Should Premier League Clubs Be Looking To Sign Alex Song? The Statistics

Arsenal have been guilty of letting their best players leave the club over the last few years, and whether or not they have been better off away from the Emirates is an argument for another day. However, with the Mirror suggesting that one of those players – Alex Song – has had enough with life at the club he left north London for, Barcelona, I have decided whether or not he is a worthy investment, in my opinion, for a Premier League side.

Obviously a drop from Camp Nou would result in a side who are challenging for the Champions League spots in the English topflight, so straight away we can rule out anyone below the top six.

Let’s take a look at the statistics.

Song has played just once this season, a 1-0 away win over Malaga in Barcelona’s second La Liga outing of the season. In that game, he had a shot on target, completed 94% of his passes, and made four defensive actions – three clearances and one interception.

Going back to last season – the season he was voted as the worst signing of the season – the 26-year-old made 20 appearances, hit the target with all three of his shots, scoring once, and completing a whopping 93% of his overall passes, the joint third highest in the squad.

He averaged 44 defensive actions in his playing time, while also winning 70% of his tackles, 59% of his take ons and 58% of his headers.

Song is a fine player, but he is a small fish in a big pond at Barcelona. The watercarrier role is a tough one to shine in at the best of times, but when you’re alongside Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta it’s always going to be that tad more difficult.

Should Song want a move back to England I am sure he will have his pick of a few clubs at the top of the table, and in my opinion deservedly so.