Thoughts on the Cesc Fabregas saga, CL final and released players

Let's make this clear - in an ideal world, I would not want Cesc Fabregas back. Sure, he was the poster boy of Wenger's Project Youth and he gave us many emotional moments, if not trophies. Moreover, My refusal on wanting him back is not related to his manner of departure from the Emirates, but is more on the priority of signing a creative midfielder. 

We didn't spunk 42 million quid on Mesut Ozil to give up on him after one season, only to spunk 25 million quid on another. It's a waste of resources and doesn't make footballing sense. It would be better (and indeed, more cost-effective) to pursue a one-year contracted Khedira, for instance.

However, even though I am past the manner in which Fabregas left Arsenal, it has left him being trustworthy, to me at least. Have you ever heard of a player who is so desperate to leave a club that he goes on strike and contributes £5m to the buying club's transfer fee? Forget the fact it was his hometown Barcelona, such attitude is unprofessional. Arsenal wasn't a prison, it was the club that recognized his talents.

Anyway, what worries me now is Manchester United's interest in the player. I always knew that Fabregas would never leave Barcelona last season for David Moyes, mostly because he was happy at Camp Nou. But that was last year.

12 months down the line, things have changed. Barca have had a piss poor season, they have managerial instability, and the Catalans, for some reason, are making Cesc the scapegoat for their problems, despite his best season statistically. While he hasn't revealed anything yet, Fabregas could so easily be unhappy at Barcelona.

Normally, I wouldn't be too concerned about United's reported interest in him, because as long as Cesc was happy at Barcelona, there was no way United could lure him. However, after changing times at Barca and a confirmed £30m bid from United, there is a chance that Fabregas could play for United next season.

You might chuckle, because Fabregas has publically stated that Arsenal and Barcelona will remain his two playing clubs for his entire career. However, don't times change in football?

Arsene Wenger, 12th July 2011: "Imagine the worst situation, that we lose Fábregas and Nasri; you cannot convince people that you are ambitious after that."

van Persie, 28th February 2012: “I am a true Gunner. I love this club and that’s no secret."

Just two of many examples.

I'm just saying, there is no trusting a player who forced a transfer from a club with such shocking means. Of course, Fabregas would prefer going to Arsenal rather than United, for he clearly has affection for this club. In addition, returning to Arsenal will propel his PR image by justifying his quotes.

However, what if Arsenal never approach him? I have reason, if not proof, to believe that Wenger's does not give a rat's ass about the Cesc Fabregas situation, and I agreed with his stance earlier. However, after the £30m bid, it is obvious that we cannot let United pursue Fabregas, especially because we have contractual and emotional advantage over the player.

I have no idea if Arsenal are trying to bring Fabregas back, but it seems they don't care enough to. However, after the £30m United bid, the answer is clear - we need to move on Cesc.

We should buy Fabregas, only and only because it will hinder the progress of a direct rival. Never mind the fact he may be surplus to requirements from the very start, we should buy him so to not help the other team. Alex Ferguson did it with van Persie even though he had Rooney. Real Madrid did it with Bale even though they had Di Maria, and hence.

Di Maria was quite outstanding yesterday, on that topic. Grossly underrated and overlooked for players like Ronaldo and Bale, who weren't up to the mark. While I felt for Atletico, who lost out on the CL after such a landmark season, Real Madrid were deserved winners. Their style of football is something I've been wanting from Arsenal, what I believe is the best form of football in the whole world, presently. Klopp's pressing philosophy is promising, but at the moment dynamic wingers are king.

Possession football is dead. Bayern Munich proved it last year and Real Madrid proved it this year.

Bayern oriented their game around Ribery and Robben under Heynecks, trashed Barcelona (a possession-oriented team) and won the CL. Guardiola took over Jupp, gave possession football more preference by buying Gotze and Alcantra, and got trashed 5-0 by Real, a team that have strength concentrated on their wings. Real won the CL yesterday, what does that tell you?

Wenger is insistent on possession football, another factor in Arsenal's constant underwhelming in the EPL. He seems to have forgotten the importance of Pires and Ljungberg 10 years ago.

