It’s taken time for Yves Bissouma to establish a regular run in the Albion side but prior to the halt of play due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the midfielder appeared to have cemented his place in the heart of midfield.
With Dale Stephens absent at Sheffield United through injury, the 23-year-old stepped up to the plate at Bramall Lane, maintained his place against Crystal Palace, and then put in a barnstorming display at Wolves to help earn the side a valuable point in the last game before the shutdown.
His performance rightly earned the Albion fans’ Man of the Match award on a day when Albion picked up their first clean sheet of 2020 and became only the second team to prevent Wolves from scoring at home this season.
The fans’ chant of the season, Lewis Dunk’s ‘Withdean to Wembley’, got its regular airing but their reworking of the Champs’ 1958 hit, ‘Tequila’ [look it up on YouTube kids] also emanated from the away end, with the title changed to ‘Bissouma!’
“It’s great to hear!” he smiles. “When people see me out, or pull up alongside me in the car, they’ll wave and start singing that song. When you have people singing your name, it makes all the hard work and sacrifice, over so many years, worthwhile.”
Indeed, while Yves has had to navigate his way to regular football following his move from Lille in July 2018, it’s nothing compared to the journey he embarked on, having left home at the age of 13 to fulfill his dreams.
Born in the Ivory Coast but raised in Mali, he left the family home to join the JMG Academy [one of nine academies set up across the world by ex-French international Jean-Marc Guillou], with dreams of one day becoming a professional footballer.
“To leave my parents at such a young age wasn’t easy,” he recalls. “You miss them, you miss your home, but as time goes on I understood that I had to forget about missing them and concentrate on my game if I wanted to make it as a footballer.
“I did five years there and learnt a lot, and I learnt to play football properly. You don’t just learn about football, you learn about life in general, and I grew up very quickly.”
The remainder of this interview can be found in the postponed Arsenal programme, which is available to purchase until 5pm next Monday [May 18], with all profits going to the Albion As One Fund.
The programme pages were printed ahead of the game on 14th March, but we have decided that only a limited number will be bound for sale, making this a real collector’s item for Albion and Arsenal fans and collectors in general.
Aside from the interview with Yves, Islington boy Steven Alzate reflects on Albion’s win against his boyhood heroes at the Emirates earlier in the season.
The Gunners’ home also provides sweet memories for Tariq Lamptey, who made his professional debut there for Chelsea in December and he provides a fascinating insight into his big day along with his hopes in an Albion shirt.
Elsewhere, former favourite Garry Nelson recalls a Goldstone clash with Arsenal back in the 1987/88 season while for Arsenal fans we have interviews with former coach and caretaker manager Steve Burtenshaw and celebrity fan and EastEnders actor Jake Wood.
For all this and much, much more, purchase your limited edition programme, priced £5 (inclusive of posting and packaging) with all profits, as mentioned, going to the Albion As One fund.
Please note, orders will only be taken until 5pm on Monday 18th May.
TO BUY YOUR COPY OF THE ARSENAL PROGRAMME CLICK HERE