa Park was his 10th goal in just 21 appearances averaging a goal every two games then Robin van Persie came along and Chamakh found himself relegated to the bench and featured in lowly Cup ties.
In recent times, Chamakh has been a ghostly figure on the pitch and the player that amassed a goal in two has currently scored just two goals with his last being against Blackburn in September 2011. It’s so unfortunate to see how his form waned like a player that returned from a long-term injury.
In the wake of Arsenal’s recent dent in form with a loss against Queens Park Rangers, Chamakh was pictured with his compatriot Adel Taarabt smoking a shisha pipe. Shisha is a waterpipe in which fruit-scented tobacco is burned using coal, passed through a water vessel and inhaled through a hose.
This has caused an uprising among journos, fans and even Arsene Wenger, who was reportedly “fuming” after hearing the news. It’s also funny to know that Arsenal has had dealings with smoking players in recent times.
Last year Laurent Koscielny was caught after the club’s end of season awards clutching a pack of cigarettes, while William Gallas was told his behaviour was ‘unacceptable’ in 2008 after the then captain was pictured outside a London nightclub with a cigarette in his mouth.
Many people believe that Chamakh smoking shisha isn’t a “big deal” but you’ll have to question the Moroccan’s professionalism. The fact that Adel Taarabt put a nail in Arsenal’s coffin on Saturday wasn’t enough, Chamakh accompanied him after the game to get him involved in a pot fest.
There’s no proof to justify if shisha is better/worse than smoking cigarettes but in my opinion, the timing was very wrong for Chamakh.
If he did it in the comfort of his home without any witnesses anywhere, the article probably wouldn’t have been in existence. Players have done worse, Chamakh hasn’t gone to interrupt any press conference or throw darts at an Arsenal intern.
He certainly hasn’t lighted his house up with fireworks. Way to go, Super Mario.
However, tales are emerging that Arsene Wenger and Mark Hughes should decide their fates but Chamakh has declared that he’s staying at Arsenal:
“Am I going back to Bordeaux? For now, no. I have spoken to Wenger and I will stay at Arsenal. I think he trusts my work and I will have opportunities in the first team.
“I left Bordeaux to improve as a player and I think I can continue for this club. My agents have been ordered to reject bids that come from other clubs because I want to prove I can be useful for the Gunners.”
With the potential arrival of Lukas Podolski, his chances of featuring will be further diminished.
In other Arsenal related news, Walcott believes that Ryodinho is ready to play for Arsenal, Robin van Persie shares how he evolved as a striker and the Ox remains calm despite claims for a Euro 2012 place.
I just shared my thoughts on Maroaune Chamakh and his shisha incident,
What’s yours.
Sayonara.
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