July 2001 and following a third season in which Arsenal had finished runners-up to Champions Manchester United alongside agonisingly losing the FA Cup final to Liverpool in May, Arsene Wenger made a host of changes to his squad.
Recognised names arrived at Highbury such as Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Francis Jeffers, Richard Wright and most notably Sol Campbell. But of all the familiar names being welcomed to North London it was the reported £3.5 million pounds spent on a young Japanese midfielder from Gamba Osaka that intrigued. Wenger, prior to the Gunners, had spent time at Grampus Eight so had knowledge of the Japanese league, whilst Junichi Inamoto was seen as a key member of the Japanese International setup for the Imminent FIFA World Cup in 2002.
With experienced midfielder's Patrick Vieira, Ray Parlour, Edu, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and Gilles Grimandi who could fit in, it was always going to be tough for the Japanese youngster to establish himself so soon in North London and so 2001/02, at the very least, was expected to be a time of settling and transition for Inamoto. As the campaign and Arsenal progressed, it would be clear that Inamoto’s time in North London may be short lived. In all he made 4 appearances for Arsenal that season, 2 starts in the League Cup and 2 substitute appearances in the Champions League. He never appeared in Gunners red in either of Arsenal’s double winning competitions of the FA cup and Premier League.
Before taking his place in the Japanese squad for the 2002 World Cup in Japan & Korea, he was released by Arsenal, seemingly appearing that he would not be able to break past the contingent of central midfielder's already at the club. The looming World Cup in Asia however was a chance for him to show Arsenal fans what they could possibly miss and put himself back in the shop window for other European clubs. He duly impressed as he played in all 4 of Japan’s games, scoring twice in the group stages. Such performances saw him entered in to that years Ballon D’or voting, although he did not make the Top 20. Additionally it sealed him a deal with fellow Premier League outfit Fulham for the 2002/03 season.
In two seasons at Craven Cottage he amassed over 50 games in all competitions, scoring 9 goals. He became somewhat a cult figure at the club and impressed during their successful Intertoto Cup stint in his first season. Inamoto suffered injury during an International friendly against England towards his latter days at Fulham and as such he left for his third Premier League club West Bromwich Albion.
After Gary Megson left the Baggies during the 2004/05 season, Bryan Robson was appointed to save the Midlands club season, although Inamoto was deemed surplus to requirements by the ex-Manchester United man and consequently loaned to Cardiff City. During a successful loan period with the lower division side he was recalled by Robson and played an important part in West Brom’s famous 'Great Escape', as they remained a Premiership club with a final day victory. The Japanese midfielder had a much more prominent role in the Baggies side the following season, however this time they were relegated and Inamoto was to only play a few more times for the club in the Championship as he departed for Galatasary. Before his time in Turkey he once again represented his country at a World Cup Finals, playing twice as Japan were eliminated in the early stages at Germany 2006.
Similar to his spell at Arsenal, Inamoto lasted only one season in Istanbul although he was far more involved in first team action and appeared in the Turkish clubs Champions League campaign, scoring once. The following season he moved to German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt and played almost 50 games in his two season spell with the club. After being released by Frankfurt, Inamoto stayed within Central Europe by signing for Lique 1 side Rennes in France.
However, at only 6 months, his time with the French outfit was his shortest period with a European club as his near decade within the continent was to come to an end. In January 2010 he returned to the J-League by signing for Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale. During the summer of the same year Inamoto was included in Japan’s World Cup squad that set off for South Africa, although in his third tournament he made two brief substitute appearances as Japan progressed from the group stages.
In the prime of his career on his return to Asia it appears Inamoto has settled back to life in the J-League as he currently still plays for Kawasaki Frontale and in almost 5 years at the club has recorded over 100 appearances. Last season he featured prominently for the Japanese side as they finished third in Japan's top tier and secured an Asian Champions League qualifying berth. Currently Kawasaki Frontale have an opportunity again of Asian Champions League qualification as the J-League draws to a close next month, although Inamoto, now 35 years-of-age, has not maintained as prominent role like his 2013 campaign.
Scepticism surrounded his arrival in North London back in 2001 as sections believed his signing was to appease the Asian market and give the Gunners a foothold in the Far East. Opposingly, many could argue that Arsene Wenger knew the Japanese league very well and perhaps smelt a bargain and believed he could transform the midfielder from relative unknown to world superstar like he had done so many others. Regardless of the true reasons for Junichi Inamoto’s arrival at Highbury he perhaps was merely unfortunate as to his timing.
The start of the 2001/02 season saw a 'Double winning', 'Unbeaten League season' team in the making and although undoubtedly a good player, it may appear that Inamoto would never have been able to sustain a place in the Arsenal starting eleven. Ryo Miyachi & Park Chu-Young add weight to Inamoto’s case that Asian stars, at the very least, struggle to make the mark in the red side of North London. However, even the most anti-sceptic could not argue that Arsenal have taken advantage of Asian acquisitions in the Far East, alongside their recent pre-season visits to the continent.
Despite all the theories, the Japanese midfielder forged a relatively successful and varied career in Europe and now plays out the twilight of his career in his native country in which he amassed over 80 International caps for, and where his stock has always been high.