Arsenal must resist any Chelsea advance for chief scout
Arsenal’s diverse scouting network is one of the most well known in club football, with Arsene Wenger and his team frequently finding young unknown prospects and developing them into superstars. One of the most important members of this system is Chief Scout Steve Rowley, who has the final say on potential signings, and creates videos and reports for the boss to study.
However the position of Steve Rowley has recently come under scrutiny as Chelsea FC look to introduce a successor to Frank Arnesen who was in charge of player recruitment. This interest in Rowley which was originally first brought up in The Independent has already become evident as Chelsea have also been recruiting other scouts to future aid him in his work at Chelsea if they manage to recruit Rowley himself. If Rowley left the club this would be a severe blow to an Arsenal side which prides itself upon the development of talent and youth. Also most importantly of all the scouting of players who would benefit Arsene Wenger and Arsenal FC. Rowley has scouted such signings as Cesc Fabregas as well as being instrumental in the signings of Samir Nasri, Robin Van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen.
On the side of Chelsea Roman Abraminovich means business. His personal involvement in the recruitment of Fernando Torres and David Luiz was evidence of a renewed commitment to Chelsea on the part of its Russian owner. This is evidence of Chelsea reforming and restructuring due to the torrid season they have had so far and with Frank Arnesen, the technical director is leaving at the end of the season and Chelsea are looking at fresh ways of attracting the best in the world to Cobham.
Initially, the club had considered replacing Arnesen with another technical director and, taking into account Abramovich’s admiration for Barcelona, club officials met the Catalan club’s former technical director Txiki Begiristain, before deciding to change the system. They have switched targets from Barcelona to Arsenal and are ready to offer chief scout Steve Rowley a substantial financial package to run their scouting network and identify the best emerging talent.
Abramovich wants a new guru and Rowley, with his incredible track record at Arsenal fits the bill. The loss could have a double negative effect on Arsenal. They will have a lost a hugely experienced Scout but by letting Rowley go they will also have boosted Chelsea’s ability to add talented youthful players to their squad.
The question we are all asking ourselves is whether Arsene Wenger and the managerial hierarchy at the Emirates are willing to let such a valuable asset to their club slip into the hands of one of their greatest rivals.
This transfer may not be of the importance of say a Torres signing, however whoever gains the services of Steve Rowley will be able to call upon a much specialised set of skills not seen on the football pitch and not easily available no matter how much Abramovich wants to offer.
