Arsenal: 6 Reasons Why Laurent Koscielny Will Be a Quality Player In The Future

Arsenal were desperately unfortunate not to earn all the three points against Manchester City at the Emirates but the fact that they did not concede a single goal is a boost to their title hopes. Arsenal's problems this season has been at the back where they have been unable to keep it tight and despite the impressive form of Lukasz Fabianski, the Gunners have had lesser clean sheets than they would have liked.

Wenger was hampered by the injury to Thomas Vermaelen and considering the fact that Johan Djourou has recovered from a long term injury, he has had to pair new signings Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci in a lot of games. However, the partnership has not worked out well and needed a change. With Djourou slowly regaining his full fitness, he has used Djourou more often and the Swiss International has been immense at the back for the Gunners.

Djourou has received a lot of praise and deserves it for his efforts. After such a long injury, few would have predicted him to be in such excellent form this season and he has shown more maturity this season. But some credit should also be given to Laurent Koscielny who has been one half of a successful defensive partnership in the last few games.

The thin Frenchman has endured a lot of criticism since his move to the Emirates but it is easy to see that the former Lorient man has the talent to be a quality defender. He has improved as the season has gone on and has already established himself ahead of Sebastien Squillaci in the team.

It is clear that Koscielny still has some flaws in his game but he is only in his second season at the highest level. he has been responsible for some of the goals that the Gunners have conceded but has looked assured after the initial shaky performances.

His two red cards and many yellow cards did not help his cause at the start of the season but he seems to have improved and is important to the Gunners this season. There are many supporters who still question his ability but here are five reasons why he can be immense for the Gunners in the future.

1. Tenacity and Brave Attitude

The French defender has been at the end of some very tough challenges right from his first game for Arsenal. But the youngster has not been afraid to step out from challenges; on the contrary, he has displayed doggedness on a number of occasions. Though he has sustained a lot of cuts and bruises in his short career, he has shown the willingness to fight.

2. Excellent Anticipation on One vs. One situations

Though he has been caught out of position at times earlier in the season, he has shown good anticipation in one on one situations. He has been good in spotting danger and clearing the ball. He generally does not lose his calm and does not do something too impulsive. He has shown good ability in these situations and it is important to have such a player at the back.

3. Good Aerial Ability

He has not been dominating at the back and when he played alongside Sebastien Squillaci, the partnership conceded many goals because of their inability to win the aerial duels on some occasions. However though Koscielny has not been outstanding in the air, he has certainly demonstrated that he can win his fair share of headers though he has to improve on the power of his headers.

4. Good Understanding of the game and makes Crucial Interceptions

Koscielny has made some errors that have been costly but he has good understanding of the game and has the ability to make crucial interceptions. In the game against Chelsea, though Djourou was instrumental in not providing any space to Didier Drogba, Koscielny ensured that there was hardly any service to the forward. He has the ability to react quickly and cut out killer passes. He also agressively attacks the ball and sometimes wins the ball in the opposition's half because of that.

5. Technically Good for a Defender

Laurent Koscielny has shown composure on the ball and has adapted well to the Arsenal style of play. He has shown good ability to distribute the ball and bring out the ball from the back. Thomas Vermaelen is very good at this but in his absence, Koscielny has done it quite well and had a very good game with regard to this against Manchester United.

6. Experience will make him better

The French defender has played only one season at top level before being signed by Arsenal. It was a meteoric rise to stardom for the youngster but with experience he will go on to be a better player. It is clear that he plays better alongside Johan Djourou but the return of Thomas Vermaelen will be important for the development of the defender. Vermaelen and Koscielny could form a good strong partnership at the heart of defence and could be rotated with Johan Djourou who has also shown he could be a first choice Centre Back in the near future.

Arsenal 0 Manchester City 0: Fabregas Excels But Gunners Drop Points at Emirates

Arsenal would not be satisfied with the result considering that they were the ones who created most of the chances in the game. On the other hand, Manchester City would be happy with the point and will look to push on from here. Arsene Wenger lamented the opposition’s defensive tactics while Roberto Mancini said that he had to ensure his team did not lose the game.

