Song move new category of transfer that can take Arsenal up a level
August 18, 2012
I can’t tell you how nice it is to have something to base my weekend around again.
It’s amazing how your life can slip you by when there’s no Arsenal to think about. ‘What are we doing this Saturday?’ ‘Erm…I thought we could go and look at tables’ ‘What?’ ‘Tables. We need a table. For the roof terrace.’ ‘So, sorry, what? We’re going to spend Saturday just…looking at tables?’ ‘Yes. Have you got anything better to do?’
Well, today I do.
It’s perfect first day of the season weather here in London. I got to pretend that the reason I woke up so early for a Saturday was the sun blasting its way through the curtains rather than the butterflies going mental in my stomach. And there’s something about those blood red shirts against the bright green of the newly prepared pitch under a crisp blue sky that sharpens every sense and takes me back to childhood. What is that? Why should that combination bring out such feverish childlike excitement? Is my brain that easy to manipulate with a set of well defined primary colours?
The new signings don’t hurt of course. Three of them today. Exciting ones too. Not a third choice defender amongst them. We’ve barely had a chance to see any of them perfom yet so they’re as yet unsullied by disappointing displays or tantrums or missed three yard sitters.
One man we won’t be seeing today is Alexandre Song Billong who is days away from agreeing a rumoured £18 million move to Barcelona. The timing couldn’t be worse I have to say. A day before the start of the Premier League season is no time to see your captain paraded in a Manchester United kit and one of the first names on the team sheet in the midfield clearing out his locker and taking that increasingly well worn path to the Blaugrana.
I fully expect for us to replace him but for today it leaves us, not short in midfield, but certainly taking a risk with a new look line up. But timing aside I’m not disappointed about the deal. I know that many are and I’ve heard people complain that we could have got more money for him. Really? More than £18 million for Alex Song? He’s become an essential player for us in recent years but I don’t know when £18 million became an insignificant lump of cash for a man who so readily splits opinion amongst the fan base.
Regardless of the rumours that Song’s been agitating for a move I get the distinct impression that this one is with Wenger’s full blessing. As much as I feel he’s been a good player for us I’m actually excited by this move. It feels like an entirely new category of transfer for the club. This isn’t a Cesc or Van Persie style transfer. A huge name player leaving the club against our will. And neither is it a Bendtner or Vela style transfer. A lower runged player who just hasn’t worked out. This is a player who has done really well for us, who we could have kept in the ranks but we’ve decided to cash in on in order to bring in somebody even better. And that’s why it’s exciting.
Alex Song has done brilliantly for the club and he’s come on magnificently since he joined from Bastia and was almost laughed straight out the door again. But to me the rumoured replacements Sahin and M’Vila look like a step up. And it’s the first time in a while that I can remember Arsene Wenger opting to discard one of his better players in order to upgrade. To me that’s exciting. That’s the only way we as a club can take the next step.
As I mentioned a couple of days ago Oxlade-Chamberlain has been used solely in the central midfield slot this pre-season and Le Boss confirmed in his presser yesterday that that’s where he now considers Oxlade’s strongest position to be. It marks a shift I think. A decision to fill that midfield with quicker feet and more technical players. The Ox, Wilshere, Cazorla, Arteta… I can see why Song might be deemed surplus to requirements. In fact I’m fascinated to see what Barcelona will make of their new signing and how he fits into their system. Don’t get me wrong he may do well. Or he may be the next Alex Hleb.
With The Ox and Koscielny confirmed to miss the game today and Giroud rumoured to be tired I suspect we’ll line up something like this:
Woj
Jenks – Per – Verm – Gibbs
Abou – Art
Theo – Caz – Gerv
Pod
It’s an exciting line up no doubt about that. All eyes will be on Cazorla in the middle to see if he can pull the strings in the hustle of the Premier League. He showed a nice tendency to unleash through balls first time with either foot in the friendly against Koln last week. That could make a real weapon out of Gervinho and Walcott’s pace on either wing and I hope to see them give the full backs a nightmare first day.
Diaby’s had his best pre-season in a long time and we all pray for him to come through unscathed. He’d have added defensive responsibilities in this line up so I’d hope to see him cut out that tendency to hand over possession under little pressure.
What’s most noticeable about the team is how much it’s changed over the last couple of years. The only common starters with the team that lined up against Liverpool on the first day two years ago are Diaby and Vermaelen. For a man who’s always warned of the ‘technical risk’ of signing more than two players in a transfer window that’s a lot of changes made in a short period of time. I’m reassured though by the presence of some older heads in there who could help to keep things together through this transition, most notably Mikel Arteta. He was integral to our successful spells last season and he’ll be integral to help us through this tricky first day.
Right, well. I can’t sit here blathering on about it all morning. There are pints to be drunk and familiar red seats to be taken. There’s a bit more preview to come as I get the lowdown on today’s opponents from Sunderland blogger Simon from Roker Report. Check it out to see how they’re approaching the big day.
