People think he's a bit meh because he's unspectacular but he's tidy and disciplined imo. Sat, or stood even, in front of the back four. Led the team for possession stats and passing accuracy (for people that are into that sort of thing, and possession can be completely sterile but it wasn't on Saturday). Didn't have much tackling to do though.
Strangely enough not a defined pre-requisite for the much fabled DM player.
Positional awareness, tactical adherence, mobility, plugging gaps, accurate passing, covering others, shielding the central defenders etc.
I always thought he was arguably the most over-rated of all our over-rated youth and prospective midfield talents – even Denilson.
So Wenger had Bergkamp retire and Pires sold that year. AW brought in Song Billong, Gallas and ****ing Denilson.
(he also brought in Rosicky and loaned in Baptista - I'll give you Rosicky)
Early signs of the brain-rot imo
“Other clubs never came into my thoughts once I knew Arsenal wanted to sign me.”