The Gunners were out of the blocks in a flash as they created numerous chances in the opening ten minutes of the game. Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas all had half chances but could not convert. After the initial burst, Robin van Persie starting in consecutive games weaved past his marker to create space to shoot. Unfortunately, it could only hit the base of the post and was the sign of things to come for the Gunners on the day.

Cesc Fabregas then did brilliantly to find space and shot at goal but with Joe Hart completely beaten, he could only hit the post and Theo Walcott also could only strike the post of the rebound. Manchester City looked a threat on set-pieces and it took good defending by Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny to clear the danger from free-kicks. It was clear that City had a plan to play counter-attacking football but struggled to get behind the defence.

Manchester City missed the creativity and pace of David Silva who has the ability to break down defences. Yaya Toure proved a threat with his direct attacking runs and did well on a lot of occasions but could not create too many opportunities. Carlos Tevez worked hard as ever but he had very little support from his attacking team mates and was isolated for large parts of the game.

In the second half, it was Arsenal again who looked for the opener and they really close when Robin van Persie did very well to get his shot away and it looked to be heading for the corner until Hart got a strong hand to the ball. Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure did very well in defence and stood firm when Arsenal got many players into the box.

Theo Walcott’s pace skinned Pablo Zabaleta on a couple of occasions but the experienced defender was up to the task of sticking close to the England International and Walcott could not get enough good opportunities. Samir Nasri could not exert an influence in the game as Micah Richards and James Milner both kept Nasri quiet which was essential considering his form of late.

At the end of the day, City would be happy to end the day staying in second place while the Gunners would consider it to be two points dropped at home. Wenger and his men will have to be consistent to mount a good title challenge while the Citizens will believe that they have the squad to be successful over the season.

Though they could be disappointed with the result, the performance was good from the Gunners and it does seem like the combination of Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou seems to be the best option for the Gunners after they secured their second consecutive clean sheet. Also, Koscielny has improved a lot from the start of the season and is starting to look like a quality defender. With the return of Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal will be a stronger unit and still have a good chance of winning the title.

It was a extremely hard game for the Gunners considering that City only wanted a point from the game but these are the sort of games that they should win in order to be close to the top. There were some positives from this game like the return to form of Robin van Persie who looked threatening and with relatively easier fixtures coming up, Arsenal should try to maximize the advantage.

Arsenal 0 Manchester City 0: Player Ratings and Star Players of the game

Arsenal tried their best to break down a stubborn Manchester City defence but ended up dropping points at the Emirates. Though the Gunners had some decent opportunities, the combination of bad luck and good keeping from Hart helped City gain an invaluable point.

The Gunners created the bulk of the scoring opportunities and though Fabregas and Van Persie were unfortunate to hit the post, credit has to be given to the Citizens for holding the Gunners to a draw. Arsene Wenger was admittedly frustrated with the defensive tactics from his counterpart Roberto Mancini and will feel that it is two points dropped at the Emirates.

Mancini on the other hand did not want his team to lose and will reinforce his team with more quality in this window. He will be happy with the point considering it was a very tough game for the team. But both managers will know that the next few games will be crucial if they are to challenge for the title considering Manchester United’s healthy lead at the top of the table.

Here are the Player Ratings for the game between the Gunners and the Citizens at the Emirates:

Arsenal:

Lukasz Fabianski: 6

Had very little to do in the game but controlled his box well. Did particularly well to deal with an under-hit pass from Sagna.

Gael Clichy: 7

It has not been a great season for the French Left Back but against City, he showed his quality as he made numerous important challenges against Milner and later on, Johnson. Made attacking runs as well and it was a good performance from the Arsenal defender.

Johan Djourou: 7.5

Djourou has been immense for the Gunners this season and it was yet another mature display from him. Did not provide any space for Tevez and dealt with set-piece threat that City offered.

Laurent Koscielny: 7

The young defender seems to be getting better as the season has gone and was very good at the back. Still has the habit of conceding unnecessary fouls but with time, he will be a quality defender.

Bacary Sagna: 6.5

The French International was once again solid and supported Theo Walcott decently. His crosses were okay but there was no one to aim at. It was a stupid red card to get at this stage of the season and for that gets a lower rating than the rest of the defenders.