Instead of playing the striker game, buying a monster winger and calculated potential up front might be better. I won't say no to both, really, I just feel that buying a winger might be more productive. Cesc, in addition, would be a welcome bonus and would put a dent in van Gaal's plans. And isn't that all we want?

--

Elsewhere, Arsenal's released list is out, confirming departures of Bendtner and Park. Unlike many, I am sad to see Bendtner depart, not because I feel he was integral to our system, but because I had an unusual attachment to him. You can read more of my weird thoughts here. For now, I genuinely wish him well.

Park Chu Young's departure, along with Bendtner, means we have only two strikers at the club - Giroud and Yaya Sanogo. Both have their qualities, but let's face it, not enough to propel Arsenal to major trophies. A striker is a must now.

After PSG spunked cash on Luiz, they'd be looking to cover up the losses. I think you see what I'm hinting at.

Right, that's that. Have a good one, Gooners.

P.S. Whatever happened to Wenger's contract?

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

Contract ramblings, Jack's injury and thoughts on Kallstrom, Ozil and Bendtner

It's an eventful week for an Arsenal supporter.

New juicy deals for Mertesacker and Rosicky have been agreed, and Ramsey and Cazorla could be the next. Sagna and Bendtner are edging closer to the exit door, Wenger's situation remains uncertain, Wilshere has cracked his left foot, and most importantly, one of the most exciting deals of the transfer window could be in action against Everton.

I kid, of course. Signing Kim Kallstrom is hardly a deal that would send shivers even down his own cracked spine. However, I doubt that any Arsenal supporter would positively dread watching him take to the field. Yes, he symbolizes everything wrong with Wenger's transfer policy, but I'll still look forward to what he could possibly offer to the team.

Anyway, here are my takes on the recent flurry of activities:

On Mertesacker's and Rosicky's deals...
I'm delighted. Merty, for one, has signed his last long-term contract with Arsenal, which means that his best years are secure at this club. You'd be a fool if it took you this long to understand that he's been a terrific player this season. Under the influence of Steve Bould, Per has become an expert at reading the game and intercepting dangerous passes.

I hardly need to emphasize his partnership with Laurent Koscielny as well - all I can say is that they've been superb in forming one of the most stable Arsenal backlines since the Invincibles.

However, confidence has made Mertesacker much more than just a competent defender. He's become a leader, a vocal presence and one of Arsenal's nicest guys. Although a player like Bacary Sagna, for instance, has been one of our most consistent and reliable defenders for years altogether, his silent and sombre nature has meant that Gooners have almost taken him for granted. Mertesacker's forceful and vocal nature, however, has meant that he is considered indispensable to the team.

Tomas Rosicky's signing is also a fantastic piece of business. Word has it that he has signed a 2 year contract, which means that he is almost certain to retire at Arsenal. I love the guy, his never-say-die attitude and an obsession to pass the ball forward makes him an important part of the team. He is clearly desperate to make up for lost time. His tendency to press the ball high up and put in astounding workrate game after game is a rare sight from a 33 year old.

He celebrated his new contract in fine fashion too, scoring a good goal against Norway. It goes without saying that if he can replicate this goalscoring trait in the coming three months and stay clear of injuries, he'll be one of our players of the season.

On Ramsey's and Cazorla's rumoured deals...
Arsenal are rightly tying up their key players to new deals with a hope to keep them for the foreseeable future. While Sagna's, Podolski's and Vermaelen's futures remain uncertain, players like Mertesacker, Rosicky, Koscielny, Wilshere, Gibbs, Ozil, Walcott and Chamberlain are set to stay for the next season and the one after it in all likelihood. It's delightful to add Santi and Rambo to that list.

Cazorla is awesome. While I know that he's not had much influence on our team this season due to injury (and Wenger stupidly shunning him out wide), he's just a joy to watch when in the mood. There are only so many players in the world who possess qualities like dribbling, finishing, shot power, pace and two-footedness. In a twist of cruel fate, the only other person I know with these traits is Julian Draxler.

