Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 19:27

My back and my legs have well and truly had it today, not only that but I think some sort of virus has crept up behind me, knowing that I am weak and vulnerable and the virus has struck, leaving me with a nasty cough and horse throat.

The physical strains are down to playing two games of football last night, that is something that I haven't done since I was knee high to a grasshopper or something like that. I am often bruck after one game on a Tuesday but two was painful. As usual after football on a Tuesday evening a few of the lads went to Nandos to indulge in some tasty Piri piri chicken as well as clinging onto the hope that we may come across Craig Eastmond satisfying his boredom by going head to head with a flame grilled chicken. If you don't follow Eastmond on Twitter then you will not have a clue why I just said that but hey, never mind.

Whilst tucking into our grub, I was in long conversation with a good Gooner friend of mine about the contract situations at Arsenal regarding messrs Clichy, Cesc and of course Samir Nasri.

Cesc Fabregas still has 4 years on his existing contract so our position is strong for the time being but as the years tick by, his valuation will gradually diminish. The only way Cesc will keep his valuation is if he signs an extension to his current deal, I cannot imagine that a new deal would be top of his priority list at this moment in time so what to do?

Do we risk losing Cesc Fabregas on a free or give into Barcelona's ridiculous €40 valuation?

It would be easy to say take the money and run, bring in another talented player and start again, But when you look at the transfer market today and see how players such as Jordan Henderson are going for close to £20 million or Luka Modric is being valued in the region of £30+ million the question is, how to do you find a replacement with similar quality and attributes to Cesc Fabregas? What kind of transfer will it take to prize that player away, not only that but what type of wages will that player demand?

According to Opta stats, Cesc Fabregas has created more chances for others over the last few years than any other player across Europe. Cesc Fabregas completed a remarkable 38 through passes last season which was 15 more than the second highest in the league. This was all with our captain having continuous hamstring problems and often playing with the handbrake on because of this problem.

When Cesc does not play, we lose his incredible cutting edge so replacing that cutting edge with a replacement signing would be a massive task for the manager.

If Cesc is to leave after his contract runs out then the likes of Jack Wilshere will be 23 and Aaron Ramsey will be 24. If those two continue to develop at the rate they are currently doing then who is to say that Cesc will still be a better player than his midfield team mates. It would be a case of thank you Cesc, you are free to go home and enjoy a fat signing on fee. You deserve it.

In the meantime, I would rather we focused our energies on repairing his hamstrings or at least managing them much better than they were and build a team around him that suit his strengths. Cesc needs attacking movement, he needs runners, he needs intelligent movement that can creek the door open for Cesc to find that gap. A player like Luis Suarez would have been wonderful for Cesc. Last season the movement would usually only come from Theo Walcott and Robin Van Persie, at the end of the season it was only the latter who looked to find spaces in the box.

I do not know what Gervinho's movement is like as I haven't watched a full game of his as yet but I pray that he has that in his game, if he does then Cesc will develop a good understanding with him and that will be good for us.

Samir Nasri on the other hand still tends to come towards the ball instead of away from it. I remember Wenger talking about trying to teach him to make runs. In fact that was one thing that stuck in my mind when he made his Arsenal debut against West Brom, he followed the ball around the pitch and wanted to get on the ball as often as possible.

At Bolton away last season he showed he was very capable of it when Van Persie floated a delightful scooped pass into his path to put us ahead but Nasri blasted at the keeper instead of slotting past him. That thought still frustrates me. Why go for the percentages instead of having faith in your quality, I guess that summed up our end of season, we didn't trust our ability and stuttered through the run in.

While talking about Nasri and the subject of contracts, Samir Nasri will see out his contract at Arsenal. That is according to French correspondent Phillipe Auclair who was speaking to Talksport radio

Quite frankly I do not know what Nasri's intentions are but the ball is very much in his court right now. We can transfer list the player but he does not have to agree terms with anyone who meets his valuation. It would make financial sense for himself and his agent to be available to join any club of his choice on a free transfer, We would not be able to stop him talking to the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City or god forbid Tottenham Hotspurs.

I could handle Cesc leaving on a free because he has been at our club for a long time now, has consistently given the club great performances over a number of years whilst Nasri has a long way to go before he can match the contribution of Cesc Fabregas.

Does Arsene already know that Nasri plans to see out his last year at Arsenal and the likely Gervinho signing is a direct replacement? Or will we be looking for another player to replace Nasri should he not extend his current contract.

