First impressions have a lasting impact and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a prime example

Whilst most of the focus is on the Real Madrid vs Arsenal game yesterday - and rightly so because it was an absolutely monumental result, Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan was a brilliant spectacle itself.

There are numerous talking points from the other Champions League fixture, but the one I want to write about is the fact that a certain 36-year-old former Premier League midfielder absolutely bossed the game from minute 1 and yet nobody is talking about it. 

Because the Prem is the best league in the world, prem fans often are arrogant and carry the sentiment that if they couldn’t do it in the prem, they aren’t a good player. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has put this sentiment to bed by himself. Even though he wasn’t particularly a ‘bad’ player for Arsenal and Man United, he wasn’t exactly a world-beater either.

But since he’s been at Inter, it has gone under-the-radar just how good he has been. Like, he has genuinely been one of the best midfielders in Europe this season and yesterday exemplified it. The Armenian wizard was the heartbeat of everything good that was conjured up by the Azzurri yesterday, completing 100% of his dribbles, winning 3/3 tackles, 6/9 ground duels and 2/2 aerial duels whilst also maintaining a 91% passing accuracy. 

These stats themselves still don’t do justice to Inter’s number 22. Ahead of yesterday’s game, teammate Yann Bisseck said in an interview with Kicker: “He can do everything. He’s an incredible player, especially considering his age. At this point I think he’s faster with the ball than without it, it’s insane. The manager considers him indispensable in the midfield.” Unbelievably high praise for an unbelievable midfielder who’s telling father time that he can do one.

If Mkhitaryan was 10 years younger and playing at this level, he would be receiving heaps of praise across the world but I feel as if when you mention his name to most non-Italian football fans, they will still be thinking of the player that graced England around a decade ago and failed to have a lasting impact. No longer an inventive attacking midfielder, Armenia’s best ever player has slowly moved down the pitch to become one of Europe’s best midfielders and most underrated players at the ripe old age of 36.

It’s a huge shame he’s going to end his career without getting the flowers he truly deserves.