While the identity of our late match-winner against West Ham last weekend may have surprised some, regulars at the Emirates this season would have seen it coming. Having scored four goals in his whole Arsenal career until the start of this season, Alex has doubled that tally in the last two months, including three goals in his last three games.
He was one of a host of players who had already been foiled by Robert Green last Saturday, but with time ticking away he met Gael Clichy’s cross with a diving header to keep Arsenal second in the table.
Emirates erupted, the significance of the goal was clear, but Alex is modest about his contribution. “It wasn’t about my goal, it was about how we played as a team – we never gave up. If I got the goal then I want to thank every player because we all gave everything to win the game. Gael did very well and put in a great cross. The important thing is that we won.
“We did everything we could to score the goal – their ‘keeper was unbelievable. But we knew that if we kept pushing for 90 minutes, the chances would come.”
The chances did come, and the goal wasn’t the first time Alex found himself in the opponents’ box that afternoon, having already had three attempts on goal. So is this more attacking approach a conscious decision this season?
“Well my first job is to defend, but when I have the opportunities to go forward now, I will support my team. That doesn’t mean I will do it every single time. I need to know the right times to go. We have lots of players who can score, but now I take the right opportunities to get forward. My first job is to try to win the ball, and pass it forward, but if I can add to my game then why not? I’m very happy to do it.
“I think I did well last season but I really wanted to show I could do more this year, so I’ve really been pushing myself.”
Alex admits he is changing as a player, which he says is normal for someone wanting to improve and develop, which he has sought to do ever since arriving at Arsenal – initially on loan – back in 2005.
“I think I am always changing. I remember speaking to the boss and he said ‘remember what you were like when you arrived and how you are today?’ I said ‘yes – it’s completely different!’ That’s very good because when you have the best manager in the world, you know you will improve. I want to keep going and give more because I know I can do more.”
But that doesn’t mean that Alex is now obsessed with goalscoring – far from it. His two role models can hardly be described as prolific. “I like Makelele – he’s a player I really like. I had the opportunity to speak with him a couple of years ago when he came here for the Emirates Cup and whenever he is on TV now, I try to watch him. He is in the French league now, 37 years old, but still an unbelievable player. I also watch Gilberto as well, and he helped me a lot when he was here.”
Training with all the attack minded players at Arsenal must have rubbed off too, witness his goals against Shakhtar at home and away to Man City.
“The goal against Shakhtar was just instinctive,” he smiles when recalling the backflicked effort last month. “That was the first thing in my head when the ball came. I scored but afterwards Cesc said I was crazy for trying it! I’m very happy to have scored it though, because it wouldn’t have been good had I missed. It probably would have been better to go for it with my left foot but you don’t have much time to think in those situations.
“Then against Man City we played very, very well. I had the opportunity to score, and when it came to me I knew just what I wanted to do. When the occasion comes to me I feel more ready for it and I didn’t think much about it. I just wanted to give the ‘keeper no chance.”
Alex dedicated both the Shakhtar and West Ham goals to his wife, who he explains is also behind his new look hair-style this season. “It’s true,” he laughs. “I came back from playing for my country and she said I looked like every other player because they all have dreadlocks. She said when my son was watching me play for Cameroon he said ‘there’s daddy’ but it was another player who looks like me! So my wife said ‘I have a new hairstyle for you’, and it seems to be working!”
However a more rational explanation for his recent goalscoring touch, Alex argues, is his midfield partner for the last couple of games. “Yes, it’s different when I play with Denilson for example. I push up a little bit more when he is there, because I know he does a very good job behind me as well. When I am in there with Jack or with Cesc though, I don’t take as many risks because I know they are the ones who look to go forward. So if I play with them, then I need to make sure that I pick the right time to go forward. I think it’s good to try it and when I spoke to the boss he said don’t push too much – remember to look behind you.”
Alex agrees with his manager’s recent assertion that his form this season can also be put down to an improvement in his approach to training. “Yes, I started pre-season a week earlier after the World Cup. I worked hard and it helped me a lot, and I have improved on the pitch.”
Being honest with himself, he also feels he has ‘grown up’ at Arsenal since joining from Bastia as a teenager.
“You don’t think the same way at 23 as you do when you are 17. I am more mature now. When people try to help you when you are 17 you don’t always realise they are trying to help, so maybe you don’t listen as much, but when you get older you really want to learn as much as you can. Today I always ask people what I have done wrong, so I can change it. It’s good to listen to people with experience. When the boss says I can improve, I believe him, because he just has to remind me what I was like when I arrived. It’s working. Everything is here at this club to be a big player, the rest is down to yourself.”
Having missed the game in Ukraine on Wednesday with a calf injury sustained against West Ham, Alex – speaking on Thursday – was keen to be able to continue his good form against Newcastle: “I could hardly walk on it after Saturday’s game, but it feels better now. I still have another few days before the game, so hopefully I will be all right by then.”
Before Alex leaves to resume his rehab, there’s time for him to put the record straight on something that has been in the news lately – did he ask Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o for the same watch he gave to Usain Bolt?
“No, I have never asked for a watch from anybody at any time,” he states firmly. “The Cameroon team all received watches from Samuel Eto’o during the World Cup, but I was not the instigator, it was a gesture from him to
the team.
“He told everyone in the squad he would buy us a watch each if we qualified for the World Cup, and it’s been quoted recently that I went to him at the end of the Morocco game when we qualified, saying that I wanted the same watch he bought Usain Bolt. That’s not true, I didn’t even speak to him after the game. Why would I say that? I thank God that I am in a good position today that if I want to give anything to my family, I can. I don’t know why someone would say this.”
With that, Alex departs for the aforementioned rehab, watch misunderstanding off his chest, and looking forward to the Gunners next fixture, when he’ll be hoping to once again demonstrate the perfect timing that’s seen him score in each of his last three matches.
Josh James
