Now, before I begin, I would like to make it clear that I do not subscribe to the hype that a) Scott Parker deserves the title of player of the year or that b) Having English players solves everything. However, I do believe the West Ham midfielder is just what we need right now.
He is needed much in the same way that someone like Ray Parlour (hardly one of the world’s best midfielders) was needed and played a big role in the success of Wenger’s earlier teams.
West Ham’s players hailed his leadership skills earlier in the season, when his half-time team talk moved them to tears and inspired a comeback from 3-0 down away to West Brom. Somehow, I can’t imagine that from anyone at Arsenal at the moment.
Personally, it’s the lack of signings like these that makes me wish we’d start next season with a different manager, but since I don’t see that happening I can only hope the Frenchman will reconsider his current methods that are failing our club so badly.
Yes, English players are often over-hyped and over-priced, but it’s important to note here that we would not really be bringing him in to be a star name. We already have a very good team, but it’s a team lacking a leader, and the passion of someone who knows what it means to win games in the Premier League.
Having just been relegated with West Ham yesterday, Parker will appreciate playing for a top club like Arsenal in a way that some of our pampered players clearly don’t.
Obviously there will be a queue of clubs racing for his signature this summer, but there’s every reason to think the Hammers will be forced to sell him at a lower price than you’d usually expect. And with him turning 31 later this year there’s not much potential in terms of re-sale value.
Sadly, of course, his age is just another one of many factors that will probably put Wenger off. I really don’t understand why a man who got the likes of Adams, Keown, Dixon and Bergkamp to play at the top level well into their late 30s can be so put off by age now.
Off the top of my head, another two English players who’d really improve Arsenal would be Gary Cahill and Ashley Young. But these two are likely to be more pricey than Parker, so we’ll have to see what happens to potential want-aways Fabregas and Nasri this summer before we even think about seeing Arsene splash that kind of cash around.
So, once again, I apologise for sounding like those annoying pundits who rave about English players, but if you look at the successful Chelsea and United sides of recent years, as well as our teams in the pre-Emirates era, there’s always been an English core to compliment the foreign stars. I hope we see a move in that direction for the start of next season.
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