A few weeks ago, reports were coming out from all angles that Arsenal and Arsene Wenger were preparing a move for Newcastle's controversial midfielder Joey Barton, and then it emerged that Arsenal had made contact with Newcastle over the availability of Barton. This wasn't the most popular of transfer rumours among Arsenal fans - or so I thought, because when the poll asking if Arsenal should bid for Joey Barton was put up on the blog, there was a larger positive response than first thought.
In the end, 107 (44%) people voted "yes", Arsenal should bid for Barton, while 131 (55%) voted against the idea of seeing Barton grace the Emirates. The "no's" won the poll, but it shows that it isn't quite as clear a consensus as some think, with almost half of the voters believing Barton could add the grit, determination and edge that perhaps Arsenal have been missing.
Barton is a good midfielder with a lot of character, but the largest obstacle is his controversial past and the possibility that he may not get along with the rest of the squad or even Arsene Wenger. He may not be a very popular figure among the Arsenal fans either, and the risk of them turning against him after one erratic or questionable on field incident may not be good for team morale.
Arsene Wenger would have to decide whether the good points and desirable qualities about Joey Barton outweigh the not so attractive and risky qualities he brings with him.
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