Alex Song Happy to leave Arsenal for Barcelona

Alex Song

Alex Song is happy after joining Barcelona. Cameroon international Alex Song says he is "happy to join the best team in the world" after signing with Barcelona from Arsenal in a transfer worth 19 million euros ($A22.6 million).

"A few weeks ago, I was set to extend my contract with Arsenal and it was taking some time. But when Barcelona arrived, I said yes straight away, because Barcelona is not a team to be turned down and when the train arrives once in a lifetime, you have to take your chance," he told reporters as he was unveiled at a club presentation on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old - who is related to Cameroon legend Rigobert Song - had three years left to run on his contract with Arsenal but scrapped that in favour of a five-year deal with the four-time European champions.

"I am happy to be here and it is a pleasure for me to come to Barcelona, because it is a dream come true. Barcelona are the best club in the world, the best team in the world with some of the most talented players in the world," he added.

"It is an immense joy for me and my family," he added. "I have two boys who adore (Lionel) Messi the whole year long and only speak about him and it will be a great joy to have the opportunity to play with him.

"Today, I am a Barcelona player and I will do everything to give the best I possibly can, because it is Barcelona and it is a team of winners, a team of champions".

Song becomes the second key player to leave Arsenal after Dutchman Robin van Persie signed with Manchester United last week for 30.4 million euros.

Barcelona opened their La Liga season last Sunday with a 5-1 thumping over Real Sociedad, helped by two goals from Messi.

Arsenal's Top Scorer This Season: Podolski, Giroud, Walcott or Gervinho?

With the dual departure of last season’s leading goal scorer (Robin van Persie) and leading assist man (Alex Song), Arsenal is left with a huge offensive hole to fill.

Arsene Wenger remains confident that the signings of Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski will supplement the lack of scoring, but there’s currently no clear-cut favorite to who will be this season’s top goal scorer.

Nobody expects Lukas Podolski to produce the same numbers that van Persie did, but Podolski netted 18 goals in the Bundesliga last year, and if he can maintain that same pace in the Premier League he’ll help Arsenal stay near the top of the table.

Fewer than 15 goals will be considered a disappointment, but fans have to temper their expectations because it’ll take a while to mesh with his new teammates. Unlike with FC Koln, Podolski is not the sole offensive threat, so his overall offensive numbers will probably decline simply because Arsenal has a diversified attack. 

Although Olivier Giroud may not be as well-known as Podolski, he scored an impressive 25 goals last season for the Ligue 1 side Montpellier.

France’s top league may not be the same caliber as the Premier League, but Giroud’s stats are impressive nonetheless, and Wenger’s keen eye for French talent has proved successful in the past. Giroud is the “Sleeper Pick” to be Arsenal’s top scorer this year. 

Theo Walcott may finally get an opportunity to play a more aggressive role in Wenger’s offensive scheme, but although he was Arsenal’s second-leading scorer last year, he has a notorious reputation for squandering high-quality goal opportunities. Walcott’s blazing speed does create great chances,  but his finishing abilities are poor and he continued to struggle near the goal last year. 

Gervinho showed flashes of brilliance during the 2011/12 campaign, and while most of Arsenal’s attack is based on quick passing, Gervinho is one of the few strikers who simply takes the ball and heads directly towards the net.

Possession has always been one of Arsene Wenger’s main priorities, but it’s great to see someone who aggressively moves forward, especially when Arsenal has a penchant for making one too many passes.

When Gervinho played for Lille his goal numbers were in the high teens, but he was plagued by injuries last season, and staying healthy this year could result in a surprisingly nice season. 

Arsenal’s revamped squad will be fun to watch, and the goals will eventually come, but nobody knows for sure who will be the player scoring them.

Arsenal can shine without stars, says Wenger

London: Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will still be a force to be reckoned with after Alex Song was confirmed as the latest key player to leave the Emirates Stadium.

Song's departure to Barcelona came minutes after the final whistle of the 0-0 draw against Sunderland on the opening day of the Premier League season on Saturday.

His transfer comes as Wenger attempts to cope with star striker Robin van Persie's move to Manchester United on the eve of the campaign starting.

Arsenal's lacklustre efforts without van Persie and Song, who was left out of the squad for the Sunderland clash, suggests Wenger's side face a major struggle to end their seven-year trophy drought.

But Wenger believes his squad already has enough strength in depth to cope with the changes, while he could also make another signing before the transfer window closes on August 31.

When asked about Song, Wenger said: "He expressed a desire to leave for Barcelona.

"It is frustrating but we have learnt to deal with that. I also believe the financial potential of some clubs is massive and that makes a difference.

"But Jack Wilshere is coming back now in one or two months. We have Abou Diaby coming back, we have (Tomas) Rosicky not far away and might get a midfielder in as well."

Olivier Giroud came on for his debut against Sunderland and shot wide with Arsenal's best chance, while Lukas Podolski did not get a clear-cut opportunity on his first appearance as Arsenal laboured to unlock Sunderland's stubborn defence.

"Overall we lacked something in the sharpness, the quality and accuracy in the final pass," Wenger said.

"The formula did not work with three strikers and we were not well balanced and didn't create enough.

"They locked our midfield and after that it was difficult for us. We need to be more creative."

Santi Cazorla's debut, however, pleased Wenger. The Spaniard created Arsenal's best chances and went close himself.

"It's difficult not to be pleased with him. He played the whole international game in midweek and he basically created all the chances," Wenger said.

Speaking about his new signings, Wenger added: "I never denied we lost a world-class player and that he's difficult to replace.

"Podolski is not ready yet but he has the quality, Giroud has the presence when he is on the pitch.

"But of course Manchester United bought Robin van Persie at 29 years of age as that quality is not easy to find on the market."

Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill was delighted with his side's performance after a frustrating summer in the transfer market.

O'Neill has been able to sign only two players -- Carlos Cuellar and Louis Saha -- but he took heart from the way his team frustrated Arsenal with an obdurate display.

"We have been unable to get the squad to strength but that game will bring us on immensely," he said.

"I knew coming here was going to be difficult. We ran out of energy towards the end and we were hanging on, but at least we are off the mark.

"We should have done better in the first half, James McClean had a shot and Jack Colback got himself into a good position too, but in the second half Arsenal had most of the possession and we had to defend."

Arsenal Football Club

Arsenal Football Club

Arsenal Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Holloway, London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups. Arsenal holds the record for the longest uninterrupted period in the English top flight and would be placed first in an aggregated league of the entire 20th century. It is the second side to complete an English top flight season unbeaten (in the 2003–04 season), and the only one to do it across 38 matches.

Arsenal was founded in 1886 in Woolwich and in 1893 became the first club from the south of England to join the Football League. In 1913, it moved north across the city to Arsenal Stadium in Highbury. In the 1930s the club won five League Championship titles and two FA Cups. After a lean period in the post-war years it won the League and FA Cup Double, in the 1970–71 season, and in the 1990s and first decade of the 21st century won two more Doubles and reached the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final. Arsenal has a long-standing rivalry with neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, with whom it contests the North London derby. Arsenal is the fourth most valuable association football club in the world as of 2012, valued at $1.3 billion.