Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Roller Coaster of the Year

In the 2016 summer transfer window, Jose Mourinho set four targets. He believed that these four targets would fill weaknesses in the Manchester United squad. One of these targets was a winger that could show creative flair, a characteristic distinctly lacking in previous season under the management of Louis van Gaal. The player Mourinho chose to sign was Henrikh Mkhitaryan from German club Borussia Dortmund. The Armenian led the Bundesliga in assists for the 2015-16 season setting up 15 goals.

Mkhitaryan's time in Manchester has been a roller coaster. His playing time was not consistent at the beginning of the season, only seeing time as a substitute against Leicester City in the Community Shield and against Bournemouth in United's first Premier League match. This had a lot of United fans, myself included, scracthing their heads. United paid £26 million for the winger, why was he not playing straight away. The answer became painfully obvious as United play Manchester City in early September. Mkhitaryan struggled to handle the physicality and speed of the league and found himself substituted off at halftime.

Following the Manchester Derby, Mkhitaryan played sparingly over the next few months. He had picked up an injury, but as time went on, pundits wondered publicly what was taking so long for Mkhitaryan to play again. But the Portuguese manager knew what he was doing, working wonders behind the scenes. Mkhitaryan made two starts consecutively before he truly asserted himself in a key Europa League match against Zorya Lunhansk. With a win against the Ukrainians, United would gain three key points and put themselves in prime position to qualify for the knockout round.

The Armenian did not disappoint. His performance in Ukraine that night completely changed the course of his season. His passing was crisp and he created chances against a Zorya side that was putting men behind the ball and obviously playing for the draw. His best move was when he picked up the ball from the midfield line and dribbled past three Zorya defenders, including a nutmeg on the center back, before slotting it past the keeper.

That goal was his first since his move to Manchester United. Since that game, Mkhitaryan has become a regular member of the first team. He has also found his form he had at Dortmund, racking up five goals and four assists. In comparison, United's record signing Paul Pogba cost £89 million and he has scored seven and assisted four in 32 appearances.

Mkhitaryan will surely continue to push on with his current vein of form. His goals have been nothing short of spectacular. His scorpion kick against Sunderland is candidate for goal of the season and he has made solo goals a habit with runs against Tottenham and Leicester. Mourinho has been proven right again and Mkhitaryan's confidence is surely through the roof.