Cesc blow not the end of Arsenal's season
The news that Cesc Fabregas will miss the majority of the rest of the season is not as bad a blow as some are suggesting, despite our troubled form this campaign.
Us Addicts have speculated before how Denilson and Abou Diaby could genuinely fit into the Arsenal side when everyone is fit – apart from as defensive back-up for Cesc.
Denilson - time to step upThe sad truth is that neither of them has been able to fulfil that role with aplomb.
But with Cesc now sidelined, there is a vacancy in central midfield which could well help them grow immeasurably and provide us with the creativity and drive that has been missing from their performances.
Cesc is a lynchpin of our side and I am not for one moment saying that his absence will not hurt us.
Being made captain seems to have improved his form somewhat as well but there is still a feeling that he is frustrated by the performances of those around him and has one eye on a return to Spain.
Time will tell on that one.
But for the meantime, signing another central midfielder whose talents are more creative than defensive is not the answer.
Alex Song impressed me during the Liverpool game but may still need some guidance and Arsène Wenger admitted last week that Diaby needs to develop his defensive game if he is ever to fulfil that role permanently at the club.
I feel sorry for Diaby when he is forced to play wide left. He is not a fast player and it undermines his impact, but his quick feet and dribbling skills confirm his creativity.
Wenger hinted today at his pre-Aston Villa press conference that he is more likely to buy in January than not. Many of us think the season will be defined not by results but by transfer dealings in January. But buying a replacement for Cesc, especially the unwanted Andrei Arshavin who is being touted everywhere and never signs for anyone – and had a good Euro 2008 after a largely anonymous early career – is not the answer. Yes, we need experience. Yes we need creativity. But a replacement for Tomas Rosicky, just in case his continuing injury problems continue, is the most important signing the club can make in January. Throw in a replacement for Willie Gallas and a new defensive midfielder capable of pulling the side together, and after the slip-ups by the rest of the top four sides this season, the next five months might not be so bad after all.
DA
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Reader Comments (8)
Gawd to hear some of these tosspots you would think its the end of the world.
There's alot of 'if's' in that report......We definitely need new players but even if Cesc was fit we still need players.....At present we have no cover for Walcott, no cover for Nasri and realisitcally Diaby, Denilson and Song wouldn't even get into Aston Villa's team!!!!
We need more than 1 player. A striker who can actually finish and be a super-sub that isn't Nicky Bendtner, a CM who can give the attack nothing to worry about in shielding the back four and breaking up opposition play, a more aerially dominant and aggressive defender and more commanding and smarter goalkeeper. We have been giving Cesc far too much responsibility to defend and playmake. His best season so far (last year) was one where he could put all his faith into Flamini to consistently disrupt the opponents rhythm and cover the back four. Denilson and Song only show that in flashes and are too hit or miss. Consistency has been our problem this season because there has been too many changes in key positions to the team.
'Many of us think the season will be defined not by results but by transfer dealings in January.'
You're living in a fantasy world. This season has already been defined by our transfer dealings - i.e. lack of - in August.
Anyone who still thought on 1st September that we could win the title needs to find another sport - one they can understand.
first of all just be level headed with your criticism there is no need to say we buy a proper striker when we are second to chelsea on GOALS SCORED i say it loudly that we always have to concede evry game ....what we need is a good manpower in defense and a review of our defensive system seriously coz we concede TOO MUCH even astonvilla have a better defence look at mancity in number 18 but we are onb the same goals conceded THAT SPEAKS MUCH OF OUR RATIO OF SOAKING IN THEM GOALS ......BUY A BETTER AGILE PATNER FOR DJOUROU AND A MID WHO CAN MAKE A CRUNCHY TACKLE the we can add a young natural winger and we will be on for the title
all u lot saying wenger made ribbish signings in da summer r forgettin nasri who scored 2 against man u and has been excellent for arsenal. his only problem is injuries.
You are joking arn't you? Do you honestly think that the likes of Denilson, Song and Diaby are just going to suddenly get good because of the absence of Cesc?
These are players who have shown no more than occasional glipses of real talent, and they've had half the bloody season.
The simple fact of the matter is that now our midfield is truly shocking, a mid table midfield maybe.
I hate to sound so negative, but surely everyone must see that now. AW really needs to brush the dust off the chequebook now, otherwise (with the injuries we have) Aston Villa are quiet simply a better team.
Cesc casts a big shadow, lets see who appears from behind it. As for transfer speculation, I think Alonso owes it to us to come and play here.