Juan Mata's link to Arsenal just doesn't seem to go away

Juan Mata

I will be honest, I am worried about Juan Mata‘s future at Chelsea. Two of our biggest games in our season have come and gone and Mata has remained seated on the Chelsea bench. All of us have to be concerned at this situation with Mata linked to Arsenal in a rumour that just will not go away.

This morning, the British media are reporting that in order to force a move to Arsenal, Mata would have to hand in an official transfer request to Chelsea and although that seemed like a joke two or three months ago, it is something we now have to consider.

I have waited in anticipation for the Chelsea team news ahead of the United and Bayern Munich games hoping that Mata would be included in the starting eleven and have been disappointed to see that he hasn’t been. Something is wrong!

Watching the Bayern game the other night on Sky, pundit Alan Smith (ex Arsenal but OK) made an interesting point. He said:

We all know Jose likes his attacking players to work hard without the ball, to track back and I just wonder if he does believe that Mata could do that?Straight away I thought to myself, that’s a fair point. He isn’t exactly the best at doing exactly that is he and already we can see in our four games so far this season, just how hard the likes of Oscar, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre Schurrle have worked across the pitch and up and down.

Think back to Joe Cole and how Jose treated him at Chelsea when he first came. Cole as anyone knows is blessed with natural ability with the ball. Without it, he was seen as a liability by Mourinho in the early stages.

At Anfield in 2004/2005 in the League, Chelsea beat them with a deflected effort from the edge of the box from Cole that turned out to be the winner. After the game, Cole was slated by his manager for not doing enough without the ball and putting his team under pressure.

I really do get the feeling that Mourinho feels exactly the same about Mata and it’s now a realistic concern.

First of all, it’s World Cup year and every single player pushing for a place on the plane to Rio wants to be playing and at least knowing where they stand for the season. Any signs of uncertainty would unsettle the player.

Can we honestly say right now that Mata is certain of a place in the Spanish squad for Rio? He has just been dropped from the latest squad announced by Del Bosque so his position is under threat already!

So what of the link to Arsenal? Arsene Wenger added fuel to the fire the other day when he stated that Mata was “available” for transfer. Why would he do that if there was no substance in the rumour? Wenger has always respected the code of conduct about speaking of other players. He isn’t the type to come out and try and unsettle a player unless as in a case like this, he has been made aware of the availability of the player.

As I write this article, I find myself constantly shaking my head in disbelief at the situation. Juan Mata has been our player of the year for the last two seasons with good reason. He has been head and shoulders above everyone and has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water.

I consider Mata to have the best first touch of anyone I have ever seen kick a ball and that’s saying something. Mata is world class and is of an age where he will only get better and better and I cannot believe Chelsea would ever consider in letting him go!

Would he fit into the Arsenal team? Of course he would! Juan Mata would and SHOULD fit into any football team in the world as I believe he is that good. Why is it that at the moment he cannot fit into Chelsea?

I have read ridiculous statements about Mourinho and our Spanish players. People have stated that because of his “experience” in Spain, he wants to put one over the Spanish FA and Media and the likes of Mata, Torres and Azpilicueta will hardly feature this season and as a result, will affect the national team in Rio. That’s total bollocks and people should be ashamed of themselves for thinking anything like that!

I cannot stress enough how worried I am. All realistic Chelsea fans have to be. Arsenal fans would bite your hand off to sign Mata by the deadline tomorrow night and I really, really hope this is all just speculation and deadline day comes and goes and Mata remains a Chelsea player!

Source have said that Mata loves Chelsea and wants to stay at the club. The club wants him to stay and Mourinho himself has said he wants Mata to stay. Right now you have to question if that is enough if he isn’t playing!