Alex Song admits he wanted to return to Arsenal this summer, and also claims Cesc Fabregas had similar ideas.
Cameroon international Song left the Gunners for Barcelona in the summer of 2012, when the Catalan giants paid £15million for his signature. However, he failed to establish himself as a key player at the Camp Nou and was deemed surplus to requirements ahead of the current season, so he returned to the English capital when he joined West Ham United on loan.
Some were surprised that Arsene Wenger didn’t offer Song the chance to return to the Emirates Stadium, and the midfielder admits this was his first preference. And he has also revealed how Fabregas, who was also made available by Barcelona, also wanted to return to the Gunners, although he instead ended up joining Chelsea when his former club decided against taking him.
“I would have liked to go back [to Arsenal] but they did not want to,” Song told L’Equipe. “That’s life. Cesc Fabregas also wanted to return to Arsenal but they did not want to exercise their option. It is surprising when you see what he is doing at Chelsea. He is stronger than before. My priority was to return to England, for me and the family. I discovered a club that I did not know but it’s working well.”
Song will come face-to-face with his former club when they visit Upton Park on Sunday afternoon, when the hosts will be looking to further demonstrate their newly found confidence by moving four points ahead of Wenger’s side. So impressive has the 27-year-old been for the Hammers, it has been suggested that Sam Allardyce will look to wrap him up on a permanent deal next month.
As for Fabregas, Wenger must surely regret not taking the option to return him to the Arsenal setup. The Spaniard is playing some of the best football of his career for Jose Mourinho’s side, already establishing himself as a key player for the current league leaders. The former Gunners captain has scored four goals in 24 appearances in all competitions, and provided an astonishing 17 assists.
Arsenal must already regret not signing Fabregas, and will they also regret not taking Song back? Let us know what you think by joining in the discussion below.
