Song sees African benefit

Midfield ace expects Gunners to cope without New Year absentees

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 9th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Song sees African benefit

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Alex Song feels the African Cup of Nations in January will not adversely affect Arsenal's ambitions.

In the past the Gunners have seen their numbers severely depleted when the cream of Africa meet to do battle.

Losing key men at such a crucial stage of the season can be detrimental to any side, with the New Year not the time to be forced into experimental selections and tactical rethinks.

This time around, though, Arsenal will lose just two players - Cameroon midfielder Song and versatile Ivorian Emmanuel Eboue.

Their situation stands in stark contrast to that of London rivals Chelsea, who are set to part with the likes of Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou.

Song feels the lack of African talent in the Arsenal squad could play into Arsene Wenger's hands, as the Frenchman will still be able to field a fiercely-competitive side.

Quality

"It's good because we won't lose too many players," the 22-year-old told skysports.com.

"If you have too many African players it can be difficult. Chelsea have maybe four of them and we have just two and that's not too bad. I think we have the squad to be able to cope with that.

"We have the quality and when we go to the African Cup I am confident Arsenal will do well. Denilson can provide cover (for me). He is injured now but I hope he will be back playing in the next few months." Wenger has said the Brazilian will return to training inside the next two weeks.

Arsenal would have been further hampered had they still had Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure on their books - with the duo sold to free-spending Manchester City over the summer.

Song admits parting with such talent is always difficult, but he believes the Gunners are actually stronger now than they were last season.

He said: "We know we lost two great players in Ade and Kolo, but we now have players like (Thomas) Vermaelen, like Andrey (Arshavin), like Robin (van Persie) and like Cesc (Fabregas), who are really important.

"We felt that when we started the season we had a strong team. We know we lost two great players, but nobody has any regrets.

"When you watch Vermaelen you can see he is very good. We know Kolo did a very good job here, he is a good player, but we are happy to have Vermaelen here now."

Solution

Song is also hoping that Fifa will look to address the problematic issue of hosting an international tournament mid-season, with calls already growing for the African Cup of Nations to become a summer event.

"I hope that Fifa can do something, but is very difficult because the summer in Africa is very rainy," he added.

"Maybe we can find a solution, though, because it is very difficult for the clubs to have to release players for a month.

"To have it in January, there are a lot of games then. It is not easy for the clubs, but hopefully they can do something."

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Comments (16)

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Mike S (Arsenal fan) says...

Although losing Song during the month is a big blow, we are lucky he plays for Cameroon. They are not as good as Ivory Coast and Ghana therefore we should get him back before chelsea get Essien and Drogba.

Posted 18:31 9th November 2009

A Azzouri (Arsenal fan) says...

Comments from the Chelsea fans about the Arsenal first team not being as good as Chelsea bench is just laughable! Chelsea don't any player in the same level as Fabregas, nobody with creative skill of Arshavin and no forward with the technique/skill and perfect first touch of Van Persie. Another thing is in the very near future...Chelsea will have players who will be well passed their peak while the Arsenal team will continue to get better and better. On the topic of African nations, its obvious we will miss Alex Song...he's been exellent this season and the answer to our holding midfield dilema. I think we have some candiates who can step in for a few games like Wilshere and Eastmond but not Ramsey and Denilson because they are more similar to Fabregas and Diaby...they want to break forward. I like most Arsenal fans would like to see Vieira re-signed in January on a short term contract, he might not be the player he was before but he can give the team: leadership, height, strength and wisdom which could be crucial this season because we have an exellent chance to win the Premier league and the Champions League.

Posted 17:02 9th November 2009

Kevin Sims (Arsenal fan) says...

James Dall, do you actually think that Arsenal has an easy month of fixtures in January? Arsenal plays Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester United, hardly easy by my reckoning. Chelsea, on the other hand, have an easy January and shouldn't be affected by the loss of African players.

Posted 15:55 9th November 2009

Tony Gunner (Arsenal fan) says...

I'm sure we will see Viera arriving in January. There is our cover!! Between Walcott, Nasri, and Rocky Eboue is covered. I think Arsen has done his homework big time this season.

Posted 08:33 9th November 2009

James Dall (Arsenal fan) says...

Song is the Makelele to Arsenal's Madrid, thank heavens our schedule in January is so easy because he is that important.

Posted 00:50 8th November 2009

Alexander Wilson (Arsenal fan) says...

If Arsenal can keep the majority of their squad fit and firing, we won't even know Song and Eboue are gone.

Posted 21:28 7th November 2009

James D (Arsenal fan) says...

