talkingOfArsenal.com

Groan! Sigh...

This is probably the first time I've managed to squeeze three players names in a single blog title to make a sentence, and although I accept that it's probably one of the more dodgier headings I've conjured up, I couldn't think of anything else so unfortunately you're stuck with it.

So Flamini is off to Italy.

Just when he seemed to have won many-a-fan over (this blogger included), and established himself as a regular in the first team, Flamini's gone and left Arsenal.

Not many people appear to know this, but the Frenchman has Italian parentage, and has always held ambitions to play in the Italian league. Apparently he was a Juventus supporter as a kid, and so the draw of this plus the money was probably too much to ask to ask him to stay.

Now I don't fall into the camp that feels Flamini going off at the end of contract for free is some kind of mortal sin. At the end of the day, it is as much a job as your next one, albeit a highly paid job on whom the hopes of many fans rest.

At the end of the day, footballers have a very restricted career lifetime (10-12 years at the most) so who can blame them if they at times make decisions that appear illogical to the rest of us? And in Flamini's case, he probably feels that this is his one chance to secure his financial future (his new weekly salary is high because it takes into account the fact that no transfer fee is being paid to Arsenal to secure his services).

I know that money isn't everything, however I think if we are honest with ourselves, I think most people would do the same.

The only thing I will say about Flamini's move from his point of view, is to be aware of the fact that few players leave Arsenal and then go on to shine. There is a good chance that the Italian game will expose some of Flamini's weaknesses, that perhaps the physicality of the premiership has done well to hide.

Frankly, and maybe I should be, I'm not overly miffed about Flamini going - he has served us well, and importantly, has even played outside his own preferred position for the good of the team. For that, I find it hard to bring myself to begrudge him leaving.

So for Flamini replacements?

Thankfully the newly vacant position is arguably one that is not especially difficult to fill - in fact, positionally, I would argue that it is the least complex role in this current Arsenal set up.

Fundamentally, it can be summarised as follows:

• protect the back four, by playing across and in front of them
• break up opposition play when they attack, by hassling them off the ball and generally being a nuisance
• when you do win the ball, keep your passes out to the attacking midfielders and wingers short and simple
• try to defend as high up the pitch as possible, giving your back four space recover when under attack 

You might think that this is a long list to remember in the heat of the game, however most of the other nine outfield positions are likely to have instructions twice as long as what is above.

Already, a number of names are tumbling out of the bag as possible replacements for the battling Frenchman.

Personally, I would go for someone like Gareth Barry at Aston Villa - he's direct, he's strong, he's single-minded, he's tall-ish (ok, taller than Flamini), he can take a good penalty, and he can play in multiple positions. But with Wenger's reluctance to open the purse strings, Barry may well be a pipe dream.

Another name that is currently being bandied about is Manchester City's Michael Johnson. With the shenanigans surrounding Sven, who knows there may well be unsettled players who would find the attraction of a top-four club and virtually guaranteed Champions League football irresistible.

Other more likely options however, would be the well pummelled path of signing another unknown off the continent, Bakary Sagna style (who by the way, in his first debut season, made it into the PFA team of the season along with 3 other Arsenal squad members).

And if Le Boss decides to sign no replacements for Flamini, what would our options be? I would opt to play Alex Song (the second name in the title of this posting) in exactly the same position as the Flamster has just vacated.

The Cameroonian has impressed with his tough tackling ever since he returned from his stint at Charlton. In addition, he has excelled as a utility player when called upon to play in central defence, as can be testified in the last few games that Wenger has used him. He is strong and hard to get off the ball, he is skillful, and isn't afraid to carry the ball forward.

Another internally sourced option could well be Abou Diaby, who was signed to Arsenal for the very purpose of taking over Viera's mantle (big boots to fill). If my memory isn't letting me down, he actually looked the part for a while, until that disgusting tackle at the hands of an anonymous player from Sunderland two seasons ago.

Which brings me onto my final question - a topic I thought I wouldn't need to revisit again, but needs must.

Diarra, Diarra, wherefore art thou, Diarra?

At the risk of contradicting myself (regarding players having short careers and making what appear to be illogical decisions to us), if there ever was a player who should have been less hasty in moving on, it is Diarra. If only he had trusted Wenger and stayed on when Le Boss promised him that he would get his chance in the first team.

With Flamini gone, Diarra would now be our midfield enforcer, and his dream to play in a top European club, with guaranteed Champions League appearances, and the very real possibility of silverware in the forthcoming years would be a reality.

Instead, Diarra has prematurely handed the honour to someone else, someone who would probably have ended up being Diarra's understudy for the next few years.

Patience, as they say, is a virtue.