To think that we've tied down our own Ronaldinho for our future plans leaves me salivating.

If that leaves me salivating, the news of Ramsey signing a new contract (IF the reports are accurate) would leave me choking for breath. Even though I was surprised in finding myself to be pretty much the only one unnerved by his rumoured 100K per week, I'm happy with Wenger letting go of his 'socialist' wage structure.

For the first time in a long time, players at Arsenal are not leaving the club due to money issues. The ghosts of Ashley Cole and Samir Nasri are finally disappearing.

I agree that Ramsey has undergone a transformational season. However, I'm still not sure that his superb run is one that has permanently made him a much better footballer. Seeing that he had already signed a long-term deal in December 2013, it's a bit of a financial gamble from Arsene to dish out a much juicier deal to the same player based on 6 months of form. I don't know if Ozil's high wages are forcing Wenger to give others a pay rise or that he's simply fearful of losing his key men, but either way, things are panning out positively. Oh, speaking of Ozil...

OZIL wasn't booed, Joachim Lowe was...
It's shameful to see the media relentlessly piling on Ozil's bad times by suggesting that he was the one being jeered when taken off. Ozil, on the contrary, had assisted Mario Goetze's goal and received an award before the match, why would he be booed by his own supporters then?

In an attempt to clear out another myth, I want to point out that his assist doesn't mean Arsenal are going to see inspired performances from him. Maybe Lowe's indication that Ozil might miss out on the World Cup's squad could instigate him, but I wouldn't put my money on it. Not when he's surrounded by slowcoaches like Giroud and a tactical blockhead for a manager. Still, I'll play the waiting game on this one.

Jack Wilshere won't be sorely missed...
With all due respect to Jack, I feel that his unexpected lengthy layoff won't affect Arsenal that badly. For one, we have Aaron Ramsey who is returning, not to mention Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who can be half-decent in that role. Flamini and Arteta are options as well, not to forget Abou Diaby who might return later in March.

Kim Kallstrom, dare I add, is an option as well. I know that he isn't what fans wanted (me neither), but the fact remains that his return from injury literally makes him a "new signing", and I'm instinctively excited to see how he plays. I know that I'm sounding incredibly far-fetched and optimistic, but should he put in some Flamini-esque shifts and contribute to some silverware, it'd be a fairytale story and Wenger would be held as a messiah.

Bendtner confirms, Sagna to leave as well?
After (would you believe it) a decade at Arsenal, Nicklas Bendtner has declared that he won't be extending his contract (assuming we offered him one). In one of many frank statements, Bendy said:

"I’m not going to stay at Arsenal – first team football is what I’m after. The plan is for me to move on. I’m ready for a new challenge. To keep my spot I need to play regularly."

Honestly? I'm sad to see him go. Not because I think he has a future at Arsenal, or because I consider him as apt backup to Giroud. However, ever since he scored against Cardiff, I've subconsciously extracted him out of my mind's categories of 'deadwoods' and placed him in 'memories'. I know it's a bit weird to miss an egoistical, deluded and annoying footballer, but it's just how I feel. All I can hope is that Wenger (presuming he stays) buys a much better replacement in the summer.

Elsewhere, Bacary Sagna has remained defiantly quiet. I still staunchly believe that his future depends on Arsenal winning a trophy or not, so it's kind of unpredictable to deduce if he's staying or not. While the league is dead, the FA Cup is very much on, and I'm not ruling it out. On the contrary, I'm pinning all of my hopes on it.

Fabianski, Viviano, Bendtner; three departures have been confirmed. If we don't win anything, I believe Sagna, Vermaelen and Podolski will be added to that list. With the prospect of buying 7 players in one window looking very much possible, I don't want Wenger overseeing such a busy transfer window. He fell short of 2 players in the last summer and 2 players the summer before - there's almost a guarantee we'll witness the same dithering and indecision in the next transfer window with him at the helm.

Wenger still hasn't signed a new contract; that gives me hope. However, I'm not going to pin all my hopes on that, because factors like an unpredictable board and a stubborn manager come into play. Instead, I'll put my hopes on something much more tangible - the FA Cup tie against Everton.

