So it seems as if Arsenal’s skipper and talisman, Cesc Fabregas, is set to leave the Emirates this summer, and make the switch back to the Nou Camp after 7 years at the North London club.
The 23-year-old midfielder is on the verge of leaving Arsenal following a one-to-one meeting with Wenger earlier in the week. It is has been reported that the player had asked his manager what the clubs ambitions would be in the imminent future. Wenger told him what his plans were and as a result of this, the Spaniard has decided to call time on his Arsenal career. Fabregas recently expressed his desire to one day rejoin his boyhood club and it appears he has decided that this would be the summer he went back to Spain.
No doubt about it, the news of Fabregas forthcoming exit from the Emirates would have left fans and players of the clubs shocked and deeply saddened. Arsenal will not only lose their most significant player, but they will also be losing their clubs captain.
Fabregas evidently does not wish to continue playing for Arsenal anymore, and many fans will agree with the hypothesis of, if the player is not committed to the club, then its time he moved on. Although the deal hasn’t yet been finalised, it seems almost certain within the next few days a fee will be agreed by both Arsenal and Barcelona for the playmaking midfielder.
So with the inevitable departure of Fabregas looming over the Emirates, Arsenal fans will be wondering if the potential void can be filled. Many will feel that it can be filled by an existing Arsenal player. A majority may look to Wenger to search and buy a top player to balance the loss of Cesc. However, a number of fans may even think the loss of Fabregas is too great to rectify at all.
Well, here are 4 current Arsenal players who could step up to the plate and play in the Fabregas role next season (providing Cesc leaves). Not necessarily be the new Fabregas, but the players that could do well in his position in the near future. The players have been given a ‘Fab Factor’ rating system. This rates the player on how well he would do in Cesc’s role:
Find out which 4 Arsenal players could make the grade on page 2
Fran Merida
The young Spaniard had actually been labelled by the Spanish media a few years back as ‘the new Fabregas’, whether he can live up to this name remains to be seen.
The 20-year-old has featured for Arsenal only 8 times this season (4 in the league, 3 in the F.A cup and 1 time in the champion’s league). The midfielder did manage to score twice along the way, and they were beauties to say the very least.
The young midfielder possesses great feet, movement and awareness, everything that Fabregas has. Although Merida has had limited chances in the Arsenal squad, he looks to be a promising player for the future. Many fans will feel he is too young to take on such a huge role, but let’s not forget Fabregas came of age when he was 20 as well. Merida may not be a regular starter for the gunners next season, but he will definitely be seeing more action coming his way now more than ever.
Fab Factor: 2/5
Jack Wilshere
The 18-year-old midfielder has been likened to a young Liam Brady by many of the older generation of Arsenal fans. Wilshere featured a lot for Arsenal in their pre-season last summer, but somehow wasn’t able to get games at the Emirates this season. This forced the young midfielder to make a loan move to Bolton in January, in order to partake in games. Wilshere gained valuable premier league experience, making a total of 15 appearances and scoring 2 goals for the Wanderers. He was by far one of their best players this season.
Wilshere has two great feet, can play anywhere in the midfield (looks most comfortable in the middle), has skill and good technique for a player of his age, and also, a good reading of the game.
Wenger might have to do a u-turn with Wilshere for next season. Owen Coyle wants the young midfielder back at the Reebok for a further six months, but with Fabregas’s untimely leave, Wilshere may think this is his year to break into Wenger’s squad.
Fab Factor: 3/5
Aaron Ramsey
The Welsh international was in great form before he suffered his infamous leg break against Stoke in February. Ramsey made a total of 29 appearances in all competitions for the gunners, whilst netting 4 times a long the way. The Welshman was clearly enjoying himself and fans began to take notice of the player.
Aaron Ramsey clearly has the technical ability and passing attributes to become a great player for the gunners in the future. The midfielder is only 19 years of age, yet he possesses great awareness as if he’s been playing in the premier league for years.
Ramsey is definitely a contender for Fabregas’s place. However, his leg break this year has prevented the young midfielder from developing even further. When he fully recovers from his horrific injury, fans can expect to see the Welsh star shine even brighter next season.
Fab Factor: 4/5
Samir Nasri
Possibly the best suited Arsenal player to take Cesc’s role next season. Nasri has played in the centre midfield for Arsenal before and looked comfortable doing so. Although fans may think he is a winger, but by trade he is not. The Frenchman is more accomplished in the centre of the park, this is where he made his name whilst playing for Marseille.
The 22-year-old midfielder performed exceptional well this season, accumulating a total of 36 appearances for the North London club. However, his goal tally failed to impress, netting just the 5 times this year.
