Arsenal Banter Archive August 17 2015

17 Aug 2015 22:27:14
Just my opinion / thoughts:

We were invincible because we had no compromises in the team. Goalie, Defence, Midfield and Attack. We were strong in defence and so leaked few goals but we also had magic up front for when we needed it eg 2 down against Liverpool ( Henry steps up and wins the game on his own ).

We always thought and knew we would score - I never doubted we would score.

Opponents knew it also.

Today - we have small compromises throughout the team and that means we miss chances, concede goals, cannot always hold onto leads, look like we could play for hours without scoring.....

They are only small compromises but they add up - hence a world class addition or two would transform the team.

We still have a good enough team to compete but do we really have enough in the tank to win it?? That's without injuries!

I love the team and our players - I think we trim the squad and add three key players - striker, winger and CDM of the highest quality.

If we don't bulk up the attacking options then we must bulk up the defence. I would rather add attacking flair as the compromises at the back can be overcome in the EPL but nut Champions League. Let's concentrate on the league and FA Cup.

17 Aug 2015 23:48:09
I agree but you're forgetting a certain Mr bergkamp that set Henry up so many times if we could get some1 close to bergkamp maybe ozil if he turns up this season and maybe a consistent goal scorer and cdm we have a great chance. For a cdm I'd go Mikel at Chelsea he would be a good option for me

{Ed025's Note - mikel??..bloody hell stephen hes awful mate..

18 Aug 2015 00:16:58
Wanyama is a much better option.

Proper DM.

18 Aug 2015 05:34:09
I mentioned as back up Ed

{Ed025's Note - even as back up hes a no no for me stephen, very slow and gives fouls out like confetti but i suppose its all about opinions mate..

17 Aug 2015 22:25:12
I think the vast majority agree we should sign a top quality proven natural goal scorer if we can possible get one but doing so does come with risks, this time last year falco would have seemed ideal but as we all now know he found the premier league difficult to adjust to.
IMO with Giroud we will challenge but probably come up a little short but if we lose Olly's team contribution by signing a new man who struggles like Falco did it would probably set us back a fair way which could mean losing players like Sanchez Ozil Kos next summer if we recapture the 4th place trophy.
Its a gamble either way we go but we can't have both ways if we pay top dollar for a new man obviously he has to play to have a chance.

17 Aug 2015 22:31:57
Ed,

Make me the happiest man alive and tell me we're going to buy Lukaku.

{Ed025's Note - if his agent raiola had his way you would alex, he is desperate for him to be at a CL club mate, but hopefull we will resist it..

17 Aug 2015 22:52:46
This time last week the idea of signing Lukaku would have been have been seen as desperation and at decent money few Evertonians would have shed too many tears, what a difference a game makes :-)

{Ed025's Note - how fickle all us fans are G62..

17 Aug 2015 23:32:11
To be fair Ed his first season at Everton he was fantastic then last season he was extremely poor and this season? There's nothing to suggest he would improve us for sure so would be a very strange choice to replace Giroud, at the moment he would make a good understudy at 10 million but next May it could be a different story

{Ed025's Note - he would cost £40m+ G62..

17 Aug 2015 23:49:04
Exactly Ed so it would be a very man or a fool who paid that for a player who's form has been varied to say the least, Lukaku at 40 would make Benteke look like a bargin at 32

17 Aug 2015 21:32:09
I went for a job interview today.

I was asked, "What do you do when things don't go to plan?"

I said, "I'll blame someone else."

Needless to say, I start working for Chelsea next week.

17 Aug 2015 16:48:32
Right i'm not picking on giroud I've already stated he should stay at arsenal. But when the two greatest strikers this club has ever seen have publically stated we can't win the league with giroud and they are both ardent fans too. that's good enough for me.

17 Aug 2015 17:23:26
Steve.................a decent debate about the striker situation.

But if Chelsea win the league by ONLY scoring 2 more goals than us, then our problems can't be heavily blamed on scoring?

You can't argue otherwise ...............surely.

I would say its shutting the game out when in winning positions .

17 Aug 2015 18:09:54
Banbury if you look back on my post i don't believe that to be the only problem. Its just a part of the team that needs a bit of star quality. i'm not a giroud fan or hater but i do appreciate his quality and lack of.

17 Aug 2015 18:15:16
You could argue that those two goals could have been worth 6 points . I know giroud was injured for some of last year. But if we had a CF who banged in 20 plus those extra 6 goals could be 18 points. I know it hypothetical but the fact remains any club who has won the premier league usually have the striker who has the golden boot or scored 20 plus .

17 Aug 2015 18:22:22
That was last season mate Banbury gooner mate,
I agree with Steve,
We can compete for the title which we've been more or less doing since the Ozil singing in 2013, but we can't win the league.
This season all other teams have improved drastically and Man city look like they wil bounce back again after being runners up.
We need a world class striker to COMPETE in Europe and WIN the premier league.
With giroud we'll just TAKE PART in Europe and COMPETE in premier league.
That's the difference!.

17 Aug 2015 18:27:03
The only thing i can say to explain that is chelsea play a more rigid defensive system and are very good at holding and controlling games when they are 1-0 up. We often because of our style of play go searching for more goals. Our game is built on attack and theirs on defence. They can also create fewer chances and still win games.