There's no denying that winning the FA Cup will save our season. Lose the game tomorrow, and our season finishes just like that. Win it, and we get closer to a trophy and closer to stemming an exodus.

It's time to get serious.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff: Bendtner's heroics mask the need for a support striker

A huge sigh of relief echoed around the Emirates Stadium as incredibly late goals from Bendtner and Walcott sealed a really important 2-0 win for us. While at the beginning I thought that this match would be nothing more than a walkover for us, in the end I was just more than happy with the three points. However, I'm not sure that I'd head into the upcoming North London Derby with as much confidence now, because I witnessed some glaring flaws in the striker position which really need to be addressed in January.

From this game, it was evident that the days have vanished where we played through a mobile, clinical finisher as a lone striker. As Gunnerblog pointed out, it's almost as if we've forgotten the fluid link up play we executed with van Persie, Eduardo or even Thierry Henry at the helm. Yes, Podolski had a poor game, but it's not entirely his fault. We've gotten so used to having Giroud at the other end of the pitch that we lobbed balls at Lukas, expecting him to hold it nicely and lay it off to the likes of Wilshere, something the German is unable to do. It comes as no surprise that Bendtner had a much better game than Podolski, because he is the only other person who can match Giroud's traits.

I am of the opinion that if we can adapt to our previous style of play - benefiting from a Podolski-esque striker - then we shall have lesser trouble scoring goals. However, adaptation takes time, and that is not on our side, even though we're merely midway through the season. Hence, I feel that the signing of Alvaro Morata will not benefit us, and that we could profit more from a player like Christian Benteke or Demba Ba.

Even so I must say, Bendtner is doing a very good job of filling in at the moment. If it wasn't for his instinct, we wouldn't be on top of the league at he moment, that's a fact. While I still think that he isn't Arsenal quality and has to go, I can't help but feel that he's found the perfect way to say goodbye to us, if he is to leave this month.

Arsene said of him:

"I told him already today that he is back to the level I want him to be at, and if he continues to develop like that he will come back into the team. Unfortunately he got injured today and it looks like it is not a question of days, but weeks, with a sprained ankle. I am very sad for us, but for him as well. It is January 1 so we cannot stop him [talking to clubs abroad] but he says he wants to stay here. If he is focused on staying with us and his job, he is a great striker."

Apparently he does want to stay, but I suspect if the manager gets an offer he'll let him go. While his recent attitude and performances have taken a surprising turn for the better, I think we all know that his time is already up at the club. He never managed to break into break into the starting XI - during his huge 9 year stay - and probably never will, looking at Giroud's current form.

While I'm not ashamed, I'm certainly surprised to admit that Bendtner's departure would be a bitter moment for me. Earlier, I merely classified him in the category of deadwoods that refused to leave, a mammoth list of Almunia, Eboue, Denilson, Diaby, Park, Arshavin, Squillaci, Chamakh and many more. Moreover, his infuriating ego and delusional mind left me a bit angrier with him in particular than with the other worthless players.

However, after witnessing his newfound determination and workrate, I don't know. I mean, I know that in the long run, a player like Bendtner has to be replaced with a more reliable one, but that's not to say that I won't miss his personality, which seems more likeable than irritating now. Even though I do want him to leave, I shall never forget THAT winner against Spurs, the header against Wolves to maintain our title bid, the curling strike against Ipswich to propel us into the Carling Cup Final and now, the volley at the Emirates to keep us on top of the pile.

However, we need to live in a realistic world, and Bendtner cannot provide good backup for Giroud in that world. News that Bendtner suffered a sprained ankle and is set to be out for weeks can actually be good news in disguise. With Giroud injured, Bendtner injured, Sanogo always injured and Podolski not working out up front, we only have 3 choices to proceed with:


1. Give Podolski another chance as the tailsman until Giroud and Bendtner return.

2. Field Park Chu Young and continue playing Podolski on the wings.

3. Buy a decent backup striker and look to offload Nicklas.


I'm confident that Wenger will stick with the first option, fielding a makeshift forward until Giroud and Bendtner recover. Do not be fooled with Arsenal's link to Berbatov - while he would be a very good signing and on the cheap for £2m, I'm dubious whether Wenger's interest in him is genuine.

