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It’s been one hell of a season for Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey, with the American enjoying, arguably, the finest campaign of his career. Naturally with good performances comes interest from other clubs, with Arsenal rumoured to be looking at the man who has been pulling the strings at Craven Cottage. However, would the Texan be able to replicate his performances in West London at the Emirates stadium?
Dempsey has become a part of the furniture in the Premier League since his journey across the pond in 2007, endearing himself to fans across the nation with his frequent versatile and committed displays. Such consistency does hint at an ability to move up the Premiership’s food chain, but the ex-New England Revolution man should maybe take note of Andy Carroll’s situation at Liverpool, before opting to leave his current surroundings.
Although Carroll is completely different style of player, both in a positional sense and in terms of on-field approach, he stepped up, at the time, from a mid-table side to one of the nation’s biggest names. Since then the weight of expectation, and the differing system employed at Anfield, has seen the powerful Geordie struggle to adapt causing him to become the centre of much criticism.
In his time at Newcastle, the forward was the focal point of the team, thriving on the club’s more direct approach and tendency to utilise crosses from wide areas and set-pieces. This played to his strengths, allowing him to execute the skills that made him a threat on a regular basis, but his move to Merseyside has seen a change in playing styles, of which he is struggling to adapt to.
Although Dempsey is a totally different prospect to Carroll, he currently finds himself in comfortable surroundings, playing in a system he understands, alongside players of whom he is used to. The styles of play employed by Arsenal and Fulham differ, and if the American were to be thrust into the Arsenal midfield, he would likely struggle to adapt immediately to the pace and expectation of his teammates. Carroll has time to adapt, and one poor season at his current age is not catastrophic, but for Dempsey it’s a different set of circumstances. Next season the midfielder will turn 30, marking the beginning of the end for the majority of professional footballers, so as a result every minute counts, and a season of adaptation would be detrimental.
Although he is unlikely to compete for major honours at Fulham, Dempsey is a key cog in a relatively successful Premier League unit. First-team football is a virtual guarantee, and with current captain Danny Murphy’s playing days ticking toward their close, becoming skipper of the club is not out of the question, especially with his status as a crowd favourite.
He may well fit at Arsenal, but any move in the world of football presents risks, and Dempsey should be aware of these. The current system at Fulham suits his style of play, allowing him to focus on what he does best, yet at Arsenal it may be a different story. Competition at the club would be fierce, with Arsène Wenger already struggling with the wealth of options at his disposal, and if the midfielder were to be a slow starter, his playing time would be limited. Some may say it would lack ambition to stay put, but Dempsey’s best option may well be to remain at Craven Cottage.
Written by Alex Hams
