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| Ozil: The Statement Signing? |
Since the close of the transfer
window on Monday night, Arsenal fans worldwide have been living in an orgasmic
state. More like a prisoner who has just gotten freedom after an eight year
incarceration. Of course, the surprise deadline-day signing of Real Madrid’s
Mesut Ozil for a club record £42.5m has
turned the almost dejected global Gunner fan-base into delirium. Maybe, that
word is not enough to explain it. As my colleague Khalela puts it, Gunners are
almost in a “wanking” state as we speak.
The excitement has been palpable.
Even the callers into my daily football show, Football Frenzy, have suddenly turned the corner.
Where as a couple of months ago I’d get calls like “Ufuoma, please help us tell
Wenger that enough is enough, he should sign,” “Ufuoma, don’t you have Wenger’s
number? Can you please tell him we are tired and fed up with his stinginess?”, the
last couple of days have seen a total turn around in reactions. Now all I get
is “Ufuoma, Wenger is the best coach ever,” “Arsenal will win the EPL this
season,” bla bla bla.
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| Mesut Ozil is a Gunner |
Well, who can blame them when even I
have spent the last couple of days watching every Ozil YouTube video I come
across? Truth remains that signing Ozil
is more than a bargain. It is more of a statement. More like Arsenal telling the
world that, hey, our lean years where we had to pay off our stadium debts and
sell our best players are over. Already, reports suggest there’s been a twelve
percent increase in shirt sales in the official Arsenal online store. That’s
how much of goodwill the Ozil signing has had.
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| Matthew Flamini's second coming |
However, in the midst of the
euphoria, one signing Arsene Wenger has made this summer has gone largely
without fanfare. A certain “renegade”, who chose to dump the club after a
spectacular two good year spell, is back on the club’s books. Matthew Flamini’s
second coming has not received as much fan fare and rightly so. The Frenchman
was signed at a time when many fans were yearning for a big name signing;
wanted the club to match its words (CEO Ivan Gazidis’ statement in June there’s
money to spend) with action; and were tired of rival fans throwing jabs and
insults at them. As if this wasn’t enough, signing a free agent who was just
training with the first team months after seeing a £40m and 1 bid for Luis Suarez evaporate was the last thing fans
wanted to see. But Wenger stuck to his guns and got his man even jokingly apologizing
last Sunday he didn’t pay £25m for
Flamini.
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| Flamini: The New Leader? |
Now while Ozil’s capture has
deservedly hugged all the headlines and got fans into frenzy, Flamini’s
addition methinks, will prove more of a short term success. First, Flamini
comes with experience: the experience of playing for a highly rated team as AC
Milan as well as winning a league title; something very few players in the
present squad can boast of in their CV. Am I the only one who saw a bit of the old Patrick Veira’s leadership in Flamini
on Sunday? He was busy barking orders, ordering his younger teammates (Ramsey
in particular) about. Maybe, just maybe, it was the passion of the derby, but
having that sort of leadership quality on the field is much appreciated and
that’s another edge our free signing will add.
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| Flamini during last Sunday's NLD |
More so, Flamini’s addition truly
adds a defensive minded midfielder that fans have cried for. Ok, I accept that many would have rather
Wenger paid Marounne Felliani’s buy-out clause two months ago since fans still
believe Alexander Song was never properly replaced since the Camerounian joined
Barcelona. Now, while Arsenal have, in my opinion, been better off since he
left (Arsenal conceded 43 goals in the league in 2010/2011 season and 49 in 2011/2012
with Song as DM but 37 last season), Arteta who has taken over that role can’t
be regarded as a tough tackler. And you
do need that sometimes. Flamini’s cameo performance against Spurs last Sunday
is a pointer. In fact, that lunge that got him a booking in the game has been
rarely seen from Arsenal midfielders in recent times. If Flamini can offer as
much as he did in the North London Derby, then this promises to be an exciting
season.
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| Flamini battling Kaka in the UCL in his first stint |
And most importantly, Flamini’s
addition offers an exciting array of positions that the manager can play his
compatriot. Many have questioned why Wenger hasn’t signed another defender and
I think Le Prof is right not to. In Kolscieny and Per, The Gooners have a
fantastic defensive partnership. Vermaleen isn’t far off from training and
Bacary Sagna has proved he can be that 4th centre back during pre
season and the first few games. What this means is that Flamini can deputise as
right back. He can even play as left back if the team’s injury luck doesn’t
end. Who remembers Flamini played left back in a defense that went ten games in
the UEFA Champions League without conceding a goal some six years ago? Well, I
do.
So guess what, while Ozil will prove
to be that statement signing on and off the field for Arsenal and the name that
gets all Gooners excited and expectant this season, let’s not forget that a
certain Frenchman who has returned to the club on a free can prove to be more
of a catalyst to the team’s short term success.
