In the bleak midfield
Posted by Gringo Maclure in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Premiership | 5 January 2010
Arsenal welcome Bolton tomorrow before hosting Everton on Saturday in what will be the conclusion to a busy Christmas period for Arsene Wenger's boys. At the end of January and start of February Arsenal have a one-two-three face-off which will surely play a huge part in the destination of the Premier League - Manchester United (H), Chelsea (A) and Liverpool (H). Granted the Anfield team are having a nightmare season by their standards but the Gunners will be pitched into battle with Gerrard, Torres and co scrapping for European football next season while negotiating further rounds of the FA Cup and the start of the Champions League knock out rounds.
In the meantime, Arsenal will hope they can make it to these crunch games with their recent unbeaten run in tact and, perhaps more crucially, with their squad in tact too. In the first quarter of the season Arsenal relied on Fabregas and Van Persie to provide goals and assists and neither player will be available for some time to come. Encouragingly, Arsenal have continued to score well in part thanks to Arshavin and a returning to form Eduardo. However, as most commentators have already acknolwedged it will be Arsenal's midfield that will be under scrutiny as Eboue and particularly the influential Song leave this week for the African Nations Cup.
The FA Cup 3rd tie at West Ham proved a good testing ground for an Arsenal attacking 6 which included 4 "Carling Cup" youngsters. Ramsey, Vela, Wilshere and Merida all started but what did we learn about Wenger's midfield options over this winter month?
Wilshere - Still too young to be relied on. Maybe the loan option to Burnley - which would presumably include more first team play - is a good idea as Wilshere rushed his passes against West Ham and looked overawed starting a match a notch higher than the Carling Cup.
Merida - Shows glimmers of promise but recently stalled on a new deal so perhaps has his eye on the door. Didn't establish himself against West Ham fading as time went on and along with Wilshere was a worthy candidate for second half substitution.
Diaby - Was a crucial inclusion at West Ham. His recent performances have shown that the Vieira comparisons don't just extend to looks and height. He has shown strength this season and an unexpected gift for surging forward and finding the net.
Nasri - Another player who turned the West Ham game around. For me, Nasri is 85% a Pires or Ljungberg - he shows flashes of skill and neat touches but he needs to find consistancy and perhaps bulk up in the gym over this summer to make his presence felt in Premier League fixtures even more. A way to go before he is another number 8 legend for Arsenal but certainly likely to start in Wenger's Fabregas/Song-less midfield.
Aaron Ramsey - the most promising of the youngsters and as the papers were happy to report after the Upton Park tie, a ready heir to Fabregas. His performance and goal against Portsmouth a few days earlier were similar in style and quality to anything the Spanish captain has produced this season.
Denilson - if he passes a fitness test the Brazilian will be available for the Bolton game. Despite niggling injury problems, Denilson has proved himself this season as an able enforcer with a good work rate particularly alongside Song or Diaby. Still young though, and quite short, so perhaps it is asking too much for him to be Arsenal's next Gilberto-esque "invisible wall" on his own.
Rosicky - Committed to Arsenal long-term thanks to a new contract this week. Still does not have fitness for 90 minutes but could be a useful supersub throughout January.
Walcott - he won't ever be the ball winner in the centre of the park but as an attacking midfilder/striker he will always be in contention as long as he can get over his injury setbacks. Has been difficult for the young Englishman to come through on his evident promise due to such a stop-start season.
Wenger has rumoured he may dip into the transfer market this January. With those heavy-weight fixtures at the end of the month he may want back up especially as there may be unforseen injuries to come. Even so, as I've tried to indicate above, Wenger could compose a strong starting midfield from any combination of about 5 or 6 players with Diaby and Ramsey likely to play crucial roles in the absence of Song and Fabregas. On current form, Arsenal are doing their best to make it anything but a bleak midwinter.
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