Alex Song: 7

Song has been superb this season and was again excellent in managing his defensive and attacking duties. He made surging runs from midfield and was good in dealing with the threat posed by Toure.

Jack Wilshere: 5.5

Jack Wilshere was very good in the opening stages of the game but spurned a half chance in the opening minutes. The main reason he gets a lower rating is because he lost possession some times in midfield and could have paid for it had City had more players on the break. Also, could not impose his authority in central midfield and faded off in the second half.

Cesc Fabregas: 8 – Star Player

The Captain led from the front as he was involved in almost everything that Arsenal created. Though he was tightly marked, he could find space and played some delightful through balls for Walcott and Nasri. Was unfortunate not to score but Arsenal supporters will feel confident that the Spaniard is back to his best.

Samir Nasri: 6

Samir Nasri was good in the opening minutes and his changes in direction caused problems for City throughout the game. However could not get into the penalty area too many times and could not create much.

Theo Walcott: 6

Theo Walcott might deserve more than a 6 if he had made better use of the opportunities he had. He got behind Zabaleta on some occasions but his decision making and crossing let him down. However, deserves credit for his superb energy and tried his best. He does deserve to start more games in the future.

Robin van Persie: 7.5

After missing some sitters in the Birmingham game, the Dutchman was sharp against City and looked most likely to break the deadlock. He took some great shots but a combination of luck and Hart’s display thwarted him from scoring. Should be back to his best in the next few weeks and the goals will come from him.

Substitutes:

Andrei Arshavin: 6

The Russian was wasteful in possession and could not create any opportunities for the Gunners. Played on the right but could not deliver enough crosses into the box.

Nicklas Bendtner: 6

It was surprising to see Bendtner coming on ahead of Chamakh but he was brought on to provide more height to the attacking unit. Played on the left and had a few touches in the game. He did not do anything too productive.

Manchester City

Joe Hart: 7.5

His performance makes him a strong contender for the man of the match in this game. He had some fortune with shots hitting the posts but was superb when called upon and one flying save from Van Persie’s shot summed up his day.

Micah Richards: 6.5

He was solid against the threat of Nasri and Clichy. Made some surging runs but could not provide enough crosses for City.

Kolo Toure: 7

The Ex-Gunner showed his quality by providing Arsenal with very less opportunities as the game progressed. Established a good relationship with Kompany and Hart and was confident throughout the game.

Vincent Kompany: 7.5 – Star Player

Kompany has been one of the best in the Premiership this season and proved his calibre by keeping Arsenal at bay. His interceptions and tackling was crucial in breaking a number of Arsenal attacks and deserves credit for his hard working performance.

Pablo Zabaleta: 6.5

Though he did let Walcott get the better of him in some occasions, he did his job quite well. His tackling was good and justified his place in the team. He was also sent off for his quarrel with Sagna in the late minutes of the game.

Nigel De Jong: 6.5

De Jong was crucial to ensure Arsenal did not overrun them in midfield. Made a number of crucial tackles and proved why he is an extremely important player for the Citizens.

Gareth Barry: 6

He was at first overwhelmed by the slick passing from the Gunners but grew as the game progressed. The England International made some good interceptions which helped break some of the attacks.

Yaya Toure: 7.5

Toure was not in the game for the first 10 minutes or so but made some surging runs which caused problems for the Gunners. Was City’s best player in leading attacks from the midfield. His battle with Song was excellent and was even throughout the game.

Jo: 4

Worked hard throughout the game but provided no attacking threat in the game. He was rightly substituted in the second half and with the expected arrival of Dzeko, he could be of no further use for the Citizens.

James Milner: 5

Milner worked hard and did his defensive duties in the game. However struggled to get the better of Clichy and was not effective in the game. However his support to Richards helped keep Nasri quiet throughout the game.

Carlos Tevez: 7

Tevez was typically energetic and though he was an isolated figure, he tried his best to create opportunities. The Argentine striker is a huge player for City but does need support in order to create opportunities.

Substitutes:

Adam Johnson: 6

He looked to run at Clichy but the Frenchman was up to the task and the England winger faded in the closing stages of the game.

Jerome Boateng: N/A

He was brought on in the closing minutes to provide stability after Zabaleta was sent off.

