As far as loan moves go, Jérémie Aliadière’s to Celtic in 2005 was a near-disaster. At the time it was thought the then youngster still had a chance of making himself a career at Arsenal, so a move to Celtic was seen as the chance to get regular football and progress on the pitch.
Unfortunately, Gordon Strachan, who was Celtic manager at the time, saw things very differently and only gave the Frenchman two substitute appearances, both against FC Petržalka.
Aliadière quickly swapped his Celtic loan for one at West Ham. With the Hammers back in the Premier League it was another good chance to shine, yet things once again proved difficult.
As a result of fitness issues and managerial choices, he failed to get into double figures for West Ham appearances, with the vast majority of the matches he did play seeing him come on as a substitute.
The next loan was to Wolves, and playing under Glenn Hoddle, and especially training under the coach, gave Aliadière the joy back that he’d lost at Celtic and West Ham.
Still struggling to become prominent at Arsenal on his return, a permanent move to Middlesbrough was chosen… and leaving the Gunners on a full transfer is something he now believes was the wrong decision.
