Yesterday’s game against Wigan was the first time in a long while Arsenal have played without Cesc Fabregas. The booking he picked up against Reading was his 5th of the season and meant he missed out on a one-game suspension.
Fabregas revealed that he once played against Arsenal’s youth team and he scored twice. That almost made him reject coming to Arsenal because he thought Barcelona’s youth team was better.
How glad are we that he didn’t make the wrong decision. However, yesterday’s game showed something a little worrying about Arsenal. The team lacked a creative spark normally provided by Fabregas and Hleb. Denilson came in but didn’t impress. Are we becoming too reliant on the young Spaniard ?
With the January transfer window coming up, players like Luka Modric, Rafael van de Vaart and Samir Nasri have been linked. All of them are creative players and their presence in the Gunners team will no doubt create competition but it will provide the creative spark in the absence of Fabregas. Thankfully, Fabregas was only missing for one game. But imagine if Fabregas were to get injured. Up until now, he hasn’t had a major injury and with him playing so many games, it is a possibility.
Maybe Wenger believes there are players inside the club who can play like Fabregas, Nacar Barazite, Henri Lansbury and Fran Merida come to mind. Or maybe, Alex Song anyone ?
November 25, 2007 at 3:49 am |
oh common, how can you say song can be like fab. hat is vurtyally impossible. maybe fran or denilson hut never song!
November 25, 2007 at 4:17 am |
I felt personally diarra played slightly better than denilson but it was obvious that the swift and crisp passing movements were a bit lacking without fab. After yesterday however i have realised something, Arsenal might not have as many englishmen in the 1st team at the moment but at least we dont boast english players who cudnt giv a toss bout their own motherland???!!!! screw off fat frank n stevie fuck! its as though they are completely diff players !!!
November 25, 2007 at 5:31 am |
No. In the 4 games we’ve played without Cesc this season we’ve lost none and scored 7. It’s not a problem. We have vast, vast reserves of talent. It just takes a little while for a team to get used to new players and gel.
November 25, 2007 at 5:34 am |
to my surprise denilson seemed VERY defensive minded today. even with diarra playing the holding role infront of the D. denilson seemed to outlet to a defensemen about 75% of the time, imo. i have seen denilson show to offensive flash, like fabregas has. I think its more his touch and style of ball control/passing which is fabregas like. but denilson seems more defensive to me. diarra on the other hand seems like he wants to take control and do a lot himeself. he should be the one trying to create plays. but i believe he lacks the passing skill/touch to carrry that role, hence he plays more a defesnive role, that can attempt to push up. but back to my point, denilson, seems more defensive then offensive.
November 25, 2007 at 5:35 am |
to my surprise denilson seemed VERY defensive minded today. even with diarra playing the holding role infront of the D. denilson seemed to outlet to a defensemen about 75% of the time, imo. i have seen denilson show to offensive flash, like fabregas has. I think its more his touch and style of ball control/passing which is fabregas like. but denilson seems more defensive to me. diarra on the other hand seems like he wants to take control and do a lot himeself. he should be the one trying to create plays. but i believe he lacks the passing skill/touch to carrry that role, hence he plays more a defesnive role, that can attempt to push up. but back to my point, denilson, shows more defensive awarness then offensive.
November 25, 2007 at 5:43 am |
I couldn’t agree with you more. This is a real problem. There was no creativity in pass from midfield to striker, we looked like an ordinary team. We need creativity in January, we have the money, let’s spend it. One more thing, all this talk about Cesc, Hleb is just as much an integral player.
November 25, 2007 at 6:28 am |
Luka is the best midfielder in the world and we must get him!!!!!! The problem is that Chelsea also want him so the price for him is rising every day but we must have Luka in Arsenal whatever the price is!!!!!!!!! PROUD TO BE CROAT!!!!!!!!!!
November 25, 2007 at 6:35 am |
Nice one! but i feel denilson gave his best to the team yesterday. may be fran merida will be like cesc,let see what will happen but alex song is better played as a defender
November 25, 2007 at 6:58 am |
I wouldn’t worry too much about us being too reliant on Fab. All teams are reliant on good players to play well — that’s why S**** don’t win the league. For the last two sesons I’ve said we always need to play at least two out of Rosicky, Fab and Hleb in every match to give us creativity.
