Following a Golden Boot in 2008/09, expectations were high on Anelka coming into 2009/10, but it was as a supplier of goals rather than as a scorer of them that he excelled this time around.
With Didier Drogba fit and primed to play as a lone centre-forward, it would be the Frenchman who adapted his game from last season, either playing in behind the Ivorian or out wide with a licence to roam.
The pair began the season in tandem and goals began to flow as early as its third league game, Fulham put to the sword with a strike and an assist each before another goal was added at home to Burnley, Drogba again the provider.
Two Champions League winners against Porto and APOEL were followed by a critical first goal against Liverpool, lifting an awkward Drogba cross over Pepe Reina and in.
There was then an eight-game goal drought but it did not concern Carlo Ancelotti, who said: 'He is a great player. People should give him more importance.
'I don't want to change Drogba and Anelka with any other couple. I think they are the best in the country,' the manager added. 'I think that they have fantastic qualities to play together.'
Five league assists in this spell would certainly have calmed the Italian, and he scored in back-to-back games against Everton and Portsmouth in December, as he reached 100 Chelsea appearances, before picking up an untimely groin strain as Drogba departed for Africa.
Nicolas returned in January with three in two games against Sunderland and Preston before an early strike at Burnley to ensure Drogba's absence was not felt.
His return seemed to blunt Anelka somewhat, but it was his sublime cross against Anelka's former club Bolton in April that helped bring to an end a 13-game barren streak, the header home a simple one.
A crucial square ball for Frank Lampard to convert at Anfield just about wrapped up a Premier League title, Anelka's second, and he added two further strikes in the last day demolition of Wigan.
In the FA Cup Final, although reined in slightly, he made history by becoming (along with Ashley Cole) the first man to do the Double with two different clubs, a brilliant achievement at the end of a solid personal season.
If Drogba can remain fit next time around, the chances are Anelka will be back in the supporting role, but there are few who do it better.
With Didier Drogba fit and primed to play as a lone centre-forward, it would be the Frenchman who adapted his game from last season, either playing in behind the Ivorian or out wide with a licence to roam.
The pair began the season in tandem and goals began to flow as early as its third league game, Fulham put to the sword with a strike and an assist each before another goal was added at home to Burnley, Drogba again the provider.
Two Champions League winners against Porto and APOEL were followed by a critical first goal against Liverpool, lifting an awkward Drogba cross over Pepe Reina and in.
There was then an eight-game goal drought but it did not concern Carlo Ancelotti, who said: 'He is a great player. People should give him more importance.
'I don't want to change Drogba and Anelka with any other couple. I think they are the best in the country,' the manager added. 'I think that they have fantastic qualities to play together.'
Five league assists in this spell would certainly have calmed the Italian, and he scored in back-to-back games against Everton and Portsmouth in December, as he reached 100 Chelsea appearances, before picking up an untimely groin strain as Drogba departed for Africa.
Nicolas returned in January with three in two games against Sunderland and Preston before an early strike at Burnley to ensure Drogba's absence was not felt.
His return seemed to blunt Anelka somewhat, but it was his sublime cross against Anelka's former club Bolton in April that helped bring to an end a 13-game barren streak, the header home a simple one.
A crucial square ball for Frank Lampard to convert at Anfield just about wrapped up a Premier League title, Anelka's second, and he added two further strikes in the last day demolition of Wigan.
In the FA Cup Final, although reined in slightly, he made history by becoming (along with Ashley Cole) the first man to do the Double with two different clubs, a brilliant achievement at the end of a solid personal season.
If Drogba can remain fit next time around, the chances are Anelka will be back in the supporting role, but there are few who do it better.
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