Nasri and Fabregas pose the same abilities and physique. Nasri has great passing and technical capabilities, which makes him one of Arsenal’s most creative players at the club. Samir Nasri would be the ideal candidate to play in the Cesc role, providing Wenger does not choose to purchase a player in this position this summer.
Fab Factor: 5/5
Wenger can expect to collect an enormous amount of cash for the transaction of Fabregas to Barcelona, yet it is still unknown as to how much the fee will actually be. Reports today suggest that Arsenal will receive a bid in the region of £35-40 million for the Spanish playmaker. If we are led to believe these rumours, then Wenger will have a monstrous transfer budget to utilize in the summer. Wenger a few weeks back, told fans that he already has £35 million to spend, and with the sale of Fabregas for an alleged £40 million, Arsenal will have a colossal total of £75 million this summer.
With this amount of money at hand, Wenger could acquire a world-class midfielder to replace the loss of Cesc Fabregas. Here are 3 potential targets the Arsenal boss could look into this summer:
Continue to page 3 to find out who made the list
Diego (Juventus)
The 25-year-old inventive midfielder has been a consistent performer for the Serie A side this season. Diego made 33 appearances in the domestic league and managed to contribute 5 goals as well. The midfielder also appeared in the Italian cup, Champion’s and Europa league this season.
However, due to Juve not qualifying for the champion’s league next season, this may prompt the creative midfielder to look for a club that can offer this to him.
Diego became a recognised footballer when he was playing for Bundersliga side Werder Bremen in 2006. He impressed so much that the Italian giants swooped in for his services and acquired the Brazilian for a fee of £21.5 million. Since then he has impressed both fans and pundits alike in Italy.
Wenger could bring in the Brazilian playmaker as a possible replacement for Fabregas. Although some may view the Serie A and the Premiership are poles apart, but Diego has the ability to adapt to the English game without a doubt. The Brazilian has great awareness, and creativity which would suit Arsenal’s football. The fee wouldn’t be much, but not to cheap either. A bid of around £18-25 million could see the midfielder at the Emirates next season.
Fab Factor: 4/5
Mikel Arteta (Everton)
Mikel Arteta is an older adaptation of Cesc Fabregas. The 28-year-old Everton playmaker acquires great vision and passing ability which makes him one of the best in his position. Wenger has shown recent interest in the Spaniard, but has yet to make an official enquiry about the midfielder.
Arteta would be a great replacement for Fabregas as he already has 5 years of Premiership football in his locker. This season, the no.10 Everton man only managed to appear 16 times in all competitions for the toffees. However, he did manage to accumulate 6 goals within these games but due to a long-term injury it has held him back from achieving more.
Everton will be reluctant to let their star midfielder leave, but should a good offer come in from the gunners, Moyes would find it hard to turn down.
Fab Factor: 5/5
Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)
The French midfielder has finally found his feet at Bordeaux after enduring a number of nightmare seasons with A.C Milan in the past.
The midfield playmaker was a sensation this season in the Ligue 1 and champion’s league this season. Gourcuff appeared 39 times for the French champions, whilst netting 8 goals in the process.
The 23-year-old would be another option for the Arsenal boss to look into, especially following the news of Laurent Blanc’s exit from the club earlier in the week. Gourcuff has 17 international caps for France and is one of the country’s most promising young footballers. The Bordeaux player is young, skilful and possesses great technical ability. Under Wenger’s guidance (if he chooses to obtain him) Gourcuff would develop into one of, if not, the best playmakers in the world.
The French press have compared and claimed that Yoann Gourcuff is ‘the new Zidane’, whether this is true or just plain media hype remains to be seen.
Many fans would be delighted to see the French midfielder play his football at the Emirates next season. Wenger is known for his love of French players, and will no doubt be monitoring the young midfielder when the window opens in July. Gourcuff would make a great replacement for Fabregas, and a bid within the region of £20-28 million would more than likely be enough to prise Bordeaux’s prized asset away this summer.
Fab Factor: 5/5
With the pending exit of Cesc Fabregas this summer, the Arsenal fans will be expecting to see new arrivals for the start of next season’s campaign. The fans will want Wenger to buy a ‘top’ player in order to accommodate the loss of Cesc.
Wenger will have sufficient funds available to him this summer, but faces the tricky task of finding an appropriate replacement for his star player and captain.
The Arsenal boss may decide against buying a replacement, as he may feel he already has him in his current squad. There are 4 current Arsenal players listed in this article that could possibly fit the void without Wenger spending a single penny. However, if Wenger wishes to bring in a midfield playmaker this summer, then the 3 players listed above would do a grand job for the club. But for now, it seems the Arsenal faithful will have a long and anxious wait to see what their manager decides to do in the next few months.
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