UPDATE: Arsene has rebuffed talks that they ever contacted Berbatov. While this could just be him pulling off a Santi Cazorla again, more worryingly, he said that he isn't active on the transfer market till now. I know that it's early days, but it isn't exactly joyous days thus far, am I right?

You know what they say - believe half of what you see and none of what you hear. It would be wise to adopt this motto in the face of this month, where I'm sure we will be falsely linked to many more attractive propositions. However, based on the performance against Cardiff (showing a clear lack of cutting edge), I'm sure that we need a striker this month. Bendtner may have vastly improved, but I think we all know that he would struggle to maintain that form over the course of the season, and that his purple patch is too little too late.

Many people would say that Theo Walcott's sealer in stoppage time was icing on the cake. I disagree, especially keeping in tone with this season's league table. While the league table was expected to clear out at least a month ago, it still remains fiercely competitive as ever. With the possibility of slipping from 1st to 3rd in one gameweek and from 3rd to 6th in two more gameweeks, it has to be said that every goal, rather than every 3 points matter as well.

We have an inferior goal difference to Manchester City and Liverpool, and are merely 2 points above Chelsea in the same. One cannot rule out the chance of the title been won on goal difference, as demonstrated 2 seasons ago. An extra goal to seal a victory isn't a bonus at all - it's a valuable point in the goal difference category. Who knows, that just might make the difference for us.

Tomorrow we face Tottenham, a team who have the potential of knocking us out off the FA Cup. If indeed that happens, then the Premier League will resemble our ONLY hope of a trophy, which would pile enormous pressure on the players. Regardless of the scumbag excuses of our opponents that we're dealing with tomorrow, a win is a must.

Be back later with a preview. Have a good one until then.

P.S. From an Arsenal supporter, it WASN'T a penalty. Even if it was, Wilshere's reputation meant that he wasn't going to get it anyway. Not taking anything away from Jack's performance though, he was the man of the match for me.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

Arsenal 2-0 Hull: The Greatest Striker has finally scored!

Yet another performance of dominance has culminated in yet another routine win for us, with another 2-0 victory in the bag at the Emirates Stadium, courtesy of goals from Mesut Ozil and Nicklas Bendtner (No, it’s NOT a typo error!) . This victory, quite popularly, has maintained our 4 point lead at the top, on the face of crucial upcoming fixtures this Christmas against Everton, City and Chelsea in a row, all three of whom seem set to be Champions League contenders this season.

A win was nothing less than a necessity here, owing to the fact that we have a much higher likelihood of dropping points in the coming weeks (AND the fact that Chelsea clinched a thriller). So, it was heartening to see Nick Bendy get us the lead in the opening 2 minutes through a fine header to settle Le Grove’s nerves almost instantaneously. It’s fair to say that he has been taking a lot of slack from his own ‘supporters’ this season, and while I still think that a better striker needs to be bought in the coming month, it’s good to see the Dane eager to make a mark on the club before his inevitable departure, rather than sulk half-heartedly.  

His goal was well taken too. Some clever passing on the right flank resulted in Ramsey playing a simply gorgeous first time ball to Carl Jenkinson, who found himself in a crossing position. The Englishman once again showcased his crossing ability by whipping in a delightful ball to Bendtner, who perfectly timed his header, slotting home. One nil to the Arsenal.

Bendtner’s celebrations were understandably energetic and insane-ish, for they represented a person who was being known more for his criminal damage arrests and funky hairstyles rather than an Arsenal footballer. While this was surely not an “In your face, you moronic critics, questioning the Lord” moment, it was surely one that reminded us Gooners that there indeed is talent below two layers or ego in this footballer.

