Alex Song

Seeing as that we are lacking true play makers who can provide adequate defensive cover to our team , would you guys take a second chance on Song? He was decent with the DM up untill his last season at Arsenal. Sure he got caught out on counters, but that was more to do with how we played as an entire team more so than just Song alone imo.

Opinions please.

Nope. Don't want him back. We should be looking forward and aiming for a class above him; not going back to picking up players who left.

srigooner wrote:Nope. Don't want him back. We should be looking forward and aiming for a class above him; not going back to picking up players who left.

I agree, but we have done worse.

srigooner wrote:Nope. Don't want him back. We should be looking forward and aiming for a class above him; not going back to picking up players who left.

well the Arsenal fan in me thinks the same. But realistically though, he would be better than most of our midfielders in certain positions. An on form Song during 2010-2012 was among the best in Europe imo.

I wont lie I would take Song back at Arsenal any-day, Arteta, Flamini, Diaby and Coq are done at Arsenal. Song would be a good back up.

Flamini was a decent back up when he came back, but he has regressed since. Arteta has aged. Under that lens, Song looks appealing - I agree.

But we don't need a back-up DM; we need a top class starting DM. Why are you settling for less? Aren't we financially better off and all that jazz? Shouldn't we be targetting players of much better ilk?

Also, when we picked up Flamini as a free agent, we focussed on completing the biggest deal in the history of the club - one that has redefined our ability to close big deals and operate in the premium market segment.

We didn't just sign him because he was available - he had to impress the coaching staff for 2 months in training about his physical fitness and desire to play at Arsenal, before we decided to sign him up and focus on Özil deal. Wenger had already decided that Arteta would play DM for the season. And except those handful of games, we did have among the most resolute defenses in the league last season.

What has changed? We knew these guys would age. We knew they might pick up injuries. We knew Sagna had left and we had loaned Jenkinson. We had a new RB. We knew Vermalen was gone. And we did facking squat about setting things in order at the back.

How does signing an indisciplined, mediocre DM address that? He's good for a mid-table team. Not a starter for a team with the aspirations we should have.

srigooner wrote:Flamini was a decent back up when he came back, but he has regressed since. Arteta has aged. Under that lens, Song looks appealing - I agree.

But we don't need a back-up DM; we need a top class starting DM. Why are you settling for less? Aren't we financially better off and all that jazz? Shouldn't we be targetting players of much better ilk?

I would love to be that team who always targets the best but we always go after bargain players. The amount of money we have wasted to average players is astonishing and I think we have slowing moving towards only buying top players. I would never want Song back if I knew we would get top players to replace our aging players.

I am sure we will man. Our current approach is best or nothing. Unfortunately, we have been ending up with nothings at the back. I am sure this will change.

Are we still interested in Khedira ? Or we really are going to play all the season with that midfield ?

I thought Khedira was Chelsea bound. And he isn't a proper DM anyway, although it would add a lot to our midfield!

The problem is, the list of players who can play better at DM than Flamini (and to a lesser extent, Arteta) is not quite short.

Flamini couldn't even get a starting place at Milan and he's playing for us consistently... smh

Song doesn't even play as a defensive mid anymore.

Neither does anyone else for Arsenal.

6unner wrote:Neither does anyone else for Arsenal.

I know, everyone plays attacking mid

EL Patron wrote:

6unner wrote:Neither does anyone else for Arsenal.

I know, everyone plays attacking mid

Not Sanchez though, He defends.
Best attacker- Sanchez
Best Defender- Sanchez

The good,
Alexis has been great all year. Offense, Defense, Determination, Winning attitude. He is our complete package.

The Bad,
Really seems to be a higher class than everyone else.

I would take Song back but only as an addition to a proper defensive midfielder who enjoys playing as the deepest midfielder.

Sell/Release Flamini, Arteta too if necessary but I'd keep Arteta for atleast one more year if possible. It's about time we get some quality back in our midfield which doesn't include only attacking quality.

I mean he's not the only one I'd take as an addition to a proper DM, Khedira is another one, Axel Witsel or Lars Bender, I just think we need our very own Mikel, Fernando or Ramires. Someone you can trust in a big game away from home when you park the *bleep* bus or late in a game to toughen things up.

Our standards aren't exactly high with Flamini and Arteta as DM options. Of course Song would be an upgrade over them but we deserve even better. Plus, the attitude and inconsistency issues are not wanted at Arsenal. Our dressing room chemistry is the best it's been in a long time.

Don't regret signing Flamini, good business for a decent player who started off well and faded with added pressure of being expected to start in a 4-1-4-1. Only regret not getting the DM we needed to sign this summer.

Sri ran this thread through so there's not much else to say about it, nailed it.

A very nice guy.

But for us, he was terrible. Not entirely his fault as he IS NOT a DM, but quite frankly he bring nothing to our team