It is difficult to know what is bubbling under the surface but one thing is for sure, it would be sad to see a fans favourite leave the club in this manner, A manner that he is perfectly entitled to, that must be said. When you sign a contract, there is no guarantees that an extension will be signed but when a manager puts so much faith in you and your development is visible along with your support chanting your name pretty much every game. The prospect of walking away at this stage leaves a somewhat bitter taste in the mouth.

In my eyes, Samir Nasri owes Arsene Wenger another contract. Nasri is still young with many years ahead of him. Money should not be his priority right now, it should be about development and trophies. If Nasri continued his early form until the end of the season then we could have found ourselves in a much better position than the one we finished in. If Robin could make such a difference on his own then what would we have been like with Nasri's early season form alongside it?

I still believe he will stay at Arsenal. I think it would be sheer madness and greed otherwise so I am sticking with that for now until I hear anything different.

One thing is for certain though, we need to build a winning team around these two players if we are to maximise our chances of keeping them for the longer term.

That is the plan and that is why Wenger and Gazidis are working hard behind the scenes to bring in the players we need to lift us to the next level.

Back tomorrow.Back tomorrow.

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Comments (21)

• 22-Jun-2011 20:05 | | CrunchTime
  

  40m for a player who has not led a team to a trophy is a stupid valuation

• 22-Jun-2011 20:06 | | murk
  

  shouldn't be worried about those 2: current decline, need to change the trajectory, planning should be more around getting the club back to thelevel that will secure jack, theo, aaron

• 22-Jun-2011 20:15 | | MeanLean
  

  I do not understand your argument whatsoever.
  
  Since when does one player win a trophy?

• 22-Jun-2011 20:21 | | Man United Killer  - Things fall apart..Nothing last 4eva
  

  ML...True indeed that Cesc needs a runner.All the more reason why I feel there could be much more to Theo that just a winger.IMO,I feel with all the pace that theo has and Cesc's ability to make monsters of runners,theo is being wasted on the flanks.
  Our playing style has often been through the flanks for most part and funny thing is that,it's not our strong point.I think our strong point is through the middle especially when Cesc is playing.
  Well,I guess there is probably no need to think of Cesc as part of our future plans.He has been flirting shamelessly and consistently with Barcelona for some time now.It would be nice to have Cesc in the side but no need to keep a player whose heart is elsewhere.No point whatsoever.Before Cesc there was Arsenal and so shall it be long after he is gone.He has been a good servant (to some extent) but he is no captain.He has showed that he is only still a boy at heart.
  Come August,if he has moved on or not I will still wish him all the best.But as for some of us we will be here all the days of our lives.I love the Arsenal and Long May She Live!!

• 22-Jun-2011 20:24 | | g0on3r5
  

  i also think cesc should honor his contract with arsenal and later just leave for free. i don't think anyone could complaint that. by that time cesc already served us more than 10 years and he still got a few more good years to play for his dream team.

• 22-Jun-2011 20:31 | | hers  - mr
  

  SPECULATIONS AND RUMOURS, THAT TELL'S YOU ARSENE IS NOT IN THE MARKET AND TO HANG ON TO PLAYERS LIKE FABREGAS IS BAD FOR THE CLUB. SIX YEARS WITHOUT A TROPHY ONLY TELLS YOU ONE THING THAT ARSENE'S SYSTEM IS SO NOT WORKING. THE BEST THING FOR ARSENAL IS FOR HILL-WOOD AND ARSENE TO GO.

• 22-Jun-2011 20:34 | | clockendrider  - Re Crunch Time Comment
  

  I agree. 40m for a player whose only medals are European nations and world cup medals is ludicrous especially when he is the leagues leading assist maker despite only playing half a season.
  Whereas 20m for Jordan Henderson who led the England under 21's to such famous success recently, managing sometimes even to find a teammate with a 5 yard pass, is a snip.
  Thank you for helping me to see things more clearly.

• 22-Jun-2011 20:34 | | Man United Killer
  

  ML..I agree..One player does not win a trophy true but at least he could have started by mobilizing his troops.A thing I have never seen Cesc do as a captain.

• 22-Jun-2011 20:44 | | MeanLean
  

  Cannot agree with that. Cesc has often kept very quiet when it comes to Barcelona, he has flirted less than most. You may have read many stories in the media about Cesc wanting to go to Barca but most of it is the usual shit stirring. He has conducted himself very well this season, perhaps not as clearly last summer but much better than most.

• 22-Jun-2011 20:45 | | MeanLean
  

  Haha! You helped me understand Mr Crunch time much better. Thank you.

