Posted on Saturday, 18th August 2012 by Tony Merakli
With Alex Song set to depart Arsenal before the end of the summer transfer window, Arsene Wenger has reportedly reignited his interest in Lucas Biglia as a potential replacement for the Cameroon international.
But would the Anderlecht midfielder be a suitable successor or are there better options out there for Le Professor to consider?
There have been rumours floating around claiming Wenger would allow Song to leave after being strongly linked with a move to Barcelona. It is also understood that Wenger hasn’t finished his summer spending, fuelling speculation that a move for Biglia could well be on the cards.
The 25-year-old Argentine has in the past expressed his desire to play in a top European league after six seasons in Belgium with Anderlecht.
TalkSPORT claim Biglia told Dutch newspaper AD:
‘I want to play in a big league and my new club must be playing in the Europa League at least.
‘I want to play in the spotlight of the Argentina national team coach. The national team is my dream. I would also like to leave Anderlecht.’
Let me start off by saying that I don’t really care if Song leaves. Yes, he did record a lot of assists last season for us and a good player, but he, in my opinion, is not a world-class midfielder. His poor positioning and clumsiness on the ball are there to be seen by all.
I don’t rate him as highly as some other Arsenal fans out there and because we already have Mikel Arteta, who basically WAS our defensive midfielder last season, Song can go.
Is Biglia a good enough replacement? Yes.
He has great composure on the ball; his positioning is great, has a nice passing range and is a tenacious, battling midfielder – something we have been lacking for quite some time.
Biglia is also an Arentine international who packs experience in abundance, playing well over 240 games for Anderlecht.
He also has the winning mentality which we crave, lifting the Belgian Pro League last season, in 2010 and 2007. He has also collected a Belgian Cup and two Belgian Super Cups since joining Anderlecht from Independiente in 2006.
I believe Biglia has all the credentials to succeed at Arsenal and would certainly be a welcomed addition to the squad if Song leaves, which looks likely to take place.
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Tags: Alex Song, Arsene Wenger, Lucas Biglia, Mikel Arteta
Posted in View From The Sphere | Comments (29)
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August 18th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
That seems like a long time to be playing at a small club and not get noticed. Unlikely to be an improvement on Song I’d imagine.
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Gooner jack Reply:
August 18th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
I think you’re wrong mate. He was a core member of the argentine u20 wc winning team, and has caps for his full national side.
Holding midfielders excellence often goes unnoticed, due to the nature of their role, combine that with playing in the Belgium league it’s not surprising really. And we all know about wenger’s ability to find hidden gems!
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Tomme Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 7:30 am
And denilson was a core member of the Brazil set up. Playing at every junior age group an captain of the u21′s.players have different leaks at different times. He might be passed it.
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August 18th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
He could be a big fish in a small pond. When he goes to the epl,he will find other fishes bigger than him.The question is whether he can cope. IF Song goes,and the Belgian can’t cope,it could be time wasted and set back the gunners even further.
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Hard Ogura Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:59 am
you are right bro. Others think Song wasn’t good enough when Barc have put a buy out clause in his contract of 80m euros before they even buy him. Ha ha! what a give away arsenal has done to a 3 yrs contract player who loves the club! Who forced him to sell, song, his contract, money or barc?
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August 18th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
There is no point in signing Biglia because Song is a very similar player in that they both are forward thinking defensive midfielders, there will be no point. Signing Capoue or m’villa will be more benificial.
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Hard Ogura Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
I don’t understand wenger at all. He moaned that RVP was left with only 1 yr on his contract that is why he sold him but how about Song?
The guy is not selling less productive players like Chama, Berdn, Den, Arsh, Djour, Squill, and glass players like Diaby and he is selling players who have value to the team.
I thought if he had brought in m’villa or capoue, they would learn from song this season as the Francis and Fringp mature. Am surprised!
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August 18th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Mvilla
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August 18th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
CREDINTIALS?!?! GOT TO BE JOKING IN THE WHAT LEAGUE (HAH, BLEGIUM?!?!?!). NO, HE’S NOT A COMPETENT REPLACEMENT! M’VILA HAS MORE QUALITY, SAHIN ISN’T AS MUCH A DM, CAPOUE WOULD SUIT BETTER. WATCHED BIG, CAP, AND M’VILA, AND BIGLIA IS LEAST DESIRABLE! COME ON TRY A LITTLE HARDER TO WRITE A LITTLE BIT WITH SOME TYPE OF SUBSTANCE NOW AND NOT WASTE OUR TIME WITH THIS REGURGITATION!
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Scooch Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Shhhhhhhhh.
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August 18th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Tony Merakli, if you do not rate Alex Song then you are pathetic and have no knowledge of the kind of quality that makes for a winner. If you had said this about Song a couple of seasons ago then you would have been forgiven. But for you to say this today, you must be miserably st-pid.
How many midfielders in the world today are better than Song in the role he has played for Arsenal. May be you a club like Barca are crazy to want Song in their fold. Have you not heard the positive comments of from big European clubs about Song?
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Tony Merakli Reply:
August 18th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Song is well overrated. Ok he got some assist last season but how clumsy is he on the ball. Most of last seasons goals we conceded were because of his incompetence to keep his position.
As for midfielders who can replace him or are better than him in his role – how about M’Vila, Capoue, De Rossi, Marchisio, Toulalan etc.
You see him starting for Barca? Hahahaha!!!! do me a favour, if Cesc can’t, who is 10x better than Song, then how will Song?
