Arsenal: Wenger signing was named Fabregas 2.0, now he’s playing Dutch

Arsenal: Wenger signing was named Fabregas 2.0, now he’s playing Dutch

PUBLISHED 15 MINUTES AGO
Filling great player’s shoes is tough work. As much as early praise can encourage, it can also hinder – as Cesc Fabregas’ heir found out.

The idea of a footballing heir is a weighty subject. It can make or break characters, whether, for instance, it be Dan Crowley’s Jack Wilshere comparison at Arsenal, perhaps even Jordan Rossiter’s stray Steven Gerrard comparison, or Jude Bellingham striding across the Bernabéu pitch with Zidane’s infamous number five worn comfortably on his back. It’s certainly a daunting hurdle that gifted youngsters approach at the highest level.

Unfortunately for this article’s subject, this player finds himself on the Crowley and Rossiter end of the spectrum when it comes to fulfilling his potential as the next Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates Stadium.

Who was the next Fabregas?
After consistent world-class showings for both club and country, Cesc Fabregas’ Arsenal spell ended with a transfer to Barcelona in 2011. The World Cup winner’s figurative shoes were likely a size too big to fill on the face of it. A size that would make the average player innumerate, given the midfielder’s growth into one of the finest playmakers around.

You don’t replace a Fabregas with a snap of the fingers. You don’t replace him with a youth player either – unless that star quality is glaringly bright, lapping at the heels of the first team.

Yet, while Arsenal Wenger looked over a group of players under his employ, a glint caught his seasoned eye. It danced in the shadowed slot where Fabregas, as well as an also-departing Samir Nasri, once lived. That spec of light was Gedion Zelalem.

How did Gedion Zelalem come onto the scene?
Zelalem seemed like a gifted footballer who developed exponentially despite a certain time of adversity. Born in Berlin to Ethiopian parents, the tragedy of his mother’s death saw him and his father move to the United States in 2006.

He made the transatlantic trip at just nine years old. However, he played football from the age of five. Plus, education in the Hertha Berlin academy, meant that his skill transferred to Washington’s suburbs with ease.

The humble beginnings of MSC United and Bethesda SC progressed to the elite side at Olney Rangers in 2011. Two years was enough, the youngster was noticed by Arsenal’s North American scout, Danny Karbassiyoon.

It’s been said that there are many American youth players are talented enough to bridge the Anglo-American divide, but they aren’t permitted to travel. Yet, as Zelalem was born in Germany, his EU passport was a green light for Arsenal who signed him after a two-week trial in 2013.

“I saw Gedion in a training session. Technically he was very, very gifted, he rarely looks like he’s under pressure and always has a way out. I hadn’t seen that in players in the US, his intelligence and awareness were on another level.” (Karbassiyoon, 2016)

From fledgling Fabregas to the Rest Divisie: Where is Zelalem now?
Zelalem’s ascent continued on arrival at London Colney as onlookers continued awe-struck. The gifted talent flew through the ranks. U16, U18, the reserves. Then, all of a sudden he was cropping up in senior sessions.

This brought inclusion in the 24-man squad for Arsenal’s Asia Tour. Performances against an Indonesia Dream Team, Vietnam, and Japan’s Nagoya Grampus saw him quickly become a favourite. It was after this, that the praise grew and the lofty media comparisons flowed. “Arsenal’s next Fabregas?” the Guardian questioned.

Alas, no. It seemed Zelalem’s “great talent” as Wenger had labelled, had prematurely peaked.

Where positives like 2014’s full Arsenal debut and fruitful Rangers loan the following year duly arrived – there was also mediocrity. Where Wenger had mentioned a potentially great player, in the same breath he also underlined a need for mental strength as well as physical conditioning. In a somewhat foreboding fashion, the Frenchman spoke of Zelalem’s progress:

“If he manages to develop his physique and keep his qualities, he can be a very important player. Let’s hope he will do it. (…) Today it is too early for him to play for us, but I would say in one year we will know more about him.” (Wenger, 2014)

He got more than a year. Yet, he didn’t emerge as a talent befitting of Arsenal, let alone fulfilling Cesc Fabregas’ legacy. In 2017, after a poor showing at VVV Venlo on loan – making only eight appearances – Arsenal decided it was enough and let him return to America for free.

