It's time to forget Cesc Fabregas and move for 'Super Mario' Balotelli
|Arsene Wenger should not be considering a move to bring Cesc Fabregas back to Arsenal this summer.
It has been suggested that Barcelona are willing to let the former Arsenal favourite leave Spain and he would jump at the chance of a return to the Premier League.
But while I would welcome Fabregas back to the Emirates with open arms, he is not what’s needed in the bid to win the Premier League.
A man who could well be that player is Mario Balotelli.
The fiery Italian is a brilliant footballer which some forget once you get his mind focused on the game.
His time at Man City was littered with disciplinary issues and foolish off-field antics but he seems to have mellowed since moving back to his homeland with AC Milan.
He scored 14 goals in 30 league games last season for a dire AC Milan team but his best performances have come in the Azzurri blue.
The 23-year-old was at his devastating best during Euro 2012 in leading his country to the final with the highlight being a stunning brace against Germany in the semi-final.
That game showcased the hulking Italian’s appetite to be a big game player and Lord knows that is something Arsenal craved last season.
A quick, powerful and agile striker is just what Wenger should be in the market for and it’s hard to look past the Italian in that respect.
Discipline
But Balotelli comes with a questionable temperament and inane ability to go from the sublime to the ridiculous in the flick of a switch.
This was evident at the Emirates two seasons ago when he was sent off for lashing out and he is the sort of player Wenger would normally avoid at all costs.
At present the dressing room is a very happy place and Wenger would need to work hard to integrate Balotelli and get him in tune with the rest of the squad.
Balotelli would also enable Mesut Ozil to showcase his true talents as he could thread balls through for the striker to chase.
Returning to England would also offer him the opportunity to silence his critics who in essence blamed his for Roberto Mancini’s sacking.
Do we really need Cesc Fabregas?
Bringing Fabregas back to North London on the other hand would not address the problem positions at the club.
Its been said that you can never have too many quality footballers but adding Fabregas to a midfield of Ozil, Cazorla, Ramsey, Oxlade Chamberlain and Wilshere would be an issue.
They cannot all start every week and while that could be beneficial in keeping them fit, try telling the unlucky ones they won’t be starting against Chelsea or Man City.
Fabregas is a dynamic and creative midfielder and not the replacement needed to fill the boots of Mikel Arteta in the team.
The flip side is that letting Fabregas join a Chelsea team, fresh from the addition of Diego Costa, is a dangerous prospect which could come back to bite Wenger on the bum.
But it seems that it’s a risk the Arsenal boss is ready to take.
At 24, Balotelli has his best years ahead of him and while many see him as a disruptive and mischievous influence, he is one hell of a footballer.
I for one would love to see him donning the red of Arsenal come August and leading a title charge.
I don’t understand why people say getting Fabregas is not a priority. Cazorola is going to be 30 at the end of this year and rosicky/arteta are on the wrong side of 30. While I do agree that getting a good striker, defensive midfielder and a right back along with a goal keeper are our top priority right now, I do feel if a player of Fabregas quality is available we need to get him without 2nd thoughts.
Moreover if we want to compete in all competitions we need to have a very good squad and I am sure when ozil, wilshere and ramsey got injured many were questioning the squad depth. Here is how we can spend our transfer kitty (just my view) –
GK -> 5-8m ruddy/caballero
RB -> 7-10m aurier/richards
CDM -> 15-25m Schnederlin/Ginter/Rodwell
FWD -> 10-25m Remy/Mandukic/Balotelli/Morata
So the net spend may come up to around 50-60m. I am sure we can go for Fabregas.
i dont understand how could anyone say we don’t need fabregas..rosicky and arteta have one more year and cazorla myabe 2or 3,so we’ll have to look for their replacement…and i think cesc is still better than any of our midfielders except ramsey…btw balotelli?? cmon…why do you think everyone wanted to sell him so far…..
Mario Bolotelli, Jackson Martinez, Wilfred Bony, Loic Remy and Alvaro Morata are the six top strikers that have been rumourly linked with a possible move to Arsenal by the press. If Arsenal attack line is to be fat for next season’s campains. How I wish Arsenal will sign-on these top strikers to bolster their attacking options next season. The £100m pounds released by the Arsenal board might fall short of a required funds for the boss to embark on any epic transfers. Can 100 million pounds buy those top 5 strikers I stated above? I doubt it. The board might be cutting short the boss hand in this coming window. Definitely, the Gunners mid-field have to be strengthen with 2 tops to forestall any lack of adequate options as Jack wilshere, Oxadale Chamberlain and even Aaron Ramsey are suspectable to long term injuries during the course of the season. I want the boss not only to bring in another right back to the Gunners defence line, but he should get another top left back for cover as well. His current left backs are often injury suspects as the season progresses. by the way, can’t we see players emerging from the youth team to fill-in into some of these weak or vacant positions in the first team? I think the youth team will be failing in their functions, if Arsenal have to be buying players every time.
If one man you want to bet on, who can handle Balotelli, he has to be Wenger. Period.
Btw, i would love Fabregas at Arsenal mainly because I would hate it seeing him in a rival’s shirt. But thats not how you do your business.
And regarding Cazorla, club sees Wilshere as his replacement. A DM, Ramsey , Ozil along with Wilshere and Ox with ageing Cazorla, Rosicky and Flamini as backups are going to be our midfield for next few years. So not much need of Fabregas.
Diego Alves or Zieler
Aurier or Micah
Eto’o (free) or Remy
03 signs to 03 needy sectors.
Balotelli could go on to become one the best players in the world, he has not even hit his peak yet,if we can get him for £25 million along with Remy we could have a great attack. Add a DM and a pacey winger we will not need Fabregas. We already have Ozil Cazorla Ramsey Wilshere Chamberlain Walcott Rosicky Podolski Flamini Arteta add a DM and a winger we will have 12 midfielders, and 4 strikers in Balotelli Remy Giroud and Sanogo. Another player nobody is talking about is Joel Campbell we could loan him out to a prem club, but we could keep him for squad depth next season. Wenger needs to spend big this summer in order to win the league.