Arsenal: Ross Barkley transfer an optimistic investment in English magic

Arsenal’s link to Ross Barkley is picking up as the Gunners. But is Barkley just an over-optimistic attempt to exploit English magic?

Arsenal will head into this summer with more question marks than can probably be answered, but the objective is to address as many as possible and the midfield is a big one. Both attacking and defending, this midfield needs some fresh blood.

I have never supported the idea of Ross Barkley coming to Arsenal, especially not while Isco is still available out there. Too much unrecognized English talent has already pervaded the Gunners first team, the last thing we need is another one.

But now I’m, at the very least, giving it some thought. The 3-4-3 has seen a massive upturn in Englishman productivity. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rob Holding and Kieran Gibbs are all doing fantastic within the formation, with Danny Welbeck still on the fringe and, if you want to change it to “British” rather than “English” then toss in Aaron Ramsey as well.

Arsenal needs more attackers, preferably central attacking midfielders, since both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are drifting too far wide.

Ross Barkley might actually be a solid option to accomplish that need. It also might just be an over-optimistic plea to recenter the club in British roots.

The Gunners tried the British core not all that long ago, putting the future of the club on the shoulders of Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey.

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Since that time, very little has come from those five. Ramsey and the Ox are making a resurgence and Gibbs might have something left to say, but in terms of being the “core?” that’s not entirely accurate.

That said, a new British core is certainly developing with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the bridge. Throw in Rob Holding, the return of Calum Chambers and potentially Ross Barkley and suddenly the core is looking much more realistic.

Of course, Barkley could fall into the same company as the rest of the English core that hasn’t lived up to their expectations. We still have an inconsistent Danny Welbeck, an always-injured Wilshere and the disappearance of Carl Jenkinson to throw in the questionable category.

The point is, Barkley, as the price that he currently carries, comes with all of the former hopes we had in so many other young British players, particularly midfielders. If it can come off, that resurgence of a British-centric core could be exactly what Arsenal needs, but it could also be a fantastic waste of money if he goes the same route as the other half of the hopeful British core.

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There are safer options out there. Plenty of them. But there might not be any as rewarding.

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