By ’Tayo Amosu
August 25, 2014
According to El Mundo Deportivo, former Arsenal defensive midfielder, Alex Song, is closing in on a shock return to Arsenal after Arsene Wenger reportedly showed interest in bringing the Cameroonian back to the Emirates.
This may not be unconnected to the recent injury to the Gunners top choice holding midfielder and Captain Mikel Arteta.
Song, who left Arsenal in 2012, has been told he can leave Barcelona this summer for £10m as he does not feature in the plans of new manager Luis Enrique.
Expectedly, a host of top teams were said to be keen, with Liverpool leading the race but just more recently, Arsenal the club that sold him to the Catalan giants in the first place, are now said to be involved and are more likely to re-sign the player.
This summer, Arsenal has been linked to a plethora of defensive midfielders as it was said that Wenger is keen on having a long term replacement for Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, who are both over 30 years of age.
Sami Khedira, William Carvalho, Luis Gustavo and Josuha Guilavogui were said to have been on the North London club’s radar but till now, no player in that position has signed for Arsenal.
Later, Thomas Vermaelen left Arsenal and the need for a central defender seemed to have become more important to the manager as a result of other departures in defence i.e. Johan Djourou to Hamburg and Carl Jenkinson, who left on loan to West Ham United.
The manager though revealed the Gunners would do more business before the transfer window shuts, said one player at most two more players would come in.
This fuelled another set of speculations that Wenger would sign a versatile player who would serve the dual roles of defending at the back and at the midfield.
While these rumours were heightening as the transfer window draws to a close, a new one in the mould of a former Gunner returning to the Emirates broke.
This, from a sensible point of view is one of those fabricated stories in the media probably by agents intended to draw Arsenal’s attention to Song’s availability or send messages to other clubs that the player is ready to leave the Spanish Heavyweights and available to a club willing to and capable of meeting Barcelona’s valuation of him.
These media men and agents seem to be taking advantage of the recent development at Arsenal which has seen the club captain Mikel Arteta injured leaving the position to card-prone Mathieu Flamini, over hyped and under-performing Jack Wilshere, injury-prone Abou Diaby and lowly-rated Francis Coquelin.
Song, though a player who fits perfectly as a defensive midfielder, left back and central defender, may never play for Arsenal again considering Arsene Wenger’s recent snub of Cesc Fabregas.
The manager seems to turn his back on any player who left the club when the club needed him most.
Song, who was to be a team leader alongside Robin Van Persie when Cesc Fabregas left Arsenal in 2011, left the club unceremoniously for fame and fortune at Barcelona.
However, with Barcelona he has so far played bit-part roles as he never makes first eleven except major injury blows to about 3 key players in the defence and/or midfield.
He has been told to leave now as a result of the discontinuity and instability of the Barcelona squad’s managerial position, because new manager Luis Enrique doesn’t deem him fit in his squad.
No talks between Arsenal and Barcelona have taken place and it’s not likely to ever take place!
