Former Arsenal player Perry Groves has claimed that Stewart Downing would make a fantastic addition to the Arsenal line-up, and feels that the England international would give a sense of balance to the team.
The 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield this summer, but speculation has emerged that Arsenal are trying to hijack the deal with a £20 million offer.
Though Aston Villa have denied any official approach by Arsenal for one of their star players, Downing will be a subject of much speculation in the coming weeks and Perry Groves is one among his many admirers.
Groves told talkSPORT’s Goldstein and Cundy earlier this week:
If Arsenal got Stewart Downing, Arsenal fans will be pleased they are getting a proven Premier League player and international. And you’re not going to have to wait for him to develop.
‘He would give you a bit of balance on the left-hand side. If you look at Arsenal’s first- team at the moment they have only got two players, Thomas Vermaelen and Robin Van Persie, who are left-sided players.’
‘He will give you consistency, I think he was ever-present for Aston Villa last season, and he will give you balance. He’s not a player that Arsene Wenger normally gets, from Spanish or Italian leagues where there is a risk element involved. You are not going to have that risk with Downing.’
True. Downing is a proven Premier League player and a senior international for England. We will not have to wait for him to develop, as this has virtually passed. And its true that he is a naturally left footed. I am in total agreement with Groves on these counts. However, I do disagree with some comments made by the ex-Gunner.
‘He would give balance on the left side.’ – I have my doubts about this balance thing, but he is a left footed player, so fine.
‘He will give you consistency; I think he was ever-present for Aston Villa last season.’ – Well, I am not entirely convinced. He was great for Aston Villa last season, but far from consistent. His game is highly error-prone. He is a player who can produce moments of brilliance and not one who is brilliant throughout the season.
‘He’s not a player that Arsene Wenger normally gets, from Spanish or Italian leagues where there is a risk element involved. You are not going to have that risk with Downing.’ – Now, I totally disagree. Wenger’s signings have always carried the risk element because they come from Spanish and Italian leagues (France too!). They might fail to adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League and injury risks are higher. But, I think signing Downing carries risks as well. He hasn’t played for any big club before. So the step up the ladder is huge. Playing for Arsenal is a completely different business compared to playing for Villa. The expectations, the pressure and the standards are higher. There is always the risk of the player failing to cope with the growth in class. So Downing comes with his own risks.
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Traore, Wilshere and Gibbs are left-footed. Groves z another one who relies on media decorations about players who are, atmost, average.
True he’s a quality signing bt I dnt think we need a left winger now we hav so many wing players( nasri, arshavin,walcot, ryo miyachi) . And also he’s overpriced.
Downing to me,is an average player and price tag with him is much…. I will rather buy another player with 20 million than buy him… AW should buy a better player for us…
Stuart Downing is over hyped, he will never be a good addition to us, he has lost his pace, his positional sense is poor and at best he is a good crosser which is not the way we usually play. So downing who looks like has gone to pool, is more hype than substance.