The Defensive Midfielder Question.

In most ideal teams for Arsenal, you are likely to see the recurring 'Nasri-Fabregas-New DM-Arshavin'. There has been so much distrust in the players vying for the perceived position to play in central midfield with the captain, namely Denilson, Alexandre Song-Billong, Abou Diaby. In an ideal world, Arsenal would have the financial circumstances of Real Madrid and buy all the best players in the world, in which case not more than 3 or 4 players would remain in the team. The fall from last seasons heights has been firmly placed on the aforementioned 3 players, when the whole team dis-functioned, the defence was more porous, the captain had his worst season in an Arsenal shirt (something that has gone under the radar so easily), the strikers fell below their qualities.

The question is, why do the fans want a new midfielder? Some in part due to the nature of English football that is blood and thunder, as intimated by Dennis Bergkamp in words to Andriy Arshavin, but also the success experienced last season where Mathieu Flamini fought for everything. Compare that to the understated and quiet operations of Denilson, a player more likely to pass and keep possession has not been enjoyed, similar to Claude Makelele who was insulted in his first few months for showing the art of a holding player to the English public. However to those who analyse his performances without prejudice, will see he has been one of the better players last season, and he actually does his job very well.

Alexandre Song-Billong is another one who is bypassed as not being a star player to play for Arsenal, yet his performances at the African Cup of Nations were more effective than the Africans he is compared to, namely Michael Essien and Michael Jon Obi, both of Chelsea. His prime assets are his passes, but after the dour 0-0 draw with Sunderland, he found new belief in his ability, and has begun to use his body to greater effect. We must not forget he is a player who Cameroon have failed to win when he hasn't played thus far in World Cup Qualification, losing to Togo, especially losing the midfield battle due to his absence from suspension.

Abou Diaby is a player that many do not see as a holding player any more, but the word from the training ground and France setup, he has better ball manipulation skills in tight areas than anyone in the Arsenal squad and better than Lassana Diarra in the French team. One way of absorbing presure for your team is keeping the ball and releasing it quickly, something Lassana does so well now for Real Madrid, something Abou has yet to translate from the training ground to the pitch on a consistent basis. Lets not forget it only takes 2-3 games in a row for him to get a call up to the French team, even ahead of former favourite Flamini, so the French technical staff see the talent there.

So why are Arsenal still clamouring for a new holding player, when they already have two players that played well in spells in an inconsistent team last season in a whole new midfield, and a player who may yet realise his potential? If fans want an improvement everywhere, then you can pick bones in the whole team, is Clichy a defender, are the defensive pairings effective, are those on the flanks ready to open the pitch up, is the strikeforce as efficient as perceived after the sale of Adebayor?

Personally, it will take a concerted effort from the WHOLE team for midfieldto be strong again. If players like Zidane would bust a gut off the ball and still had Deschamps and Davids behind him, then why can't Arsenal's front players do the same? To leave the whole defensive responsibility on one player is asking for trouble.