Michael, can you not spot sarcasm when you see it?
November 25, 2007 at 7:46 am |
i think denilson played very well.He just need more games .yesterday he was even taking shots on goals.He can replace Fabregas without a doubt
November 25, 2007 at 7:53 am |
Micheal,
It is called ‘Sarcasm’. But I think we are already overloaded with creative and defensive midfield. some that are already in the squad for offense in MY order of preference: Hleb, Fabregas, Rosciky, Denilson, Diaby. We saw what immediate impact Rosciky brought on as soon as he was switched in middle ( he became a completly different player in more central role – not exactly Fab’s role but a man in the hole role).
For defensive midfield Flamini/Diarra/Gilberto/Denilson/Toure. Okie the last one was a joke. Flamini and Diarra are of the same mould: have prodigious work rate, combative, will move up to tackle from the other team in more advanced position, have a decent passing ability. so at this point it is hard to separate between two.
November 25, 2007 at 8:05 am |
I totally agree especially on the first half showing, it was evident that the team lacked the spark. Perhaps it would be too unfair to expect the likes of Diarra and Denilson to measure up to Hleb and Fabregas given that the former have not played with consistency. But all in all I believe that if these players got a chance to develop in those positions, assuming long term injuries to Hleb and fabregas, they would prosper.
November 25, 2007 at 9:48 am |
Song is still our player, yes he is not as good so far, but can you guys leave him alone? What has he done to derserve all these shits?
November 25, 2007 at 10:12 am |
According to yesterdays match its not fair to say that Denilson wasnt implessive.To me he was, the only problem is that our back four were not using him every time he was in position for the ball.Look at how the back four pass the ball to Fab,he is all the time on the ball in th midfield and this makes him so active. it was til the second half that all this changed,Den started to get to the ball most of the time and the passing came out as ussual.Otherwise Diara and Den is the midfield i have always wished to watch. Let our Docter of talent(Wenger) as i always wish to call him,give those two guys more chaces to be on the pitch.
November 25, 2007 at 11:11 am |
Forget about that. I think we definitely need either Modric or Nasri. Modric can also play the left wing like he does with the Croatian national team since Rosicky gets injured so much. He’s kind of like Hleb meaning he can play anywhere in the midfield and he’s only 22!! Rosicky is already 27. Nasri would be a great buy as well but he seems to be a bit more limited to playing in the center but if there’s anyone who can teach him to play on the wings its Wenger. I think Arsene should bite the bullet financially on this one and secure Modric in January. Modric and Nasri both seem to be well-equipped for playing the Arsenal way.
November 25, 2007 at 11:19 am |
You can’t say that Denilson won’t be able to come in for Fabregas on the evidence of one game, anyone remember last seasons Carling Cup campiagn he was our creative spark in midfield against better opposition than Wigan
November 25, 2007 at 12:06 pm |
Song is the worst player ever to have been signed by wenger,the prof must have signed him when he was drunk cos les prof in his normal sense would not bring such a player in…………he is indeed terrible n has npthing to offer us more than his maddish hair style(dont he look like a mad man with that hairstyle)
November 25, 2007 at 2:10 pm |
Dude. How many times have we played with both Fabregas and Hleb and still not scored or played well?
It is premature to say we need Cesc and Hleb to play well.
There have been some dire performances with both in the team and yesterday was much better than some of those. We passed the ball well and created many chances. We won didn’t we?
Stop being a rat-arse and enjoy the football!
November 25, 2007 at 5:00 pm |
fabrecords
Your talking out of your hat, Arsene signed Song because he is a good player and can offer the club good cover in defence or in midfield, maybe you never watched any of the games he had on loan at Charlton last season, he was the best player they had by a country mile, remember he’s still only 19, bet you wish that at 19 you had as much talent.
The trouble with some of you is that you jump on the band wagon, I’ll bet your one of those people who’s had a go at Senderos and Gallas????
November 27, 2007 at 3:49 am |
Thanks for the comments. Glad this worked up a good debate.
Cheers