This time last year in the wake of Michael Jackson’s death a cruel joke of ‘CPR – not as easy as ABC’ did the rounds. This summer from a Gooner’s point of view an even crueller joke is doing the rounds and there is nothing easy about this ABC (Arse-Barca-Cesc). Everybody knows it’s not a case of if, but when. Cesc’s wish to move on to Barca is the worst kept secret in football. As far as this issue is concerned surely ‘Wenger knows’ that much. For all his claims that he would not sell, he knows there is no point in keeping a player whose heart no longer belongs to the cause. There is however the small problem of replacing Cesc. But for a Potteries based bonehead’s ‘sincerely regretted and unintentional’ career threatening challenge, the heir to Cesc’s throne would be awaiting his coronation this summer. Should a deal be done with Barca at this stage there will surely not be enough time in this transfer window for Wenger to find the new King of Arsenal’s central midfield?

There’s also the other small issue of the fee and echoes of another famously bad transfer deal for the Arsenal. Back in 1980 Liam Brady at roughly the same age as Cesc is now, became a free agent and left for Juventus for the limited sum of £650,000 due to EC regulations. Considering the British record breaking transfer of Bryan Robson a year later for £1.5 million this loss of such a priceless asset for such a paltry figure was a major financial kick in the teeth for the Arsenal. It started the downward spiral of six barren seasons. Though the sums have vastly inflated 30 years on, the way Arsenal handle this transfer saga, like Brady in 1980 could have a massive baring on the years ahead. There is no doubt that the figure of £29.9 million that Barca have put on the table insults the intelligence of everyone connected with Arsenal.

Cesc is the hottest property in European Football; he has six years experience at the highest level with Arsenal with at least another six years of top level football left in him. Cesc is currently under a long term contract, signed of his own free will; therefore the club are totally within their rights to demand in excess of £50 million for his purchase. The trouble with how things stand at this present time is that Barca can neither afford, nor with the strength of their midfield do they require Cesc this season. His presence would be asset for the years ahead, it will also put one over Arsenal who they feel poached him away from their academy (even though they would never have played a 17 year old as a first team regular as we did).

Common sense points to all parties holding out for one year, however having been here since 2003 Cesc is no doubt feeling his seven year itch. Barca is his boyhood side, they are currently formidable and their gaffer is his boyhood idol. If he is made to wait one more year, circumstances may change. Barca may have other ideas on who they want to buy next season and his opportunity to seize his dream may pass him by, something which he may regret for a lifetime. Is there any chance for all three to walk away winners? I believe there is and that the answer lies in an 80s transfer saga also involving a major English side and a stripy shirted Euro super club.

In the summer of 1986 Liverpool and Juventus came to an agreement over the transfer of Ian Rush. The deal was sealed that summer, though because of the limits on foreigners in Serie A Juve had to wait until Platini retired 12 months later before Rush could line up for them. The agreement was for Rush to move on 12 months later and serve one more year at Liverpool, in the meantime the Scousers found John Aldridge as a Rush clone whose goals fired them to the title again in 1988. How this was done was by Juventus loaning Rush back to Liverpool, which isn’t really a situation that would benefit any party to the Cesc saga. However it surely can’t be beyond the realms of contract law and transfer regulations for Arsenal and Barcelona in summer 2010 to agree a £50 million plus deal for Cesc to move on to the Camp Nou in the summer of 2011?

This surely guarantees the best situation all round, Arsenal get the fee they deserve for Cesc but just have to wait a year later and also get 12 months to assess Ramsey’s recovery or find a suitable replacement. £50 million would also surely cover more than one area of the team to be fixed up for the foundations of a stable side, if not then at least a considerable sum to pay off the debt for Ashburton Grove. For Barca, they get 12 months to shuffle their financial and human resources to raise the £50 million and find a place for Cesc in their starting line up. Cesc is reassured that he’ll only be required for one more year at Arsenal and he’ll get his dream move. With Arsenal not having the distraction of finding a replacement for Cesc this season they can concentrate fully on the back five and make a real push for honours, allowing Cesc to win something big before he leaves and walk away the hero as opposed to the villain he will be portrayed as if he railroads Arsenal into accepting £29.9 million from Barca. Then come August 2011 Arse, Barca and Cesc can all live happily ever after. There you go, it really can be as easy as ABC!