The new hot topic of English hype is a certain Samir Nasri.
What everyone wants to know... Is he better than Bale?
Yes. And fuck off.
Undoubtedly that Welshman has announced himself as a major player recently, I loved him in American Psycho and I can't wait to see him with Mark E. Mark in The Fighter.
But seriously though, Gareth "Johnny Chimpo" Bale has announced himself to the football community this season decades after getting his break in Hollywood for his starring role in The Planet of the Apes.
( I would definitely be labeled a racist right now if Gareth Bale was black...)
The point is, there have been a couple footballers to announce themselves on the world stage this year Bale being one and Super Sam being another. The hype around Bale was/is a bit ridiculous,(get the fuck out comparing him to Messi) but he has shown the kind of class that has made the football world take heed.
Nasri wasn't quite a household name prior to this season but his goals against Manchester United in his debut season in the Premier League and his goal that is a candidate for goal of the year against Porto last season showed everyone the potential he had.
Sammy's notoriety this summer came from his shock omission from the French World Cup squad and understandably he was devastated. I, along with all other Arsenal fans, looked at the positives of the situation with the extra rest for one of our best young players along with the motivation to prove all the doubters wrong as extra incentive for him to take it to the next level this season.
Last summer he had been a standout performer in the beginning of preseason but suffered an unfortunate leg break in training from a wayward Diaby strike. This injury stunted the first half of his campaign but began to show the promise and form that most Arsenal fans had hoped for.
In a summer of doubt for Arsenal supporters one reassuring fact was that Nasri could step in and fill the void were Cesc to leave for Barcelona. This season he has been doing that already with Fabregas' dodgy hamstrings limiting his playing time and effectiveness.
The diminutive Frenchman has added as Wenger says "an efficiency" to his game and has come up with the goods in many an important moment. Some forget that in the home loss to West Brom he single-handedly brought us back into the game and just this past week his moments on individual brilliance saved the blushes of an unconvincing team performance.
Big players bring it in big games and we already know he has an eye for the spotlight, with a brace against Manchester United in his first season and goals against Tottenham and Man City among the many this campaign.
He is beginning to make the impact a certain special Bobby did in the Premier League years ago and could be the difference maker this season as to whether Arsenal finally claim some silverware, not to mention the same individual honor Pires earned in that double winning season of 01/02.
French fans must be happy to see the future for their country's football to be back on the up and up. But I would be incensed to see this type of form and think about how this clown couldn't even include Samir in his squad.
Like every talented French wonderkid playmaker Samir was labeled the next Zidane while playing for Marseille, which is always an unfair comparison(just like every Brazilian/Argentinian is the next Pele/Maradonna). Phillippe Auclair believes Nasri is ahead of Zidane at his age and stage of playing career but that means nothing yet.
If Samir can keep grounded and continue to work hard he should join the ranks of the football elite and continue to light up world football for years to come.
For those of us who support the Red and White his progression could be the catalyst we need to take the next step and realize the undoubted potential of the team.
His season so far.
[DISCLAIMER: We here at the 'Pint categorically denounce the song choice for this video.]
So unless you're watching this highlight while doing bikram yoga -- Mute.
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