Have a go at actually watching football properly and being blinded by media reports.
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christy Reply:
August 18th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Do me a favour Pius watch some football games and then respond to Tony.How many times has song lost the ball in midfield and beyond is the prime reason why Arsenal get swamped by other teams(all teams).Song is not disciplined enough to be the anchor.The sooner Arsenal sign a Makalele type player the more chance they have of reaching the top .This is not a pro Wenger message but from someone who cares deeply about the club as we all do.
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gooner0609 Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 7:35 am
Lets get this clear. Any player from the last 6 years is welcome to leave whenever they want. I have never seen a more spineless group.
They are cashing in on their association with AFC without contributing a damn thing to the trophy cabinet.
I get the impression that a certain Mr. Bould has been leaning into Mr. Wengers ear and making it plain that they are individually and collectively incapable of improvement.
So be rid of them and bring in winners. Dont’t have to be the fanciest names but WINNERS.
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Hard Ogura Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 10:45 am
If indiscipline is what you describe Song, then you are missing a point. Do you remember Patrick V or Roy Keane records? Or even Scholes whom they just returned? Essien etc. M Field is about battling, expect cards.
Even Jack Wilshire has already got more cards than some of the experienced arsenal players like Walcot.
To be real, Song was a pivot in Arsenal mid. His positioning was because he worked like a horse moving forward to create chances that is why he has more assists yet he is a DM and hunt for goals (HOW GOALS DID MAKELELE SCORE)that is why, but he could still cover up.
If you were to rewind the clock, you will see that RVP and Song were keys to arsenals 3 place
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Hard Ogura Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
you are very right Pius
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August 18th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Finally somebody who agrees with me about the clumsiness of Song! He has cost us more games over the years due to lack of positioning and pretending to be ‘Songinho’. Because of his inability to defend, Arteta’s natural game was somewhat sacrificed last year. Whenever Arteta didn’t play, Song was found out and we struggled big time. Not fussed he’s gone to be honest, as he’s replaceable.
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August 19th, 2012 at 4:47 am
Now Wenger says the end of high spending will be over with ffp kicking in. Well he better make sure the gunners are winning and challenging and not give any more excuses for his failure.
Frankly if the gunners are unable to challenge this season,,fans will be restless and looking for a new guy.
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Hard Ogura Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 10:48 am
If you think Bac were mad to pay 15m for him, then watch space for more disappointing results in months to come.
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August 19th, 2012 at 5:27 am
If song leaves I believe another another credible replacement will be bought or spring up sooner or later
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Hard Ogura Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 10:57 am
If you are thinking of soon or latter then you are thinking of struggling with the top again as you keep fingers crossed all the time for other teams results.
If Man U had the Rooneys, Berbatov, Welbac, Chir’to, Powell, new signing from S. Amer plus the junior strikers and still bought RVP, THEN ARSENAL WHO HAVE NO PROVEN DM ARE SELLING WHAT THEY HAVE TO LOOK FOR REPLACEMENT IN THE MARKET. Its terrible!
The season has just started, crap defence with Song in position to cove almost all the departments, understands premiership and a team, now you are to bring some to learn.
It was funny when Wenger yesterday was already moan with a 4th official. Ha ha! More of that to come the whole season if by the end he doesn’t become older than Furgie, THEN TEXT ME.
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August 19th, 2012 at 7:27 am
Wenger always plays players out of position, i mean song is meant for attacking-midfielder, we’ve been without DM fro the time mathiu flamini left. That’s fro Gunner.
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Hard Ogura Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:00 am
You have a point and this guy used to everything, attack, defend, create and try to score without instructions from the manager but creativity or talent “instructor”.
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August 19th, 2012 at 8:52 am
Gunners, lets be real. song didn’t join AFC as a DM but he’s rather a product of wenger and i believe arsene has finally realised that he have song as a finished product after six years…, so it’s wise of wenger to cash on this work in process – song. And hope this time mr. wenger brings in a complete DM!
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Hard Ogura Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:08 am
He has told you he has alot of them. probably you have seen them. so just appreciate one or two, about buying, do you buy before you sell or you sell before to start hunting when the league is on.
Winners Identified their weakness by the end of the season and bought players whom they testin pre season. getting them used to the culture unless you get a player within a league or a world class player who needs less or no polishing at all.
Not un fielded players in spain or a player from Belguim league without testing and just drop him a deep end like what happened in Man U match where they were thumped 8 (EIGHT CLEAN GOALS)
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August 19th, 2012 at 9:20 am
So Song is sold because Arsenal won’t give him a pay rise.So another guy presumably may take over.
Don’t forget Song was an integral part of Arsenal last season and played a no less a significant part to rise to third.
A new player take time to adapt.I feel Arsenal are a selling club unless proved otherwise by Wenger.He has to start winning games and challenge until the last minute of the 38th match.
Hopefully lessons of the gunners spring fiasco in previous seasons will be a thing of the past.
IT’s too unpalatable to think of the alternative.
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Hard Ogura Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:09 am
YOU ARE VERY RIGHT MY DEAR
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August 19th, 2012 at 11:36 am
If yann m’villa w’ll nt jion arsenal as a replecement of song i w’l no longer arsenal fanz
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August 19th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
WENGER CAN’T COUGH BIG FOR M’VILLA OR CAPOUE. SO EXPECT A LOANEE OR CHEAP PLAYER IF ANY SURFACES ANYWAY.
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