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Reasons Why Arsenal Will Miss Alex Song

Another gem gone…Sad
“Song leaving Arsenal is good riddance to bad rubbish. The Cameroonian is a disruptive influence in the Gunners’ ranks. It’s my belief that players should wear the jersey of Arsenal with pride, Song’s heart was no longer at Arsenal, he was already dreaming of Catalonaia, Wenger reveled that Song desired Barca move. Why keep him if he wanted to leave? Song had few years left on his deal and if Wenger had not sold him this summer, he would have stalled on a new contract and next summer, he would have arm-twisted the club into a sale and at that time, Arsenal might not have recouped so much from the high handed Barcelona.” – Song’s Exit Good for the club and here’s why
“So while Alex Song certainly had his moments during his time with the Gunners, no crown jewel has been plucked from Arsene Wenger’s hands, either. Ultimately, Song became a jack of all trades, yet a true master of none, and that’s just what Barcelona are getting for their £15 million.” – Alex Song: Why Arsenal won’t really miss the Barcelona-bound midfielder.
These are great articles nonetheless, but they have seen the light of day in the wake of Song’s move to Barcelona. Arsenal.com has confirmed that the Cameroonian has agreed terms with Barcelona and has jetted off to Spain for his medical. It’s believed that a £17m move is on the cards.
Last Spring, the Daily Mail published an article about Arsenal offering Song a bumper offer to commit his long-term future to the club. It was supposed to be a contract worth £75,000 per week, and the good news was music to the ears of many Arsenal fans.
Song joined Arsenal in 2006 from SC Bastia but he was loaned to Charlton shortly afterwards to get some playing time. With the likes of Gilberto Silva, Mathieu Flamini, Denilson and Lassana Diarra ahead of him, the chances of Song getting playing time were slim to none.
In Arsenal’s impressive 2007/08 Premier League campaign, Song watched from the sidelines as Fabregas and Flamini forged a telepathic understanding on the pitch. However, the Flanimal’s exit to AC Milan paved the way for the young Cameroonian, and he became Arsenal’s chief enforcer, amassing 48 appearances in his breakthrough season.
Song went on to become synonymous with a starting berth in subsequent seasons and his star shone the brightest in the 2011/12 season. I’m not ignorant to the fact that he wasn’t too impressive in his “primary job” last season, but we should remember vividly that he probably played to Arsene Wenger’s instructions.
If I take you down memory lane in the days when Song looked like a hybrid between Abel Xavier and Djibril Cisse, he was the water carrier of the team and he allowed the more creative players like Fabregas to their thing with the confidence that he was going to break up play like Flamini before him. Song’s performances in the 2009/10 season were so impressive, Arsenal wasted no time in handing him a long-term deal that was to expire in 2014.
When Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri departed last summer, the panic button was pressed so hard, it sprang out of it’s remote control. The subsequent games following their departure didn’t help matters at all as the Gunners slumped at home to Liverpool before suffering a humiliating 8-2 defeat to Manchester United.
The burden of creativity fell on the shoulders of Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky but it seemed like a burden to big to bear before Alex Song stepped into the picture. Song is showing promise beyond his years, but last season proved that Aaron Ramsey is not yet ready to be the top playmaker at a big club such as Arsenal.
With the likes of Yossi Benayoun, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky all struggling to find that killer through pass to the in-form Van Persie and the rest of the forward line, Alex Song stepped up his game to become the club’s chief midfield playmaker while also performing his defensive duties to his usual high standard.
Last season, Alex Song became a potent force in Arsenal’s attack and he created 14 assists, with a considerable chunk of them for Robin van Persie.
His defense-splitting pass to van Persie against Norwich was sumptuous to say the least. Van Persie finished it off with a cheeky lob over the Norwich goalie. He invoked the spirit of Lionel Messi when Arsenal hosted Dortmund by taking on some defenders before crossing the ball for RVP that sent his header goalwards.
When the chips were down against the Merseysiders (Everton at Emirates and Liverpool at Anfield), Alex Song supplied two similar perfect projectiles for van Persie and Arsenal’s captain finished both efforts in the same magnificent similar fashion.
