Arsene Wenger has been keeping CescFabregas from making a move to Barcelona for almost 3 years. The Catalans have been ever adamant and it seems like they are finally going to bag the Spaniard this time. But with Fabregas gone what will Arsenal do to replace or better yet, make the midfield stronger?Ricardo Alvarez has been linked to Arsenal recently, and according to the British newspaper, The Sun, Arsenal is nearing completing its deal with his current Argentinean club, Velez Sarsfield. Should this midfielder be enough to fill the space the Spaniardwill leave?
The performance of Fabregas has clearly fallen, with the statistics of 2010/2011 stating 29 games, 8 goals and 14assists to his name, while he had started in a total of 34 games for Arsenal,scoring 19 goals and assisting 16 times in 2009/2010 season. One can only blame injury to a certain extent. When a player’s heart is not in it then you really can’t expect much. The Spaniard wanted a move to Barcelona last year staying only on Wenger’s insistence. It will do no good for Arsenal making Fabregas stay anymore, and who knows his departure may only be for the better. And Alvarez for one looks promising.
The 23 year old, Argentinean player is anemerging player, with his most season appearance to date in 2010/2011. It seems the left-footed player is only improving, and with Arsenal’s style of attacking football he’d only be of advantage to the club. Alvarez stands with starting in 19 games with 5 goals and 2 assists in 2010/2011 season in which he assisted his club, Velez Sarsfield in winning the Argentinean league, Prim A - Clausura 2011, scoring some spectacular goals. His current performance is the reason for attracting big clubs like Roma and Arsenal.
Comparing statistics, Fabregas is obviously to be given more credit, but Alvarez having given the opportunity can deliver just what the club has been lacking recently, attacking midfield. The Argentinean midfielder with a height of 6’2’’ can defend and score set-pieces. Arsenal does not have a favourable height factor, and it would be a good thing for the Gunners to have their average player height increase.
Speed has been another factor that Fabregas has not been contributing positively. In Internationals as well as on club level it is seen that the Spaniard is not really one of those fast paced players. He’s more on the tactical side. That being said, Alvarez has been seento have speed and is versatile enough to play in different midfield positions.This is very Arsenal like as Wenger prefers to switch players’ position as he sees likely. And with club often finding themselves goal behind, conceding more often than ever, Alvarez could just be the cure for Arsenal’s deficiency to attack ruthlessly. If the defensive side of Arsenal still remains short of what it should be, Wenger could consider playing offensive rather than defensive. And Arsenal fans could see the team attacking rather than falling back todefend against big teams.
The Argentinean would gel in well with the young blood of Gunners in the likes of Walcott, Wilshere, and Ramsey who like to go for goal, and share the same thirst of scoring as Alvarez. And with players like Nasri and striker Van Persie, one can only see a more attacking football from Arsenal if the club nets the Argentinean star for £11 million.The club needs players like Alvarez if Gunners ever need to see the trophy drought end. It is time to let the Spanish star go, for Wenger has been holding on to him long enough, and perhaps Arsenal is only better off without him. With the correct signings and the attack and defense of the club well built up, the future looks bright. And Ricardo Alvarez for one looks like a step in the right direction needed that Wenger gets the player in the bag.