After Alexis Sanchez capped an amazing first season for Arsenal with his FA Cup final wondergoal, here’s a look at where the Chilean ranks among other superb debut seasons, including three Manchester United greats…
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10) Jurgen Klinsmann (Tottenham Hotspur)
A surprise signing for Tottenham in the 1994/95 season, German goal-poacher Jurgen Klinsmann was not the most popular buy at first, but proved critics around the country wrong with 30 goals in an amazing debut season to win the Football Writers’ Player of the Year.
9) Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
A controversial signing from rivals Arsenal, Robin van Persie made the desired impact when he joined Manchester United, showing lethal goalscoring form to guide the Red Devils to their 20th Premier League title, scoring a hat-trick against Aston Villa in the decisive match.
8) Diego Costa (Chelsea)
Signed from Atletico Madrid, Diego Costa has had a brilliant first season for Chelsea, looking like just the striker the Blues have needed for some time and helping them to the title.
7) Eric Cantona (Manchester United)
Not the most outstanding player at Leeds United, but Eric Cantona transformed Manchester United when he joined in 1992, helping them to the Premier League title in his first season and going on to win many more trophies at Old Trafford.
6) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
Arsenal may not have done well enough in the league or Champions League, but Alexis Sanchez has been absolutely sensational for the Gunners since joining from Barcelona, looking like a one-man team at times and scoring an absolute beauty to help the club defeat Aston Villa 4-0 in the FA Cup final.
5) Dwight Yorke (Manchester United)
Signed from Aston Villa, Dwight Yorke had an amazing first season at Manchester United, forming one of the best strike partnerships of all time with Andrew Cole and netting 29 goals in all competitions to fire the club to their famous treble.
4) Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
With goals in the Copa del Rey and Champions League final victories, Gareth Bale certainly made his mark with a superb first season at Real Madrid after his record-breaking transfer from Tottenham.
3) Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
The finishing touch to Manchester City’s spending in the transfer market, Sergio Aguero arrived from Atletico Madrid as precisely the player City needed up front, and he absolutely lit up the Premier League with 23 goals, including one that will go down in history as his stoppage time winner against Queens Park Rangers sealed the title in the dying seconds of the season.
2) Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)
Signed from Juventus to become the most expensive player of all time at that point, Zinedine Zidane did not let Real Madrid down, becoming one of the club’s all-time greats and scoring that sublime winner in the Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
1) Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
Under big pressure to replace Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish did not let Liverpool fans down as he scored an excellent 31 goals in his first season, including the winner in the European Cup final. The rest is history as the Scot eventually became regarded as perhaps the club’s best ever player.
