So far, the 2021-22 season has been a rollercoaster ride. Many top clubs have made a strong start and asserted their dominance over their domestic leagues, while others have not fared as well. It is, however, still early in the season.
Several top players have been in excellent form so far this season, while others have not been so fortunate and have underperformed. These players had previously developed a knack for producing consistent output, but they have failed to do so this season.
Look at four players who have yet to score a league goal this season.
Player no 4: Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal)
Nicolas Pepe was signed from Lille in August 2019 for a reported £72 million. Pepe became Arsenal’s club-record signing, and he arrived with high expectations. Since then, the Ivorian has sparked debate among fans. Pepe is clearly a talented player, as he has demonstrated in the past that he can be lethal on his day.
Pepe is a winger by trade, but he usually plays on the right side of midfield. In his arsenal, he is a skilled dribbler with a powerful shot. The Ivorian has made 98 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 25 goals and assisting on 18 others.
Pepe scored ten league goals and six in the UEFA Europa League last season. Despite making seven appearances for Arsenal this season, he has yet to open his account. This season, he has only provided one assist for the club.
Pepe is without a doubt a key member of Arsenal’s young squad, given that he is the club’s record signing. The Gunners will be counting on him to step up and deliver in the coming weeks as they aim to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
Player no 3: Eden Hazard (Real Madrid)
Eden Hazard joined Real Madrid in 2019 for an undisclosed fee of €100 million. His time with Los Blancos has been underwhelming. Injuries have marred Hazard’s career, and it’s fair to say he has yet to reach the heights he achieved with Chelsea.
Hazard has recently appeared in 53 games for Real Madrid, scoring five goals. He’s also managed just nine assists, culminating in the worst stretch of his career.
The Belgian has already made nine La Liga appearances this season but has yet to score. This season, his teammates have performed better, most notably Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.
Many believe Hazard’s time at the club is ending and he will return to Chelsea. While this is all speculation, only time will tell how Hazard chooses to shape the rest of his career.
Player no 2: Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)
Jadon Sancho joined Manchester United in July of this year, after much speculation. Sancho, who cost the Red Devils a £73 million, signed a five-year contract and arrived at Old Trafford with high expectations. Many expected him to come to England and bring his form from his time with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
Things haven’t gone so well since, with Sancho yet to score in a United shirt this season. While he has an impressive record in Germany, he has yet to make an impact at Old Trafford.
Sancho has appeared in seven Premier League games for Manchester United, as well as three UEFA Champions League games and one EFL Cup game. In eleven appearances, the Englishman has yet to score a goal and has looked unimpressive on the field.
Even though Sancho is still only 21, there is no doubt that he has a long way to go in his career. Manchester United supporters will be hoping that Sancho finds his form quickly and starts delivering for the club.
Player no 1: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Many expected Messi to stay with his childhood club Barcelona for the rest of his career, but the Argentine ended up signing on a free transfer with PSG. Messi has always put up big numbers on the club level, and he arrived at PSG with the same expectations.
Messi has made eight appearances for the club since his arrival but has yet to score a league goal. Although he has three goals in the UEFA Champions League, he has yet to break his Ligue 1 duck.
Messi scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona, giving him one of the best personal records in club football history. Undoubtedly, he will eventually find his form for PSG, but the Argentine has had a difficult time getting off to a good start at his new club.
With PSG aiming for both the Ligue 1 title and the UEFA Champions League this season, Messi’s contributions will be crucial in determining the club’s fortunes.
