Posted on Saturday, 7th May 2011 by Guest Blogger
When it comes to Arsenal, credit usually gets given where credit is due.
For instance, the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are ritually applauded for their performances, whilst the likes of Jack Wilshere and Samir Nasri have either won or been nominated for a PFA award this year. Heck, even Bacary Sagna, the finest and most competent member of Arsenal’s widely criticised defence was voted the best right-back in the Premier League by his fellow players.
One man who rarely gets his due, outside of Arsenal fans that is, is central/defensive-midfielder Alex Song. Whilst the majority of Gunners fans realise just how important Song is to their team, he doesn’t get the acknowledgement from pundits and neutrals that he deserves. It always strikes me as very strange when I hear fans talk about how Arsenal need a ‘good’, ‘competitive’ defensive-midfielder. It’s strange because Arsenal have arguably the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League.
He represents the spine of this Arsenal team and without him the Gunners look a much weaker side. Fabregas, as important as he is, can be replaced by younger members of the squad like Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, but there’s no direct replacement for Song who can do his job with anywhere near as much success. I’d argue that this is because Diaby and Wilshere simply aren’t defensively enough minded and because Denilson is too ‘slight’ (to put it kindly).
Alex Song is a tireless worker, who covers an incredible amount of ground every single game. Beyond his work in front of the back-four, you’ll also have noted that he’s one of the most attacking-minded defensive midfielders in the game. He’s always keen to bomb forward and aid the Arsenal attack and quick to get back into a defensive position when necessary.
His influence during big-games is telling. In my recent memory his tough, energetic performances have allowed Arsenal to dominate Manchester United’s midfield and to sneak a victory against a rampant Barcelona side (in the first leg of their Champion’s League clash).
He’s not perfect of course. There can be the occasional moment where he lacks discipline and pushes too far forward exposing Arsenal’s back-four. However, I believe it is Arsene Wenger’s responsibility to make sure that Song knows his role and is willing to stick to his task.
Is he the best defensive-midfielder in the Premier League? Better than Scott Parker? I’d say so. Better than Essien? This season, certainly. Better than Darren Fletcher? Perhaps.
He does an important job for Arsenal on a weekly basis and rarely gets the credit he deserves for it. He’s slowly but surely positioned himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, but when will he get the plaudits he so richly deserves?
Click HERE to see the original article. This article was first published on ThisIsFutbol
Written by Harry Cloke – Follow him on Twitter @ThePerfectPass
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Tags: Aaron Ramsey, Alex Song, Arsenal, Bacary Sagna, Cesc Fabregas, Darren Fletcher, Denilson, Jack Wilshere, Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri, Scott Parker
Posted in View From The Sphere | Comments (21)
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May 7th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
The reason he does not get the praise of rvp cesc jw nasri is because he is not as good… He might be one of the better dmf in prem league but that does not say much… Just look at barca and real for top quality dmf song is no where in that league… (it is mainly his discipline that let’s him down)
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May 7th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Flamini was better.
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May 7th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
He has been good in the early part of the season but of late, he has been a bit poor. He needs to up his game and be a bit more sharper and more responsive. His persona give,s me the impression that he’s a bit lazy many times. Perhaps he’s carrying an injury, only he knows.
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May 7th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
The simple stat is 2010 when he is not in the team Arsenal drop 1.3points. Fabrigas 0.9 and RVP 0.8. next year the press will notice and they’ll start the transfer storys. Right now I’m glad he is underrated!
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May 7th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
check how many games in the last year we have won without song. you people who say hes not great are the same ppl who believe BENDTNER deserves to be playing professional football. great article, SONG IS OUR MOST UNDERRATED MIDFIELDER. hes a ROCK. HANDLED rooney the other day and dictates play immensely
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May 7th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Don’t forget he’s clumsy as well. Coquelin and Frimpong will be better than him in a few years time.
