Get a Widget for this title
RSS FeedWould Carlos Tevez have been a good signing for Arsenal football Club?
Results so far:
| No | 44% | 46 votes | Total: 104 votes | |
| Yes | 56% | 58 votes |
No
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesIs Carlos Tevez a top quality footballer capable of playing in any team in World football?
Ask anyone at West Ham (but not Alan Curbishley), and anyone at Manchester United, and they would say yes.
Amidst all the claims and counter-claims regarding the validity or otherwise of THAT contract at West Ham, Tevez single handedly brought the beleaguered Hammers back from the dead last season, scoring crucial goals at crucial times in vital games against Wigan Athletic, Middlesbrough, and on the last day of the season, Manchester United, to keep the men from Upton Park in the Premier League.
Those performances kept the West Ham bank manager happy, even if it raised eyebrows at Sheffield United who were less than impressed that a player, who they believed was not legitimately registered, sent them back to the second tier after just a single season with the big boys.
Ironically, the Manchester United players, who saw him rain on their title parade, were about to get to know Tevez even better when he made the switch to Old Trafford during the summer.
Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign him a year ago, we were all told, only that there were complications in the deal that put him off completing the deal.
Many pundits and fans couldn't see much sense in the deal in so much as Tevez wasn't the recognized, Louis Saha/Ruud van Nistelrooy, centre forward that United needed, and even then a defence, which had started to look dodgy during the back end of their title winning campaign, was in greater need of strengthening.
Those fears looked to be confirmed when United struggled to score at the beginning of the year, but in the last four games, against Wigan, Aston Villa, Dynamo Kiev and Middlesbrough, they have scored four in each, with Rooney and Tevez in particular praised for their partnership.
On that basis, Tevez would be an asset to any team, Arsenal included.
So why don't I feel that he would further enhance what The Gunners have already got at their disposal?
Well, it would be simple to say that, at present, Arsenal are one of the best footballing sides in Europe, and their star performers, such as Cesc Fabregas and Emanuel Adebayor, are playing just as well if not better than Tevez at the moment.
The reason for this is just as simple; they are now without their luxury, box office player, Theirry Henry, the France international who has now departed after a long period of flirtation and courting to Catalan giants Barcelona.
For all his qualities, it can be argued that Tevez would be included in the same, business class bracket as Henry.
Whenever Henry was in the Arsenal side last season, his presence was a hindrance.
True, he was lacking in fitness and struggled badly with niggling injuries, and Tevez's only fitness concerns are, well, excess fat, but the Frenchman always wanted the team to play with loads of over-elaborate passing, always trying to score the perfect goal.
When it came to executing this policy, the less experienced players, the Hlebs of this world, would always play one pass too many and the chance was gone.
Similarly, when at West Ham last year, Tevez often wanted to do his own thing, which was to drop back into midfield when managers Alan Pardew and later Curbishley wanted him in a more forward role.
In fact, his signing alone, along with Argentine compatriot Javier Mascherano, seemed to send the inexperienced squad into submission and the bottom of the Premier League table.
Do Arsenal need that sort of free spirit at the moment?
Arsene Wenger would argue not. He can point to the sensational, more clinical performances produced by his side this year, where Arsenal, since the departure of their main luxury, have been more economical with their passing (whilst still playing the most attractive brand of football in the country) and more ruthless with their goal scoring opportunities, based on a strong team ethic and greater steel.
None of the Arsenal squad came with a glowing, World-renowned, reputation like Tevez, yet have been developed into top players from a young age.
You won't ever see Wenger splashing out 30 million on a superstar, but on 3-4 players who can develop into better ones and who will fit into the heart of the team.
Not only is Tevez a superstar football-wise, but considering that the West Ham squad he joined last year was similar in experience to the Arsenal side of now, if not as gifted, then his arrival would cause more problems than not, particularly with Wenger, who runs the show.
Arsenal have performed better since Henry left; the last thing they need right now is another so-called big name player who wouldn't automatically fit in with the way they play, no matter how good he is.
