‘Where did it all go wrong?’ – Arsenal & Luis Boa Morte
Portuguese winger Luis Boa Morte was one of the first signings that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made as he attempted to stamp his mark on the Gunners, but for once, this transfer didn’t turn out as Wenger would have wanted. A quick and tricky wide man who could also operate through the middle as a striker, Boa Morte promised much but ultimately flattered to deceive and delivered little. After 3 years at Arsenal during which time he made only 25 Premier League appearances Boa Morte was shipped out of Highbury. So should Luis Boa Morte go down as potential unfulfilled, was he ever really good enough for a top four club, or is it just the case that he had a player called Marc Overmars ahead of him in the Arsenal pecking order?
Luis Boa Morte went to Arsenal as a talented 19 year old who Arsene Wenger had identified as a player who would develop into a Premier League star. The Lisbon born forward spent his youth career at Sporting and his £1.75m move to Arsenal came before Boa Morte had even played a professional match. He made his debut from the substitute’s bench in August of 1997, which would become a regular occurrence for the future Portuguese international, but arguably Boa Morte’s chances of making it at Arsenal were over before they begun. In the summer of 1997 Wenger splashed out over £5 million on Marc Overmars, one of the greatest wingers of his generation, and thus Boa Morte was facing an uphill struggle to get first team football under his belt. So were the impressive performances of a Dutch legend the reason why things didn’t turn out as expected for Boa Morte at Arsenal?
Whilst the presence of Overmars at Highbury hindered the development of Boa Morte, the player himself still had the opportunity to shine under Wenger. In Arsenal’s 1997/98 double winning season Boa Morte made 15 Premier League appearances but failed to score and didn’t manage a league goal in his spell with the Gunners, with 2 league cup goals against Birmingham his only successes that season. The following year Boa Morte’s chances became few and far between and it soon became clear that the Portuguese winger would never be more than a squad player at Highbury. Although Boa Morte wasn’t a bad player as such, he just wasn’t good enough to force himself into Wenger’s plans at the time. But was it a case of potential unfulfilled and a missed opportunity for Boa Morte?
A £500,000 move to Southampton in 1999 was the result of Boa Morte’s fairly lacklustre performances in a Gunners’ shirt, before a change of manager meant that he was on the move once more. During his 6 years at Fulham Boa Morte probably showcased his best form, winning Player of the Season award for the 2004/05 season and playing over 200 games. It is the Craven Cottage fans who hold Boa Morte in the highest regard as well, as his aggressive style of play in which he wore his heart on his sleeve endeared him to the Fulham fans. When he signed for West Ham in 2007 excitement amongst the Hammers faithful slowly turned to indifference and now sadly injuries look like meaning his career will fizzle out. On reflection Boa Morte forged out a decent Premier League career for himself at Fulham and West Ham, but the Portuguese winger just wasn’t of a high enough quality to make it at Arsenal.
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Hated at west ham.overpaid load of rubbish.refused to go to Hull as rather be a reserve and keep his over the top wages.1 goal in 64 games sums up this muppett
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Stevet couldn’t be more wrong and he’s the muppet! Boa Morte might have struggled when he first arrived at West Ham but since then he has won the majority of the crowd over with his commitment and rediscovered ability to beat players in the final third. Granted his goalscoring record isn’t what it could be but last season Boa Morte was a regular supplier of chances picking up a lot of assists in the process. He really suits Zola’s short one and two-touch style of play and it’s a shame he will be missing this season as he would give us a different outlet in attack.
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Spot on Iron Boy, the reason we’ve been in the stook this season is cos Boa Morte hasn’t been playing, like you said he might not score goals but his link up play is superb and he tracks back to help out all the time, so it’s like having an extra man on the field, as for you stevet, Idiot
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Agree with westham66 and Ironboy. It was Boa Mortes’ unbelievable never say die attitude, combined with his pick up of form in the latter part of the season which truly won the west ham fans around. If everyone gave the effort he gave we would be top of the league….well maybe a slight exageration but you get the point !
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jUST MY LUCK FIND THE ONLY THREE FOOTBALL DO GOODERS ON THE INTERNET,dO ME A FAVOUR MOST WEST HAM FANS HATE HIM AND HIS MONEY LOYALTY.HE EVEN LOOKED HAPPY TO BE INJURED.AND TO SAY BECAUSE HE ISNT PLAYING WE ARE SO POOR HAS TO BE THE JOKE OF THE SEASON.HE IS FAT,ROUND AND GET HIM OF THE GROUND.
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