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SUNDERLAND v MIDDLESBROUGH - SOUTHGATE PLEASED WITH ARCA BARGAIN
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will send Julio Arca into battle against former club Sunderland hoping for another return on his bargain basement investment.
Southgate made the 27-year-old his first buy as a manager when he took full advantage of the Black Cats' relegation at the end of the 2005-06 season to snap him up for just £1.75million.
The Argentinian has since established himself as one of Boro's most consistent performers after being employed as a central midfielder, and will return to the Stadium of Light having gained a similar reputation with the fans on Teesside to the one he enjoyed at the Stadium of Light.
Southgate, who smashed his club's transfer record in January when he paid Heerenveen £12.7million for Brazilian striker Afonso Alves, is well aware of the value he has had from Arca and hopes there is still plenty more to come.
"Historically as a club when we have brought players in for lower fees, very often they have been the most successful signings we have made," Southgate said.
"If you look at the people we brought in this summer - Luke Young, Tuncay Sanli, Jeremie Aliadiere - none of them cost more than £2.5million, and they have all repaid that investment with their performances this year.
"Julio last year was the first player I signed and at the price we got him for, he has proved to be a bargain."
It will be the first time Arca has been back to the Stadium of Light since reluctantly severing his ties with the club which brought him to England as a teenager in a £3.5million switch from Argentinos Juniors in August 2000.
He was warmly applauded by both sets of fans before the reverse fixture in September, when he had an eventful afternoon.
Arca gave the ball away to allow Sunderland to take the lead and then equalised before leaving the field on a stretcher long before the half-time whistle sounded.
That game finished 2-2, courtesy of Liam Miller's late equaliser, and while a similar result this time around would not be a bad one for either side with both currently separated from the drop zone by five points, victory for either could prove invaluable.
But whatever happens over the course of 90 minutes, Arca is likely to remain a favourite with both sets of supporters.
"The reception he got from both sets of fans in the game at our place tells you not only the quality of the player, but the quality of the man," Southgate added.
"He has embraced both clubs, not only on the field, but off the field.
"He is one of the most willing to get out into the community and do work with youngsters and the supporters, and he is an outstanding human being.
"Both sets of fans can see that and that's why he gets the sort of respect he has."
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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