The last few weeks have seen Arsenal’s midfield finally find their groove, start grinding out results and start looking like a unit. Alex Song has begun to look like a great all-rounder, capable of starting off an attack as well as putting an end to opponent’s forward plays. Aaron Ramsey has been the creative force in Arsenal’s midfield. Whilst he’s not exactly on Cesc Fabrega’s level, the young Welshman shows a level of craft that most others in the squad simply don’t have.
As such he’s been carving out great balls whilst playing calm and controlled football. The same can also be said of Mikel Arteta, who whilst not exactly spectacular, has been remarkably consistent and added a great deal of bite and fight to Arsenal’s midfield. His experience and quality is clear and it’s well evident that the midfield looks less susceptible with him in the starting XI.
Given that all three midfielders seem to be working rather well together, it would be a shame to have to break them up. Yet that may well be a necessity. In just a few weeks, one of world football’s best young talents will return to fitness and will be back in contention for a place in the Gunner’s squad: Jack Wilshere.
It’s clear that someone’s going to have to go in order to make space for Jack, but who?
It may well be suggested that Song is irreplaceable – he’s our defensive midfielder and a good one at that. Yet Song is hardly the paradigm DM. Just look at his run for Arsenal’s first goal during the game againstDortmundon Wednesday. He’s always looking to get forward and make things happen. He’s hardly a defensive ‘anchor’.
But the defensive side of his game should not be forgotten. When he’s in the right frame of mind and puts in a more disciplined performance he can be remarkably solid in front of the back-four (I’m thinking of performances against Barca last season and the first leg performance againstDortmundthis year). He works hard and has come a long way since he first joined the club. I’d like to see him in front of the back-four whilst Wilshere plays further up.
That brings us to Arteta and Ramsey. Whilst both exhibit a similar amount of quality, surely Arteta has to be favoured. Ramsey’s young and will boss Arsenal’s midfield (no doubt alongside Wilshere) for years to come, but at the moment the Gunners need Arteta’s level-headedness and experience.
It strikes me that this midfield would also represent a real physical threat to teams. Arteta, Song and Wilshere are players that wont put up with being bullied and are willing to fight for a result.
But what’s your take? Who should be the midfielder to make way for Wilshere?
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Yeah, spot on. A midfield trio of Song, Arteta and Wilshere would give us technical ability, as well as physical and mental strength. Can’t wait
There’s no dilemma. Once Wilshere is fully fit Ramsey will keep the bench warm.
It’s not debatable! It’s Rambo to pave way. What I see as tricky is, where does Diaby come in?
The problem is that we need more midfielders to be able to rotate and keep them all fresh during the season; if we have 5 good players available thats good!
least someone understands the point to having a squad. we play twice a week we need more options. my hope is we buy a really distructive mid like de jong or fingers crossed yann m’villa. then in big games where we wont dominate the ball we can play song and a proper holding mid in front of the back four and give liences to wilshire to creat. and in games when we can dominate pocession i would bring in a more creative guy like ramsey. more options is what we need. there is no dilema at all.
Ramsey should b d one
Very tricky one.dnt tnk diaby wuld be a bench warmer,i dnt tnk jack wuld imediately get into the first team even when he does AW wuld certainly rotate d midfield quartet of diaby arteta jackie n rambo
Unu bu ndi ara .diaby wu onye nna up #afc
Arteta should make way. Ramsey has been central to everything that’s been positive about Arsenal since he came back from injury. Arteta is immobile and for someone that’s supposed to have replaced Fabregas in the playmakes role, when was then last time you actually saw him play someone in. For anyone that actually watches football, this is a no brainer. The only reason Wenger persists with Arteta, and Mertesacker come to that, is that he spent money on them. For me they’re Sunderland players in waiting.
Ramsey should make way to JW but he is more reliable than Diaby. Shame really because Diaby has the talent but rarely shows it and looks like his whole carer will be blighted by injuries.
Oh, and get Jan Vertonghen. This would give a great options cause if Song gets injured I think Vermalen can play DM and Vertonghen can play along side Kos or Merts. I also think Kos can play DM. Just a thought
I think Walcott should keep the bench warm and arteta in the left, ramsy and willshire in the center and song in the right in the midfield.play gervino just behind van Persie.
Diaby….no way….keep him away from the team, even better sell him off!
Don’t forget we lose Song to the ANCup….what then. Arteta too slow in thinking, little or no creativity. Ramsey too irratic at the moment! Gervinho not that good, and the same can be said for Arshavin. Walcott still a “one trick pony”….everything hangs on RVP & Verminator! but as was shown yesterday, even they cannot do it all!!!
Diaby is a big time monkey.have some bananas%-)