Arsenal Thread

[azania]

First topic message reminder :

Surprised the isn't one yet.

In

Carzola
Giroud
Podolski


Out

Deadwood (exept Squilacchi and Chamakh)
RvP/Berba clone hopefully

I actually believe that Arsenal are stronger than last year. Carzola is a great buy for us. Giroud, although he hasn't scored yet makes terrific runs and in time will score 15+ per year.

Our defense has been tightened by Bould's astute style.

My prediction? Arsenal will end up 2nd behind City. UCL semi and win something (CO-Cup).

Discuss.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Oh dear Olly...Could be 3 points from 8 games.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

#GonnagetbeatbytheNorwich

Grant Holt

[The genius of PBF]

I said could not would be 3 points...Congrats on your first league win.

Been a long time coming...Hopefully it doesn't take you another 8 games to win again.

[socal1976]

Wow can't say how terrible the guys played the last week. I haven't seen an arsenal game where we looked that inept in attack and so unlikely to score at any point in the match. Credit to norwich and congrats to olly you called your shot on that one mate.

[compelling and rich]

wasnt too impressed with arsenal this week, had a bet on and every team was in, just had to wait until arsenal beat norwich for it to come in

[lorus59]

I wonder am I the only one who doesn't think Wilshere is that special? What did he do that was so special before he got injured?

[Stella]

He can take on players, pass it and looks assured on the ball and not to many English players can do these simple thing's.

[lorus59]

He has played 35 times in the league for Arsenal and has scored the grand total of 1 goal and 3 assists. Not great for an attacking midfielder.

[nasisillmatic]

He has played 35 times in the league for Arsenal and has scored the grand total of 1 goal and 3 assists. Not great for an attacking midfielder.

It's stats like this that really annoy me.

Last season I believe Luka Modric had the exact same stats, but if you actually watched him play you would see just how good he really was.
There is more to an assist than just being the last person to pass the ball to the goalscorer. I wish people could not judge a player on stats and actually watch them play.

As stated previously, Jack Wilshire is comfortable with the ball, can beat a man, and can pick a pass, while playing as an attacking midfielder. That is very rare for an Englishman so there is a lot of hype around him. From what I've seen of him before his injury he was on his way to justifying that hype.

[Stella]

Paul Scholes' stats are probably just OK as well but I tend not to look at these too much.

[lorus59]

I am not saying he is not a decent player. But as you say there is a lot of hype. How would compare him to Fabragas of the same age?

[nasisillmatic]

Before his injury I'd say he was on par with Fabragas at the same age, I remember Cesc really made strides forward in 2007 at the age of 19 or 20(Arsenal fans will no better).
Having missed over a year of football though will surely slow down his progress so by the time he reaches 21, he may not have hit the heights as Fabregas had but who knows.

[Stella]

I think he has been hyped up a little due to the fact he's English. Give him a Spanish passport and he becomes just another player. Spain have loads of his type but we don't, hence the hype.

[nasisillmatic]

We English love a bit of hype.

Wilshere will probably never live up to the hype but he will more than likely become a really good footballer, much like Wayne Rooney.

[Crimey]

We English love a bit of hype.

Wilshere will probably never live up to the hype but he will more than likely become a really good footballer, much like Wayne Rooney.

I agree. I don't think Wilshere will even be as good as Fabregas or Cazorla to be honest. I understand why he made the move, and I'm sure Fabregas is perfectly happy at Barcelona, especially if they win some trophies this year, but I can't help but feel moving there has stunted his development, at Arsenal and in the Premier League, he was genuinely world class, at Barca he's used to just fill holes and can't run the game in the same way he could when the team was centred around him.

[nasisillmatic]

I also think moving to Barca when he did was a bad move. I no he has a bond with the club, but he is still young and I feel it would have suited him better to move a few years later, when Xavi and Iniesta are not the forces they are.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Schalke

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Apparantly at the AGM your guys said you have £70m spare cash????? SPEND IT THEN LOL

[TopHat24/7]

LIES ALL LIES OLLY

Arsenal have no cash. Never. Not a penny. They're paupers, victims of the system. They only have transfer receipts to spend.

[socal1976]

I wonder am I the only one who doesn't think Wilshere is that special? What did he do that was so special before he got injured?