Stints at Sporting Kansas City and New York City FC subsequently came and went for the American.

Since January of 2023, Den Bosch of the Dutch second division come as Zelalem’s newest club. Time is still on his side though for the 26-year-old. Maybe that “important player” is deep down in there somewhere, just waiting to emerge.

Man United: Ten Hag must ruthlessly dit
The Dutchman will surely make changes for the tie against Burnley

Manchester United suffered their third straight defeat in midweek against Bayern Munich and the pressure is now firmly on Erik ten Hag, despite a spirited performance in Germany.

A tie against Burnley in the Premier League is next up for the Red Devils and while they currently occupy 13th spot in the table with just two wins from five, Vincent Kompany’s men have themselves secured only one point thus far.

This upcoming clash represents a wonderful opportunity for United to get back on track and a confidence-boosting victory will hopefully allow them to kick-start their season and nudge them further up the table.

Following the defeat to Bayern, Ten Hag will likely make changes, especially as several of his starting XI underperformed, with Christian Eriksen among the protagonists in this regard.

How did Christian Eriksen perform vs Bayern Munich?
The Danish midfielder made his first Champions League start since October 2020 against the Bundesliga side, yet he failed to showcase his vast talents when United needed him most.

His Sofascore match rating of 5.6 was the lowest out of anyone on the pitch during the match, as Eriksen’s 69-minute spell saw him complete just 30 successful passes while giving away a penalty and being dribbled past twice as he failed to assert his authority in the heart of the midfield.

Following the tie, he and Casemiro were criticised by journalist Mark Critchley, who said: “Manchester United are under the microscope in just about every part of the pitch at the moment but the midfield might be most concerning.

“Casemiro and Christian Eriksen both look like short-term fixes to a long-term problem.”

Will Christian Eriksen start for Manchester United vs Burnley?
The £150k-per-week “absolute genius” – as so dubbed by Statman Dave in 2022 – hasn’t exactly lit up Old Trafford this season.

He has averaged a Sofascore match rating of just 6.9 across five Premier League ties, registering only two goal contributions – one goal and one assist – while creating zero big chances and averaging just 0.8 key passes per game.

Across the United squad, these statistics rank him only tenth, third and tenth for key passes per game, while he doesn’t even rank for big chances created.

It has been an underwhelming campaign thus far and indeed, across the previous 12 months, Eriksen has failed to showcase his best qualities over a range of metrics.

According to FBref, the Dane ranks in the lowest 93% for tackles (1.17) and the lowest 88% for interceptions (0.55) per 90 when compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, while some of his attacking statistics have not been great either.

He ranks in the lowest 74% for successful take-ons per 90 (0.43) and the lowest 40% for touches in the opposition box (1.37) when compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues and Ten Hag should perhaps give someone else an opportunity against Burnley today.

Something needs to click into gear for the Dutchman, and he needs it fast, otherwise the pressure could soon become unbearable, and he may well be looking for a new role sooner rather than later.

With it looking as if Eriksen is a key part of the ‘problem’ at present, a new solution must be found this evenings

Ross is a freelance writer who has worked for a wide variety of media outlets over the previous couple of years.

Having started at Rangers News, Ross joined Snack Media in April 2022 and has written for Football FanCast ever since. He has also written for Golf Monthly while also contributing to various publications, including the acclaimed Nutmeg magazine along with popular Italian football blog The Gentleman Ultra.

Ross is also a big Rangers fan and has written about the club across fan media sites such as This is Ibrox previously.