I was told I'd never make it at Arsenal – I hope the coach watched me at Liverpool

Jermaine Pennant had the world at his feet at Arsenal but squandered a golden opportunity (Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)

To play for both Arsenal and Liverpool , you need to have quite the credentials.

However, Jermaine Pennant's potential largely remained untapped. Pennant was signed by the Gunners as a teenager and had the privilege of receiving one of the finest football educations a young player could hope for, being in and around Arsene Wenger 's legendary Invincibles squad.

Yet, the former England Under-21 international's 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 in spite of a hangover.

By the summer of 2006, Pennant, then 23, had already spent a month in prison for drink-driving, played a match on loan at Birmingham City while wearing an electronic tag, and ruined his relationship with Wenger by repeatedly arriving late for training.

Despite this, Liverpool took a gamble and signed him in a deal that could potentially rise to £8million. Pennant had something to prove at Anfield, where his former teams will face off on Sunday at 4:30pm.

A dismissive comment from Wenger's right-hand man, Pat Rice , stayed with him from north London to Merseyside. In a 2017 interview with The Guardian , Pennant recalled: "I definitely used it. He told my agent, 'He's not going to make it.'

"I don't know if he had it in for me or if my personality was a bit rich. He's old school, Pat, but I always believed I'd make it.

"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?'"

Pat Rice's comment left a mark on Pennant (Image: Getty Images)

Pennant found the net for his maiden Reds goal during a 2-0 triumph over Chelsea at Anfield in January 2007, and he featured in the starting XI for the Champions League final against AC Milan that same year as Rafa Benitez's men succumbed to a 2-1 defeat. However, these proved to be brief moments of ecstasy before the excitement around him rapidly diminished once more.

After a temporary stint at Portsmouth, Pennant left on a free transfer to Real Zaragoza, where his familiar issues – particularly his punctuality problems – swiftly resulted in him being sidelined in Spain. Stoke City provided him with a pathway back to English football, and manager Tony Pulis seemed to establish some control over his conduct.

Yet the reality that Pennant, approaching his 30s, was still attempting to vindicate Rice spoke volumes about his career trajectory. "I saw Pat again when I played for Stoke against Arsenal a few times," he added.

The winger also failed to make the cut at Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)

"It was kinda frosty between us at the Britannia. We won 3-1 and I scored and ran past the Arsenal fans to rub it in. That was a good moment.

"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."

His career was rounded out with spells at Indian Super League side Pune City, Wigan Athletic, Tranmere Rovers, Bury and Billericay Town, and it's safe to say that Arsenal icon Rice, now 76, was largely accurate in his evaluation of a young Pennant.

Despite having some memorable moments, the 42-year-old's career is largely characterised by a considerable degree of underperformance.