Benayoun - keep him, he's good

[Syn]

Having spent much of last season sidelined at Stamford Bridge with injury, the midfielder would be well within his rights to be a little miffed at his current circumstances. However, demonstrating a level of maturity worthy of a man with nearly six years of experience in England the 31-year-old explained:

“[I am not frustrated] because the team is playing well. They say you don’t change a winning team and we are on a good run so it is very difficult to get into the team.
“The only thing I can do is to wait for any chance I get – it doesn’t matter if it is 15 minutes or I get to start. I have to prove myself any chance I get and I am sure I can do it.
“You come here and you know there is a lot of quality so you want to prove yourself.
“I think in the beginning I started against Dortmund away and played more but then I had a little injury and then the team won three games in a row. This is normal in football that you have to wait for a chance.
“Hopefully the team will keep doing well and maybe I will be more involved. Every player wants to play more, of course, but I know I have to be patient.”
Reacting to suggestions that he could move to the Gunners on a permanent basis at the end of the season, Benayoun made also made clear that his immediate focus was on his loan performances.
“I can only concentrate on the loan and we will see at the end of the season. Arsenal have the option to take me for the rest of my contract with Chelsea, another two years, but it’s too early to speak about this.”

http://news.arseblog.com/2011/12/pat...ove-his-worth/

I didn't know we had the option to have him beyond this season.

Seems he wants to play more. Scored a decent goal the other day. Solid player.

We need quality experience like Rosicky and Benayoun to play their tippy tappy garbage when protecting a lead.

No-brainer to take him full-time, yes?

Make it so, Arsene.

[Master Splinter]

We should set up a sticky Benayoun thread for Syn.

Almost as disturbing as NQ's love for Chamakh.

[Kano]

good, solid squad player. comes on, does nothing stupid, passes well and works hard.

[Syn]

Benayoun has been an Arsenal legend since the hilarious final day of the 2005/6 season.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Worth considering. . . .I dont come over all sweaty when he comes on. . . .but I dont expect him to change the course of the game either. . .should look at the options available come the end of the season. . .one thing for sure is that he wont get a game for Chelsea anymore

[IBK]

He's fine. Doesn't have the ability to lift the kids, but can look after himself. Happy to have him here.

[Dog Toffee]

He's a poor mans Hleb, which means he's a rich mans ermm.

[selassie]

I actually think he's done quite well TBH. I like him, I wouldn't mind him staying for another season, maybe a 1 year deal or something like that.

[Fist of Lehmann]

If we do take up the option to buy I think we have to take up the full length of his current contract with Chelsea, and that'll be another 2 years on the end of this one.

He sounds pretty non-committal, going out of his way to point out his 'love' for Chelsea.

Arsenal have the option at the end of the season to take over the final two years of Benayoun's Chelsea contract but he said he did not want to discuss longer-term issues.

"I am professional and the only thing that I concentrate on now is the success of Arsenal," he said. "I want only Arsenal to do well and our aim is to go to the top four, at least, and maybe on the way, try to win a trophy, maybe the FA Cup. I cannot say I am not bothered about Chelsea because I love the club, I have a good relationship with the owner, with the players ... and I still have a contract there. Of course, I want them to do well but I concentrate on Arsenal."

Decent player, great technique, clever too. He probably is a bit unlucky not to score more minutes but at the moment the problem is fitting him in. Might prove his worth playing on the left once Gervinho buggers off to the ACoN, or when we need to rotate over the Xmas pressure period.

Happy if he stays, not unhappy if he goes.

[Marc Overmars]

Seems like a good pro, not one to kick up a fuss if things aren't going his way. A good option to have in the squad I think. Much like Arteta, in that they are already battle hardened from their time before Arsenal, which is exactly the type of signings we needed to bolster the squad. As good as Wenger is at developing players, we needed a few players who won't necessarily be moulded by his influence.