I think he is that special, of course Ramsey and wilshere are my two favorite gunners at the moment. I like that he is a total package midfielder who does have the skill to hold the ball up or go by a defender, at the same time his got some ruggedness to him and isn't scared to get stuck in either which is a bit different than guys like fabregas or cazorla. In the end I think he can become a world class midfielder, now whether he will do it or not depends on a lot of variables like his role on the team and injuries. Still I think when he comes back fully fit he will be a big addition. Unfortunately, Arsenal's problems are not in the midfield. Mannone is a bad goal keeper, Santos wants to play winger and not fullback, Vermalean wants to be a forward, and we still haven't figured out how to defend a set piece.

I for one will admit that I was way too optimistic about this team and their chances after the early part of the season. The schalke and Norwich matches cured me of that exuberance. It isn't too late this team can still get a cup trophy if we are lucky and get a CL berth for next year. I take the league cup and CL berth at this point as a good season for this team. Now we know why the management was so keen about bringing in another striker, because the midfield is great as usual but in all other areas of the pitch we need help to beat the big clubs.

[socal1976]

When Sagna comes back how about moving either him or jenkinson out to the left and sending Santos out of the picture for some seasoning? He was absolutely attrocious in the Schalke game, Farfan abused him horribly.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

He has played 35 times in the league for Arsenal and has scored the grand total of 1 goal and 3 assists. Not great for an attacking midfielder.

It's stats like this that really annoy me.

Last season I believe Luka Modric had the exact same stats, but if you actually watched him play you would see just how good he really was.
There is more to an assist than just being the last person to pass the ball to the goalscorer. I wish people could not judge a player on stats and actually watch them play.

As stated previously, Jack Wilshire is comfortable with the ball, can beat a man, and can pick a pass, while playing as an attacking midfielder. That is very rare for an Englishman so there is a lot of hype around him. From what I've seen of him before his injury he was on his way to justifying that hype.

Yer its the same with Downing

But on a serious note, Luka Modric was a deep lying playmaker. As Wilshire is playing the AMC role, surely he should score more and have more assists. Its comes with the territory!

[Crimey]

Wenger actually played Wilshere as a deep lying playmaker, I don't think it's Wilshere's natural position but Wenger was definitely trying to turn him into one before his injury.

[Smirnoffpriest]

When Wilshere played last year it was with Song and Arteta, Arteta was the AM, and Wilshere and Song played more deep lying and even DM positions.

[azania]

Has Wilshire played in the same team as Arteta?

[Smirnoffpriest]

Apologies for the brain fart - I of course meant Fabergas, Song and Wilshere!

[socal1976]

Smirnoff what is going on with Arsenal's offensive woes as of late what is prognosis, what is the cure?

[Smirnoffpriest]

I'm really not sure I didn't see the Schalke game but it seems to me that we have the same problem as previous seasons where by we don't play with enough urgency to be able to unlock teams who put 10 men behind the ball as soon as they lose it. And then as a result we end up playing everything through just 1 or 2 players (such as Santi) and makes it quite easy to deny 1 or 2 players space and time.

We were woeful against Norwich, and annoyingly, while we had 65% of the possesion Norwich still caused us lots of problems at the back, while we created hardly anything.

I'm sure we'll pick it up and our form will improve (we almost always do) the problem is however that we've dropped a fair few points we couldn't afford and we haven't the consistency to catch and stay with the best teams (or at least we haven't proved it yet).

[Smirnoffpriest]

Still I suppose the positives are that we won, we have Sagna, Walcott & Wilshere back and there's noises that we'll be making a big signing in January

[azania]

Apparently Ben Arfa will be coming over as a Walcott replacement. God knows why we need to replace as oppose to strengthen. I rate Walcott and I reckon we should do all we can to keep him. He will score back of goals and also make goals through his movement and speed.

[Smirnoffpriest]

I heard that but it just sounds like lazy journalist conjecture - Walcott hasn't signed a contract, so they've just found another player at another (in their eyes) smaller club and immediately run a story about how one will obviously replace the other...

I agree though, we should definately look to keep Walcott

[TopHat24/7]

Didn't catch the game at the weekend, how'd Wilshere fare in his comeback?

Really hope he re-establishes himself as a first team regular for England's sake, thought pre-layoff that he had the kind of spark and creativity England so desperately lack from centre midfield.

Also, anyone else heard the rumour that at least part of his lay-off was fabricated as a cover-up for getting caught doing coke? Have heard that doing the rounds a few times now back home (N Herts).

[Smirnoffpriest]

Haven't heard that - but sounds very unlikely (almost National Enquirer-esque!)

