Squad Profile: Midfielders Pt. 2

It's now time for part two of our review of the midfield. This time we'll focus on the wide players, the wingers, and our attacking midfielders. Our AM (attacking midfielders) are players like Hleb or Rosicky, or Nasri, who can play on either wing or in the hole. Other players, like Walcott for example, are true wingers in that they only play out on the flanks. I'm not including Carlos Vela in this article only because Le Boss considers him to be a Centre Forward even though he was used as a winger last season. Well then, enough intro, onto the midfield review!

Tomas Rosicky no.7
Pos.: AM, LM, RM
OVR: 87 (See key at bottom)
Analysis:
Rosicky is our emphatic attacking midfielder from the Czech republic. I don't think many of us when he signed knew who he was, but it quickly became evident in the World Cup that year when he blasted in two goals against the U.S.A. and ran the Czech midfield throughout the event. He's been one of our best players over the past two seasons, bringing calmness, great passing, penetrating runs, and superb long range shooting. Unfortunately for Rosicky he's been injured for long spells again and again while here. When he was injured in January it was discovered that a long-term problem with his hamstring was to blame. This was repaired with surgery, which involved metal splints in his leg. So when he returns we will once again be blessed with his creativity, but this time, he'll be made of steel.

Samir Nasri no.8
Pos.: AM, LM
OVR: 86
Analysis:
Samir Nasri was the first signing in years that I was truly excited about, because for once I knew who the guy was. I had watched a number of Marseilles games in which he was involved, including ones in the Champions League, and I must say I was impressed. He was touted as the "Next Zidane" every time he played. and naturally I was skeptical about such notions. However after watching the guy play I was amazed. This seemed like a world-class player in the making. In the back of my mind at the time I figured that in a year or so, Man Utd, Chelsea, or Barcelona would come along with a big-money move for him, and we may have to face him in a match, a prospect I was not looking forward too. So when Arsenal signed him this summer, I was ecstatic. I couldn't believe for once Arsene had signed a young superstar of the same calibre as Robino or Ronaldo. Now that he's here he's been scoring goals, strengthening the left side of midfield, developing a great partnership with Clichy, and looks to be once of Arsene Wenger's best-ever signings. The next Pires maybe?

Jack Wilshere no.19
Pos.: LM
OVR: 68
Analysis:
Jack Wilshere was the standout player in the reserves last year and when he was given a run out in the preseason friendlies this year he ran riot. He proved himself to quite possibly the next big English talent, and that alone can only be a good thing. Wilshere scored goals, was calm and intelligent on the ball, and dribbled by many a defense. He's still super young and showed it a few times with some inexperienced plays, but that is to be expected from a player who is well under 18. To reward all his efforts in preseason, Arsene gave him the no.19 and made him a first-team player. He has yet to make his first-team debut, but with him being named on the bench almost every week it's bound to happen soon, and when it does, we may just have the next big star on our hands...

Emmanuel Eboue no.27
Pos.: RM, RB (old position), DM (in emergencies)
OVR: 80
Analysis:
"Eboue, Eboue, Eboue, were you thinking?" That's a phrase I've heard myself and others mutter again and again in recent times. He was turned from a wonderful fullback into a terrible midfielder by Arsene Wenger, who keeps him in the middle of the park supposedly to bring defensive stability to the right side of the pitch. Don't mind me saying it, but I think Sanga does that just fine. He produces more crosses and good attacking chances than does Eboue, and all Eboue does is give the ball away and writhe on the ground like a dying old man every time he feels even a couple inches of skin make contact with him, and sometimes even less. However, for the purposes of fairness, let's look at his good qualities. He can cross well on occasion, and it's led to a few Adebayor goals. He can also defend pretty well, that is after all his original profession, and perhaps his most redeeming quality is his humour, which according to several Arsenal team-mates is top-quality. He's the joker in the dressing room and the whinger on the field. Perhaps the only real reason Arsene keeps him around is for the dressing room morale he brings with his jokes.

Theo Walcott no.14
Pos.: RWM (Right Wing Midfield), LWM, ST (Striker)
OVR: 81
Analysis:
Our new number 14 has shown all the signs that he is capable of following in TH14's legacy. He's got great pace, good dribbling, fair passing, and his finishing has been steadily improving since the middle of last season. For a long time Theo tended to just give the ball away following a run down the wing that beat a few defenders but came to nothing. Many supporters, although I don't include myself among them, were ready to give up on him and send him on loan or else sell him. But responding to this Theo said he talked with the boss and was told what he could do to improve, and improve he did. By the end of last season Walcott was scoring goals, passing well, and was first-choice. This season after a brief hiccup, he's back into that form again and improving. His goal against FC Twente in the Champions League qualifier at the Emirates was eerily reminiscent of a certain Frenchman who used to wear that number and he is looking more and more link the famous number 14 we all used to know.

That concludes our midfield profile. As you can see our midfield is filled with both promising and finished quality. We have many a player who could belong at any top club, but they've all decided to remain at this top club, and we've all got to be grateful for that. Now, it is my belief, and one that is shared by many others, that if we just replace Flamini or Gilberto then we will have an unbeatable midfield.

A striker review will be forthcoming in the next few days, after which we'll look at predictions for the league as a whole. Until next time,

Fab 4

Key:
0-29: Sunday league player
30-49: Non league or youth academy level
50-59: Plays at League One or Two level.
60-69: Growing prospect or ageing star close to retirement. Championship level.
70-79: Mid-to-Bottom table Premier League level. Good, solid, but not world-class.
80-89: Belongs at a big four club. Top quality player, very good.
90-99: Legendary. Only players who are, were, or could be one of the best players of all time in their position fall into this category. Examples include Pelé, Henry, C. Ronaldo, Baresi.