Van Persie hasn’t been the only player that benefited from Song’s attacking verve on the final third. In the FA Cup third Round clash against Leeds United, Song played a wonderful through ball past four Leeds United players to the returning legend, Thierry Henry and the rest was history. Song has also supplied two sublime assists for Theo Walcott against Tottenham and Aston Villa.
Statistics also showed the class apart Alex Song is from the rest of his peers in Arsenal’s midfield last season.
In his last season at Arsenal, Fabregas made 36 apps, scored nine goals and created 17 assists making him a standout performer. $amir Na$ri on the other hand, made 46 apps, scored 15 goals and supplied 5 assists.
Yossi Benayoun made 25 apps, scored six goals and has handed only one assist to Gervinho against Wolves. Tomas Rosicky made 38 apps, scored two goals and despite his amazing passing range, he supplied a meager amount of six assists.
Mikel Arteta has made 36 apps, smashed in six goals and created three assists. Aaron Ramsey has notched up 44 apps, scored three goals and created eight assists.
Last season, Alex Song was the most creative defensive midfielder in Europe with more assists than Xabi Alonso (2), Sergi Busquets (2), Scotty Parker (1), Mark van Bommel (0) and Felipe Melo (0) put together. These stats prove that Song isn’t your average defensive midfielder and it’s fair to say that more or less a deep-lying playmaker, a role manned by the great Andrea Pirlo.
Alex Song’s effectiveness in the attacking third became a key part of Arsenal’s style of play and his over-the-top projectiles have become his registered trademark.
However, Arsenal took onto the pitch on Saturday with a new look midfield in the form of Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby (the player occupying Song’s role).
Like Song last season, Diaby forayed forward (making Arteta cover his tracks in midfield) but his output was as expected – zero. There were times when the lanky French man dwelt on the ball far too long, and the causes from the Arsenal fans I watched the game with started creeping in.
If we want to be frank with ourselves, our midfield would have fared better if Song played in Diaby’s stead because he might have launched on of his trademark projectiles for Olivier Giroud, a striker renowned to be good with the ball in the air and at his feet.
There is so much talk about Nuri Sahin, and I truly hope that these rumors become a reality because Arsenal can make do with another technically-gifted midfielder with an eagle-eye for a pass.
After serving Arsenal Football Club for six years, Song notched up 204 appearances, scored 10 goals and supplied 24 assists.
Say what you want about the Cameroonian, but Song was one of Arsenal’s most consistent players in recent seasons. You can’t possibly think Arsenal won’t miss him. That’s just denial.
Arsenal it was, Arsenal it is and Arsenal it will always be.
Sayonara.
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Injuries, Interlull and Transfer Speculation
With the Premier League just a stone throw away, a set of friendly fixtures have been scheduled to take place in midweek, and Arsenal has sent its fair share of ambassadors to represent their nations. Among the friendly games, there are no much mouthwatering prospects but a repeat of the European Championships quarterfinal fixture between England and Italy will be worth half an eye.
For what its worth, there’ll be no penalty shoot-out to decide England’s fate this time. The last time I checked, there are three certainties in life; death, taxes and England losing on penalties.
However, some Gunners have been forced to pull out of their national teams because the gods of injuries have ravaged the Emirates yet again. I guess the Jack Wilshere sacrifice wasn’t good enough. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had a stormer against Cologne but it’s unfortunate to know that the Ox has suffered an ankle injury that would sideline him for a while. Woy Hodgson has more injury woes to his team as Joe Hart and Danny Sturridge have also pulled out as well.
A few Gunners are expected to lock horns against each other as well. Thomas Vermaelen and Robin van Persie will have a showdown against each other while Andrey Arshavin and Gervinho will be on opposing sides as well. Olivier Giroud was called up to represent Les Bleus in their friendly encounter against Uruguay but Laurent Koscielny will be absent from the French side as he has picked up a calf strain.
With the Premier League curtain raiser just days away, Arsenal has added Kos the Boss and the Ox to its injury list that’s presently occupied by Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby Bacary Sagna. Per Mertesacker is odds on to step in for Koscielny and the Ox’s presence won’t be missed because Arsene Wenger has a million and one options in midfield.
As expected, there has been some transfer news dominating proceedings in the Arsenal blogosphere.
