The Curious Case of Phillipe Senderos

In the most recent North London Derby, Thomas Vermaelen pulled up with an injury around the 20th minute and forced the arrival of Arsenal's last available defender, Mikael Silvestre. On comes the former French international, former Inter defender, and former Manchester United veteran. His subsequent performance in the following 70 or so minutes confirmed the belief amongst the Arsenal faithful that the Frenchman, at only 32, is well past any reliable form for the Gunners, but this substitution brought flooding back memories of another bald, french-speaking Arsenal defender, Phillipe Senderos.

Oh yes, hearken back to the days of the smiling Swiss-man. That 6-foot-3 defensive stalwart who bled for the red-and-whites (Switzerland that is) at the World Cup in 2006. The man who in the same year's Champions League competition went the longest period in the cup's history without conceding a goal alongside a fit Kolo Toure. A youngster who captained the Swiss to an U-17 European Championship against the likes of England featuring a young Wayne Rooney. This was the man whom Arsene Wenger spoke about to Tony Adams, wondering if he should be Arsenal's next captain.

Now, the once promising and highly rated defender, only 25, plies his trade at Everton on loan for the rest of the season. He has only made two appearances, despite a continued dip in form and fitness for many of David Moyes' defenders. His replacement was a 35-year-old Sol Campbell who hadn't played competitive football in half a year. He spent last year on loan to Milan and made only 15 appearances, struggling to start ahead of Paolo Maldini and Kaka Kaladze.

Of course this has to be understood in the context of his injuries. All throughout the unbeaten run in 2003-2004, Senderos watched from the sidelines injured. During the beginning of his Milan loan period, he sat out injured for a long period, only gaining match fitness late in the year.

With that in mind, one only has to look to Arsene Wenger's belief in Senderos to truly understand the way in which the once promising defender has fallen from grace. Some would say that Senderos forced a move from Arsenal to Milan in 2008, but the more likely scenario is that Wenger hoped with Milan's aging defenders that the club would make the loan deal permanent.

When Senderos returned, what was most striking was his exclusion from the squad that traveled to Olympiacos for what was essentially a European dead rubber. Kyle Bartley, the captain of Arsenal's under-18's was chosen in his place. The only reason for this had to be Wenger's desire to sell Senderos in January, making sure that he wouldn't participating in any European fixtures, so as to not keep him cup-tied with Arsenal. 

With Arsenal's incredibly sparse look in the defensive department, Wenger even tried him in defensive midfield in the preseason, as one last roll of the dice to give Senderos some place in the Arsenal squad. Yet still, the manager, after failing to sell Senderos before his contract ends in the summer, would rather have the defender's wages be paid out by another club than have him add depth to a weak Arsenal backline.

Is it confidence? The mistake-ridden performances he's put in throughout his career have stuck in the minds of Arsenal supporters, particularly those against Liverpool and Chelsea (with the image of Drogba racing through Senderos' sleeping mind, often forcing him awake at nights with a cold sweat, forcing Senderos to repeat to himself over and over that it was only a dream).

Whatever the case, having the most overriding image of you as player being one with your hands on your head with a look of sadness and disbelief like a child who's plan to steal the cookies in top cupboard has gone horribly awry is not one to fill anyone with confidence. It's obvious that he has, or at least once had, the skill to compete at the top level.

Whatever mysterious force has crept into Senderos' bones and forces him to concede penalties at key moments in key games, hopefully, it will one day leave the Swiss  international and allow him to fulfill that promise that once held him in such high regard among European clubs.

So, at 25, this article wishes Philippe a long and fruitful career, either in football or as a lookalike to the albino priest from The Da Vinci Code who leaps out of corridors to frighten up and coming defenders. Philippe certainly shouldn't rule out either option.