Alex Song - lessons learnt?

As news that Alex Song had signed a new long-term contract filtered in last week, one couldn't help but feel that manager Arsène Wenger had decided that there was no time to lose in holding onto one of the club's most improved assets. Of course, this hasn't always been the case with Arsenal.

Barely two seasons ago, a young Frenchman by the name of Mathieu Flamini walked out on the club just as his talent was starting to shine through. Labelled as a more than decent utility player in his first few years at Arsenal, Flamini was coming off a breakthrough season in central midfield, excelling in tandem with Cesc Fabregas to leave foaming Arsenal fans bereft of superlatives and excited for the future.

However, the contract offer came in much too late and Flamini had already made his mind up to move on to pastures anew. We all know what came of the move to AC Milan, but the fact was that Arsenal had lost an important jigsaw piece in the team, one which, to continue the imagery, they had just found hidden down the back of the sofa all along.

Mathieu Flamini was unlike any other defensive midfielder the Arsenal team had ever seen before. Unlike the imperious silky skills of Gilberto Silva or the dynamism that Patrick Vieira was famed for, Flamini was the proverbial rabid dog in midfield, scampering around and snapping at the heels of opposition players whenever they attempted to break forward. This constant harrying freed up Fabregas to do what he has always done best. Flamini, in other words, was the perfect foil for Arsenal's captain-in-waiting.

However, this article is not about Flamini and truth be told, what's done is done. Flamini felt that leaving Arsenal would be the logical next step in his career and as Arsène Wenger has made it a habit not to resign players he has let go off, it is unlikely that we will see a second coming. We look instead to the future and the other options we have.

At first, Alexander Song Billong looked like an unlikely replacement. A centre-back when he first impressed during a trial with Arsenal in the summer of 2005, Song was then signed on loan from Bastia. He did enough to complete a million pound move the following season, but was very much under the radar for the time being as fellow reserve teammate Emmanuel Eboue made the most of Lauren's enforced absence from the first team.

Appearing sporadically for the Arsenal first team and of course in the League Cup like so many other Arsène prospects, Song was then loaned to Charlton in 2007, the same year Flamini finally got his big break and effectively leapfrogged above Gilberto Silva as Arsenal's first choice DM.

However, the Frenchman's move to Italy left a gaping hole in midfield. Fabregas needed someone to mop up behind him as he concentrated on threading those exquisite passes towards the opposition box. Denilson was probably first choice to partner Fabregas, but for all his bravado and devastating shots from distance, the young Brazilian's defensive qualities still left something to be desired. Arsène Wenger probably deduced as much, for Alex Song started appearing in the first team towards the end of the season.

Billed as Arsenal's next rock in midfield, my initial impression of Song was anything but. Lacking the technical skill to attempt anything much more than a square pass, or the steel to ride some bruising tackles, Song looked woefully inadequate.

Instead of dominating opposition players, we got used to seeing much stronger midfielders brush pass Song as though he wasn't on the pitch at all. As Manchester United went on to clinch another title, I despaired. One wondered, why weren't moves being made in the off-season to secure another defensive midfielder? Perhaps one with international pedigree? Stephen Appiah was available on a free transfer, but the rumours were no more than just wishful thinking.

However, the start of the 2009/10 seasons has seen a startling turnaround in fortunes. With Denilson out through a back injury, Song stepped in to deputise and hasn't looked back since, turning in much improved performances. The indecision and hapless ineptitude has all but disappeared.

I was watching Arsenal against Sunderland and the improvement was startling. Besides standing his ground and winning the ball in midfield, Arsenal's new enforcer even came up with a moment of sheer brilliance, striding forward as the defence backed off and playing a sweet one-two with Eduardo that almost culminated in a goal. The old Alexander Song would not have even attempted that. The new incarnation pulled it off with aplomb and almost poked in at the end of the move as the defenders scrambled to cover.

Song's original contract would have run out next June, but the Arsenal board has acted quickly to prevent that very eventuality, announcing that Song has been tied down for the next few seasons. Gooners worldwide can now be content that we will be seeing many more excellent performances to come from our newest star in the making beyond this season.

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