(Yonhap Feature) Debutant in England hoping to make his mark

By John Duerden
Contributing writer
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- The recent transfer of Park Chu-young to English Premier League club Arsenal marks another small milestone in the history of Korean soccer. Park is the second Korean this summer to go to England after Ji Dong-won joined Sunderland, but this is a little different. The deal, which was officially announced on Aug. 30, is the first time that a product of the K-league has joined one of Europe's elite clubs.
Park Ji-sung may play for Manchester United, a club with a history that is even more glittering than Arsenal, a team that has been English champion 13 times, but the elder statesman of East Asian soccer has never played in the K-League.
Park Chu-young started his professional career for FC Seoul back in 2005 and was instantly the most popular player in the competition. At the time, he was regarded as the next big thing in Korean soccer and six years later, that has proven to be the case. After three seasons in the K-League and three seasons with AS Monaco in France, the 26-year-old striker will be playing alongside some of the best players in the world under the watchful eye of legendary French coach Arsene Wenger.
"We are always happy to see players who started in the K-league go on to play for some of the best teams in the world in some of the best leagues in the world," said Kwon Sung-jin, deputy general manager of the K-League. "The likes of Ki Sung-yong, Lee Chung-yong, Ji Dong-won, Koo Ja-cheol and Lee Young-pyo have all shown over the years that the K-League is a competitive league that develops talent that can play anywhere in the world."



"Throughout his entire career, Park Chu-young has been an excellent ambassador for Korean soccer and the K-League both on and off the field, and we are certain that this will continue at Arsenal and wherever he plays."
The move to Arsenal came somewhat out of the blue but has been warmly welcomed back in his homeland. While Park has achieved something that has never been done before by his compatriots, the question that everyone is asking, in both Seoul and London, is whether the player will be a success in the most popular soccer league in the world.
"Not many Arsenal fans know much about Park as the French league is not televised in England. Knowledge extends to the encouraging glimpses they saw of him at the World Cup," said Tom Adams of U.K.-based broadcaster Eurosport. The mood at the club is not the best at this point, according to Adams, following the recent departures of two of its best players, Cesc Fabregas, who moved to European champion Barcelona, and Samir Nasri, now of Manchester City.
This could work in the striker's favor.
In a summer that has seen Fabregas and Nasri leave the club, Arsenal fans have been slightly underwhelmed by the club's signings, but in desperation engendered by last month's 8-2 defeat to Manchester United, they are glad for any new face.
"Given Robin van Persie is very much the out-and-out striker at Arsenal, it is anticipated that Park will step into the boots of Nicklas Bendtner following his move to Sunderland, operating often in wide areas but with a brief to move into the center if required," Adams said.
Park is the ninth South Korean to head to England's top tier, and as is inevitable in soccer, some have succeeded, others have not. Park Ji-sung and Lee Chung-yong have starred in the competition while others such as Lee Dong-gook struggled and headed back home before too long.
In Park's case, he has already spent three years in Europe and should have no problem adjusting to life in London. He should also be able to handle the stress and expectations. After all, he was a huge star in his homeland as soon as his professional career started and has since become one of the most famous players in Asia. He is accustomed to pressure.
One person who has watched Park from the beginning of his career was Afshin Ghotbi, as assistant coach of the national team from 2005 to 2007. During that time, Park was selected to play at the 2006 World Cup.
"He instinctively takes good positions around the goal, and his final touch has been his trademark. His experience in the French league has been very important in his development," Ghotbi said. "As most Korean football players, he is ambitious and hard working. In addition, he can score goals. His move to Arsenal is another step in the right direction for Korean football. For Arsenal, time will be the best judge."
In England, too, fans are just as keen to see how the new Arsenal number nine will handle life in the big league.
They got their first look on Sept. 20 as the striker started for the team in a 3-1 Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury Town of England's fourth tier. Park played 77 minutes in Arsenal's home stadium and despite not scoring, had a solid game.
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger paid tribute to the player's skills.
"Park is good in every area," Wenger told the club's official Web site. "He is good in the air, good technically; he is mobile and that's why he is an adaptable striker who can play up front behind the striker. That's why we went for him. What I like with him is that he is very mobile and that's the basis of our game."
What English fans do know is that Park Ji-sung has proven to be a quality player for Manchester United. Arsenal fans will be happy if their new Korean striker can be as successful.
"The impression of South Korean players in England, largely colored by Park Ji-Sung of course, is that of committed, humble players who possess impressive technique," Adams said. "If Park follows in his colleague's footsteps in this regard, then the Arsenal fans will take to him very quickly."
john.duerden@gmail.com
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