Arsenal have signed Lassana Diarra from Chelsea, some papers say £5m others £2m. Diarra 22, was in the final year of his contract.
He was brought in from French club Le Havre in 2005 as a natural replacement for Makelele. But Chelsea still have Makelele on their books having agreed a one year extension to his contract.
They also have Michael Essien, Steve Sidwell and John Obi Mikel so obviously Diarra did not see himself ahead of them in the pecking order.
He was disappointed at the lack of first team action last season having only started seven games and making three substitute appearances.
Obviously he saw the writing on the wall and figured out that the prospects of seeing any action this season were almost non existent.
But what is baffling is why he would want to come to Arsenal and even more surprising why Wenger would want to sign him!
All this comes after Wenger, only last week, rejected the Honduran Wilson Palacios who, after going AWOL for a week, was found living in London Colney and on trial with Arsenal.
The reason given by Wenger? “ We have too many midfielders”
Indeed the question begs itself when you look at the central midfielders at Wenger’s disposal:
Fabregas, Diaby, Gilberto, Denilson, Flamini, and Song. In addition Djourou (if he returns from Birmingham in January) can be utilized in this position.
He has been tried there with success in the last game of the season at Portsmouth and last week was deployed in that position by Steve Bruce with glowing reports. Hell even Toure can play there if need be.
Out of the six natural central midfielders only three at the most can play at the same time depending on the formation chosen and I rate Song, theoretically last in the pecking order, very highly.
Diarra is a midfielder who can also play at right back. Hell, Wenger has just bought a new, excellent, right back: Bakary Sagna.
The ever so reliable Justin Hoyte is a very capable understudy and in addition Eboue can always revert to his original position if need be!
Not to mention Flamini who can and has played there all the way to the Semi Final of the Champions League!
Baffling indeed!
Is someone leaving in the January window?
Lassana Diarra Fact File
Date of Birth 10/03/1985
Place of Birth Paris, France
Nationality France
Height 1.73 m /5 ft 8 in
Weight 68 kg /10 st 10 lbs
Position Midfield
Palacios has called home and he is alright. He has impressed Wenger and the medical people
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9 comments:
You are right. It baffles me as to what Wenger has in mind. If he rates Diarra so highly then he should have ket another midfielder go. Otherwise he will have a job on his hands to satisfy all of them.
Wenger must think he will be a good addition to the squad. But will Diarra settle for this? he left Chelski because he was not seeing any action. he wont get it at Arsenal.
Flamini is in the last year of his contract so we may see him sold in Jan or go on free at end of the season. Song hasnt really progressed in the last 2 seasons so he may go on loan again or be sold. Gilberto is 31 this year and will be offered 1 year rolling contracts from here on, will he be happy with that? Diaby and Denilson like to attack and Cesc is the playmaker of the side. Therefore from next season on our central midfield will comprise of 5 top class players with that going to 4 when Gilberto leaves. Its called forward planning. Diarra will eventually take Gilbertos place as te defensive holding player.
couldn't agree more with Anonymous @ 12:52 PM, he's one for the future.( To replace Gilberto in years to come) I also have a sneaky suspicion that his utility player style will be very helpful. Sagna can now provide cover at centre back and Diarra on the right if needed.
It seems to me that everyone for years gave out about us defensively (especially from set pieces) and our lack of goals from play around the box. But these same people can't see that AW has bought 2 great defensive signings and a possible fox in the box this summer (not to mention a versatile defender in Gallas last summer). I'll wait and see what happens from this signing before i decide but as ever, i trust in AW and believe he knows only more that us that he needs a left sided wide player with pace and skills and an eye for goal. When he finds him, we'll know. he'll arrive from no where for an "undisclosed fee" and you won't know about it till it's done.
Yeah this move is strange though I feel maybe Wenger has possibly bought Diarra to accommodate the future loss of both Flamini & Fabegras(though I truly hope this is not true) at the end of the season. Cesc confirmed that Wenger was the reason for staying this season when Real Madrid attempted to prize him away. Maybe Wenger feels that the pull maybe to strong a season on as it was for Viera & Henry. As I cant see Diarra replacing Gilberto in a couple of seasons, with Fabregas there, as although Fabregas is a strong worker & tackler I still believe he needs a defensive player with physical presence to allow him to focus on his attacking game. I just hope we can persuade Cesc that Arsenal will match his ambition but without a bigger financial backer that might be impossible.
The most probable departures are Flamini and Song.They are the weakest links in central midfield. Also Diarra could be cover for Clichy as Traore is too young.
Gilberto could also find himself playing in central defence when Toure goes to the Africa Nations Cup.Diarra would then be cover for him in midfield.
Wenger is planning
Yes. Diarra will be a good utility player who can take over at right back or midfield should Sagna or Gilberto have to move to central defence.
Diarra is bought primarily as defensive midfielder.Wenger has always said he would buy to strenghten the team. None of our midfielders are as aggressive in the tackle as Diarra(Diaby-ungangly,Song-good not great,Fabregas-left to concentrate on creating,Denilson only one to come close but could end up replacing Fab when he leaves,Gilberto-will see him CB when toure away or Gallas injured)
Wenger just recruits good quality players no matter what. He will find a place for them in the team. Trust him
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