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2016-2017 Season Performance Review: Henrikh Mkhitaryan

By Clancy Hughes

Arsenal's English midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (L) tackles Manchester United's Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 7, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / IKIMAGES / Ian KINGTON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Arsenal's English midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (L) tackles Manchester United's Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 7, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / IKIMAGES / Ian KINGTON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) /
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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – MAY 24: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Manchester United celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League Final match between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – MAY 24: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Manchester United celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League Final match between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images) /

Pre-season

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee reported to be around £27 million and £30 million. He became the first Armenian to play in the Premier League, after signing a four-year contract and making his debut in a 2–0 victory in a pre-season match against Wigan Athletic on 15 July 2016. Mkhitaryan did not score a goal in any of his pre-season games.

Premier League Regular Season

Mkhitaryan made his first appearance in the Premier League on 14 August 2016 when he came on as a 75th-minute substitute for Juan Mata in a 3–1 away victory against Bournemouth. He made his first start in the Premier League in the Manchester Derby, however he was substituted at halftime. He would not score his first goal in the Premier League until 11 December 2016, when he scored the match’s only goal to beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Old Trafford. 

On 26 December 2016 he came on as a substitute and scored Manchester United’s third goal against Sunderland in spectacular fashion. In what Mkhi calls his best goal he had ever scored, he scored with an unbelievable scorpion kick, which would later be nominated for Premier League goal of the season, and won the club’s goal of the season award. Mkhitaryan finished with four goals and one assist in the Premier League, per WhoScored.com

Europa League

Mkhitaryan had a spectacular performance in the Europa League this season, showing his talent with a total of 6 goals throughout the campaign. Henrikh was the fourth highest scorer in the competition. He made the monthly best XI on multiple occasions, including the combined best XI for the final.

Mkhi averaged a rating of 7.33 in the Europa League, whilst adding on one man of the match. He scored one of two goals in the cup final, giving his team the victory over Ajax.

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Season recap

As a whole, Mkhitaryan had a rather successful season. Given the amount of money that was paid for him, and his performance, he was worth the transfer, and will most likely continue to show that through next season.

Micki netted a total of 11 goals for Manchester United this year, as well as one assist. He kept an average rating of 7.03 throughout the season across all competitions.

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