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A Breakdown Of Robinho

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Speculation regarding Robinho and a move to Arsenal is refusing to go away so I thought that I`d look at some of the Real Madrid star`s strengths and weaknesses.

He hasn`t had the best of times in Spain to date, dipping in and out of form, but he has shown in glimpses what he is capable of. He has been compared to some all-time greats since he made a name for himself, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Pele to name but a few.

So, let`s have a look at him.

Pace: 9/10. This has to be one of his biggest strengths. Not only can he cover ground amazingly well when sprinting, he also has great pace when running with the ball. He certainly wouldn`t have any problem getting past the majority of defenders in the Premiership, at least not if it was a flat sprint.

Strength: 4/10. His strength has to be one of his biggest weaknesses. Even when he was in Brazil everyone said that he would have trouble coping with the physical nature of Europe`s leagues, even La Liga. He does seem to be stronger now than when he arrived in Spain but he would still find the bullish nature of the Premiership tough to handle. He would have to work hard on this ig he was to move to Arsenal.

Finishing: 7/10. At times he finishes like he Thierry Henry or Van Nistlerooy, other times he looks like Francis Jeffers on an off day! There`s no doubt that he could be a 20+ goal striker, if only he could build a bit of consistency.

Skill: 9/10. His stopovers would leave C. Ronaldo feeling dizzy. His skill rivals that of Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. Make no mistake though, he is no show pony, he uses skill to beat players, not just to look good. He could certainly set the Premiership alight in that department.

Teamwork: 7/10. This lad likes his silky skills but he is not a greedy little so-n-so (Ronaldo cough, cough). He would fit into the Arsenal side with no trouble. He can pass while moving at speed, can pick out a wicked through ball and he`s always looking to get the ball forward, something Arsenal have surprisingly lacked at times.

Versatility: 8/10. Robinho started out as a striker in Brazil, and continued in that role when he first arrived at Real Madrid but it didn`t take long for him to be deployed on the wings. He can play as an out and out striker, he can play effectively in the hole as a second striker, and he can play as a left winger cutting inside or as a right winger getting crosses in. Versatility is another trait Arsene Wenger likes in his player.

Attitude: 8/10. He works hard for his team, showing great determination even when those around him are giving up. He hasn`t played as big a role as everyone thought he would at Real Madrid but I`ve only heard him complain once since he arrived. Last month he went public with his displeasure at the lack of first team football he has been given under Capello.

The arrival of Gonzalo Higuain and likely arrival of Frank Ribery could well spell the end of his Real Madrid career. A transfer to Arsenal would be no foregone conclusion, he is still one of the worlds best young player so expect a race for his signature in the event of his exit.

That`s just some thoughts on the youngster; if you have any views then get yourself over to our forum and let us know.

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