End of Season Review: Best Signing

Timi Iwayemi: Cesc Fabregas (CHELSEA) – The 28 year old product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia joined the English champions Chelsea on the eve of the 2014 FIFA World Cup for a £30.0m fee. The former Arsenal player -who was denied a second stint at the club because Arsene Wenger felt he had enough personnel in the midfield position- was highly influential in his return to England. Fabregas was the creative fulcrum of the side all through the season averaging 2.8 key passes per game and providing a league high 18 assists for teammates. Cesc’s creative spark, solid defensive contribution and brilliant hold up play were vital in Chelsea’s title push.

Alternative Choices: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Diego Costa (Chelsea), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea), Sadio Mane (Southampton)

Oluwamayowa Idowu: Esteban Cambiasso’s time at Leicester is reminiscent of Jay Jay Okocha/Ivan Campo/ Youri Djorkaeff at Bolton years. Alexis Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas are great shouts but ultimately, they’re proven quantities. Gylfi Sigurdsson gets my vote. The Icelander is the type of 7/10 (he scored 7goals and provided 10 assists)  player who might look lost in a top 6 team (as he did at Spurs) but has the talent to inspire teams in that lower top 10 bracket. In his second return to the south of Wales, he has proved a creditable signing. He also takes a mean free kick.

Michael Famoroti: Alexis Sanchez. Arsenal fans have found their hero. Yet even neutral observers have had cause to stand and admire the turbo-charged Chilean. His blend of speed, technique and directness have proven to be well-suited to the English game. Wenger should perhaps have been stricter in insisting on giving him a rest around the Christmas break – his form tailed off at the turn of the year before picking up in the final stretch. He capped off a stunning debut season with a sensational strike in the FA Cup final. A truly world class player joined the EPL last summer.

Somto Mbah: ALEXIS SANCHEZ (ARSENAL)

In the history of the Premier League, no player has come in and made such outstanding immediate impact. His credentials were well-known from his Barcelona years, but the way and manner with which the Chilean closed down opponents is akin to a player still trying to carve his own niche in the game, in addition to his power, creativity and world-class talent. That shows you how much he worked hard to ensure he left no one in doubt of his ability. From August to November, Arsenal might have well been known as Alexis Sanchez FC. He scored the decisive goal against Besiktas that guaranteed the Gunners entry into the UCL group stages. He scored 16 goals in the league, the most by a winger in his first season in PL history, and 25 goals in all competitions, 1 short of the Arsenal record held by Henry. The amazing volley against Manchester City sent a warning to the rest of England that Arsenal were ready to take on the ‘big’ teams. He was the only shining point for Arsenal in the lethargic performance against Hull City finishing with a goal and an assist to Welbeck. After Arsenal were on the losing side for most of the away game against Anderlecht, he was frustrated at his teammates for celebrating Gibbs’ equaliser. Need I mention the goal against Dortmund that sealed Arsenal’s place in the knockout rounds? I can go on and on. Arsene Wenger has gone on record to say that he demands so much of himself that sometimes he holds him back. The two goals vs. Reading that pushed Arsenal to the FA Cup final and the goal and half that ensured Arsenal remained FA Cup champions for the second year running were scored by the mercurial Chilean.

He had an outstanding season from start to finish and is an Arsenal great already.

Dami Etomi: Alexis Sanchez. You cannot underestimate the effect he has had on Arsenal. His tenacity, work rate and direct style of attacking play make him a joy to watch. I feel had Arsenal gotten a couple more signings alongside Sanchez, he would’ve made them genuine title contenders. He shades it over Costa and Fabregas for me because they joined a very talented Chelsea squad already possessing the best manager in the world. This made their job somewhat easier. A good summer and Arsenal will be even more of a force next season.