Archive for March 14th, 2007

Franck Ribery: A “super, super-class” player?

1,028 comments March 14th, 2007

Ahead of tonight’s game at Aston Villa, Arsene has been speaking about the possible need to bring in new faces this summer:

“Maybe we need one or two players — maximum. And only super, super-class because we have what is needed. The basis is inside the club.”

It is difficult to qualify just what makes a super, super-class” player. However, if someone asked me to place money on who’ll be arriving at Arsenal this Summer, I’d be piling everything I owned on Franck Ribery – and if he does arrive, it’s because Arsene believes he can live up to that billing.

When you look at what our side lacks this season, you have to say that the sale of Jose Reyes has left us bereft of width. Aleksandr Hleb, Franck Ribery, and Freddie Ljungberg are all players who like to come inside from the flanks, either drifting into a central playmaking role, or making darting runs across the box. Manchester United’s success this season has been partially based on the form of their two wingers, Giggs and Ronaldo. Their ability to stretch the play has created room for Paul Scholes to pull the strings from the centre, and for Wayne Rooney to prosper upfront. For Scholes, see Fabregas. For Rooney, see Henry.

We need not play with two wingers – it’s never been Arsene’s way. Look at his great sides – they’ve always been slightly lop-sided. When Marc Overmars plied his trade on our left, Ray Parlour tucked in on the right. When Cole, Pires, and Henry created mayhem down the left flank, Freddie Ljungberg was floating inside onto Dennis Bergkamp’s passes. Ribery is comfortable on either flank, but like Overmars seems to be most effective coming from the left. In spite of being right-footed (and how), Ribery is capable of getting right to the byline and pulling the ball back across the box in a way that none of our current set of midfielders seem willing to do.

Another intriguing twist is that when Tomas Rosicky was signed, the word from those connected to the club was that we planned to play him on the right – sounds strange, I know, but give it a thought. Is it so ludicrous to suggest that either a) Arsene thought he could convince Reyes to stay, or b) he felt he could sign Ribery at that stage?

Freddie Ljungberg is hard-working but on the way out. Aleksandr Hleb is skillful yet inconsistent. To have Ribery and Rosicky on the flanks would be stronger than any combination we currently possess. The Frenchman would bring pace, skill, excitement, and a willingness to occasionally shoot (warning Arsenal fans: you have forgotten what that is. See here, here, and here).

It wouldn’t surprise me if talks are already underway. We won’t be the only club after Franck, but we are in a better position than most – Ribery has spoken of his desire to work with a French manager in England (well that narrows it down), and is good mates with Thierry Henry. Love him or loathe him, it’s at least worth considering getting used to the idea of seeing him in an Arsenal shirt. If you ask me, it’s something worth getting fairly excited about.

Aston Villa tonight, and after the disappointment of the PSV game, a win would really lift spirits. The main team news is that Gael Clichy and the villains of Cardiff are all suspended, but Rosicky, Flamini, and Hoyte are all fit again. Julio Baptista will lead the line, most likely supported by Jeremie Aliadiere.
Come on Arsenal.


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