It’s time that we admitted that we treated Nick too harshly this season. It is true that he clearly isn’t good enough to be donning an Arsenal jersey at the moment, and it’s also true that neither Wenger nor Bendtner see a future for the latter at this club. But it’s also true that despite all these differences between the manager, the player and the fans, Bendtner is still willing to give his all for the club till the next transfer window. He was still trying as hard as he could to be a suitable backup for Giroud and ease our striker woes a bit. Instead, we use him as a scapegoat to vent out our 8 years of frustration? Not classy, Gooners.

Granted, most of that booing was down to a pretty shite performance from him against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup, but no one really expected a Lionel Messi-ish return rather than a rusty striker finding his feet, right? It's totally unfair for pundits to label Bendtner as one of the worst players in the Premier League, a label I believe that has been created by we Gooners ourselves. People forget that there is a talented footballer under that arrogance and ego, and after showing some signs of deflating his head and a rejuvenated motivation, we really must encourage him to carry on from here.

Anyway, after incredibly huge spells of possession and chances through a Mesut Ozil header, a potential Bendtner brace, some Santi strikes and an Aaron Ramsey piledriver, we finally sealed the deal in the beginning of the second half through a neat Ozil finish after some amazing play. Ramsey's reverse ball to Ozil was simply super, and the German did justice to that by finishing off the move with a composed near post strike. Haha, game over.

Ozil had another great game yesterday, and is continuously showing signs that he is getting to his best. Granted, his last three in-form games were against a disinterested Marseille and newly promoted Cardiff and Hull, but these performances - where he got 1 goal and 3 assists - would surely give him encouragement, going into games where we really need a Mesut Ozil in form. 

Ramsey had yet another eye-catching game at the Emirates (surprise surprise, right?), being actively involved in both goals, but what pleased me the most was that his signs of solo were finally withering away. I don't know if Arsene Wenger had a talk with him, or if he realized that he needed to work for his team and not his personal tally, but yesterday we saw an Aaron who was playing for the logo on the front. He took the decisions that were the most productive for the team, and chose to pass the ball more often, rather than go for glory himself.

Possibly the only worry that I had on my mind on that game was that about Santi Cazorla. The Spaniard had an okayish game last night, which were filled with long-range efforts from a winger seemingly desperate to get back to his mercurial best. In my opinion, his talent is minimized on the left flank, and Arsene must allow him to play centrally more often for him to regain his form. Don't get me wrong, Ozil is definitely a better player than Cazorla in the central attacking role, but Santi's two-footedness would give genuine unpredictability to us in the center and would also add another dimension to the team to a certain extent, not to mention help build the confidence of a player who was oh-so important last season, by giving him his preferred position more often.

Finally, a word on Manchester United, who were deservedly losers against Everton at Old Trafford. Their loss puts them a mammoth 12 points behind us, which was somewhere around the amount of points we were behind them this time last year, if I recall correctly. While it is amazing what a rejuvenated Aaron Ramsey and one Mesut Ozil can do for your club, it has come as a bit of a shock for me to see Moyes fail so badly at Manchester. I always highly rated him at Everton, and I genuinely thought that they would be the team to beat this season.

No marquee summer signings coupled with an unsettled van Persie and a disastrous Premier League form later, I am as shellshocked as I am giddy with joy. While Moyes' horrible man management with van Persie and Kagawa has led to a factor in their apparent downfall, the United players only have themselves to blame for their current standing. This was the same team - strengthened with Fellaini - that won the Premier League by a huge margin last year, and yet are languishing at 9th after almost half of the season is over. It's just a little too hard to believe that Alex Ferguson's departure has left such a huge hole in Manchester United.

However, I genuinely don't care. While it is a bit baffling to me that the Premier League champions fell so quickly so soon, I'm taking nothing less than pure entertainment from it. After a long, long time, their days seem to be over, and the Arsenal dominance is starting to take hold. 

However, we face Everton next, a team that is still beaming from inflicting more misery on their ex-boss. In our last three Premier League games, we defeated Southampton, Cardiff and Hull, all three of whom were on a high. A similar situation awaits in the next fixture. Will we manage to continue our streak of ending others' streaks?

I guess we'll find out on Sunday.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )