Change Of Guard In Arsenal’s Midfield
ByAt the beginning of the season, the biggest noise that could be heard in and around Holloway Road was the audible exasperation of the doom and gloom brigade. Arsene Wenger yet again, failed to sign the much touted world class defensive midfielder that Arsenal needed. What was it with this tight fisted egomaniac and his ’youth project’, they asked on radio, on the blogosphere and to anyone who would listen.
I honestly doubt that the issue was that Wenger didn’t know that defensive midfield was a key part of his team’s stability. Far from that, he totally believed that the defensive midfield position was perhaps the most important anchor to the 4-3-3 formation that he was going to employ this season. The only difference is that he already knew that he had that ’world class’ defensive midfielder on his payroll under the name of a one Alexandre Dimitri Song Bilong.
At the beginning of the season, if Wenger even tried to make a case for Song, he would have been probably lynched by the doomer nation who were convinced that Song was not and was never going to be the answer. 6 months later, the same doomers are on Wenger’s back to demand that a relief midfielder is in place just to cover, and absolutely not replace the young Cameroonian. It’s funny that the young man who wasn’t supposedly ‘good enough’ or ‘world class’ enough for the Arsenal has been Arsenal’s most consistent player so far this season turning out imperious performances in the heart of the Arsenal midfield. The way that Song has run the midfield like a military general has arguably made him the best defensive midfielder in the league so far this season. There’s clearly a reason why Wenger is the manager and we’re not.
The only problem you’d have with Alex Song is that he chose to display his top form yet in the season that he has to jet off to Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations. I’m sure there were many gooners who’d have loved him to lose his passport or who would have loved Cameroon to be kicked out of the tournament early and for Song to be shipped back to us immediately. But I’m one of those who believe that it will be to Arsenal’s benefit if Cameroon go all the way and challenge for the ACN title.
My rationale for this is that a motivated Alex Song who has lifted the ACN trophy will do a much better job for Arsenal in the business end of the season as opposed to an Alex Song disappointed by being kicked out of the initial stages of the tournament. Meanwhile, there is the small matter of what to do in the Arsenal midfield during the absence of our Field Marshall, General Alexandre Song.
Step forward Neves Denilson Pereira. Possibly the most underrated midfielder in the EPL, and unfairly so. To think that at his age, he’s already clocked over 150 appearances, Denilson is by no means a lesser alternative. He’s one of those players who is only appreciated when he’s not in the team. He is a stealth operative who is a master at reading the game and so far removed from the stereotypical caricature of the defensive midfielder that the establishment demands. I’m talking about the leg breaking, shin crunching, rib cracking beast of a human being who is built like a brick shithouse and has a Chuck Norris type of super hero destroyer mentality who really can’t play football but has that trademark grafting ability that will break anything that moves towards our defence. No no no! Denilson is certainly not one of them.
He’s the kind who prefers to read the game more intelligently and use his interception skills to start attacks from defence. Of course he’ll tackle, but why do it when you can intercept too. Last season, Denilson was the player in the EPL who touched the ball the most and had the best interception and midfield pass rates. This year, he’s added a haul of 3 sumptuous goals to his account with Arsenal. And with Diaby and Cesc/Ramsey alongside in the middle of the park, there will indeed be a seamless change of guard in the Arsenal midfield while General Song is out representing his country.
Tue 13th September 2011; 19:45, Dortmund
Good post mate and a well deserved pat on the back for our midfield.
We have an embarrassment of riches across the centre of the pitch, as well as the young players you mentioned, obviously we have the elderly statesmen Samir and Tomas. The sheer lunacy of fans last season demanding that ‘hardman’ is now plainly evident.
Wenger always knows best. Let’s see what he has in store for the ‘we NEED a striker’ brigade of 2010.
ELS. I honestly think that Wenger has already identified Niclas Bendtner for that striker spearhead role. Well, apart from saying that he’ll only buy depending on Bendy’s fitness, all the signs so far have been that Wenger is doing an ‘Alex Song’ with Bendy and backing him all the way while folks continue to shout for an ‘off the shelf’ solution.
I actually like Bendtner. He’s a silky player, a good team player who compliments those around him well. His best games for Arsenal have been when he’s played with Eduardo and Arshavin and performed admirabley on the three roles of hitman, targetman and talisman.
I guess the question for most has been his composure in front of goal. Nevertheless, this and last season, Bendy has scored match winning goals in tight games (mostly last season – Bolton, Portsmouth, Kiev), and it’s only a matter of time before he makes it a very bad habit to hit the onion bag.
RVP took a while to get going this season despite many suggesting that he’s not that tall lanky fella we need up front (and now they say he’s absolutely vital). Eduardo took some time to get going and now he’s scoring a goal a match – which is much better than a feast and famine approach to goals. I believe all Bendy needs is a run of games and he’ll smooth over the rough edges.
I like the balance between his arrogance and self confidence. It’s not offensive in any way and just says “Hey! I know I can do a good job given the time and games”.
Even when Vermaelen was signed – the likes of Tony Adams dismissed the signing saying “The Arsenal faithful won’t like another short one”. I believe the staff at London Colney see a lot in training that we don’t and if only you were to pick one thing that says they’ll back Bendy all the way, then you need to ask why out of a group of loanees 2 to 3 years ago, Bendtner was the first to be recalled from Birmingham and others like Larson and Muamba were shipped out.
one thing Wenger knows how to do well, it’s to let go of some and retain the best.
As for the midfield, consider that he let Yaya Toure go after a trial, but signed Alex Song after his trial.
Bendy is not the finished article yet but he shows flashes of utter brilliance. It would be far greater to see him become a great striker and a shoe in for the central role than an off the shelf.
With the way we are ran, TIME is something that by now all gunners should be used to giving players. How many current teamers that have come through the ranks have been an instant success. But they do practically all come good. It’s flabergasting to me that we are not just expecting bendtner to succeed rather than fail.
Adams was a massive disapointment with his dismissal of Tommy. He went on to slate the entire dutch league. With his time and experience at Feyenoord I was almost inclined to believe him.
Would be great to see NB52, RvP and Eduardo regularly amongst the goals in future seasons. And with NB becoming a regular. His start to the season was sooo encouraging, he also seemed to be ironing out dips in his form.
Reading this back I sound a little negative towards NB, I don’t meen to convey that, I’m defo a fan
Denilson Pereira will do a good job with the DM position if his back holds up. Because he is young, he seem to be having this back problem every so often now. But when he gets more mature, his bones and muscles will get stronger. He therefore will have less of this back problem.
Nicky Boy is a good striker who will, without doubt, get better. As soon as he masters his first touch so as to get it right consistently, he will begin to lead the line.
With the ball at his feet NB is deadly, the composure wil come with a tad more experience.
I wonder if Denilsons probs are growth related? Do you still grow at 21. I can’t remember. But that would be great if true as it would soon be behind him. Either that or we’ll whip his wisdom teeth out* like RvP had done.
*Warning this procedure is not impervious to ankle damage.
They say that men still grow between the ages of 17 to 23 – and even Wenger, when commenting about Theo’s injury niggles, said he wasn’t concerned for the long term because it was expected.
I think Denilson will be fine as his body beefs up and settles. The best thing that could happen to him this year is for him to get a run of games enough to convince Dunga that Denilson and Gilberto are his best midfield generals for the world cup. Much is said about Melo, but Denilson is a much better ball carrier than Melo, and he is a more intelligent player. Melo is older and therefore presumed more experienced.
Denilson though, has captained Brazil at under 17 and under 19 and is an experienced customer.
I don’t think you’re negative about Bendy ELS….you have very valid points. His potential is there for all to see. I think though, that his play will only be enhanced with game time as he has already proven that he’s a match winner for us in tight games – both last season, and the most significant one this season is the game against Standard Liege on match day one when he buried the ball in the back of the net just before the break from Diaby’s through ball.
Bendy’s best goal for me though was in the 2007-08 season against Tottenham at home when he scored the winner from a corner with his first touch of the ball as a substitute. Talk about an impact sub.
I said before too that Denilson is the most underrated midfielder in the league. He’s the type of player who will never take your breath away(he did that once though recently) but do a steady job always behind the glory line.
And I really wish Bendtner comes back real soon, as much as I’d love another new striker, I don’t think we need too to win things.
And great point about Song and Yaya. It’s becoming clear now who’s right. Yaya is good but will never be ad good as Song will be.
The same thing that happened with Song is now happening to Diaby. But Wenger is still a clown I see.
Very, very good blog as ever Darius. Denilson is one of my favourite players; honest, intelligent, hard working, never hides, grows with every game – we have a plethora of midfield talent at the club and he typifies why Arsene’s system is the right one.