Cesc Fabregas is looking increasingly likely to stay put at underachieving Arsenal, and for whatever reason, foregoing silverware opportunities at Barcelona which presently seem to be greater than those with the North London club. Undoubtedly this is good news for those of a red and white disposition, as Fabregas (still with his best playing years ahead) is an indomitable rock in the young Arsenal team who are in it for the long term haul.
So how can (what many fans consider to be) the greatest club in the world ensure that they rule Europe with an iron fist for years to come? The answer is not so obvious when others are already spoken for with the bigger clubs, but peer further down the league tables of Italy, Spain and England, and the answer becomes blindingly obvious – why splash the cash, when there’s proven talent for a much lower price?
Everton’s most creative player, Mikel Arteta then comes into the sights of the elite. Now a family man approaching thirty, Arteta has always expressed a desire to “one day” return to his homeland, and that day may be coming much sooner than expected. Everton are completely skint and no mistake; their summer spending is over, and without firstly sacrificing one of their better players, will be unable to buy any other players in this window – and probably the next.
Manager David Moyes has already given up on American midfielder Landon Donovan if this transfer market impasse continues, and despite the American (who played with great distinction in the new year) expressing a desire to return to Goodison, everyone has their price.
Much has been made of why Arteta should desire a move sooner rather than later; tasteless reasons have been previously touted by various hacks – but there can be no ignoring a much believed transfer request. Although this news is now a month old, Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola (having now been denied Fabregas’ services) will be rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of signing such a proven talent.
Arteta is particularly good at set pieces, and has chalked up impressive free-kick goals over the years against Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Hull City, and also shows an impressive level of trickery (by dogged Everton standards) on the pitch when it matters most.
Although Barcelona is only a mere possibility given the sheer height of competition for first team starting spots, a move away from Everton now seems inevitable. The good news is that the Toffees have shown an ability to bounce back from such losses (Wayne Rooney in 2004 for example). Ultimately, with the right approach to negotiations (i.e. not dragging them on as in the Joleon Lescott saga), a good profit could be made from Arteta, by which token signing Donovan would be possible, as well as looking at effective back up for Leighton Baines.
Arteta is not the one man team Rooney was, and there will be some very frustrating football being played without the Spaniard’s influence, but simultaneously there are signs that the rest of the team can muck in together and cement Everton in Europa League respectability – fourth place, glories and silverware seem as distant as ever with or without Arteta.
Those who believe that the “24-year rule” will be maintained in 2011 really need a reality check too – the Premiership title belongs to Chelsea, and nobody else.
Follow me on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/TamhasWoods
About the Author
so by your logic, all players from teams not named chelsea should join barcelona. especially gerrard, and torres.
there’s a reason they went for fabregas first..hes much better than arteta, and will only continue to improve over the next 5 years, unlike arteta who is either already at his peak or just past it.
they wouldnt look at arteta twice if fabregas was available (or if they could afford him)
pretty lame article really
Moorfire,
You join the debate then say that essentially it’s not worth joining. Nice work. You must be the wisest man that ever lived. Ever.
Rooney is far from a 1-man team. Look at the world cup, that’s exactly what he tried to be and was caught out over and over. Rooney needs delivery which the players at Man U can provide for him to tap the ball into the net, very few of his goals show skill that other strikers (even at lower levels) would find it hard to match.
Those who believe that the “24-year rule” will be maintained in 2011 really need a reality check too – the Premiership title belongs to Chelsea, and nobody else.
what do you mean by that?
Possibly the most ignorant, stupid and beyond bizzare article I’ve ever read.
Have you ever watched Everton play?
Granted Arteta does add another dimention to Everton’s play, but by no means is 4th place too far for Everton – even without Arteta..
On another hand, Arteta came to Everton with nothing but a decent right foot and a few tricks under his sleave. We made him what he is today, fact.
Dogged Everton, I seem to remember many pundits last season comparing Everton to the likes of Barca and Arsenal regarding their passing. Maybe you should watch football before you decide to write about it. Paul Merson, after watching Everton, commented on the Sky Sports site saying that he “could have been watching Barcelona”.
With the likes of Pienaar, Fellaini, Rodwell, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Saha, Baines, Heitinga, Jagielka and the rest – it’s one of the best teams in the league, on paper.
You should try to write an article that isnt against every other team apart from Chelsea, it might turn out to be a good one.
Have u been drinking ?
What a shocking article
“Dogged Everton standards”? Those days are long gone!
Also, sell Arteta and buy Donovan + backup for Baines? Why on earth would everton want to do that?!? Maybe we should sell Pienaar while we’re at it, and replace him with Steven Hunt!
Ben, while Everton’s play is good at the moment and certainly mirrors that of the top level, it is not and will not be like that CONSISTENTLY, there are some ugly games to come. Their play is dogged by Champions League standards, any cretin knows that (then again…)
Why do you think they stumble the minute a half decent team rears its head in the Europa League? Perhaps you should think twice before opening that big mouth of yours over some pointless gripe you have with reality, and if you have anything better to do than sneer down your ignorant nose (which I doubt) I suggest you get off this site and make a real contribution to society.
So let’s start an article with the phrase “underachieving Arsenal”. Top notch reporting. I think you’ll find underachievemnt is what happens when you spend hundreds of millions of pounds and win nothing. I think you’ll find Arsenal win more points per million spent than any other team in the premiership.
Whether we should be spending more is another question but do be so damned ignorant.
“Ignorant” is pushing it a bit Mike – you should be grateful that I think Arsenal could do a a lot better, they have so much potential. Please don’t tell me you’re genuinely happy with your lot at the moment?