Other than that have a good Saturday. And, what else was there? Oh yeah…
…UP THE GUNNERS!!
If You Liked This...
- Tomorrow’s line up should answer a few questions
- Arsenal don’t want to be Sahin’s finishing school, although… + Song massively committed to cash
- Can United afford £65 million RVP deal? + Injury concerns mount
- Time for action as Arsenal hit by ‘friendly fire’
- Arteta bringing best out of those around him + Frimpong off?
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26 Responses to “Song move new category of transfer that can take Arsenal up a level”
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Thank god, at last the season is here. With all this summer’s activities going on it’s made the summer go a lot quicker…… Which is a good thing in my book.
Home win today. Podolski & Vermaelen to score
Up the Arsenal
Song going is a blessing, Wenger hopefully stops settling for 2nd best. Song IMO is well over rated, and my dearest hope is we get some one in, or instruct someone, like COQ, to actually protect teh back 4. Individually we have good, great and some excellent players, but system wise, the defense is hung out to dry time after time. Here’s hoping.
Amazing how many of that side are just not good enough. Having said that with a few players returning from injury it will be enough to end 4th around 30 points behind the Manchester clubs
thanks for brightening up the first day of the season – was on the verge after the RVP saga and the Song news…NICE ONE TMH
It’s great to know I’m not the only person sick enough to have todays game effect their sleep, I finally fell asleep somewhere around 4am and woke up in a jittery haze slightly worried I missed the game. It’s an illness.
I’m wondering how much Cazorla will manage today considering he flew half way around the globe midweek – it would be superb to see him do 45 – the full 90 would be a dream and would say a lot about his character and fitness but I’m not expecting him too – it might just be too much.
What are they saying about Song is he going or not?
smashing read this blog is quickly becoming me fave…Song will not be missed that is great money for someone we can improve on…3-0 today Czorla to get his first
wenger shuld do evry tin possible 2 stp him song is 1 of our major man here no trophy les moni his moni shuld be increase put ur self in his shoes
Ayodele Adewale on August 18th, 2012 9:34 am
What are they saying about Song is he going or not?
———————
Almost definitely – should be concluded early next week.
Not losing any sleep over song. They guy is average at best, cant tackle and so often leaves our back 4 exposed, his positional sense is nil as are a few others in the team. Bould can hopefully sort out the back line once and for all. Song reminds me of bendtner, thinks he is a world beater but like the danish wonder can show occasional flashes of brilliance but these moments are too few. So hopefully we can bring in another centre back and strong tackling midfielder who can win the ball and allow our creative guys to make things happen. Wenger needs to move quickly on this….
Some people here have lost the plot. We are about to lose the midfielder that had the most assists for us last season. How is that positive?
So he’s not good enough for us but good enough for Barcelona? That’s horribly flawed logic.
Lets pray for an injury free and lucky season. Gunners till i die
I seriously would try and get Mascherano to come to Arsenal in the deal. He’s a DM who’s main priority is actually defending, plus his age works wonders, he’s brilliantly experienced and is at the perfect age so that when he starts to decline, Frimpong/Coquelin will be perfectly capable of taking over. The guy doesn’t play too often at Barca and when he does it’s in the CB position, if Song is going there then his game time will be cut short even more. This deal would also save us having to scoot around for a new DM while the season has already started.
I think Diaby has a long way to go to proving himself and it wouldnt be in anyones interests to put him out there straight away. his preseason should continue for a few more weeks at least. he didnt prove himself at all in the preseason matches and hasnt proven himself for several seasons. he does not deserve a start ahead of ramsey or coquelin. Given Sunderlands will likely play a counter attacking game, I think Coquelin would be perfect for this match and should be given first crack since Song has decided to leave.
Cant wait!
@Clint
he wont be good enough for Barcelona. He is just there in case the shit hits the fan – a backup for busquets, mascherano, pique and puyol.
Barca wont tolerate Song’s naive sloppy play. Which is why many Arsenal supporters dont care that he leaves. myself one of them. Coquelin might take a bit of time, but i have confidence in him and know he will become twice the player Song is.
4 vp he x morethan betrayal he betray d club n he wl c abt song i wsh him best of luck i pray he wl nt b lyk hleb. Mr wenger has 2 do sumtinz urgently b4 x 2 late by bring in lucas biglia or mvilla nd sahin den 1 defenda. Tnx gun 4 it ds season x 4 us
I think many people will be surprised by Coquelin.
