he's good but he'll never be a top tier player like Messi, CR7, Suárez, Neymar, Bale etc etc IMO...
most Barca fans (on this forum anyway) wanted him gone after his first season with us and definitely after his second! his third season was his best for us but it was still no more than decent. he never seems fully in control of the ball or the situation he's in IMO. he'll produce a moment of brillance every so often (chip goal in El Clásico & his goal against Atlético in last game of season) but most of the time he runs into deadends like a headless chicken, misses great goal scoring opportunites etc. he is more restricted at Barca in the system we play but he has improved as a player during his time here as well. he'll do well at Arsenal but he's not a match winner, game changer, whatever you want to call it IMO...
I promised to myself I won't comment on the issue anymore, but god damn it, this comment is so disrupted for reality it's not even funny anymore.
- no more than decent season:
most goals and assists out of any winger in any league except C.Ronaldo (who's a winger in theory alone).
- not a match winner: check this season against Real Madrid, or check what he did to England on Wembley. Or check what he did at this WC. Or check what he did to Milan, Inter and Juve in Serie A.
- the Barca fans that wanted him gone after what was a good first season are people that didn't even like him in the first place.
In 3 years, he only had one bad season (actually, more like six months, from september 2012, until april 2013 -- when he seemed incapable to score).
If Pep was still at the team, he wouldn't have sold him. Not in this form and not at this perfect age for playing world class football. And not to fund the transfer of a close to 28 ys old player, maybe past his best years, with mental problems.
As much as I hate the fact that we're getting rid of Alexis, I'd love to see him for Arsenal. If it happens, I'll be watching as many Gunners games as possibly next season.
:beer2: Me too. I already watch them and Liverpool when I can.