Starting with potential arrivals, The Metro reports that Real Madrid’s deep-lying playmaker, Nuri Sahin, is set to decide on his future this week with many teams (Arsenal included) waiting patiently for his signature on a temporary basis. He has been given the go-ahead by his manager, Jose Mourinho, to get some playing time elsewhere as he failed to secure a first team berth in Santiago Bernabeu, with a meager 10 appearances last season.
Many Gooners are drooling with the prospect of Nuri Sahin in the team and he’ll be the icing on a well-baked transfer cake by Arsenal if he secures a loan switch to the Emirates. AC Milan, Lyon and Turkish duo Galatasaray and Besiktas have all been linked with moves, while Liverpool are understood to have made an offer over the weekend. It will be a real battle for Sahin as all interested parties require his services on a temporary basis.
There has also been some reports about Arsenal engaging AC Milan over a shock swap deal which would involve Arsene Wenger’s long term admirer, Phillippe Mexes, moving over to the Emirates while the World’s Best Striker, Lionel Messi Nicklas Bendtner, would move to the San Siro. Mexes has been in some hot soup recently, as he pulled out from Milan’s pre-season adventure to stay at home with his pregnant wife. The Italians are upset about the defender’s refusal to join the team in the American tour and they are looking to part ways with him.
If this move goes through, it would be heralded as a very good piece of business by Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal hierarchy. According to Arseblog News, Bendtner has already declared that staying in Arsenal is not an option, and I strongly believe that Arsenal has no plans to keep him as well.
There’s also some side talk about Tottenham launching a £9.5m bid for Yann M’Vila (via the Metro). I don’t believe that the folks at Rennes will allow their prized asset to leave for such a paltry amount but if he succeeds in going to Tottenham, many Gooners out there will be the ‘P’ in pissed. In my opinion, news about M’Vila has been taken with a pinch of salt because Rennes has placed a monumental price tag for his services.
On departures, Alex Song continues to cause a stir in the Arsenal realm. The Daily Mail has reported that Barcelona has upped their bid to £17m in their attempt to lure him out of Arsenal. Tito Vilanova intends to use Song as a replacement for the departed Seydou Keita but the Cameroonian gem has acknowledged their interest and has stated that he’s happy at Arsenal,
“I am not going to lie if I said there is no interest but I am at Arsenal and I am happy at Arsenal,
“Barcelona are the best team in the world, and speculation will always continue until the window closes.”
Like Robin van Persie, Alex Song’s transfer speculation with a move away from the Emirates has brought mixed emotions to the Arsenal faithful. Many Gooners still laud Song for his newly-found attacking verve but he was a bit suspect for some of the club’s shortcomings in defense because he failed to do his “primary job” in midfield. Last season, Mikel Arteta was very balanced and mature in his box-to-box role, supporting the attack when he was needed as well as sweeping Song’s tracks when he forayed forward.
Aaron Ramsey lacked the positional awareness to wipe’s Song’s butt when he waltzed forward leaving Arsenal deeply exposed through the middle.
Whatever your opinion of Song is (whether good, bad or ugly), he’s still needed at the Emirates and I will be unhappy if Arsenal sells that bloke when he’s just hitting top gear. At 24, Song’s best years are ahead of him and I hope that Arsenal does well to sort out his contract as well as that of Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie.
I’ll keep you posted with every development.
Sayonara.
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Thoughts on Alex Song’s Link with Barcelona and Words from the Verm

Barca DNA?
Tomorrow’s Community Shield fixture between Man Shitty and Chelshit will serve as the perfect curtain raiser for the season but Arsenal fans would watch that game with half an eye before switching their focus to Germany as the Gunners lock horns with Lukas Podolski’s former employers, FC Cologne. The fans have longed to see Podolski and Giroud strut their stuff and they’ll also be excited about the prospect of Santi Cazorla getting some action as well.
The squad has been training vigorously in Germany in their bid to gain full fitness and the captain vice-captain, Thomas Vermaelen, believes that the team is shaping up nicely ahead of the forthcoming campaign. The Belgian expressed his delight on the team’s progress and he’s extremely confident that the Red Army will hit the ground running. He had some nice words for the new kid on the block, Santi Cazorla, as well as the youngster, Serge Gnabry.
