FanCasts

Sit back, relax and listen to our FREE Football Podcasts. Subscribe 4 FREE to get your teams show each week.

Blogs

Intelligent, articulate, opinion. Read, rate and comment!

Banter

Create your own discussion and debate - Sign up and get involved!

Will Arsenal boss look closer to home to fill up the midfield hole?

Tagged: Arsenal

Football FanCast reporter Freddie Myers mulls over the daily rumours and rumblings

If there is one thing that seems to go unnoticed or fall under the radar among Arsenal fans, then it's the bare fact that they have had a fabulous season. The team have exceeded most people's expectation and had a bit more lady luck been presented or thrown their way, they would have undoubtedly been celebrating some piece of silverware this season.

It wasn't to be and the enquiries as to why have been well documented so there is no need to drag it all up again but I for one have been disappointed by the attitude and the blatant disregard that certain players have had for both Arsene Wenger and Arsenal football club as a whole.

I doubt there is a football club in England that is more professionally run, as the club conduct their business through the necessary and CORRECT channels. There are no meetings in ice cream parlours, hotels or coffee shops. They are a stickler for the rules and represent everything that is right in football. It is just such a shame that some of their players and their agents don't share the same values.

Adebayor's agent today joins a long list who seem to have an unhealthy interest in touting their clients away from the club. I think people need to take a reality check and realise the size of Arsenal football club and how with now the help of the Emirates look destined to be the richest club in the World. What has the Milan clubs or a Juventus got - apart from about 30,000 less people watching them on a weekly basis?

One player in my opinion who has really hung Arsenal out to dry has been Mathieu "I'm so happy at Arsenal" Flamini. Here is a player who has been given his opportunity this season and done a fabulous job and in my eyes been their best player and has made that midfield spot his own and looks the perfect foil for the excellent Cesc Fabregas. He has pledged all season his love for the club and his hopes to sign a deal, but the longer it dragged on you started to smell a rat. It has been reported in The Times this morning that the Frenchman looks set to snub a new deal after having his heard turned by foreign interest.

Although he will prove a massive loss, the big question is who will come in and feel his boots. In the same publication it has been suggested that Wenger maybe lining up a swoop for Manchester City's teenage sensation Michael Johnson while the Frenchman has also requested to be informed on the movements of Aston Villa Captain Gareth Barry. Both are excellent footballers and you do feel that they have more than the right attributes to fulfil the brief and fit into Wenger's system. So who would be the suitable replacement?

Would Arsenal fans welcome the arrival of Barry who has the versatility to fulfil a number of roles at the club? Will he bring the much needed experience into the young side? Does Johnson seem the more appealing option? Tipped by many to be the new Steven Gerrard, he possess the combative nature of Flamini but probably in truth offers more creativity than the Frenchman - would he prove the perfect foil for Cesc?

 

Average: 4.9 (11 votes)
evo
Picture of evo
michael johnson would be a
michael johnson would be a top capture but whether it will happen or not is up for debate. New Arsenal Kit leaked!Check out the arsenal kit for the 08/09 season at http://arsenalheat.blogspot.com

Wally
Picture of Wally
http://sport.setanta.com/en/S

Arsenal General
Picture of Arsenal General
Gareth Barry will be better
Gareth Barry will be better because he have the experience needed by Arsenal at the moment. Another youngster won't provide as much as Gareth can. Go for him Arsene! ARSENAL ROCKS!

Scott
Picture of Scott
I think Johnson is not a
I think Johnson is not a direct replacement for flamini; he's very much a box-to-box central midfielder than a holding midfield player;he's something in the mould of young steven gerrard. He's more attacking than the defensive player Flamini is.Will this work with two attacking CMs? I think his playing style might collide with fabregas';arsenal need a true holding/defensive midfield player,not johnson.