Why Nasri can be the new Fabregas

You are here: Home

Backpage Round Up

by CARL ELDRIDGE Real news is thin on the ground this morning when it comes to the Arsenal but there are one or two heart-warming stories in the papers. Check out the picture of the Phil Brown commemorative sacking dolls, BTW.

Those clever chaps at Hull City have, in their ultimate wisdom, decided that enough is enough and parted company with Supteran, er, sorry Phil Brown. That prompts the question: how many wry smiles must there be out there in Goonerland after his axing? Well one in this household that's for sure and when my five-year-old and missus wake up, that number will rise significantly to three. The dog? Always smiling.

Brown has been an enemy of God's Own for some time now so we are hardly going to shed a tear that he got the bullet some time shortly after the back of the Hull net swished sweetly with the sound of Nicklas Bendter's late, late winner in the 2-1 win on Saturday.

Ironically, happy hoodie Cesc Fabregas -- the player who seemed to irk Brown and co-mentalist Brian Horton going back a bit --wasn't there to see our dramatic victory but no doubt he was in his local tappas with some el chums taking in the game over a few pints of San Miguel with sangria tops.

Fabregas, the Arsenal talisman. Fabregas, the leader of the young Arsenal republic. Fabregas, the artisan in chief. Wenger's general. But how long before he heads for Barca? Rumours are rife that it will be this summer. Others say next. The truth is probably some where in between but when, not if, this Spanish genius can no longer resist the call from Catalonia who can fill his boots in that all-important string-pulling role?

Well, we saw against Burnley that Samir Nasri is the ideal candidate to step into the breach. He has all of the skill sets that make Fabregas such a wonderful baton waver when it comes to orchestrating football matches and I believe he would naturally flourish given the responsibility of making the team tick. In short, once Fabregas is out of the way, Nasri will shoulder the extra burden of responsibility thus unlocking the player he can be given the lead role. Quick-thinking, fleet of foot and with an eye for a critical pass, Nasri has the lot. He just needs the confidence that comes from games and an injury-free run.

Nasri was raised as a central midfielder in France, where he was a shining light at Marseille but at the Arsenal he played out wide most of the time. And he recently stated that he fears that his lack of action in the middle could count against him with France coach Raymond Domenech comes to pick his World Cup squad.

Of course, he can never be Fabregas and I in no way want to denigrate either of them by that remark. Yes, I'd rather Cesc stays and leads us to an array of titles and trophies. But let's get real -- it ain't going to happen. Who wouldn't want to join their boyhood club? I had a distinguished career with the Berkeley Arms in the Chichester and District Sunday league but, heck, I would have given up those Sunday mornings, half-cut on frozen pitches for a spell at the Arsenal!

While us fans periodically worry about the situation, one man, AW himself, has no such worries. He has seen players come and go, not just players but world beaters and, as was ever thus, he doesn't fret at the prospect of more golden talent heading for the hills. It's football's natural order. Vitally, the philosophy remains.

Anyway, Cesc is still about for a good while yet -- eight games in the league at least and, of course, a couple of Champions League encounters and hopefully more. Gird your loins for a rollercoaster ride to the end of the season and, pray God, Madrid in May. Bring us the Premier League title and the European crown, Cesc, and the wherever you go you will always be Arsenal. And when the Nou Camp beckons, rest assured your old mate Samir will accept the armband and lead us to more triumphs. No longer waiting in the wings.

*Henry Norris writes: "Eldo, have you lost your marbles this morning? Nasri has unlocked potential but he has a long way to go to compare with Fabregas. Suggest you consult the pharmacist to double check your prescription."

Written by: Eldo71 Tuesday, 16 March 2010 08:24

Comments

+3 # aj 2010-03-16 11:29

Dumb-ass! Why are you trying to whip up a scare story? Do you get off on creating anxiety? Cesc has made it abundantly clear that he has no desire to go back to Barcelona or anywhere else for the foreseeable future, so you make up some crap, suggesting that you are in the know, just to be contraversial.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

-2 # Eldo 2010-03-16 11:51

AJ, thanks your comments...I applaud you, sir, because you talk more shite than I do. So will Cesc stay at the Arsenal for the rest of his career? get real, dumber-ass. Have a fun day now!

