Will the Dutch attacker follow in the footsteps of Nuri Sahin and choose Anfield over the Emirates if it comes down to a straight shoot-out?
Arsenal are most likely still smarting from the idea that Liverpool have beaten them in a transfer battle as Nuri Sahin completed a move to Anfield despite heavy interest from the Emirates toward the end of last week.
When the deal brewed up originally the idea of Sahin going to Liverpool instead seemed a mere sidenote to the eventual Arsenal deal but, it happened.
Regardless of the reason, whether it was Jose Mourinho’s influence, a breakdown between the Gunners and Madrid or just the assurance of definite first-team football Sahin chose Liverpool and not Arsenal.
With the news that Ibrahim Afellay is now available on a loan deal to help reboot his fledging career comes the untimely reminder that once again Arsenal may well lose out on their target.
His career has tailed off since a nasty injury during his time at Barca and the magnificent talent he once exposed on the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven appears to be lying dormant.
Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been linked with the Dutchman who can play in a variety of positions, including out wide and from the advanced midfield role and for the same reasons as Nuri Sahin, Liverpool may be the best fit for the Dutch sensation.
Arsenal will want the player as he fits the Wenger mould, but will he want to arrive at a club with such competition for places? Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain all play a similar game to Afellay and he may consider such a move as troublesome in the quest for guaranteed football.
Meanwhile at Liverpool players such as Downing seem surplus to requirements, and despite obviously impressing Raheem Sterling is young and further forward support could be beneficial. Afellay, Assaidi, Sterling and Borini would compete for the wide spots alongside Suarez up top, with a deal for Clint Dempsey seemingly struggling; Afellay would be a welcome replacement.
Afellay will want to play somewhere that fits the Barca mould and whilst Arsenal do play the passing game Brendan Rodgers focuses much more on the importance of high pressing. Afellay would see this as a potential to either shine for Barca’s benefit or to win a permanent move to Anfield.
If the winger positions don’t suit him Afellay is more the capable of dropping into midfield, with Gerrard dropping back. With the apparent imminence of Charlie Adam and Jay Spearing’s departures and an injury to Lucas Leiva again this could prove beneficial.
Arsenal need to beat Liverpool to the signing of Afellay if the war does go down to simply the two of them, but he may just decide to sacrifice Champions League football for a slice of Brendan Rodger’s ever more appealing revolution.
Where do you think Afellay should end up?
image: © jikatu
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