PLAYER PROFILE

Alexandre Song

Position: Midfield

Height: 6'1

Weight: 11st 9lbs

Date of Birth: 1987-04-09 Douala, Cameroon

Alexandre Song

Cameroon U-19 international Alexandre Song is one of many exciting young talents on the verge of breaking into the first team at the Emirates Stadium.

Song, who is the nephew of former Liverpool player Rigobert Song, began his career at French side Bastia, making 32 appearance for the Corsician club as they were relegated from Ligue 1.

In July 2005 he linked up with the Gunners during their pre-season trip to Austria and persuaded Arsene Wenger he was worth taking a longer look at.

After impressing during several friendly fixtures, he was signed on a season long loan with a view to a permanent deal. Despite only making a handful of appearances, he showed boss Arsene Wenger that he had the potential to suceed and was signed in a permanent deal worth up to £2.7 million in the summer of 2006.

He scored his first goal for the club in the impressive 6-3 win over Liverpool at Anfield in the Carling Cup quarter final in January 2007, but by the end of the month was shipped out on loan to Charlton Athletic until the end of the season.

He returned to the Emirates in 2007/08, however, and proved himself a useful utility man for Wenger, often filling in at centre back.