Ex-Arsenal striker who made 21 Premier League appearances now scoring goals in Armenia

Nine years after scoring his only Arsenal goal in a Champions League win over Dortmund - one former Gunners prospect is now finding the back of the net in the Armenian Premier League

Rhys Daly Senior Sports Reporter

10:30, 28 Oct 2023

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Arsenal celebrate as the win 4:2 in the penalty shoot out during the FA Cup Semi-Final match between Wigan Athletic and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on April 12, 2014 in London, England.

The forward won the FA Cup with Arsenal - and since won the Armenia Cup(Image: Getty Images)

From scoring a Champions League winning goal for Arsenal to finding the net in the Armenian Premier League - it's been quite the decade for Yaya Sanogo.

Now 30, the former France youth international has swapped the biggest competitions in club football for a spell in Armenia with FC Urartu - who have a home capacity of less than 5000 fans.

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Sanogo spent seven years with Auxerre before joining Arsene Wenger's side in 2013 on a long-term contract with supporters quickly realising he wasn't the man to fire them to silverware.

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His most memorable moment came in scoring a second minute strike against Borussia Dortmund to ensure Arsenal's spot in the Champions League last 16 back in 2014/15 - his first and last competitive goal for the club.

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Loans followed at Crystal Palace, Ajax and Charlton, which brought a combined four goals before a permanent move to Toulouse.

A return to England came in 2020 after 16 goals in 72 matches, as Sanogo failed to find the net in nine games for Huddersfield - including a missed penalty.

Arsenal fans, what are you memories of Yaya Sanogo? Tell us in the comments section below.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: (R) Joel Campbell celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with (L) Yaya Sanogo during the match between Arsenal and Benfica at Emirates Stadium on August 2, 2014 in London, England.

Yaya Sanogo, here with Joel Campbel, once had high hopes for his Arsenal career(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

FC Urartu came calling in 2022, where he has found his goalscoring form and won the league title in 2023 and the cup for a double.

Sanogo's best goalscoring season remains the 10 he grabbed for Auxerre in Ligue 2 to capture the attention of Arsenal.

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Speaking to Masterclass Media back in April, Sanogo revealed all about his signing and explained how he didn't think it was real.

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: A dejected Yaya Sanogo of Huddersfield Town reacts after missing a penalty during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City at John Smith's Stadium on March 5, 2021

Yaya Sanogo returned to England with Huddersfield but had a nightmare(Image: Getty Images)

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He said: "For all the problems I'd had, the phone wouldn't ring for two years. But after my seven goals in two games, Arsene Wenger calls me.

"I had a little Motorola, I promise you I had that phone. I was at home using my Macbook and I saw +44. I'm thinking: 'What is this number?' So I don't answer, but he called again.

"He said: 'Hello? Hello? It's Arsene Wenger'. I thought it was a joke."