Arsenal: Hleb Realizes His Error and Samir Nasri's Success Will Only Rub It in

It was sad to see Alexander Hleb giving that interview after the Arsenal game and he was unsurprisingly criticized by Birmingham supporters who expect better performances from the tricky player. The midfielder has endured a slump that few players in the world have went through and he could end his career without ever realizing his potential.

He commented albeit in a jovial manner that he would readily swap the Birmingham shirt for an Arsenal one if he was given the option. The Belarus International was one of the key players for Arsenal when he was signed in 2005 and did make a number of appearances for the Gunners.

He was used in a number of positions and though he preferred to play in the center, Arsene Wenger used him predominantly on the flanks. Even though he did not score many goals, he was a decent player for the Gunners and was able to establish himself in the first team following his transfer from Stuttgart where he enjoyed a good time early in his career.

But he was ambitious, some would say greedy, and forced a move through to FC Barcelona in 2008 despite Wenger and Arsenal not really interested in selling the player. However Hleb went on to make comments about Wenger and Arsenal which did not go well with the supporters, some of whom still do not have time for him.

Arsene Wenger made sure he got a good deal as he obtained €17 million from the transfer and spent a good part of it around €12 million to acquire the services of young Samir Nasri from Olympic Marseille. Nasri was a very highly rated player then but it was still doubtful whether he would be able to prove his worth for Arsenal at that time.

Hleb then joined Barcelona under Pep Guardiola and could not break into the team despite his big money transfer and featured predominantly on the bench. For a player who was rated that highly by Wenger, it was clearly a bad move for Hleb who grew increasingly dissatisfied at his position at the club and looked to join other clubs.

Barcelona were prepared to offload him but his huge transfer fee proved to be a stumbling block and there were not too many clubs interested. He went on loan to his former club Stuttgart in an attempt to revive his sagging career but it was again a failure.

He had a rift with the manager and was again benched for large periods of the season. In this time, he went on to criticize the quality of play at the club and made it clear that he wanted to sort out his future with Barcelona. But he was shunned from pre-season training camp and was subsequently loaned out to Birmingham City this season.

Fast forwarding to the present, Nasri has emerged as a world class player who is just starting to realise his true potential which is why Arsenal are keen to tie down the player to a new contract which could be accepted by the player. He has scored 13 goals this season which is more than what Hleb managed in his entire Arsenal career.

On the whole, it is clear that Arsenal have obtained a better player to replace Hleb and Nasri's performances have only highlighted the fact that Hleb has not been missed by Arsenal. The club has coped well in the absence of the talented winger while the player has suffered badly since leaving the club for seemingly brighter pastures.

Hleb featured as a substitute in the recently concluded game against Arsenal and from the bench, he watched Nasri produce a world class performance which would have made him think what might have been. The Belarus International had a discussion with Wenger as the teams went into the tunnel at half time and it might be interesting what he might discuss with his former mentor.

He admitted that he loved playing under Wenger and was ready to give his complete effort every time he played for the Gunners in the past. His comments came after enduring frustration with Barcelona but it is clear that he still regrets his mistake of leaving the Gunners.

Every one make mistakes but it is possible to find some ways to make it right but in Hleb's case, he has endured a horrible time and though he has no future with Arsenal, as an Arsenal supporter myself, I hope he has a good time in his future.

Nasri has recently been linked with a move to Barcelona and though there is very less possibility of the move happening, he must be aware of what happened in Hleb's case. He is a more talented player than Hleb but should hopefully continue his tenure at the club. Nasri is currently enjoying his time with Arsenal and hopefully, will continue for many more years to bring glory to the club.

Arsenal vs. Manchester City: Cesc Fabregas and Yaya Toure, the Key for the Teams

Arsenal take on title rivals Manchester City on Wednesday in what is expected to be an exciting encounter between two quality sides. The Gunners secured an important victory against Birmingham City in style with Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri running the show for the away side. City continued their impressive run of results with another win with Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure again coming good for the Citizens.

Both the clubs remain close in the title race and this game could be important in deciding the fortunes of the two clubs at the end of the season. It has never been more tight and it is matches like these which could prove to be crucial in the challenge for the title.

