Arsenal: This is the Henrikh Mkhitaryan we wanted

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was close to his best in Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday night. This is the Mkhitaryan that we all wanted when he was signed a year ago.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan arrived at Arsenal a little over a year ago. After a forgettable 18 months at Old Trafford when his free-roaming style was shackled by the overly defensive management of Jose Mourinho, there was a hope that he would rediscover his attacking verve in a team far more accustomed to a freelancing forward.

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The initial signs were extremely positive. Mkhitaryan assisted three goals in his home debut, a 5-1 win over Everton. He scored some crucial goals later in the season, against AC Milan and Manchester United most notably, but his form slowly deteriorated with questions growing over whether he could ever replicate his Borussia Dortmund ingenuity.

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This season, those same questions have again been present. Prior to suffering a foot injury in December, Mkhitaryan had just four goals and one assist in 13 appearances. More concerningly, nine of those 13 appearances were starts. In seven of them, he did not record a goal or an assist. Obviously, football is not just about goals and assists, and Mkhitaryan’s role on the pitch certainly extends much further than those basic statistics.

But his overall play mirrored his production. His influence on matches was minimal at best, he was wasteful in possession, uninventive in the final third, and looked painfully slow, lacking sharpness when he tried to turn past defenders. It was a continuation of his struggles from the previous season; it suggested that his time in north London might justifiably be coming to an end.

Then he missed two months with a foot injury. The time off, ostensibly, is precisely what he needed. Mkhitaryan has made three Premier League starts since coming back from injury. Arsenal have scored nine goals in those three games. He was also instrumental in a three-goal win over BATE Borisov in the Europa League.

His form culminated in Wednesday night’s 5-1 victory over Bournemouth. Mkhitaryan was superb. He scored one, assisted two others, created four chances in total — no other player on the pitch created more. He and Mesut Ozil combined superbly in the final third, his dribbling was explosive and sharp, he supplied Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brilliantly for the fourth goal, and waltzed off to a standing ovation around the Emirates, Unai Emery seemingly resting him for Saturday’s North London Derby.

This performance was a far cry from his lacklustre displays prior to his injury. Most impressively, though, it is not a one-off. He immediately looked that bit sharper when he returned against Huddersfield Town. He did not score or assist, but his play was progressive and creative. There were signs that he was playing more purpose and confidence. And this is the Mkhitaryan that Arsenal fans hoped they would see when he was swapped for Alexis Sanchez a year ago.

No one could have said for sure whether Arsenal would get the Dortmund version or the United version when Mkhitaryan arrived. But at present, they are undoubtedly getting the very best out of the attacking midfielder. Long may it continue.