The defender took out time to also talk about the new assistant manager, Steve Bould, labeling him as a very focused individual,
“Steve is really good to work with, especially for defenders as he has been a defender himself. He knows what it is all about and gives us a lot of tips. He works a lot on the shape of the team and that is very important, so I am very happy he came to work with the first team.
He is very focused on details. A lot of players, because we are getting older, we know how to play. But he looks at details and the shape of your body and to be honest I am learning a lot from him.”
I wasn’t too impressed with the defending in the Far East tour, but I’ll give the team the benefit of doubt because the line ups weren’t the strongest there is. Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos really need to work on their positioning while a decision has to be made on the deputy right back for the season. Francis Coquelin has proven his quality in that position but Carl Jenkinson is also knocking on the door as well.
Vermaelen contributed immensely to Arsenal’s attack last season with some vital goals but he was culpable in doing his primary job. Laurent Koscielny was more disciplined than the Verm and I’m sure that they’ll learn from each other to form an impregnable unit at the heart of Arsenal’s defense. The Big Fuckin Giant, Johan Djourou and Ignasi Miquel will play their parts in the course of the season and I can only wish them the best.
Moving on, the media Vultures have given us a fresh dose of transfer tidbits this morning and I’ll start with the potential arrivals before laying emphasis on van Persie the Gunners that are linked with moves out of the Emirates.
Apparently, it now seems as if Real Madrid is taking a stand on Nuri Sahin. The Turkish deep-lying playmaker has been heavily linked with a move away from Santiago Bernabeu with many possible destinations in mind. Unlike Park Chu-Young that could actually fry an egg with his warm seat on the bench, Sahin’s seat could manage to boil water at least. Despite Mourinho urging the former Dortmund playmaker to consider a move elsewhere, he has been insisting on staying at the club and fight out for his place.
This now brings Arsenal back to square One in the club’s hunt for a holding midfielder to replace support Alex Song. Yann M’Vila was hugely tipped to arrive at the Emirates after the Euros but the Rennes hierarchy hasn’t received any formal bid from Arsenal or anyone else. However, it seems as if Arsenal is in a somewaht precarious situation, as Barcelona has been sniffing around for Alex Song’s services. The media Vultures have stated that Song has agreed personal terms with that Alien lot but no formal agreement has been reached between Arsenal and Barcelona.
As expected, the Catalonians (with the exception of Cesc Fabregas) have taken their cheap route by using players to coax their fellow professional into buckling. Shakira’s boy toy, Gerald Pique, has shared his own opinion about the Cameroonian gem with a tarantula on his head,
“Song is a great player with an impressive physical ability and good technique. If he comes, which, from what I’ve read looks like it could happen, we are happy to welcome you.”
After reviewing Pique’s gibberish, I was quite concerned about that line, ‘If he comes, which, from what I’ve read looks like it could happen’. Song hasn’t released any official statement declaring how it has become clear to him that he in many aspects, disagrees on the way Arsenal should move forward. Making three great signings then selling van Persie and Song will be a classic tale of one step forward, two steps back.
Barcelona intends to offer Christian Tello as makeweight for the deal and I truly hope that we decline their proposed bid with a complimentary middle finger as well. I’m pretty sure that Barcelona’s scouts were watching Song under some bushes in Germany as he engaged himself in a penalty shoot-out with the cuddly Andre Santos.
Elsewhere, the Metro reports that Arsenal has given Park Chu-Young an ultimatum to find a new club in the summer – or risk facing another lenghty spell on the bench. Park was hijacked right under LOSC Liile Metropole’s noses last season and it’s really shameful to know how his career has panned out. He spearheaded Korean Olympic Under-23 attack alongside Ji Dong-Won in the course of the Men’s football tournament and he inspired his team to a Bronze medal finish with a 2-0 win over neighbors, Japan.
Everyone’s favorite defender, Sebastien Squillaci, has been linked with a move to Olympiakos. Whether he’s linked to Olympiakos, Bastia or my present Football Manager 2012 team, the sooner Squillaci leaves the club, the better for everyone (One slot available, wage bill reduced).
Have a great Saturday.
Sayonara
You can follow Gooner Daily on Twitter @goonerdaily. I’ll follow back
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