To James Oz - Song and Eboue wont make chelseas bench?! ..brave words now you've had the transfer ban lifted.. Drogba is the sole reason you have won against Arsenal the last few seasons.. a wonder strike in the last minute from another African who'll be on the missing list for a month - Essien, gaining you a draw a couple of seasons ago too. The premier League is so open and so unpredictable this year, no one should get to big for their boots. Its so exciting! Well, for a gooner anyway.. November could be a long month for Liverpool(Gerrard out), December for United (Ferdinand out), and im sorry to say it, January for Chelsea (Drogba and Essien)... the rest of the season for the pretenders Man City ............. im just not that worried about any one or two of our main players going?.. feel we have cover enough? which is comforting..

Posted 19:06 7th November 2009

Stuart Tay (Arsenal fan) says...

I really have to disagree with James. Im not saying that chelsea will suffer I just have to point out that Drogba and Essien are irreplaceable. There is no forward in the world who brings what Drogba brings to chelsea he is virtually unplayable and will trouble any defence anywhere. I dont have statistics but if you looked at a Chelsea team with Drogba and one without out there should be a notable difference. That being said Chelsea and United this term are the strongest in depth. The arsenal first team is just as good as the chelsea and united first team if not better considering most players are coming into their stride (this season will be a good indicator) and liverpool well there is one manager who can field and entire starting 11 of the worst signings for a club of that magnitude.

Posted 16:47 7th November 2009

Joseph Akinola (Arsenal fan) says...

Eboue going - Wilshire might get a chance on the right flank and at right back we have Kerrea Gilbert who had a very good performance against liverpool. The are just cover for first team players like Walcott (who will be back for good hopefully) and Sagna. Song going - We have denilson, diaby and nasri who can play the holding role. This year apart from the Goalkeeper (and perhaps clichy and sagna) every single arsenal player can play in 2 or more postions, this versatile atribute will help not only during the ACN but also through the season incase of injuries.

Posted 14:15 7th November 2009

Stuart Tay (Arsenal fan) says...

Well said I have to agree with Tahmid Ade was a disruptive force. I was sad to see Toure leave because despite the fact that he and the team needed to move on the only thing arsenal lacks is depth. But with the talent we have in the fringes im not worried and im pretty sure this season we shall challenge for the title if not win at least one trophy. We have UNITY in the team and that is shown in every game and in addition to that competition for places is now heating up with Ramsey, Wilshire, Fran Merida knocking on the door. My only worry is cover for the back four and holding midfielder when the season gets to crunch time.

Posted 14:01 7th November 2009

James Oz (Chelsea fan) says...

What is song talking about? Is he saying Arsenal has more replacements than Chelsea does? If they can find a cover for Song and Ebue chelsea can find more the cover for Drogba, Kalou,Mikel and Esien. We need such situations so much to tell the world what we have indepth. Our bench is far more sophisticated to the first team of arsenal so we wont feel their absence the way ppl think. Ebue and song can not make chelsea bench sorry.

Posted 13:13 7th November 2009

Daniel Wilson says...

I totally disagree with you ALEX! Out of every single player in the arsenal squad this season you are the most important. A Solid DMF is key to any succesful team. I would rather lose Cesc for a month than you this season and thats saying something because at the monent in my opion he is the best midfielder in the world, however only with you clearing things up behind him! Good luck though - AND DONT GET INJURED!

Posted 13:09 7th November 2009

Jack Mannion (Arsenal fan) says...

I agree! No doubt we will miss Song and Eboue but if you look at Chealsea's situation you have to be a small bit thankful!! Let's hope we can keep this great season going and get some well deserved silverware. That should silence the critics. Wenger is definately in the top 3 managers in the world today!!!

Posted 12:10 7th November 2009

Leo Bell (Arsenal fan) says...

I have always been worried about the african cup of nations, since the first day of the season. It is obvious that song is crucial to our team and i worry about denilson and wether he can provide good enough cover when song is away.

Posted 10:59 7th November 2009

Spanner 67 (Arsenal fan) says...

FIFA could quite simply introduce a mid winter break at the time of the tournament in the years when the ACN is being held.During that time the other national teams could also meet up for international matches, competetive and/or friendly.

Posted 10:22 7th November 2009

Tahmid C (Arsenal fan) says...

Well said alex!!! I don't really care about losing Ade after the dreadful season he had last year, and Vermaelan's better that Toure was in my opinion, however much I liked him. Competition for places is always important and when song comes back, him and denilson will have plenty of it. Plus, with Eboue gone it gives a chance for Merida to get into the Arsenal team and maybe even break through!!!!

Posted 10:21 7th November 2009
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