Julio "The Beast" Baptista. His 10 goals for us in 47 seconds. 

He should have been much better than he was.

He scored twice against Spurs and 4 times against Liverpool? I don't even remember much of that!

I agree, he technically should be perfect for us.

All four against Liverpool were in the same game too, in the Carling cup. Arshavin light.

I think Real Madrid did a number on Baptista. He went from one of the best strikers in La Liga to a defensive midfielder and he never really recovered from it. Things like first touch and anticipation should have been worked on meticulously. We got a broken player.

I remember that Carling Cup game, Batista got four goals but Aliadiere was clear MOTM for me. Thought he'd kick on from that game, he was unplayable that day.

I think the way Aliadiere's career turned out is still Wenger's biggest sorrow. Diaby had nothing on him when it came to being unlucky with injuries.

The bloke was destined for great things before all the leg breaks. Wenger always spoke about him with such reverence, and there's that quote from the Clairefontaine coach Claude Dusseau about how "the three best strikers to emerge from Clairefontaine were Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Jeremie Aliadiere".

I remember that Carling Cup run. Fun times - till Drogba happened

You sure about the quote Klaus? I remember one Clairefontaine coach talking about the three most talented strikers being Saha, Anelka and Henry - in that order. Funny how that turned out.

jones wrote:

I remember that Carling Cup game, Batista got four goals but Aliadiere was clear MOTM for me. Thought he'd kick on from that game, he was unplayable that day.

Always remember Baptista getting only a hattrick along with Aliadere in a 6-3 win. I guess my memory is failing me!

Aliadere was phenomenal in that game. He looked like a world beater and I remember many people being unhappy he wasn't given much minutes in the league. Song had a good game as well right?

Yeah, Song was good too I think but Baptista scoring four goals (think most were tap-ins to be fair) and still being outshone by Aliadiere shows how good the latter was that day, think he got like four or five assists. Always thought there was something for Wenger to work with so I wasn't too shocked but that was the only time he was able to actually display it. Sad story indeed and it shows how talent and dedication even combined are worth jack shit if you don't have the luck necessary to make it.

Baptista also missed a penalty day as well, could have had 5!

I think Aliadiere was considered equal talent wise to the likes of Henry and Anelka during his time at Clairefontaine. Shame that he never really delivered on that potential.

Yeah he was awesome that night. I remember Alex Song was too which was a surprise considering what happened to him at at Fulham.

Baptista was shit for us. Three months of him and Ade up front were as depressing as it got in the trophyless years.

Klaus. It was the other way around. Sevilla bought him as a defensive midfielder, and if I remember correctly, they suffered offensive injuries in pre-season so they stuck him up front, and the rest was history. For Sevilla that is.

He actually rejected us for Real Madrid, after having a bid accepted.

When he finally arrived. He was shit.

Aliadiere broke our unbeaten run in 07/08 deep into December. We were unbeaten in all competitions at that point, if I remember correctly but then he struck for Boro to halt our run.

Middlesbrough broke our unbeaten run but Aliadiere didn't score that game if I'm not mistaken. He scored in couple of other games against us though, always had good performances against us.

I somehow remember him scoring against us for Boro, not sure if it's that game.