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With the imminent departure of Nicolas Anelka, Arsene Wenger moved
quickly to bolster his attacking options with the purchase of Davor
Suker for a bargain fee of £1 million. The Croatian was a proven
goalscorer for both club and country and had finished the 1998 World Cup
as leading scorer with six goals. He had scored in each of Croatia's
opening two group games whilst the second round win over Romania
demonstrated the coolness of the man under pressure. His successful
spot-kick was forced to be re-taken but the classy striker simply
stepped forward and stroked his second attempt into the corner of the
net.
Suker's stay at Highbury proved to be a short-lived one as he
struggled to claim a regular place with Kanu, Dennis Bergkamp and
Thierry Henry ahead of him in the pecking order. The Croatian star still
managed to weigh in with his fair share of goals and showed his class
with a sublime strike against Coventry City at Highfield Road. He
managed just eight starts in the League during his solitary season with
the Gunners, plus a further fourteen as a substitute, but still found
the net eight times, including doubles against Aston Villa, Everton and
Sunderland.
His other strike came in a 2-1 defeat at his future club
West Ham United. Suker's Arsenal career was to end in disappointment as
the Gunners went down on penalties to Galatasary in the final of the
UEFA Cup with the Croatian missing one of the spot-kicks. That proved to
be his last game for the Highbury club and he joined the Hammers on a
free transfer during the summer. (David Scranage)
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