Manchester City have spent a lot of money yet again this summer and they have developed into a stronger unit this summer and they have some excellent players at their disposal. Also, they have an excellent squad at their disposal which is one of the strongest in the Premier League.

Arsenal have also got a very strong squad thanks to the development of many youngsters by Arsene Wenger who has to get it right against City. The Gunners enjoyed a 3-0 win at the City of Manchester stadium but this match will be a hard fought one and can be won only if the Gunners play to their best.

Team News

Arsenal

The only new injury concern is that of Abou Diaby who is injured yet again and is two to three weeks out. Manuel Almunia and Thomas Vermaelen are yet to recover completely and are sure to miss this match. However, Kieran Gibbs is back int training and has a small chance to feature on the bench for the clash.

Wenger has to decide on whether or not to gamble on the fitness of Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou, but he might play them and rest them for the Carling Cup and FA cup ties. The same eleven players started the games against Chelsea and Birmingham and their success might ensure that all of them might start again.

Probable Starting 11

Lukasz Fabianski; Gael Clichy, Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna; Jack Wilshere, Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas; Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie

Manchester City

Edin Dzeko has been linked strongly with Manchester City who have reportedly agreed a fee with Wolfsburg. However he will not play a role in the game against Arsenal for sure but Roberto Mancini has a very strong squad to choose from. Mario Balotelli was ruled out of the last game due to a knee injury after his hat-trick against Aston Villa.

It is doubtful whether Balotelli will start against the Gunners and it will depend on the formation which Mancini decides to use. Adam Johnson has started games recently but it is doubtful if the manager will opt for him instead of Milner who will work hard and give support to the fullback considering the fact that Arsenal's strength lies in goal scoring wingers.

Probable Starting 11

Joe Hart; Aleksander Kolarov, Vincent Kompany, Kolo Toure, Jerome Boateng; Gareth Barry, Nigel De Jong, Yaya Toure; James Milner, David Silva, Carlos Tevez

Arsenal Key Player: Cesc Fabregas

Samir Nasri has been in amazing form this season and has emerged as an early contender for the player of the season award this season. The Frenchman has scored 13 goals in all competitions which is his highest for the Gunners in a season. Though he is influential in every game, it is important Arsenal have the upper hand in the midfield in the big games.

Cesc Fabregas is a key player for the Gunners and against Chelsea and Birmingham, he showed what he is capable of and dominated the midfield battles. The Spaniard is an inspirational player and he is returning to his best form. Manchester City have three combative midfielders but if Fabregas can still provide service for the strikers, then Arsenal has a great chance to win the game.

Manchester City Key Player: Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure played as a defensive midfielder in his time with FC Barcelona but after signing for City, he has played in a more advanced role for the Citizens. Though he did take time to adjust to the Premiership, he has shown that he has the quality to be a huge player for City. Toure has been in excellent form in the last three weeks and will hope to maintain his good run.

He had a horrible game against Arsenal but he would be confident he can make a big impact in this game. His battle against Alex Song in midfield could be very important in the context of the game. Also, he could lead counter-attacks and if Song and Wilshere are caught high up the field, he will look to maximize his advantage.

Arsenal's Future Midfield: Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, the Leading Lights for the Gunners

Arsenal will welcome back youngster Aaron Ramsey from his short loan spell with Nottingham Forest which would have helped him improve his fitness. He is surely short of match fitness and the postponed games because of the snow would have helped his cause. However, he still had some valuable playing time with the club and will build his fitness at Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger has been known for his quality development of young players and he has given lot of playing time to many youngsters. The Frenchman has played an integral role in developing several young players including the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Gael Clichy.

He was distraught when Ramsey was injured by the reckless challenge by Ryan Shawcross but the good thing is that the Welshman has completely recovered from the injury and looks set to make his return in Arsenal colours to provide the Gunners a boost in the second half of the season. However, it is unlikely that he will play enough matches as he would have liked to play because Wenger will ease him into the hardships of the Premier league.

Arsenal and Manchester United were both interested in signing Aaron Ramsey when he was playing for Cardiff City but the Gunners were able to clinch the £5 million deal in the end. Arsene Wenger rates the player very highly and has given him chances to prove his mettle in the Premiership. Though Ramsey was at first used mainly in the Cup ties, he slowly showed his quality which made Wenger play him in the Premier League as well.

If not for his injury, Wenger would have been certainly played Ramsey in a number of games because he knows that the Welsh midfielder is a quality player who can make things happen for the team. As Ramsey made tremendous progress last season at the Emirates, young midfielder Jack Wilshere did not get sufficient playing time in the first half of the previous season at Arsenal.

The versatile English midfielder went to Bolton managed by Owen Coyle on loan in order to prove his credentials in the Premiership. His talent was always undeniable but it was questionable on whether or not he was ready for first team football in the EPL. Coyle was impressed by Wilshere’s quality and the youngster established himself as a part of the first team with Bolton where he impressed.

He had progressed superbly at Bolton which is why Wenger was still in a dilemma on deciding on extending his loan spell with Bolton or sending him on loan to any other club. However Wilshere was outstanding in the pre-season friendlies and the Emirates Cup which made the French tacticians retain his services at Arsenal.

Even Wilshere had not expected himself to make such rapid progress at Arsenal but he established himself as a part of the first team and has regularly played in the deep midfield role for the Gunners. Though Wilshere can play in the attacking midfield role, it is clear that Wenger views his long term future as a deep-lying playmaker who can also make crucial interceptions and tackles defensively. He is a combative midfielder who is ready to stand up to physical challenges and does not get bogged down when things are not going according to plan.

Wilshere playing in deep midfield role augurs well for the future of Arsenal and he can form a devastating partnership with the attacking midfielder as well as Alex Song who is the holding midfielder. The captain Cesc Fabregas is currently the automatic first choice for the attacking midfield role and he has a good understanding with Song and Wilshere which is why Arsenal look strong in the midfield.

However it is expected that Aaron Ramsey will take up the mantle in central midfield in the future and he is expected to play in attacking midfield in the future. Though it is not known how he will play when he returns to the EPL, he is naturally a determined player who can win his fair share of battles in the midfield. He is a decent tackler but his strength lies in his passing range and vision.

Jack Wilshere is good at exchanging quick short passes and rarely does he play long passes and he is not the best at providing killer passes though he will improve a lot in the near future as he plays more games. Aaron Ramsey on the other hand is excellent at providing good through balls and his passing range is excellent.

Their combination along with that of Alex Song could be a dream midfield in the near future. Alex Song seems to have played for a long time but he is only 23 and has a long and bright future at Arsenal in front of him. The Cameroon International has admitted immense love for the club and would surely want to be at Arsenal for many years.

Wilshere likes to drive from deep midfield and can get into dangerous positions and though he has not scored much in his professional career, he will improve on that tally in the future. Cesc Fabregas was also not a prolific scorer in his early career with the Gunners but with time, has developed a superb eye for goal. It is difficult to stop Wilshere’s runs because he interchanges quick passes and possesses a lot of creativity.

Aaron Ramsey is a different sort of player to Wilshere and though he has excellent pace and skill, he is a more direct midfielder who can control the game with his passing range. In the Champions League game where Wenger decided to rest all his first team players, Ramsey was hugely influential and created number of chances for the wasteful Theo Walcott and Carlos Vela.

Also, Ramsey is one of the few midfielders in the team who loves to shoot even if he is outside the box. He has already scored some superb goals in his short Arsenal career and the best thing is that he is comfortable shooting on both feet which is excellent for a midfielder. Song, Wilshere and Ramsey could form a very fluid midfield and even in the absence of Cesc Fabregas, the trio have the quality to form an excellent midfield.

Samir Nasri has been in excellent form this season and he is realising his true potential at Arsenal. He can also be effective in central attacking midfield role and he is a very different proposition to Ramsey and Wilshere. Nasri is an excellent dribbler who can weave past defenders to get into excellent positions. However despite his desire to play in that role, Ramsey seems to be the long term successor to Fabregas who has done a fantastic job for the Gunners. The Frenchman seems to be comfortable on either wing and could continue to play there in the future.

Barcelona have been one of the most successful teams in recent years and though every single player has contributed immensely to that, the partnership of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta in midfield is why they are able to dominate their opponents in most matches.

Arsenal have two young midfielders Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey who have the capability to form an exciting partnership who could help the Gunners to dominate like Barcelona in midfield. Alex Song is undoubtedly a regular in the team and will have a superb back-up in Emmanuel Frimpong in the future. Alex Song has also developed good attacking skills and has added goals to his arsenal which makes him one of the most vital players for the club.

Ramsey’s recovery from injury both physically and mentally could be crucial for the Gunners in the future and he must be eased into action. He is one of the most talented youngsters on the planet and should he be free from his past injury, he will develop into a very fine player. The Wales International signed a new long term deal with the Gunners in the summer which means the club has high hopes for the lad and along with Jack Wilshere, he could be the player who could lead Arsenal’s dominance in the future.

Arsenal's Carlos Vela Should Be Targeted by Liverpool for a Loan Move In January

Liverpool's Joe Cole got Roy Hodgson out of jail when he tapped in to earn a vital three points for the Reds on New Year's day to ensure that 2011 started for them in a positive mood. In other news, Arsenal cruised past Birmingham to earn all three points through goals from Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie.

Carlos Vela did not make the squad yet again and Arsene Wenger made it clear that he was open to a loan move for the Mexican striker. Liverpool's striking options are not many and they bank heavily on Fernando Torres to provide them the goals. They have clearly not been helped by his form and have suffered a bad first half of the season.

Hodgson has preferred to play two strikers together in his formation in many games this season but he has not been helped by the fact that David Ngog has not scored enough in the Premiership this season. Also, apart from Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, they have not got many creative players in their squad which is why they have struggled to break down defences.

Ryan Babel is a talented player but has been very inconsistent and has disappointed on many occasions in the past. As a result, Liverpool are said to be on the lookout for new arrivals in January and supporters will hope they provide more quality than that of Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen.

The Reds have been linked strongly with Sylvain Marveaux and could secure his services in January. Liverpool have struggled to have enough quality wingers this season and they do not have quality depth in this department. This is why the Reds must consider making a move for the versatile Arsenal striker Carlos Vela.

The Mexican International has been linked with a number of Spanish clubs as well as a move to Serie A but Wenger is only prepared to loan the lad to gain more playing time. So in that case, a move to a Premier League club can be beneficial for both the club and the player who is considered to be a good long term prospect.

The versatile Mexican can play in the central role or on the wings if required and his talent and quality is undoubted. He cannot get more playing time because Arsenal have too many experienced players in his position and he has slipped behind in the pecking order. However, he has showed in the past that he is very talented and the problem has been the lack of playing time for him.

Damien Comolli and Liverpool have scouted many youth players like his reported tracking of Southampton starlet Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain but Liverpool would do well with acquiring the services of Carlos Vela in the short term. It is tough for players who come in January to adjust to the Premiership which is why Vela would be a good option.

Also, Torres' creativity and link-up play has not produced many good results because the players around him have not been in similar wavelength. Vela is quite creative and his good runs behind the defenders provides Torres and the midfield more options. Also, Vela is a good winger who has good crossing ability. Despite his age, he is quite experienced having made over 30 appearances for Mexico and would have the hunger to perform well.

Besides Torres and Ngog, Liverpool do not have a proper option with Babel the only other possibility. The addition of Vela would add competition to their places which would make them perform better. Also, Vela's talent and creativity could prove to be a huge boost to the Reds.

Arsenal would probably let Vela leave to a club like Liverpool as it would help him gain a lot of playing time and experience. Liverpool are a big club and the club's supporters might not like the idea of having a rival's player on loan. But they only have to look at Bolton to see what it could mean for the club.

Bolton were struggling last year when Owen Coyle took charge and he signed young and unproven Jack Wilshere on loan. The Englishman proved to be a big addition to the team as he helped them avoid relegation with ease. In the next season, their whole confidence is better and they have not missed the services of Jack Wilshere too much.

Liverpool's move for Vela might be temporary but it could be a huge lift for the club if he does improve the quality of the Reds. At the moment, Vela could be a part of the first team instead of Ngog and despite Ngog being the more physical striker, Vela could be an ideal partner for Torres.