Arsenal: The Bare Midfield?

Arsenal is now going to have a new-look midfield. Last season, Arsene Wenger had a number of options in the midfield, but today the story is so very different.

I saw a number of redundant news reports today about how the Invincibles have become the Invisibiles after Gilberto Silva's move.

Need I really say it? I think that it's nonsense.

While the team dubbed as the Invincibles has been dismantled, we can safely say that it was the case last season as well. Gilberto was barely involved for much of the season, and the Arsenal squad has been undergoing a massive change season after season.

So, now to the midfield. There is absolutely no doubt that Wenger is going to sign one midfielder who is going to be defense minded. Maybe it will be Gareth Barry, or maybe it will be Xabi Alonso.

I don't think any of us would mind either of them. But, expect a surprise. That's what Wenger generally does at this time. Remember last season when Thierry Henry left? The press was on about Nicolas Anelka, Obafemi Martins, Samuel Eto'o, and a zillion other strikers.

Who did we end up signing?  Eduardo da Silva. He was clinical last season with his finishing but an unfortunate injury wrecked his season.

As of now, we have Neves Denilson, Abou Diaby, Alexandre Song, Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey, and even Carlos Vela who can play in midfield.

Out of these, I suppose that Samir Nasri will start on either flank, and if Rosicky is fit, he would start on the opposite flank. If he isn't, then be prepared to see Emmanuel Eboue do the business on the right hand side of midfield. Cesc Fabregas will occupy one of the central midfield positions, and the other position is perhaps going to be filled by a signing.

Arsene Wenger, though, has indicated that he will not spend big (when has he ever admitted that he would spend big anyway?) to replace the outgoing Alex Hleb and Gilberto, and that he might be willing to promote from within.

That leaves us with Abou Diaby and Alex Song to play along side Fabregas in the centre of midfield.  That doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence. Then again, I think he's playing some mind-games with the press anyway.

Out of Xabi Alonso and Gareth Barry, I would prefer the former to join Arsenal. Gareth Barry is slightly over-rated in my opinion. He certainly isn't worth anything over 10 million pounds. So, at 18 million pounds, I say "no chance."

Xabi Alonso has somewhat been under-rated for some reason. At 12-14 million pounds, he would represent a fairly good signing. He has plenty of experience at the Champions League level as well, having won it once with Liverpool. He is a good passer of the ball and would fit in seamlessly into Arsenal's midfield.

One thing is for sure though, Arsenal will recruit a central midfielder soon. I'm sure that he has the cash to spend on either one of the aforementioned names.

I think that Arsenal fans should be expectant, but not panic at the same time.

We might even have to wait until August 31st for the signing to materialise. We've seen the likes of William Gallas and Lassana Diarra come in for knock-down prices in the last day of the transfer window (literally the last minute!)

Watch this space.... because something will happen sooner rather than later.