The Arsenal Dilemma

Andrei Arshavin joined Arsenal a month ago. The logic given was that with Fabregas injured, the Russian magic man could provide the creative spark, the final ball in the box for Adebayor, Van Persie or even the super flop Bendtner. As Wenger usually is, he was right about his investment in the Russian.

Arshavin has proved his immense talent on the left side for Arsenal in the past few weeks. Again and again he cuts in and feeds either the forwards or the overlapping Gael Clichy, often with devastating consequences. He’s already scored a few goals and at least for a while, Fabregas hasn’t been that sorely missed.

For a while now, the Gunners have been a little too dependent on the Spanish playmaker.  Today, when Arsenal step out, the likes of Nasri and Denilson get a chance to dazzle with Arshavin getting forward. Surely even the densest brain can perceive that Samir Nasri is a player of higher caliber than he was when playing second fiddle to Fabregas.

Forgive me if this shocks some, but do Arsenal really need Fabregas right now? There was a time when everything Arsenal played forward had to flow through his boot, but doesn’t the team look much more dynamic now? Nasri has put in a string of good performances on the right, and Sagna and Clichy bomb forward with pleasing regularity. The much- criticized Alexander Song, though still quite raw is now able to do what he is best at, sitting back in front of the defense while allowing Denilson to be more adventurous. With Rosicky’s return imminent, Arsenal would do well to cash in on him and use the huge amount of dough they would inevitably earn to add some steel to their lineup.

Fiorentina’s Brazilian midfield enforcer Filipe Melo, who just  won a cap for Brazil has just had a sensational season with the Italian team and is known to be highly rated by Wenger. He should fit nicely at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield.

Why not go for Manchester City’s Johnson who just isn’t getting as much playing time as he deserves? He’s a neat little player whose Gerrard-esque lung-busting runs could only help Arsenal become a serious title contender once again.  Or Standard League’s 20-year old captain Steven Defour, who’s looking to be headed for Villa at the moment.

Flamini should never have been sold, not when Song is clearly not ready for the big time and Abu Diaby seems inadequate week after week. But that is in the past. The future looms. And it might well be best without a certain Cesc Fabregas.

Again, the loony sheikhs of the blue half of Manchester want to get Arsene Wenger in to manage their team of pantomime performers. How do they get these crazy ideas into their head? All news from the City of Manchester stadium makes it clearer than ever that the management makes these decisions under the influence. Rio Ferdinand probably sent his latest stack of pot anonymously to Sheikh Whatsisname lest he actually take some steps to displace Unted’s hold on the crown of English Football.  

Wenger to me seems a man of principle. He isn’t one who would desert a team of promising youngsters embarking on their careers in one of the biggest clubs in England for a filthy rich mid-table club where apparently players can go for holidays home without clearance from the management.

 This season, the Gunners can only hope to qualify for the Champions League. Let’s hope they challenge next year. The Wenger way.