The quiet man of Macclesfield Town has designs on becoming the Silkmen’s silent assassin this season.
Now in his third season at the Moss Rose the less-than-vocal Arthur Gnahoua is finally enjoying a run in the team, and he’s eyeing a few goals to cement his spot in the side. He struck what was only his second goal in Macc colours on Tuesday night to earn his side a point against high-flying Halifax, a draw that saw the Shaymen go top of the Conference, for 24 hours.
“I’m starting to get more match-fit now, I’m getting more games and I hope I can just keep on playing, trying to improve all the time,” said Gnahoua, who's now just three appearances away from the 10 games he featured in last term.
“I’m enjoying it, especially with (Adriano) Moke doing so well on the other side. I like to play up front too but sometimes the manager prefers to play me on the wing if there’s no one else to go there. I prefer to be up front if I’m honest but I don’t really mind being out on the wing, I don’t have as much pace as I’d like but I do enjoy going past people.”
The 21-year-old’s ability on the ball, which prompted Steve King to fork out a transfer fee to sign him from Stalybridge Celtic, was shown in the recent derby defeat at Chester, when just about everyone was below-par.
And he admits he’d love to have some of his scoring chances at the Deva Stadium over again.
Denied in the first half by a well-timed hand from Chester keeper Jon Worsnop when he made the most of a huge gap behind the back line, Gnahoua saw his second opening – created with a determined run at the Blues’ defence – blazed wide by Scott Barrow, himself on a charge for goal.
“I know I should have scored in the first half, but I know if I keep getting chances I will do,” he declared. “I would have shot if I had that chance again instead of trying to go round him, I shouldn’t have done that really, I should have been better.
“My eyes did light up when I saw that gap, maybe it just happened too quickly but I just need to make the right decision in games – I’ll be better next time. I should have shot earlier with that chance in the second half too, there were two in front of me and I was just trying to go wide to score but there you go.
“I need to score a few but I’m in the team now and I’m looking to take my chances when they come, and they will do if we play like we have been doing.”
And Gnahoua, who re-signed on non-contract terms in August, got his account for the season under way with a precise strike to cancel out Scott Boden's opener on Tuesday. Receiving the ball in the 'Fax box, he wriggled beyond some despairing defenders' swipes and clinically found the bottom corner of Matt Glennon's goal with his weaker right foot.
It was a goal that left John Askey purring, and visibly gave Gnahoua lift-off – from that point the anticipation levels rose whenever he got the ball at his feet, and another winding, mazy run past numerous Shaymen through the middle of the pitch only ended with his goalbound shot blocked.
And his manager is in no doubt that more game-time (Gnahoua has played around 20 competitive games for Macc) and occasional confidence boosts will make all the difference to him.
“We would have liked the game to be a bit prettier," said the boss after the Halifax draw. "But if the opposition don't allow you to play then you have to dig in and compete, and I thought it was a great goal by Arthur, once he'd scored he showed what he can do.
"We all see it from him in training and we see it sporadically in games but I thought tonight throughout he was really good, but he wasn't on his own. He had the beating of his full-back when he ran at them, he frightened them to death, and it was a great finish with his weaker foot but that shows how good he is, he can strike it well with his right foot and he can go both ways. I just hope he pushes on and it gives him the confidence that he needs.
"He might have been lacking in confidence or it might be a lack of games, he hasn't had a run of games so like a lot of our players we hope that playing week in, week out will see them come good."