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # db10 2010-03-16 17:38

I don't think he means that Cesc will never leave arsenal just that he won't for a while.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

+1 # londongooner 2010-03-16 12:19

agree with aj, what a wast on internet traffic.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # Eldo 2010-03-16 12:41

Beautifully argued.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # Indian Gunner 2010-03-16 12:46

Probably Nasri should play alongside Cesc like the way Xavi and Iniesta play.
Nasri can never the cesc's work rate.But he can come up with some odd magical moves.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # Mexican Gunner 2010-03-17 04:38

Thats what Im saying since the summer that Cesc & Nasri could be our Xavi & Iniesta. Hope someday we will see this couple working with Song as their bodyguard.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # Wiggy 2010-03-16 12:52

Carl,

Having both played for Jake at South Bersted.. Im not sure you would have ever got that call from Arsenal..

(thats not to say that I ever would thou...)

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # Eldo 2010-03-16 13:03

Wiggy, I always had an inkling you would have made the grade mate! So, based on that I could be wrong about Cesc I suppose...

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # Wiggy 2010-03-16 14:41

Unfortunately, I think your only wrong about one thing.. And thats about me making the grade..!

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # GoonerMatt 2010-03-16 12:54

Eldo is right, it is a matter of when and not if. But what could be the overriding factor in all this is who he is going to displace in the Barca midfield!

Nasri is certainly a talented midfielder and has looked up to the job in the last two games. I also think that Ramsey is being primed for the position as well.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # Berg10 2010-03-16 14:12

Ha Ha. All this "If" "when"...IMO Cesc is going nowhere soon and when he does we'll manage, let's enjoy him while he's here FFS.

Stay positive.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # robert 2010-03-16 13:17

If Cesc leaves us we will have to change the way we play, nobody can replace him but I still think we would be OK! I also think that he will stay for quite a while :)

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

+2 # db10 2010-03-16 16:03

Same as when bergkamp left and when henry left. The way we play will change and some one else will become the main man.

He's only 22 and he knows that he has a long career ahead of him. I think that will be one of the main reasons why he won't be in a rush to join barca. I suspect that he might wait until Xavi is past it or when he retires. I think, from what he has said, he will stay for another two or three seasons at least.

I think all of Nasri, Ramsey and Wilshere will eventually be able to play there if Cesc leaves. And you never know who we will buy or maybe theres a 14 year old who will arsenal captain by the time they are 20. It's not something we should be worrying about because we don't know what will happen in the future. The most important thing right now is getting Cesc and Gallas and RVP fit and playing.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

+1 # Berg10 2010-03-16 17:29

Good points db10.

Cesc for me doesn't seem the sort of person to say one thing and mean another, for that reason I believe he is with us for a few years yet.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

+1 # chris2 2010-03-16 13:33

Why do you run this rubbish?
Cesc may leave one day he might be sold, he might get inujured he might even lose his place.
But why that oh who wouldn't want to play for their own boyhood club - that's just junk look at ManU or almost any club for that matter they're stacked with guys who supported other teams as boys?
If you know Cesc personally fine, if not respect your own ignornace at least.
On the main point there's a few guys who could take on the playmaker role, I think.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # akgooner 2010-03-16 14:24

walcotts boyhood fav is liverpool n ramseys is man u, but u never hear abut dem leaving, its bcuz barc n real hav a pull on spanish newspaper marca, dey make up alot of stuff. Cesc aint goin nower soon, i also agree wit the chap above, nasri n cesc can b lyk iniesta n xavi

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # Mexican Gunner 2010-03-17 04:43

Really Ramsey is a ManU fan??? Damn I will pretend that I never read that.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

+1 # db10 2010-03-16 17:45

And the other thing is that the way arsenal play at the moment we are not reliant on one player as we used to be when Henry was around and as man u and liverpool are reliant on Rooney and Gerrard and Torres respectively.

There is rarely any one player who wins the match on their own because we play as a team. for example, Last week against porto you can't say that Bendtner won the match on his own, despite scoring a hat-trick because of the brilliant performances from Arsh and nasri. the only exception was cesc against villa. My point is that because the focus is on team play we don't rely too heavily on any one player and whoever misses out, there will always be someone else to compensate.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # TJ14 2010-03-17 08:44

great point. That is why we are doing so well this season.

I keep saying that if you take the spine out of the other top teams, like we have missed Gallas, RvP and Cesc of late, they would struggle alot more than we would. In fact, take Drogba out of Chelsea or Rooney out of United or Torres out of Liverpool, they would struggle.

I don't believe we have that dependence upon any one player.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

0 # IndianGunner 2010-03-17 09:56

Without cesc fabregas we are a good side,but with him in the team we are a great side.That is the point here.Yes we can play without him for 1 or 2 matches but not a full season.The matches that we have won without him were not comprehensive.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator