Liverpool vs. Arsenal Preview: Six Key Battles to watch out in this High Stakes game

Liverpool and Arsenal are two of the greatest teams in English football and though both are still big clubs, they are not challenging for the Premiership title and a fourth placed finish would satisfy both clubs this season. The Gunners had a terrible start earlier in the season after losing to the Reds at the Emirates in the second league game of the season but have since done decently to be in fourth place as of now. Reds have been inconsistent this season but have shown glimpses of their quality and have the ammunition required to string a set of good results from now till the end of the season.

Both teams are coming on a high after winning their previous games, both of which were significant for either club. Liverpool beat Cardiff City on penalties to end their trophy drought, which will provide them great impetus as they push on to secure a Champions League berth. Arsenal, on the other hand, handed out a memorable thrashing to their arch-rivals Tottenham and will be on top of their game as they look to build on that crucial win. This game is crucial for both teams and a bad result could shatter their confidence which is why it is very important for either team to continue their good form.

Liverpool would have been worried by the substitution of Steven Gerrard after around 30 minutes in the game between England and Netherlands. Their inspirational captain was substituted due to a knock but could yet take part in this important game against the Gunners. However, Daniel Agger is likely to miss out which is a worry for the Reds as he has been very solid alongside Martin Skrtel this season. The good news for Liverpool is that they do have Jamie Carragher who can provide immense leadership at the back in the absence of the Dane and Liverpool will be confident of securing all three points at home against the Gunners.

On the other hand, Arsenal are also likely to be confident of their own quality going into this quality. They were not at their best in the first half hour of the game against Spurs but were rampant after that and it was the sort of performance which could reignite their season after the disappointments in the Champions League and the FA Cup. With Robin van Persie spearheading the team, they can be sublime at their best and do have the quality to trouble Liverpool's defense which is why they will relish the challenge of meeting the Reds at this time in the season.

It should be an enthralling contest with two quality teams focussed on winning the game, which is crucial to both clubs. The Gunners and the Reds are currently separated by seven points (though Liverpool have a game in hand) and this result could prove to be pivotal as to where these two teams will finish at the end of the season. There will be many individual battles which could play a major part in deciding the outcome of the game and here are six contests which are very important in this fixture.

1. Luis Suarez vs. Laurent Koscielny

Suarez has had his controversial since being signed by Liverpool but there is no denying his quality and he is Liverpool's most important attacking threat against the Gunners. His movement and skill in front of goal makes it difficult for defenders to mark him. Though he could further improve regarding his clinicality in front of goal, he has the quality to threaten Arsenal and could be the key to opening up this Arsenal defence, which has not looked very solid this season.

Though the Gunners have leaked goals in this season, Laurent Koscielny has been outstanding and has arguably been Arsenal's best defender. The Frenchman did take time to adjust to the physicality of the league but has the makings of a world class defender and has been superb this season. He will be entrusted to cope with the movement of Suarez and it will be an interesting battle between those two. Suarez is very important for the Reds and if Koscielny can shackle him, then Arsenal do have a much better chance of winning the game.

2. Alex Song vs. Charlie Adam

Alex Song has shown great improvement in the last couple of seasons and has established himself as a regular in this current Arsenal side. Though he is primarily a defensive midfielder, he has worked a lot on his passing and the creative side of the game and it is no surprise that he has been one of the key midfielders when it comes to producing defence-splitting passes. However, he will come up against a tough midfield in Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard (if fit) which is why he has to be on top of his game.

Charlie Adam in particular could be a major threat for the Gunners because of his ability to strike venomously from distance if given the space to do so.  Song and Mikel Arteta need to ensure that the Liverpool midfielders do not get space on the ball and need to constantly fight for the ball. For Liverpool, it is important that Adam makes good runs because his movement will make it difficult for the Gunners and he also has the ability to score goals from distance which can be used to good effect by the Reds.

3. Tomas Rosicky vs. Jay Spearing/Jordan Henderson

Tomas Rosicky has come under plenty of criticism this season but proved that he still has the quality by performing brilliantly against Spurs. It has been a difficult couple of years for the Czech international because of injuries as he has struggled to hold on to a place regularly. Also, he has been bereft of confidence in front of goal but that performance and goal against Spurs could be just what he needs to get back to his best. It was as good a performance from Rosicky in the last two years and it could be the perfect springboard for him to regain his best form.

Brazilian international Lucas Leiva has been a huge miss for the Reds which is why the task of stopping Arsenal's midfield falls to the young Jay Spearing or Jordan Henderson depending on whom the manager selects for the game. Rosicky, Arteta and Song are all capable of providing good supply to the forward line which is why Liverpool's midfielders will be on their guard throughout the game. The game could be decided by who wins the midfield battle and for Arsenal to win the game, the likes of Rosicky and Arteta need to be at their best to dominate possession at Anfield.

4. Theo Walcott vs. Jose Enrique

Theo Walcott has also come under plenty of criticism for his inconsistent performances and he also did get some flak for his indifferent performance in the first half of the Spurs game. However, he was brilliant in the second half showing the Emirates crowd what he is capable of when he is at his best. He got the better of Benoit Assou-Ekotto on more than one occasion and showed great composure in front of goal beating Brad Freidel twice. Walcott will need to be at his best in order to trouble Jose Enrique and the Liverpool defense and he is very important in ensuring that Robin van Persie is not isolated upfront.

Enrique has been one of the best signings of the season and the former Newcastle left-back has been extremely consistently for the Reds. He will need to be sharp against Walcott because the England international has the pace to get behind the defense and cause problems. It is clear that Walcott and Van Persie do have a good rapport on the pitch which is why it is even more important to frustrate the English winger. Also, if Enrique can shackle Walcott and support the left winger, Arsenal could struggle to contain the crosses coming in from the wings especially if Thomas Vermaelen is ruled out due to injury.

5. Robin van Persie vs. Jamie Carragher

Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has been in sensational form in the last year scoring plenty of goals and has already scored 29 goals this season. The Dutch international is considered to be a doubt for the game but could yet start if he passes the fitness test. Van Persie has scored all types of goals this season and has caused problems to every single defence in the Premiership this season. He has demonstrated great clinicality in front of goal and any error from the Liverpool defense could prove to be costly with Van Persie ready to pounce on any loose ball.

Jamie Carragher is likely to start and will be faced with the tough task of stopping the in-form Dutchman. He will need to use all his experience to shackle Van Persie, who will drag defenders out of their comfort zone using his superb movement off the ball. Carragher's lack of pace will most likely be targeted by the Arsenal frontline but the Liverpool centre back is immensely experienced and his experience and understanding of the game will help him greatly in coping with Van Persie and his fellow forwards.

6. Arsene Wenger vs. Kenny Dalglish

Wenger selected a rather different team from what supporters anticipated against Liverpool and it will be interesting to see if he selects the same team again at Anfield. Neither Oxlade-Chamberlain nor Gervinho made it into the starting line-up while Yossi Benayoun was given a rare league start. The combination of Rosicky and Benayoun in the Spurs game was excellent which is why Wenger will have to think whether to retain the duo or change it up to add more pace to the side by bringing in either of Gervinho or Chamberlain. The way that Arsenal play is not going to change much as they will look to dominate possession and create problems for the Liverpool defense.

However, tactics could be very important for Dalglish because he needs to decide whether his teams need to attack Arsenal from the start of the game or be content to play on the counter-attack employing a more defensive formation. The Reds have the quality to secure all the three points though it will not be easy and tactical decisions by both managers could have a huge role to play in deciding the result of this game.

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas' Professionalism Stands Out In The Midst Of Torres' Saga

Arsenal managed to overcome a resilient Huddersfield side in the FA Cup to reach the next stages of the historic competition. The Gunners were the favourites in this encounter but they were put through a stern test by the Championship side who fought till the end. Arsene Wenger said it was that sort of a cup tie which provides intense excitement and demands the players to perform to the best of their abilities.

Arsene Wenger had to rotate his squad to keep them fit for this gruelling set of fixtures and the only real gamble he took was starting the in-form Samir Nasri ahead of the experienced Czech captain Tomas Rosicky. He opted to rest key players Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas for this encounter and yet managed to field quite a strong team.

It is quite unfortunate that Nasri was injured during the game due to a hamstring injury which puts him a doubt for the important Champions League game against FC Barcelona. Fabregas was brought on in the last few minutes of the match and salvaged the game in favour of the Gunners by inspiring his team when they looked unsettled.

The Spaniard has not been at his best for large parts of this season due to recurrence of his hamstring injuries but he does seem to be free from those troubles at present. He has been crucial in still keeping Arsenal in the FA cup with two late penalties against Leeds and Huddersfield respectively. Fabregas is not one to shirk responsibility and despite some criticism, he has been an able leader for the Gunners.

He was strongly linked with a move to Barcelona and according to many sources, he had informed Wenger that he intended to move to Spain. But Fabregas started the season in Arsenal colors and he has promised to stay at least till the end of the season. He has always declared that he does love Arsenal and has admitted that captaining this team means a lot to him.

Despite all the transfer speculation surrounding his future, he has not been distracted on the football field and continues to try his best regardless of what goes behind the scenes. Hs celebrations after that goal against Ipswich which confirmed Arsenal's berth in Wembley showed how much it meant for the young World Cup winner.

In this modern era of Football, there is a lot of emphasis on player power and most of the players can play their cards according to their wishes. Most people have criticised Fabregas for not speaking up about staying at the club but even if he did have a desire to join his boyhood club, Barcelona which is still unconfirmed, he has been very professional in handling the issue.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas are great friends and the Spaniard said that the first thing he did after winning the world cup was to talk to the Dutchman.He also dedicated his success in South Africa to Arsenal for helping him become one of the world's best attacking midfielders. These were comments he made when speculation was rife that he had played his last game for the Gunners.

He has always maintained that his future lies in the hands of Wenger, whom he considers as his second father. Also, he has never handed in a transfer request and it is clear that he has the desire to achieve success with the club which brings us to the situation of Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Torres has had to shoulder the burden of scoring goals almost single-handedly on a number of occasions and it is true that a lot of promises have not been kept but that has not been due to the new owners, John Henry and co. because they have run the club in a dignified manner since taking over the club. The Spanish striker declared that the Reds were the biggest club in England when he committed his future to the club in the summer.

However, it does seem like he has inserted a clause in his contract allowing him to leave in summer for a price of £50 million if the club cannot compete in the Champions League next year. Despite all his statements about the club, he has handed a transfer request and has made it clear he wants to move to Chelsea due to his ambitions of winning the title.

If Torres had moved on in the summer, it would still have caused Liverpool supporter a lot of despair but they would not be incensed by it. The timing of the transfer request has let the club down and hows disrespect towards the club and its supporters who have supported the striker ever since his move from Spain.

Liverpool are currently in good form and are the outside bets to qualify for the Champions League though it does look improbable at present. One of the main reasons why Liverpool have suffered is due to the exceptionally poor form of El Nino who has come to life on very few occasions most notably against Chelsea.

Also, he has enjoyed better form since the arrival of the King, Kenny Dalglish or so it  seemed. It has only been the opening of the transfer window which has injected some life into the striker to remind other clubs that he still remains one of the best strikers in the game.

The fact that Torres wants a move away from the club is easy to understand but his desire to move to Premier League rivals would itself not make it comfortable for the Liverpool faithful. The timing of the transfer request has shown a lot of disrespect towards the club who are essentially left with a lose-lose option.

Fabregas, on the other hand, has always maintained that he does not intend to disrespect the Arsenal supporters which is why he has preferred to deal his transfer speculations directly with Arsene Wenger. There is a good possibility that the Spaniard will leave the club next season but he has shown great respect for the club and Arsenal fans should support him if he still retains the respect and dignity when he departs the Emirates.

Arsenal Fans Must Learn from Liverpool Faithful After Their Booing Of Andrei Arshavin

Arsenal managed to earn a replay against Leeds United through a Cesc Fabregas goal, which would have been a relief to millions of supporters all over the world.

They will play Leeds United at Elland Road on the 19th of January and Arsene Wenger could play a strong side in order to ensure progress. In the game against Leeds, many players were not playing to their best abilities and even consistent players like Alex Song was not so great.

But one player who came under immense scrutiny for his performance at the Emirates was Russian midfielder Andrei Arshavin.

The winger has not been in good form this season and he has been criticized widely by experts and supporters for his lack of effort and desire. This has been strongly rejected by the gaffer Arsene Wenger, but he has benched him for a few times this season.

The Russian dynamo boasts very decent statistics this season despite being out of form this season and leads the tally for assists by an Arsenal player. It clearly shows that even if he is not playing well, he is capable of producing some moments of quality which can influence the game in a big way.

However, Arsenal supporters are criticizing him for his lack of effort and commitment; it does seem like the Russian has lost the faith of the Gooners.

In the game against Leeds, he had a decent goalscoring opportunity which he should have done better and also squandered possession due to some poor touches; he was also not so intent on closing down the opposition and his work rate was poor.

Arsenal supporters were obviously frustrated by that and conceding a goal to Leeds only made their day worse.

Arshavin was booed at the Emirates and he looked out of sorts throughout the game. Arsene Wenger did well not to substitute him, but it was disgraceful to see Arsenal fans booing one of their own at a time when they desperately needed a goal to stay in the competition.

It is understandable that they have been frustrated with his performances, but booing one of your own players does not solve the problem.

The Russian captain may not be at his best, but he is certainly one of the most creative players at Arsenal and with only one more year on his contract, he could be on his way out after such reactions from the supporters.

These fans have paid the money to watch their stars in action and when they do not play to their abilities, they are likely to be irritated.

However, they must remember that Arshavin is a player who has won a number of games for the club and still retains the special ability to win games on his own. He is not a very hardworking player, but he is a winner and will try to achieve success for the club.

This is a player who has been outstanding for the club in many games and it is unfair for the fans to boo a player of his calibre.

He is not a player who has lived on his 15 million transfer; on the contrary, Wenger persisted with him in the starting 11 for a long time because of his superb performances in the last two seasons.

He has given supporters plenty of joy in the last two years but when he has not been in form this season, he has been criticized too heavily. He does not enjoy not scoring goals and one must understand that he is trying to regain his best form.

Supporters must back him to do well in the future and if he is not in form, he must be supported by the fans. It is not only money that matters for a footballer; he also gives his complete effort to bring smiles to the fans.

In this context, the form of Fernando Torres has not been too dissimilar to that of Andrei Arshavin, though the latter has more impressive stats. The Spaniard looked good in one or two games, but he has largely been out of form this season.

Though Roy Hodgson was criticized, Torres was not booed at all; in fact, they cheered him whenever he was on the ball and expected him to gain his form.

The Spaniard is a match-winner and a high quality player who has enthralled the Anfield faithful since he joined the Reds; that is one of the reasons why the Spaniard has the support of the Liverpool faithful despite his poor performances and bad work rate.

Arshavin is not as important to Arsenal as Torres is to Liverpool, but he is also a match-winner and needs the support of the fans.

The supporters must respect the contributions of Andrei Arshavin, who has created so many opportunities which has provided special moments for the supporters. It was shocking to see the supporters boo one of their most consistent players in the last three years and it could be the reason why the Russian might not want to renew his contract with the Gunners.

Even if they did it out of frustration during the game, surely very few Arsenal supporters will be pleased if he does depart.

Torres could have left Liverpool during the summer and it was not the money that Liverpool offered that made him stay. It was his love for the supporters that influenced him and while he has not performed anywhere close to his best, he still continues to have the support.

On the other hand, supporters need to back the dynamic Russian to regain his form or they could see one of the most talented Arsenal players leave the club.

Liverpool: 5 Reasons why manager Roy Hodgson must part ways with the Reds

Liverpool take on Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday in a game that could be pivotal to determining the future of Roy Hodgson who has stayed on as the manager despite reports surfacing that the new owners are currently searching for a new manager. Rafael Benitez might have brought Liverpool FC to a lower position from their previous highs but they were always a very tough and capable team under the Spaniard. However they have lost to many lower quality oppositions without a fight and have sunk to new lows under Roy Hodgson.

Roy Hodgson had an excellent start to 2010 as the manager of Fulham but the year ended on a bitter note for the Englishman who has been accustomed to hearing chants for Kenny Dalglish to be the manager for the Reds. Though Hodgson has a decent managerial career, his tenure with Liverpool has not been successful and here are 5 reasons why he needs to part ways with the club for the better future of the Merseyside club.

1. Incapable of bringing out the best from his Talented Players

Liverpool might be languishing in the bottom-half of the table but no one could accuse the club of not having the quality to at least be within the top seven clubs after the first half of the season. It has been due to the poor performances from their best players that the Reds find themselves in this predicament. Though Hodgson has probably made average talents like Lucas Leiva and Maxi Rodriguez into better players, he has not been able to bring out the best from his star players.

Fernando Torres has looked very frustrated throughout the season barring a few matches where the supporters have seen what he is capable of. He does not look like he wants to fight for the manager and if Liverpool are to secure a top seven finish, they need Torres to find his shooting boots on a regular basis. Joe Cole is another example of a talented player failing miserably under Hodgson. Though Gerrard has been decent this season, he has not been as influential as he can be because he has been played too deep in a number of matches.

2. Playing too negative for a team like Liverpool

Liverpool are a huge club and boast of arguably the most supportive crowd in history. However they have been utterly disappointed with the negative tactics employed by Hodgson which has more or less meant that the Reds have not dominated too many games. For a club which has some great attacking talents like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, they have played too deep which has meant the duo have not been able to influence games on a regular basis.

Liverpool under the Englishman has passed the ball a lot in their own half but have lacked the creativity to break down defences. Also, they have played the long ball game and expect too much of Torres who has been woefully out of form. Daniel Agger was outspoken in his criticism of the manager in his tactics to just clear the ball from the back instead of distributing it cleanly which does provide a view of the manager’s tactics.

3. Poor Transfer Record and Bad Utilization of Some Players

Though Liverpool were struggling financially at the time when Hodgson took over as he manager of Liverpool, he still had decent money to spend. However he has brought in some very mediocre players who do not deserve to play for a club like Liverpool. Christian Poulsen and Paul Konchesky are very average players who are not good enough and have been criticized by the Anfield faithful for their poor performances.

Raul Meireles is different in this regard as he is a proven player who has shown that he can develop to be an excellent player in the future. However, he is a proper central midfielder who does not have too much pace which is why he should not be played on the wing. The Portuguese has played on the flanks on more than a couple of occasions but has not performed too well because he is a quality central midfielder and not a winger. Also Steven Gerrard is at his best when he is influencing the game from the centre but his tactics has meant he has played too deep which has meant he cannot be that influential and Torres has suffered from a lack of service.

4. Hodgson does not inspire confidence to the Supporters and the Players

Roy Hodgson has made a number of statements which have been controversial and has been criticized by the Liverpool supporters. He has not cut a confident figure; in fact, he has been rather cautious in his approach and has not looked like a manager for the long term future of the club. His comments after the poor performance against local rivals Everton were quite pathetic when he said they had put in their best performance of the season in that 2-0 defeat. Also when Sir Alex Ferguson was indirectly pointing out that Torres dived in the game between the two clubs, Hodgson said nothing to back the player.

Also, his comments about Glen Johnson not being good enough and Joe Cole not assured of a regular place has only brought down the confidence of the team. Every time the Reds have let in a goal, Hodgson does not inspire the players who need a tougher manager at the helm. His man-management skills have not been excellent and it does seem like he has found the Liverpool job and expectations too big to handle despite his assurances.

5. Liverpool Supporters want him out and will not back him as the Manager

Liverpool have been one of the most successful clubs in history and the supporters want the club to play attacking football. They have not been happy with the defensive tactics of Hodgson while the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal have been attacking in most of the games. The Reds have an away record that is quite similar to clubs fighting against relegation and the supporters have been forced to watch some pitiful football over the last few months, especially away from Anfield while they have also suffered some embarrassing losses like the defeats to Blackpool and Wolves at home.

Hodgson made another error by criticising the famous Anfield support and was invited with sarcastic chants of “Hodgson for England” in the next few games. He must understand that Liverpool supporters generally back the manager to a great extent but they do not back him because they do not believe he is the right man for the job. The new owners have been patient so far but they should make a move to appease the supporters who are very restless at the moment.

The fact that Anfield has not been completely filled by supporters for the last couple of matches is a huge cause for concern which clearly gives the indication that the fans have lost the faith in Hodgson and the team for now. Hodgson might have come in at a difficult period but will not be unfairly treated if he does get the sack because he has been given a lot of time to turn things around at Liverpool. Now that he has been unsuccessful, it is time for someone else to try to steady the ship.

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.

Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres linked with Barcelona; Where do their Futures lie?

Barcelona recently inked a shirt deal with the Qatar foundation, the world's most expensive shirt deal at present. This will provide the Spanish giants with more revenue and help them reduce their debts to a large extent.

Barcelona are arguably the favourites to lift the Champions League at Wembley after showing their prowess against Spanish rivals Real Madrid. They have a superb style of play which can be matched by no one in the world and have been extremely successful under Guardiola. It is hard to find a soft area in the current Barcelona team which is why it is a surprise that they are linked with moves to Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal and Fernando Torres of Liverpool.

The Spanish internationals were linked with the Catalan club in the last summer as well but both of them stayed at their respective clubs. As the January window approaches, it is hardly surprising that there are speculations concerning them. In this article, I will discuss the possibilities of the two Spaniards moving away from their respective clubs in the summer.

Cesc Fabregas

Barcelona tried to convince Fabregas of a move to his homeland but failed to make a substantial offer last season. The French tactician, who has played an integral part in the development of Cesc Fabregas, convinced the Spanish international to stay for the season.

Fabregas has a long term contract till 2015 and his potential is undeniable considering his rapid progress at Arsenal into a superb midfielder at the age of 23. It would take a massive bid of close to £50 million to entice Arsenal into considering the offer. The Gunners hold all the trump cards in the deal and will demand the price that they think is necessary to part ways with their captain.

Inter Milan have been linked with a big-money move in the past, but Fabregas has made it clear that if he does move from Arsenal, it will only be to Barcelona.

Fabregas has suffered numerous injuries in his career, but his recurring hamstring injury is a cause of concern because it could have long-term implications, not unlike the case of Michael Owen whose career was greatly affected by hamstring injuries. However, that is unlikely to put off Barcelona from launching a strong bid in the summer to bring back their former youth player, who remains special amongst the Barcelona crowd.

Arsenal's Point of View:

Arsenal and Wenger understand that it is inevitable that Fabregas will leave the club, but they will look to groom their replacement before he does join FC Barcelona. Aaron Ramsey is highly rated and if not for his double fracture, he would have got many chances this season and Wenger could have utilised him in the attacking midfield role when Fabregas is injured.

Samir Nasri can play in the role and has proved to be effective in the past. The versatility of some of the players at Arsenal might mean that Wenger does not sign a new playmaker to replace Fabregas. The Spanish International has been affected by injuries this season and it would have given Wenger some idea as to how they would cope without their inspirational talisman.

Even if Wenger feels he could let Fabregas move, Barcelona will have to come up with the right offer or they could expect to be snubbed by the Arsenal manager because they do believe that a price of around £50 million is justified for a player of Fabregas' class.

Barcelona's Point of View:

Barcelona have made it clear that they would be glad to sign Cesc Fabregas and with Xavi Hernandez not getting any younger, Cesc Fabregas could be groomed for the next two seasons to take up the mantle for the Blaugrana. They are a club which have paid big money in the past and with the new revenue from the shirt deal, Guardiola might spend the money to acquire the Arsenal captain.

However, signing the Arsenal captain would mean that the chances for Thiago Alacantara and Jonathan dos Santos, who are promising central midfielders, would disappear. Also, Ibrahim Afellay was signed recently by the Blaugrana and there could be some youngsters who could leave the club in search of more playing time.

Fernando Torres

The Spanish striker was clearly unhappy that his side could not compete in the Champions League this year and was linked with a number of clubs in the last summer. However the new manager Roy Hodgson convinced him to stay with the club. He was also influenced by the decision of Steven Gerrard and the signing of Joe Cole but it has not worked well for him this season.

He has looked off form for most of the season but turned in a brilliant performance against current champions Chelsea to defeat them by two goals to nil. His talent is undeniable and he has proven that he is a world class striker. However he has been a pale shadow of himself due to his lean patch which extends to the World Cup in June.

Torres is an ambitious striker and believes he should be playing in the Champions League and that could be a reason he could force a move from the club in January or in the summer. Manchester City were heavily linked with him in the summer and could test his resolve again.

Liverpool's Point of View:

It will be very difficult to convince Torres to stay with the club after a very disappointing start to the season and though he has not been in form, the supply to him in general has been quite poor and he has also suffered because of it. Ideally, Liverpool would like to hold on to their striker but if the striker decides to move on, there is not much that the club can do but to negotiate smartly in order to gain the best deal.

Liverpool's new owners might hold the key to whether or not he will stay at the club. Roy Hodgson's time with Liverpool is numbered if he does not start producing the results and if things do not go his way, the new manager and the owners' willingness to spend the money to acquire new players could also determine whether Torres will stay at the club or not.

The Clubs that could Sign Fernando Torres

Manchester City are one of the strong contenders to land the Spanish striker considering they need a prolific established striker if their former captain Carlos Tevez does force a move out of the club. They have the financial clout to meet Liverpool's asking price but the question is whether Torres will move to a club where a player's future is not always certain (read Roque Santa Cruz, Adebayor et al). Also, Torres named Liverpool as the biggest club in England and moving to City will not impress the Liverpool supporters.

Chelsea were believed to have made a bid in the summer for Torres and after seeing the striker's prowess against them, they might want to add the prolific striker to their roster. Also, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are both on the wrong side of 30 and the London based club might let Anelka leave if they can sign Torres.

Real Madrid are interested to sign a striker in January or in the summer and do have the finances to sign the Spanish International but there is a very good possibility that Torres might not want to play for the Los Blancos considering he played for Atletico Madrid in his early years and the club remains close to him.

Barcelona were also one of the clubs linked with the star striker and it was reported that Sandro Rosell was keen on bringing the Spanish International to the Camp Nou. Torres is not averse to a move there and the Blaugrana are capable of paying what it takes to land Torres. David Villa and Fernando Torres share an excellent relationship and that could also be a factor. The only thing which Barcelona have to consider is whether Torres is needed at the club and that his signing will hinder Bojan Krkic from having regular opportunities. For Torres, he needs to playing regularly and should he be assured by Guardiola of a chance to prove his calibre, there is a good chance he would be interested.