It would be a tough ask to pick Wayne Rooney’s best goal for Manchester United but, when it comes to his first spell with Everton, one strike stands alone as his most iconic in the blue shirt.
At 16 years of age, Rooney announced himself to the world by beating Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman in stunning style, ending the Gunners’ 30-game unbeaten league run in the process.
The young forward swivelled beautifully at Goodison Park before he glanced up and curled a picture-perfect strike out of the ‘keeper’s reach and in off the underside of the crossbar.
We’re sure you remember it.
We’re also sure you’ve heard that Rooney is now an Everton player once again, having signed a two-year deal with his boyhood club after calling time on a storied spell with the Red Devils.
The 31-year-old lined out for Ronald Koeman’s side on Thursday afternoon and definitely picked up where he left off as he scored a goal that was essentially a carbon copy of his famous strike against Arsenal in 2002.
It’s almost creepy how similar the goals are.
https://twitter.com/utdxtra/status/885510853222707200
Supporters certainly saw the resemblance.
Talk about Deja vu… Rooney scoring on his 2nd Everton debut is pretty much Identical to the one he scored against arsenal on his 1st 👏👌👍
— Martyn (@martyndaly) July 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/JAChelton/status/885521023726223361
Buzzing for Rooney! That goal is so similar to the one he scored against Arsenal!
— Arjun (@ArjunitedRed) July 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/kishydrover/status/885518244727083008
#Rooney just scored exactly the same goal as his last 'first ' everton goal against arsenal . It's identical!! #stillgotit
— I_hate_Jamie_Oliver (@pipehitterz) July 13, 2017
Rooney's goal feels so similar to the one he scored against Arsenal on his debut.
— 9. (@FxIseNine) July 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/bairdystweets/status/885512705989279745
Rooney scoring a goal on his debut v. similar to one against Arsenal. Goosebumps.
— whiz (@frankwhiz1) July 13, 2017
It's weird how similar that Rooney goal is to his Arsenal one
— Danny (@OfficialDannyE) July 13, 2017