Arsenal Flop Park Chu-Young Dodges Korean Military Service For Another 10 Years

Alan Duffy

16th, March 2012

14 Comments

By Alan Duffy


‘Please God, let me dodge the army for another 10 years”

One of Arsene Wenger’s surprise last-minute summer purchases, striker Park Chu-Young, was expected to return to South Korea in the next year or two to undertake his national service. However now, the powers that be in the country have said that, due to the player’s 10-year residency in Monaco, he is able to postpone his stint (two to three years) with the army until 2022.

The striker looked to have been an astute purchase by Wenger when he arrived from Monaco for £3million. However, so far, he has yet to make much of a dent on the first team, making just six appearances in all competitions this season.

There have been numerous occasions so far this season when the Gunners were comfortably winning games, when Wenger could have brought Park off the bench but chose not to. He might not have to return to his homeland, but one wonders if the South Korean captain will still be at the Emirates come the start of next season.

PS: Thinking about it, a lot of English young players could do with national service to get them to grow up. Not necessarily in the army, mind. Surely the likes of Jermaine Pennant, John Terry, Joey Barton and David Bentley could all have done with a year or so painting over graffiti, picking up rubbish or doing ‘meals on wheels’?

Posted in Arsenal

Share this article: Email

14 Comments

  1. Joshua says:

    “Flop”? He’s been a stronger option than Chamakh in the appearances I’ve seen him in. More accurate is: “Frozen Out for being Asian.”

  2. Les says:

    “Stronger than Chamakh”, i’ve been stronger than Chamakh and i dont even watch every game. He’s done nothing all season (as tbh a lot of the arsenal players). Maybe the military would toughen him up a bit

  3. Jack says:

    @Joshua; replace “asian” with “shit” (then turn off your computer, before you hurt yourself you simpleton)

  4. aaron says:

    ‘stronger than chamakh’ can be assumed for living organisms

  5. V says:

    Joshua is right, Jack is wrong, Aaron is funny

  6. Scott says:

    Neither have made any impact. Park looks clueless whenever he does play. Arsene watches him everyday and doesn’t even have him on the bench most of the time. Must say something. He’ll be gone next season.

  7. 5pur2 says:

    “There have been numerous occasions so far this season, when the Gunners were comfortably winning games”

    Too funny! Like when?

  8. Papi says:

    Still better than Chamakh.

  9. Julian says:

    Another panic buy by Wenger… if he spent more time trying to adapt to the English game instead of praying, perhaps he’d actually contribute to the squad.

  10. Giancarlo says:

    The real question is: Why did Arsene buy him? Mind you, that’s a question posed for many players he’s purchased. How you Gunner’s fans still believe in him is what I really wonder.

  11. Mr. Sparkle says:

    That last sentence sounds like you advocate fascistic militarism.

    Compulsory service is a bad idea. The majority of the people currently serving in the Armed Forces in any nation (especially ones with volunteer/Professional recruitment) should never have been allowed in. For some the military is the only way of surviving; for those who couldn’t cope in such an atmosphere, being placed underneath usually incredibly base, often cruel and sadistic individuals is a bad idea.

    Hence why you have had the majority of European nations abandon compulsory service, the amount of suicides, violent assaults on new recruits, alcoholism have since gone down.

  12. MJ says:

    @Mr. Sparkle: you have a point there, in my time in the army i spent my 300 monthly euros solely on beer and cigarettes! not too good for a footballer then, eh?

  13. Papi says:

    In Soviet Russia, army dodges you!

  14. Solihull United says:

    @joshua its no because he’s asian. look at park ji sung and chung yung li. those are two talented koreans. chu-yung is well… just plain crap

Leave a Reply to 5pur2