Arsenal eye Arshavin in wake of Fabregas injury blow?
Many an Arsenal fan may be still coming to grips with the fact that Cesc Fabregas will miss the next four months with a knee injury suffered in Arsenal’s draw with Liverpool on Sunday.
Fabregas’ injury leaves yet another significant hole in an Arsenal side that’s already missing Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott to long-term injuries and does not yet have Eduardo back in the lineup either.
Who could help fill that hole? It’s time to start up the Andrei Arshavin to England rumors all over again, and with the hole that Arsenal now have for a playmaker, Arsene Wenger is already having to answer to speculation about Arshavin.
The big question, of course, is whether Arsene Wenger would be willing to invest so much in someone for the sake of trying to save the season, if he would prefer to go for a much cheaper signing (like Standard Liege’s £8m rated Steve Defour), or if he’ll just be content with trying to blood one or more of his youngsters over the next few months to see what they’re made of.
Arshavin would cost £20m, and frankly, such a signing would be a little out of character for Arsenal, who have money to spend but don’t spend exorbitantly. However, drastic times call for drastic measures, and they might bite the bullet and make the move.
Topics: Arsenal, English Premier League, Football Transfers
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I think Arsenal needed to buy before the injury. But with a creative midfielder he will think long term. I think a real replacement for Flamini and Gilberto Silva i.e. a defensive midfielder is more the priority as the Arsenal defence is in its worst shape for decades. I think goals will come from Nasri, van Persie and Adebayor who will also share the creative burden that the FÃ bregas absence will leave. Therefore i think its unnecessary to buy a Fabregas-esc player as there are few, if any, around to match his standard.
December 24th, 2008 @ 00:15Though I’m not the biggest Arshavin fan, I see this move as a positive one for Arsenal and Arshavin himself. He wants to play Champions League football and Arsenal offer that without fail for the most part. Tottenham isnt even in position to qualify for the UEFA cup. For people that dont like the idea of “replacing” Fab, there will not be an issue once he returns. With Andrei’s talent, he will likely slide into a diferent midfield role once Cesc returns. I see him as more of a Rosicky replacement. I have my doubts over him ever being fit again. The midfield come March/April would be something like Nasri, Fab, New Signing (Inler, Toure, etc.) and Arshavin on the right and slightly foreward as a creative attacking midfielder. This move doesnt solve Arsenal’s midfield issues though, they still have a gap to fill in the holding role.
December 24th, 2008 @ 00:26I see a potential solution to the problems at holding midfield in moving kolo forward. I understand that we would have to buy another centre-back (someone good in the air who can also play the ball like Giorgio Chiellini) but we would not have to shell out for another enforcer in the middle. I don’t think that we need to “replace” Fabregas and even if we did that leaves the question of what to do with the new player once Cesc returns.
December 24th, 2008 @ 18:05Robin – Arsenal need an ‘enforcer’ even if Fabregas is fit.
December 24th, 2008 @ 18:53I see nobody would give a chance to Ramsey to fill in for Cesc. I think he has many of the same qualities as Cesc, except that maybe he is not so strong defence-wise.
December 24th, 2008 @ 21:21