Arsenal Banter Archive November 12 2013

12 Nov 2013 23:15:30
Maybe its just me but i'm not a huge fan of "the Ox".
I feel he drifts in and out of games and does not contribute a lot. Sure, he's young and still learning his trade and is in and out of the team more than a politician in a late night brothel, which is not good for his confidence, and I feel he plays a lot better for England than Arsenal.
I'm sure many of you will disagree and have a go at me lol. Am I wrong about the Ox?

I agree with you but I feel he's still trying to find his natural position, whether it's a winger or attacking mid. At the moment, he has been playing better for England because he brings a burst of speed in their midfield, which is useful for a direct playing team like England. Arsenal possesses more around the box so his talents aren't displayed as well for us so-to-speak. I'm sure as he matures and plays more for Arsenal, he'll discover how to use his talents more effectively, especially on our counterattacks. Because our midfield has so much depth, his preferred position of attacking mid doesn't seem like his future. Personally, I prefer him as a winger but I have a gut feeling it'll take him a few years to earn a starting spot.

I felt he looked most effective on the right wing. Bearing in mind we don't have many natural wide players, I was surprised when he was moved into the middle.

I'm with you too on this Dagenham. I'm not convinced with him now. I know he has been out injured etc. But I feel that the team has out grown him rapidly. Maybe he needs to go out on loan to mature a bit. What do you reckon.

Very good points boys. Goldboy, I totally agree, there's nothing wrong with loaning a "fringe" player out on loan, it can do wonders for their confidence and learning and make them a better player. Look at Bendtner for example, oh wait(smiles)

12 Nov 2013 21:09:23
Way too confident about now till end of dec. with our two highest paid players out, how on earth are we doing so well?
When the ox gets back as well as podolski and walcott, we'll be unhtoppable, providing that the defence is solid.

Remember that this is a side with a currently not very well off wilshere, a cazorla who hasn't even started scoring, and a giroud who, like the rest of the squad, should be critically recovered during the break and back as equally unstoppable. Really confident!

Not very well of?? He a mutil millionere by now so I don't feel too sorry for him, no player in football is worth over 20,000 a week it's a joke soon not even the working class can afford tickets, I get paid ok and can't afford to go to more than 10 games a season and with bt as well as sky pumping more and more money into the game (897 million for champs leg) it's going to get worse before it's better. I told sky and bt to pee of will be streaming my football from now on the greedy persons

Well said Spanner.! Absolutely 100% right. It won't be long before Sky will be a rich mans luxury. But I can see the day coming where you will be able to subscribe to watch the team of your choice. For e.g you will be able to subscribe to Arsenal games and watch those be it 3 o clock kick off or not and watch it live. I really believe this is what will happen as Sky and the rest will soon realise that eventually people will be unsubscribing the way it is at the moment .

Goldboy, that is such a good idea.

A tenner a game? Or would sky want£100 and tell you to invite friends round.
The world is totally unbalanced financially and football is one of the prime examples of it.
The game is out of reach for most families and sooner or later people will turn to less expensive sports.
Shame because its the working man's game hijacked by billionaires

G62, heres a shocker for you.
Roberto di Matteo got sacked by Chelsea approx 12 months ago and is still being paid £130,000 per week and will continue to get paid this amount until may 2014 by Chelsea, or until he finds employment. blooming joke.

G62, its not a game anymore my friend, and there lies the problem.

12 Nov 2013 19:55:47
Ed, with Dortmund revealing Reus having a release clause in his contract, can you see interest in him increasing and becoming more serious? As in a club actually looking to pay the release clause.
Would love arsenal to sign him, perfect replacement for rosicky. Thanks {Ed002's Note - This news is more than a year old - just ignore it as it will do nothing but confuse yoy.}

12 Nov 2013 17:23:13
As usual, Man U have started pulling players out of the internationals. RVP, Welbeck & Carrick to date, possibly others. Its time we learnt to do this and give Giroud, Ozil, etc a well deserved rest.

I think ozil and mert have remained at arsenal for the international break, both are suffering from illness.
Ozil was also ill during the Man United match but felt he could play, gnabry and arteta also had the same bug.
Also heard England have changed training grounds as the bug is spreading.

12 Nov 2013 08:39:36
All this talk about buying benzema in January, I would prefer us to buy Loic Remy as he is more mobile and would be half the price.

I agree, I can't say i'm a huge fan of Benzema. Similarly, I was nervous when we in for Higuain. Remy or Ba might be better options.

11 Nov 2013 23:15:21
Just for fun.
If you was Arsenal manager would you have done anything different in the first 11 games, eg, team selection/formation?
Also, what would you do in the next few games, eg, Theo and the Pod are back, would you stick them in the team?, if yes, at who's expense, or would you slowly dripfeed them back into games?

I would have kept all of our formations and players the same in every game, except I would have put Ramsey at CM for every game. If both Arteta and Flamini are available, it would be at Arteta's expense. On right attacking mid, I would rather put Rosicky, Wilshere, or even Gnabry.

As for Theo and Podolski, I would use them as subs for the first game or first couple games. I don't feel it's right to remove Rosicky and his recent form from the starting lineup, and Santi hasn't been playing bad either. I would, however, like to use Walcott or Podolski as a sub for their first game back. From a managerial perspective, if Walcott or Podolski do well as a sub, this would give me a reason to start one of them for the next game and hopefully, avoids lowering Rosicky's or Santi's confidence too much.

I would rest Ozil v Southampton simply because its been 150 miles an hour for him since deadline day, moving country, adjusting to new club, league, playing in some massive games and fitting in the Germany games too the bloke deserves a one game breather.
I would bring in Jack as he has become a sub and quite rightly so but should be more than that and needs to show why.
I would also start Theo and rest Arteta plus bring back Mert or thought I thought Varmullen did well but saints are dangerous band we need to be close to our best to get3 Pts

Without Walcott we lack that bit of pure pace threat so for me he is a starter. Basically we have lots of quality in midfield but it all with the same type of players and that is Wenger's problem in fitting in everbody is is playing players out of position. For some reason Wenger does not like any natural wide players.

Although You may think that is silly leaving out Ozil and Cazorla out but for me that team overall is better balanced as Ramsey and Wilshire having both better energy in terms of getting up and down the pitch than Ozil and Cazorla and are more physical but still have creative qualities and drive the team forward more from those central area's. You sacrifice some passing creativity but you gain more in penatration and drive.

Flamini is our closet to a proper stay at Home DM better than Arteta in that role.

Podolski gives better balance out left because he is a left footer and does not come inside all the time. Walcott is needed for his pace threat.

Dot get me wrong Ozil is a quality player and I do not blame Wenger for taking that opportunity to buy him but did we really need him. Is is to the determent to the team overall that we are trying to fit all these central midfielders into our side {Ed002's Note - You need to sign in.}

I can't think of any game where I would pick Ramsey to play out wide. Against man u I would have had Ramsey next to Arteta or Flamini. Also while Walcott has been out we've lacked serious pace, so I would have played Gnabry more often. He's impressed me every time I've seen him.
Flybo

Ed, I was logged in (It does not let you post without logging in) must have logged me off while typing out the reply though

Very good answers boys, I can see the wenger in all of you lol.