I am a fan of your work and typically concur with your assessments of both team and players. Indeed, for the most part I am in agreement with the assessment you have made of Song. His play has been quite strong in the games I’ve watched this season. His defensive efforts and the way he convinces the ball to stick to his feet while executing complicated evasive maneuvers have been impressive. His distribution of the ball has in some instances been excellent. I would even go so far as to compare him favorably to Toure and rate him as highly as I do Mascherano.

Nevertheless, I think you are mistaken to say that “His overall game and contribution to the team has been much better than” Essien.

Let me be clear: my interest in professional football began only recently, and I have supported Arsenal on the basis of my admiration for their philosophy re: youth and playing attractive, fluid football worth watching. I cannot swear that my support for the team would endure indefinitely, because what I like about the team can change. The media and the “fans” who are so skeptical of Wenger and many of the players could get their way and see a new regime installed, which would almost certainly put me off the team.

In any event, while I generally find Chelsea to be an unattractive team to watch, Essien is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders of any team in the world. He could play Song’s role for Arsenal, but he could also easily play many others, from across the defensive line to further ahead if necessary, and he would do so with a full heart, given his admirable work ethic. If Arsenal could exchange any player on their team for him, only Fabregas (and perhaps Van Persie, but with his injury record perhaps not) would be too valuable to give up.