• 22-Jun-2011 20:59 | | Sy4  - Tw@t
  

  Best midfielder in Europe and won all top medals at country level.
  Why is he not worth 50m given age and contract situation
  Southampton want 12m for unknown player, LFC pay 20m for a muppet and Cesc is not worth 50m? Isn't he a home grown player for Barca or R Madrid - what premium do we pay for English talent???

• 22-Jun-2011 21:04 | | Man United Killer
  

  Well,you are made a captain for a reason.He was made a captain where most wouldnt have.So it comes with the territory. I dont think Cesc has done badly I am only saying as a captain he could have done better.Higher responsibilities come with higher expectations.that's just the way it goes.you didnt know this?

• 22-Jun-2011 21:10 | | Ian
  

  Nasri owes Wenger nothing.He signed a contract that runs out next year.We either sell him for £15m now or he goes for free next season.Thats how football is now.It works both ways we laughed our heads off when we got Sol on a free so we cant complain if Nasri does a Sol.Wenger wont let him got for free.He's going this summer

• 22-Jun-2011 21:25 | | om  - heh
  

  good post

• 22-Jun-2011 21:26 | | Biscuit
  

  Sell him and buy Jermaine Jenas !!

• 23-Jun-2011 00:15 | | mohd ismail
  

  The Fab saga is unsettling. Coupled with Nasri,it seems the gunners midfield is under threat. This is with the greatest of respect to Ramsey and Wilshire.
  Wenger has to decide which one to let go and at the same time get the players who can bring the gunners to the next level ie winning games and trophies.
  Btw everybody know you don't win anything with a porous defence hich has been the case the last six years.If Wenger doesn't get it right this coming season,he should ,in all honesty go to a club which will give him six years to develop the players and not win anything. Pretty soccer has no place in modern soccer compared to village soccer. The aim is winning,ugly,if it is necessary.

• 23-Jun-2011 01:24 | | J
  

  and that Ian, is why supporting a football is much more meaningless that it used to be.

• 23-Jun-2011 05:40 | | DaygeeDr  - Spot on
  

  I like the part where u say Nasri owes Wenger another contract extension. and thats the truth. Players tend to forget when the manager stuck with them, and when they come good they just bluff and want away.... i think He's gonna stay tho. Spot on article tho...

• 23-Jun-2011 08:08 | | Englishmik  - Screw the trophies.
  

  The pressure on winning trophies and the Carling cup loss killed our season. Who cares about the Carling Cup. Its a testing ground for the young players. If we had won the cup would that have meant a great season, of course not. The pressure placed on the club is way too intense.
  What worries me is we threw the league title away especially after that Carling Cup defeat. In the champions league we were screwed from at least having a chance. Man U gets crucified in final and where was the media condemnation.
  My worry is after previous seasons when injuries cost us dearly I was optimistic about the next season. This last season was a team who crashed and burned when they could have won premier league.
  I enter the new season thinking wtf. I totally respect Arsene Wenger but if he can't see what we fans see and continues to treat Arsenals money like his own then its time for someone else in charge before he destroys the whole club.
  
  Arsene please buy any 2 out of 3
  Cahill
  Samba
  Jaglielka
  
  Please buy a striker so Bendtner can go, but not some unknown like the WBA bimbo.
  Gervinho is fine but would love Benzema
  
  Melo would be good DM but if you buy the 2 out of 3 at the back then maybe Koz as DM.
  I mentioned Koz as defensive midfielder couple of months ago and now other blogs are suggesting same.
  
  A defence of TV, Samba, Cahil, Sagna, Djouro and possibly Jagielka would be awesome.
  
  We need Fabregas if he can be better than last year. Nasri needs to sign, none of this playing out last year and leave as a free agent.
  He signs or sell him to Turkey.
  We keep Arshavin, Vela, Theo and bring up some kids.
  
  Denilson, Rosicky (unfortunately) Clown Prince of Dennmark and our diving champion and other clown Eboue HAVE TO GO.
  
  If Fab and Nas Stay this post is good if not need a re-think

• 23-Jun-2011 08:29 | | angelic beardy
  

  I would love Wenger give Lansbury a good run in the team next season. He is the high energy midfield player we need in the team and the closest we have to a Flamini type box to box runner. I see our future midfield as Wilshere, Ramsey and Lansbury plus Frimpong looked half decent. I have to say but Coqalon what ever his name is at Lorient looks to be a good midfield destroyer also.

• 01-Jul-2011 15:55 | | jacco
  

  I disagree. Cesc is a brillian tplayer and it's not his fault we've not won anything. He is worth at least £50m, Seeing as Torres is worth that, he'sprobably actually woth £60m minimum.

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