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May 7th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
im with (bserious) on this one, great article, when flamini did a quick one on us a few seasons back i was worried because dfm is a very important role but watching song play there is a joy to watch he is very strong, aggressive and can dominate that position, there have been games this season when hes not been in the team and it showed how important he is to arsenal, song gives our team a good balance, we have plenty of attacking players so its players like song that we need more of, denilson is a joke, hes too slow, too weak and too lazy, sorry but its true, im a big fan of alex song and i like the way he goes about his buisness, hes a very good passer of the ball too and hardly ever gives the ball away cheaply like denilson. in years to come i really do see him dominating that position, the most improved players this year have to be wilshere, song and nasri.
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May 7th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
i would agree with you for last season, but this season he has not been as good. On his day he is a strong performer almost impossible to shake off the ball.
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May 7th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
@realex99
Agreed but how much longer must we wait for these youngsters to be promoted to the first team? We all thought Wilshere wasn’t quite ready for a regular place and here he is a fully-fledged international. If they are good enough, they are old enough. They must be given the chance and soon.
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May 7th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Agreed *Gunzblazzin* Denilson is no backup, some may say that song is clumsy and gives away alot of free kicks– someone has to. it breaks up play. viera wasnt the tidiest. Nor are any of the other best DFM’s in world football. I am of the belief that Song is close to world class, if not already.
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May 7th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
@ Alfie- Nas, Wilshere and RVP are not able to their job if song isnt doing his. HENCE *underrated*
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May 7th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Agree that song has done well, but pleeeease don’t give the barca games as examples of his usefulness b’cos he was totally outclassed in both legs. &to be honest, i’m glad we won against barca @ home but the way some guys hype our performance beats me. We were dominated in both legs, just more comprehensively in the second
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May 7th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Uk are you for real? Who doesn’t get dominated by barca? Pls give the boys credit. Of course song is underated, he is not english.
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May 8th, 2011 at 12:28 am
I agree Song is one of the best in the league. The only player on par with him is Scott Parker. Agree that mentioning the Barca game was wrong as that was probably one of his worst games this season and ever since then we have seen the effects of him being our only dm ie he is tired. Imo people who say he he lazy etc need to jump off a large bridge.
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May 8th, 2011 at 1:50 am
Now i know some of u guys watch because of goal a team score…..for crying out loud,who would hav song in mieldfild and stil be asking for anodr dfm…….in nigeria,if u ask any football lover how does song plays then u wil know how high he is placed…….name d top dfm dat can use the ball wel more than song…….song can take up the role of an attacking mieldfielder……but fabregas can do wit out song…..example of such is arsenal vs newcastle(4-4)…….even in nigeria,chelsea fans pray they have him instead of mike,while man u fans pray the hav him instead of carrick…….so haters of song should better start watching footbal wit their comon sense
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May 8th, 2011 at 5:51 am
i think he’s pretty highly valued by Arsenal supporters. but he’s still a little inconsistent. his match against Man U was really good and he lead very well. but there are some matches where he’s really frustrating and he needs to be a bit more proactive. he’ll need to be more consistent with the return of Ramsey, otherwise he might not be starting as much.
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May 8th, 2011 at 9:15 am
I do wonder hm some pple r reasonin. Only a blind person myt nt see it bt song is a dfm 2 reckon with. He’z sharpness, intelligence, good football skillz n movement as a dfm is far match beta than many dfm’s across the world. So far, he’s been a massive player 4 Arsenal dis season and last season. Hate or lyk him, SONG deservez beta acknowlegdement.
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May 8th, 2011 at 9:19 am
i think this is true ,the guy is a good player and no one to replace at the Arsenal squad..i personally think he is the best in the league ,maybe even better than Mascherano the Barcelona mid….
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May 8th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Give me Alex Song in the defensive midfield anyday
to Wilshere or Ramsey,who clearly don,t have the ski
ll,technique and power of Song,simple facts ,not Arsenal fans claptrap?
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November 29th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
[...] that would surely cause me some grief, but why not make the big splash and get a guy like a Alex Song , hugely underrated, but makes this team World Beaters almost instantly, or offer a player like [...]
November 30th, 2011 at 1:48 am
[...] that would surely cause me some grief, but why not make the big splash and get a guy like a Alex Song , hugely underrated, but makes this team World Beaters almost instantly, or offer a player like [...]