Following a typically mundane and uneventful January transfer window with Malaga left-back Nacho Monreal our only addition, there seems to be hope that the summer may be slightly more uplifting.
Throughout January, the out of favour Villa was linked with a move to Arsenal (the move was never completed as Arsene claimed Barcelona were unwilling to sell at the time). This certainly was an exciting prospect for all Gooners, as it would be fair to say that it has been a while since Arsenal have been able to attract such a big name to the club. A ‘big name’ is undoubtedly an apt term to describe Villa- who boasts a staggering honours list including a World Cup, a European Championship, a La Liga title, 3 Copa Del Rey’s (Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup), two Supercopa’s (equivalent of the League Cup), a World Club Championship and a Golden Boot, as well as being Spain’s all-time top goal scorer- compare to Arsenal’s current squad, who boast 2 French Cups, 4 Ligue 1 titles, a Copa Del Rey, a Confederations Cup, a Bundesliga title, an SPL title, a Scottish Cup, a Scottish League Cup, 2 Russian Premier League titles and a UEFA Cup between them. Considering that the majority of these cup are not perceived as major ones, that 6 of the trophies have been won by Sebastien Squillaci and Andrey Arshavin- players barely considered part of Arsenal’s first-team; and that none of the trophies have been won during the players’ time at Arsenal, and you can see why Villa’s résumé is likely to whet the appetite of many Gooners, whose team has largely been starved of so-called ‘stars’. But despite the eager anticipation surrounding his possible move, does Villa, a 31-year-old who played just 14 games last season following a serious leg break, really represent a good move, commanding a price likely to be at least £15 million, coupled with wages that would likely be at least £100,000 per week? A move for Villa certainly has its pros and cons. Let’s start with the positives.
As I pointed out before, with such a prestigious list of honours to his name Villa should carry with the much famed ‘winning mentality’- something arguably lacking from the Arsenal team in recent years. Also, the fact that his name shines with stardom, would give a much-needed lift to everyone connected with the club and create a buzz of positivity in pre-season. His ability is also unquestioned, he has an outstanding scoring record at all of his previous clubs- 40 in 85 appearances at Sporting Gijon, 41 in 92 appearances at Real Zaragoza, 128 in 217 appearances at Valencia and 42 goals in 98 appearances at Barcelona, a career total of 276 goals in 557 games, a strike rate of around 1 in 2- a phenomenal record considering his longevity at the top level of Spanish and International football. So if Villa could re-capture this form, he would certainly bolster Arsenal’s attacking options and their goal-scoring abilities as a team. Villa also offers reasonable versatility, being able to operate either as a central striker, or as on the wide-left of a front three, so Arsene would be able to deploy him in multiple roles across the front line. Furthermore, despite him hardly representing a bargain, at around £15 million- the fee Villa could likely be obtained for- his transfer would not be ludicrously high in today’s world of football, where players with far inferior records command far higher fees.
However, despite the many positives, there would still be an element of risk and uncertainty to Villa’s move. At 31, Villa is not getting any younger and his best days are probably behind him, although he would probably still request a fairly long-term contract of three or four years, possibly looking to see out his playing career with his next club. This could mean that were Villa not to work out, Arsenal could be lumbered with a past-his-best, highly-paid player on the fringes of the team and struggling for fitness (Andrey Arshavin anyone?). And although that is a very gloomy worst case scenario, it remains a possible outcome. Villa would also represent a health risk for Arsenal. Villa suffered a nasty leg break in the semi-finals of the World Club Championship against Al-Sadd of Qatar, which kept him out of action for eight months. Despite seemingly making a good recovery, Villa has yet to re-establish himself in the Barcelona team and get regular playing time. This could be partly down to the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Udinese for over $26 million, but also could be down to the possibility that Villa simply isn’t the player he was before the injury. We Gooners know only too well how a long-term lay-off can affect a player- just take a look at Eduardo. Also, without consistent first-team minutes at Barcelona, it is questionable how David Villa would stand up to the considerable that would be piled upon him a Arsenal, which would likely involve having to play week-in, week-out.
To summarise, the ambition and desire that Arsenal signing David Villa would show would be great, the move would lift spirits at the club and catch the eye of the watchful English press. The move would give us all a short-term boost, but would David Villa be a good acquisition for Arsenal? - That is still up for debate.
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