Arsenal fans were used to seeing Alex Song lose his discipline and wander up-field, but few would have expected for him to continue on out of the Emirates, all the way over to the Nou Camp.
Ever since Song moved to Barcelona last summer, Arsenal have been linked steadily to a slew of holding midfielders.
Arsenal’s defensive frailties have given rise to the idea that what the club lacks most is a midfielder who grants the squad balance.
Whilst the Gunners can boast technically gifted players like Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky, none of these players can be classified as ‘tough tacklers’. Yes, Jack isn’t afraid to stick his foot in, but his slight frame doesn’t make him the most imposing character.
The trouble is that these midfielders have similar playing styles. They can all put the ball on a plate (even if that plate is 40 or so yards away) but none of them provide the discipline, or the physicality that playing the holding role requires. They are all better served playing higher up the pitch.
Arteta is the man who has been tasked with fulfilling this role and I’d argue that he’s done a good job for the team. But he’s not a long-term solution.
According to The Express, Arsenal are interested in Malaga’s Jeremy Toulalan. He’s a defensive midfielder whose injury problems have kept him sidelined for most of the season – he’s made only 17 La Liga appearances thus far.
Doesn’t that sound like a typical Arsene Wenger signing? The Arsenal boss is becoming known for his Malaga raids, having already snapped up Santi Cazorla last summer and Nacho Monreal in January. This may well be down to Malaga’s financial issues, which may have forced the sale of players they would have wanted to keep a hold of.
Even Toulalan himself is worried about his future: “I don’t know what will happen. People talk about Malaga’s financial problems, but after Real Madrid and Barcelona they are the Spanish club that pays its players the best.
I don’t know what my future will hold, but every day I have fun going into training.”
Whilst he’s keeping positive, he’s alive to the reality of the situation. If Arsenal are genuinely interested in the player, they wont have to fight too hard to get their man.
As for whether they should, that’s another issue – but it’s clear this is a problem issue for Arsenal. He’s certainly worth considering.
What’s your take? Would Jeremy Toulalan be a good fit at Arsenal?
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