He is chip if ibra on 31 one worh 25m or sanchesh from low level club worth 40m, or Baloteli worth 50, or smaling wort 20m and others 18m for world class midfield is like you give away for freee plus hi is going to barcelona not in 3d league team, we should ask 40m or not give him shame on Arsenal this is not a club this is a groshery shop shame on you wenger and the bord you ruin the team made a team for laughing. How much more we will wait, and see over and over how arsenal is going weaker and weaker. I am shame of Arsenal and wenger for past 4 years with there methods in transfers and players even in tactics. PLS ARSENAL FANS go and strike a front of Arsenal, if they thinking of titles they must start to invest or dont lay to us for past 7 yeаrs that you want titles just tell us all we want to make money not titles, or they sell to kroenko or usmanov and we try with them. Liverpool manchester when they saw there team that is going down they strike and they fixed the team is time we to strik.
I’m not quite as positive about losing Song, which now looks inevitable. Losing a 29yr old, injury prone striker, even to a rival, is one thing, but losing a 24yr old who plays a unique role in the first team seems so unnecessary. Do we really need the money?
If your suspicion is true i.e. that he’s being sold so we can upgrade him, then fair enough, but what makes you think this will happen? Where was the upgrade for Vieira, Henry, Fabregas, Adebayor?
My fear is that AW doesn’t think we need him or even that we’d need to replace him. The reality is we do have lots of midfielders but none of them are top class holding midfielders!
Unless we do replace Song with a superior player I’m afraid this has to go down as yet another worrying backwards step.
Selling our strongest players EVERY YEAR is a good thing? Ahhhhh ok I feel much better now.
WTF is wrong with strengthening the squad instead of GAMBLING WITH IT ALL THE F*CKING TIME.
If an actual replacement comes in for Song I will be amazed.
All of you who think another world class player is coming in on a permanent deal are deluding yourselves.
I used to be like you, now I live in THE REAL WORLD. The world of nice fat profits for the board, nice high ticket prices for all of us and break even signings that gamble with the squad season after season.
Bring on the day when the debt is paid off and Kroenke can cash in on hundreds of millions of pounds for his shares.
That is what is happening at Arsenal.
Wenger and the board have not been fair to arsenal fans around the world. For the past three season now arsenal fans have had to endure the agony of the big spenders. It is high time the board/Wenger realised that there is nothing like loyalty in football this days but MONEY!!! If you buy a player at the age of 18 (Ox), after 6yrs without a trophy he will leave at 24yrs. This has been the philosophy at arsenal. CES, Song, Ozykup,Bartley are examples and (Alex Ox, Theo, Jenkinson will all leave).
Why isn’tt it 3 O’clock yet? FFS come on!
Wen players stay together 4 long, they become a formidable squad undefetable and powerful.Before the loss of VP and having 3 new arival, arsenal looked like title Contenders, we now Know that those players bought will be balanced by selling more from Within, Song is leaving n walcot will be next.ARSENAL says she wants Experience yet she sell out experience?MAN U never lost meaningful players, neither chelsea, City or Even liverpool except spurs loosin modric which we knw y.ARSENAL BOARD IS JUST DECIEVING FANS AND SUPORTERS.Its time we revolt as fans.And please lets learn 2 apprebcict
Pls lets learn 2 appreciate players.Songs presence playin all our matches except wen suspended prevented us 4rm loosin out on 3rd spot finish.He might have made errors bt wat abt our defenders becomin striker like Vem.He has helped alot and we should all be grateful to him.The reason why song might want 2 leave is because Wenger favours Diaby over him.
Great read. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who also is losing sleep in anticipation of this season finally getting under way. I hope we do bring in some stellar replacements if song goes. Biglia, m’vila, sahin, etc. Is hate to see him go, but its all about the crest, not always who wears it, cough RVP, cough. Like I said though, great read, esp the debate over tables and the excitement that comes when you see the arsenal stepping out on the pitch for the season opener. This is becoming one of my favorite Arsenal stops, keep up the good work!
Arsenal are a club that aims to fund itself with it’s own revenue sources, this includes avoiding debt outside the stadium repayments and keeping up their repayment programme at the current rate by earning £10-£20 million operating profits per year. Before this transfer window there was widely estimated to be £40-50 million of floating capital to spend on new players, £35-40 of that was spent on Giroud, Podolski and Cazorla leaving us with around £5-10 million, using both the RVP and Song sales we have an extra £30 million to go back in the pot (rising to nearly £40 million – again totally £40-£50 million in all) – not all of this can be spent entirely on bringing players in, or shouldn’t be at least but wee should have around a safe £20-£25 million to spend before the window closes and I expect we’ll see a fair chunk of that go. Arsenal have spent around £90 million on new players over the past 2 summer, the idea that we don’t invest in talent is factually incorrect.
Complaining about the quality of players brought in is understandable but let’s not forget, RVP was an unwanted problem child who we bought for less than £3 million, he’s had 8 years to find success and hasn’t – players like Eisfeld and Chamberlain have been bought over the past few months and both show varying degress of potential and talent.
Arsenal fans need to be patient, within the next two years out financial situation should be significantly improved and we’ll see more money spent on players.