I joined Liverpool after being told I'd never make it – Arsenal coach's claim spurred me on

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Jermaine Pennant's talent went largely untapped(Image: Getty Images)

Jermaine Pennant failed to realise the potential that both Arsenal and Liverpool tried to extract from him.

Pennant was signed by the Gunners as a teenager and had the privilege of being immersed amongst Arsene Wenger's legendary Invincibles squad.

However, his natural talent was undermined by his lack of discipline, even though he managed to score a hat-trick against Southampton on his full Premier League debut while nursing a hangover.



At Liverpool, I said to my agent after scoring against Chelsea and playing in the Champions League final, 'I wonder if Pat watched the game tonight?'"

Pennant found the net for his maiden Reds strike during a 2-0 triumph over Chelsea at Anfield in January 2007, and he featured from the start in that year's Champions League final against AC Milan as Rafa Benitez's men succumbed to a 2-1 loss.

Yet these proved to be brief high points before the excitement surrounding him rapidly diminished once more.

Pat Rice's scathing assessment stuck with Pennant(Image: Getty Images)

After a temporary stint at Portsmouth, Pennant left on a free transfer to Real Zaragoza in 2009, where his familiar issues – particularly with punctuality – swiftly resulted in him being sidelined in Spain.

That was a good moment.

The winger failed to make the most of being around countless icons of the game(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"For Pat to say, 'You're not going to make it,' and then I play the Champions League final and score against his team, [it] was pretty sweet."

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Rounding off his playing days with stints at Indian Super League side Pune City, Wigan Athletic, Tranmere Rovers, Bury and Billericay Town, it's fair to say that Arsenal legend Rice, now 76, was more accurate than not in his assessment of a young Pennant.

Whilst the 42-year-old may have moments he can look back on with pride, his career was ultimately characterised by a considerable amount of underachievement.

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