He was very good, but lot being made of his long awaited comeback and impact and it's getting a bit over-board. I wouldn't be surprised if either A) he's a long way off (4months+) away from being ready to play international football (he's now being rested for the Reading game as he's not ready to play 2 games in a row) OR B England will rush him back on a wave of tabloid headlines saying he's the answer to all Englands ills, and he gets injured for another 3-5 months...

[nasisillmatic]

Didn't catch the game at the weekend, how'd Wilshere fare in his comeback?

Really hope he re-establishes himself as a first team regular for England's sake, thought pre-layoff that he had the kind of spark and creativity England so desperately lack from centre midfield.

Also, anyone else heard the rumour that at least part of his lay-off was fabricated as a cover-up for getting caught doing coke? Have heard that doing the rounds a few times now back home (N Herts).

I'd take that rumour with a pinch of salt, whenever a player has a long lay off this rumour always creeps up. We had it with Agger a few years ago.

[TopHat24/7]

Yeh, the only reason I gave it a second thought was that it was very much a 'local' rumour as Jack is a Hitchin lad originally so it felt like a hint on inside-track. Haven't heard it anywhere else, just when I go home to visit family or old school-mates.

[Smirnoffpriest]

I'd have no idea if it's true TBH - the one thing I would say is that it would be unlikely for Wenger to throw a coke-taking player straight back in the team unless he worked really hard at repenpting and reformed himself (ala Tony Adams and Paul Merson), and Wilshere seems to be the same he was before the injury (going by press reports, his statements and Arsenal.com).

And Wenger doesn't like players with the wrong attitude, or players who don't look after their bodies (and while coke isn't a performance enhancer, or would only make people lose weight - it's not exactly a good way to stay at the top of your game).

[Stella]

He's got a little baby. The only thing he's been sniffing are dirty nappies

[Smirnoffpriest]

He's got a little baby. The only thing he's been sniffing are dirty nappies

give me coke any day!!!

[Stella]

Ha, true..........cheaper than nappies as well

[nasisillmatic]

When you think about the rumour its so stupid. Who banned him the F.A.? If so it would have been all over the papers.

So if it isn't the F.A. that means only Arsenal new about it and banned him? Why would they do that, it only harms them as he is a key player.

[TopHat24/7]

Think the point was that Arsenal found out about it but he was never 'caught' (i.e. by drugs test) so they pulled him out the firing line to avoid anything official happening and just kept him on the back-burner for a few months whilst it all blew over.

[Smirnoffpriest]

Anyway you look at it it seems very unlikely, especially when compared to the injuries he obviously suffered 1st back in July 2011, and then in May 2012 (and I think he might have made a comeback between them two and got injured again).

[TopHat24/7]

Yeh, doubt it's true, was just curious whether any Gooners might have heard the same on fan grapevines.

[Fernando]

I heard about it , it's the 3rd thing comes up on google when his name is put in , i very much doubt it's true though

[socal1976]

I'm really not sure I didn't see the Schalke game but it seems to me that we have the same problem as previous seasons where by we don't play with enough urgency to be able to unlock teams who put 10 men behind the ball as soon as they lose it. And then as a result we end up playing everything through just 1 or 2 players (such as Santi) and makes it quite easy to deny 1 or 2 players space and time.

We were woeful against Norwich, and annoyingly, while we had 65% of the possesion Norwich still caused us lots of problems at the back, while we created hardly anything.

I'm sure we'll pick it up and our form will improve (we almost always do) the problem is however that we've dropped a fair few points we couldn't afford and we haven't the consistency to catch and stay with the best teams (or at least we haven't proved it yet).

Yes we never looked likely to score against Norwich. To me when teams sit back and defend as you say when tend to play the ball around without that sense of urgency. When the defenses are packed you have to use the full width of the field and also play the passes and make your decisions quicker or you will get caught in possession and open yourself to counters.

Lets hope that we do get a productive big signing later in the season, also Wilshere was about the only guy who played really well his last week and that is a great sign, he looks every bit the player he was before of course with some rustiness and fitness that needs to be worked out. But I thought he was great for a first match back in league.

[compelling and rich]

OH dear, team selection has to be questioned here in the trophy you have the best chance of winning, in fact probably only chance.

[azania]

What a comeback. Theo must be kept.

[compelling and rich]

IT appears I spoke to soon, great comeback

[liverbnz]

Rugby score.

Missed conversion costly for Reading in the end

[azania]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPBm-GvEVlg

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