Could Tottenham and Arsenal benefit from a little faith?
I think it’s fair to say Manchester United have picked up the buy of the season in Mexican sensation Javier Hernandez. ‘The Little Pea’ has been an instant hit in the Premiership after completing a summer move from his homeland. This is reaffirmed with his twenty goals in all competitions for the Red Devils. Hernandez has notched thirteen Premier Leagues goals in a season where he has only completed ninety minutes on five occasions, making his feat even more laudable. Sir Alex Ferguson’s faith in his young striker has paid dividends and shown what a young player can do at a big club if given the opportunity. Sir Alex has also given me the opportunity to raise an interesting question. I wonder - if Carlos Vela and Giovani dos Santos had been entrusted in the same way at their clubs as Hernandez has at United, might they may have blossomed similarly?
So what are the main reasons why Hernandez’s countrymen haven’t taken off in the Premiership in the same way as he has. Firstly maybe it’s simply the case that Vela and dos Santos aren’t good enough to be first choice at top Premiership clubs? They have both been in England for some time now and neither has made sufficient steps towards becoming a regular first team player. It’s almost as if they are both seen by their managers as players who have potential, but aren’t ready to realise it yet, so the best thing is to ship them out on loan. In dos Santos’ case it could be argued that surely Barcelona wouldn’t let a product of their youth system go if they thought he had the potential to be a top quality player?
My second rationale could simply be that maybe Vela and dos Santos haven’t been given enough of a chance to show what they can do yet? Giovani has only played ten league games for Spurs since joining them in 2008 and Vela has only played twenty nine league games for Arsenal since 2005, although he did spend the first two years out on loan. If Hernandez had been used as sparingly as his compatriots this season, his talent may still be locked away. It would have been easy for Fergie to stick with the tried and tested Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov combination and maybe if Michael Owen had been fit all year Hernandez wouldn’t have broken through? However, luckily for Man United fans, his goal scoring qualities have been exposed to us. This has meant Chicharito has been able to score some crucial goals that have guided United to within a point of their record breaking nineteenth title.
Both Giovani and Vela are highly rated within the national team set up with Mexico and they are both clearly talented footballers, so why has it not gone to plan for them in North London? After Giovani’s superb performances for Mexico at the World Cup he may well have thought he would have got his chance at the Lane this season. Both players are still young and could still embark on successful club careers, however whether it is in the capital or elsewhere depends whether Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp give them their shot. So is it a case of Arsenal and Tottenham not giving their Mexicans enough opportunity to showcase their ability or is it more a question of the two players not being good enough? It’s a question Arsenal and Spurs fans will be best equipped to answer, so what do you think?
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I think the worst thing is that when Vela was given a chance in the last 10 minutes he had real impact, created goals that changed games, and then wasnt seen for 2 months. bizaare from wenger.
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Harry nearly got shut of Bale so Gio had no chance.
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Wenger really does take supporters for being stupid.
Get ready for the barracking at today’s match you ignorant fool!
WENGER OUT
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Gio has a thing for nightclubs, Barca knew that, Harry and Levy found that out….The Harry bashing is starting to get old
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vela is going to be top class .
WATCH HIS BEST GOALS FOR ARSENAL ON YOUTUBE
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Gio is having a wonderful loan spell at Racing, he create chances and makes goals. Santander fans highly rated if I were in Gio shoes I would stay it won’t be long before a big club comes looking for him. His game against atletico Madrid was just class, unfortunately he came out injured.
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Both players are good. Gio is having a fabulous season with Racing, he’s found his game again. The premiership is probably not for him. Vela had few chances in West Bromwich and did good. For some reason he has not been seen in a while with Bromwich. They just need a little more confidence from their managers.
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Brilliant article
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Vela had 29 EPL games to prove he was a consistent and capable attacker but he never convinced Wenger. He has had a mixed loan spell at WBA and has dropped off the radar again. Wenger may bring him back for another try but with Miyachi and Bartley coming back off loan, it might be Vela’s swansong at Arsenal.
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