Learn more about this author, Sam Todd.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Yes
With the 2007-2008 season drawing to a conclusion, and the Arsenal trophy cabinet being bereft of any silverware for the third year running, there is no doubt Carlos Tevez would have been a fantastic signing for Arsenal. With the departure of talismanic striker, and captain Thierry Henry to Barcelona, Arsenal have been crying out for someone to lead the forward line all season. The players they have used up front have shown promise, but Carlos Tevez would have brought with him that extra bit of class, grit and determination, and experience after single-handedly saving West Ham from relegation last season.
Of the players Arsenal have used up front this season Emmanuel Adebayor looks full of promise for the future, even seeming to curb the unpredictable attitude that previously dogged his career, League Cup semi-final spat with Niklas Bendtner aside of course. Niklas Bendtner himself has perhaps failed to deliver this season, given his chance to shine back at Arsenal after a productive season on loan to Birmingham in 2006-2007, Niklas Bendtner has seemingly frustrated rather than thrilled in an Arsenal shirt. Brazilian born, Eduardo, now a Croatian international was particularly unlucky when an horrific injury suffered against Birmingham, ruled him out for the rest of the season and this summer's Euro 2008 tournament. Prior to the injury Eduardo had been a revelation, starting the season as a squad player a series of fine performances in the League Cup saw him promoted to the first team on a regular basis. Indeed such has been the downfall of Arsenal since Eduardo's injury, it could be said that Eduardo had become Arsenal's integral player this season, and that they have never recovered from his absence. Undoubtedly and not surprisingly the ghost of Thierry Henry still hangs over the club. Recent media rumors have suggested the minor possibility of the prodigal son Thierry Henry returning to Arsenal, and while Arsenal's young players have stepped out of the huge shadow that Thierry Henry allegedly cast over the club, I am sure manager Arsene Wenger would jump at the chance to re-sign a player of the calibre of Thierry Henry, whatever issues it might cause to the dynamics of the team's balance.
So yes after another season of failure for Arsenal, they should have done everything in their power to bring Carlos Tevez to the club, as a direct replacement for Thierry Henry, as a talismanic figure who could have made the difference between the failure they endured
and the success they could have achieved,as someone who could give the fans the hope that he may have one day been the player to return the good times to the club, or perhaps more cynically just to keep him out the grasp of their great rivals Manchester United. The trouble with Arsenal is they don't like to spend large amounts of money on transfers, no doubt they will tell you they don't have the spending powers of their title rivals, but I am sure there are many clubs in football who would love to have the transfer budget of Arsenal. The reality is Arsenal will need to spend big prior to the start of the 2008-2009 season if they are to have any chance of success in the near future, or they risk being left behind by their illustrious rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, even unthinkably if things carry on the way they are Arsenal may no longer be considered a threat by these two clubs. Arsenal need to bring in experienced campaigners to complement their young players, like Cesc Fabregas, and to help these young player to grow into Arsenals superstars of the future. Or will we see the likes of Cesc Fabregas following Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera out the Arsenal exit door. Perhaps Arsenal worryingly are no longer seen as a desirable destination for a footballer these days, Franck Ribery allegedly turned down the opportunity of Champions League football with Arsenal to join Bayern Munich, who are only in the UEFA Cup this season. Franck Ribery has been the resounding success at Bayern Munich that everyone knew he would be. Just imagine what Arsenal may have achieved if he had signed for them instead.
So will we see a raft of these essential new signings at Arsenal for 2008-2009, unlikely as Arsene Wenger seems determined to stick by these young players who he is certain will bring him success in the long run. If these young players do bring Arsene Wenger glory, then he will be hailed a genius, and the bad old days of the 2007-2008 season will be forgotten, but if this success doesn't materialize and fast, then Arsene Wenger will be judged by his inability to spend big in the transfer market, and one of the safest managerial jobs in football will be not looking so secure.
Carlos Tevez was a key architect in helping West Ham inact the Great Escape from relegation in the 2006-2007 season. With Carlos Tevez heading for a probable Premier League title and possible Champions League title with Manchester United it is perhaps Carlos himself who had the great escape by joining Manchester United and not Arsenal.
Learn more about this author, Simon Harding.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
- Soccer
- Should there be tougher penalties for dangerous soccer tackles?
- Should MLS clubs be permitted to trade the rights to players whose contracts have expired?
- Is Capello the right man for the England job?
- Are soccer teams limiting their success by restricting manager appointments to ex players?
- Should more officials be used at soccer matches?
- Is the MyFootballClub scenario a good idea?
