Wenger - I've never had doubts about Song
By Richard Clarke
Alex Song may be barely 20 years-old but his starting berth at centre half against Slavia Prague tonight feels like a comeback.
It will be only the third time the Cameroonian has begun a game for Arsenal outside the Carling Cup. The last time he did that he was playing in midfield at Fulham on November 29, 2006. It was a difficult night for both players and team. He was substituted at half time as Arsenal went down 2-1.
This season, Song has been converted to central defence with some success. Impressive Carling Cup appearances against Newcastle and Sheffield United have paved the way for him to replace the injured Kolo Toure in the Czech capital.
“He will start and it will be a big test for him,” said Wenger on the eve of the tie. “[The Fulham game affected him] in the minds of people, yes. Afterwards people asked how can a player like Song come to Arsenal?
“Yes, on the night against Fulham, he was not good. But he was like the rest of the team.
“I never had any doubts about him. There are things that you cannot cheat when you see someone everyday in training.
“He is more mature now. People forgot how old he is. He is 20 years-old and that loan spell at Charlton helped him to grow up.
“If you ask him, he prefers to play central midfield, but I feel that he just wants to play now.
“He is very strong one-against-one and reads the game well. He is calm. He is good on the ball and good in the air. That will be important for us tonight.”
[ Wednesday, November 07, 2007]
