Where Are They Now: Francis Jeffers

Where Are They Now? is a series which will focus on players who never quite made it at Arsenal, and has a look at their careers before, during and after Arsenal.

The idea, along with the name, was given to me by one of the emerging writers at Bleacher Report, Maire Ofeire. So due credit must go to her.

In this edition of Where Are They Now?, I'll take you through the career of a certain Francis Jeffers—the fox in the box, as he was once called.

Francis Jeffers was a prodigious talent when he arrived at Arsenal at the age of 20 in 2001. Considered by many as the "next big thing" in England, he arrived with a considerable amount of pressure and a lot of talent having scored 18 goals in 49 appearances at Everton.

The price tag of £10 million on his head, Francis Jeffers was expected to perform, and fast.

Before all this, though, Jeffers made his full debut with Everton against Derby County in 1999 at the age of 17. He then scored his first goal for the club in an F.A. Cup match against Coventry City in the same season. 1999 was a great year for Jeffers, as he won his first call up to the England national team for their game against Hungary. 

At the end of the 1998-99 season, Jeffers ended up scoring seven goals for Everton. Surprisingly, he handed in a transfer request at the beginning of the 1999-00 season, which he later withdrew, and partnered Kevin Campbell successfully before he suffered the first of many injuries.

He began the 2000-01 season in superb fashion, scoring six goals in nine games, only for yet another injury to keep him out of action until 2001. At the end of the season, however, Arsene Wenger came in for the striker and Jeffers sealed a dream move to Arsenal.

Wenger expected big things from young Englishman, and was willing to give him a chance even though he had an injury-plagued season. That, though, wasn't meant to be.

Francis Jeffers never made a lasting impression on the Arsenal fans, scoring just four goals in 22 appearances over three seasons at Arsenal. He was further plagued by injuries, and even showed his poor temperament when he got sent off against Manchester United in the Community Shield after kicking out at Phil Neville.

Ironically, this became the 50th red card amassed by Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.

That was the only real "feat" achieved by Jeffers as three seasons after his move, he was loaned off unceremoniously to his former club, Everton. He never got his scoring boots on, even at Goodison Park, and a poor relationship with manager David Moyes meant that Jeffers had to return to Arsenal at the end of the 2003-04 season.

His Arsenal misery ended after he was finally sold to fellow London club, Charlton Athletic in a £2.6 million deal—which represented a massive loss for Arsenal.

Jeffers struggled yet again at the Valley, scoring a paltry three goals in 20 appearences. Unable to settle at Charlton, he was loaned out again after just one season—

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