17 Aug 2015 18:50:21
For the last time it's not the goal tally. It's when you score them. Don't just look at a for and against. Thanks :)

17 Aug 2015 20:09:43
Is there a man out there who can bring out the best of the rest the way Olly does and also take 50% of the chances Olly misses? If so he's our man, but there's little point in bringing in a 30 goal a season man if it cost the team 40 goals.
Olly isn't prolific enough :-( shame that it is but we do need to make sure we don't cut our noses off to spite our knee's

17 Aug 2015 20:51:20
G62
Balotellis your man. No need for the fourty million pounds even. Only the 1 pound would do

{Ed025's Note - even thats overpriced reet..

17 Aug 2015 21:10:54
Steve you appreciate his qualities and his kick off. I think you've just summed up how I feel about giroud lol

17 Aug 2015 21:39:50
Reet I'd have a cheeky punt at 5 million although I've always been a bit strange,I still think some manager somewhere will get him to toe the line and produce all that ability on a regular basis and who ever does will have a bargin on there hands.
If the ability wasn't there at his age he would be a lost cause but much like Micah Richards the ability has never been in question just the attitude.

17 Aug 2015 23:56:05
I think Wenger would be great for ballo sign him up lol

17 Aug 2015 12:27:52
I hate when Giroud scores a beautiful goal that makes him look better than he actually is. Don't get me wrong it was an exquisite finish that not many other players in the world would have nailed, but that doesn't diminish the fact that he can put away all the tough chances yet miss all of the absolute sitters! And other than the goal, it didn't look like he did much else. We still need a striker who can bury his chances or at least hit the target more often than not, someone who can turn a half-chance into a goal and turn a game on its head when we need it the most.

Aguero's performance yesterday showed us exactly what were missing to mount a serious challenge and push it right to the wire.

Also it would do grioud a world of good to have someone nick his spot from under him, might actually get him to work on his finishing and push him to be a better striker for us.

17 Aug 2015 13:12:57
Giroud is a good player, nobody disputes that. The dispute is whether he good enough to win you leagues and champs league and the answer is no. It was a great goal but tony yaboah, tino asprilla and many more talented strikers scored great goals but were never great players, who had great careers at top clubs. Top strikers are clinical, single minded and mobile, giroud isca lump, but he's a slow lump and regardless of how good people say he is at holding the ball up, he also gives it away and loses it far too often as well. Not girouds fault but look at our chance coloumn and see how many goals we get and look at the opposition column and see how many they get. Many a time we have had 20+ attempts and the opposition has had 5 or less and we have drawn or even lost the game. Poor defensive decisions and poor finishing so you do need a clinical striker. He does a great job defending as well at set pieces and i would want him to stay, because he would be great as cover or back up.

{Ed025's Note - i happen to agree steve..

17 Aug 2015 13:35:37
The thing for me with giroud is that he is hot and cold. Also if teams defend higher up the pitch then it's all on the wingers as he can't get in behind. He isn't one of those strikers who you think he will create something out of nothing. Like aguero even if city are been overwhelmed and can't get the ball you know that he can still pop up with a goal. We need an X factor striker any team out there that wins leagues and champions league has one (in Barcelonas case 3) simply if we don't get an exeptional cf we won't win the league of CL. If we do we might

17 Aug 2015 13:48:36
'Striker to bury half chances and turn the game on head' that's exactly what he done ydy. I get it Giroud isn't a top striker and he has his limitations but he scored an important goal which was a half chance and it helped us get 3 important points. I don't get the critism.

Ive been going on the whole summer how we need to sign a top CF even when these pages were filled on how we need DMF but come on how can you hate it when Giroud scores a great goal. You don't want Arsenal to win?

Also Augero performance, he did miss 4 chances before he scored his first. Amazing player, best player in the leauge but i know many fans wouldve ripped into Giroud for missing four easy chances before scoring the most difficult one l

17 Aug 2015 13:51:05
why do we have to rely on one man to win us something???

When the whole squad bang in over 100 goals , I know I keep banging on about this but its as important to keep a clean sheet as it is to score . Not every chance falls to Giroud he can't get on the end of every cross or rebound .

ED....might be wrong with this but I think we lost 8 points last season from conceding goals in the last 75 mins. We need to be more water tight , goals will be scored.

Just my opinion

17 Aug 2015 14:09:27
Whoops LOL

I meant conceding goals AFTER 75 mins of course.

17 Aug 2015 14:18:04
100% agree with Noodles. If you hate it when one of our players scores a great goal, then that really is pitiful. A proper supporter gets behind the players providing they are giving everything.
As for "it didn't look like he did much else", what about the flick into Ramsey in the first half, or the one he put on a plate for Sanchez? Or were you not looking at those points?

17 Aug 2015 15:12:27
Banbury you are right mate, I hate it when you put up posts that meke you looks more right that you actually are... its on the team.

Too much is made of individual stats compared to how some players make others around him better, Giroud is one of those, plus chips in a few goals. Helps defend the set pieces as well.

17 Aug 2015 15:42:08
Noodles not sure what you are trying to say. Would giroud do a better job for citeh than aguero, or are you saying aguero wouldn't do any better for us than giroud, because if you arent, then the answer is we need an upgrade.

17 Aug 2015 16:08:03
Understand that Steve but you are talking one of the TOP TOP players and hugely costly , there aren't many above Aguero , let's be fair.

I think Giroud has 42 in 83 PL appearances , that ain't bad and with other attacking options ( we have many ) we shouldn't be shy on the goal front.

Aguero's scoring rate at M City is absolutely stunning at 79 in 104 , previously at A Madrid it was 75 in 149.

We spent 13,000,000 on Giroud , Aguero cost 38,000,000 ...You get what you pay for and we get a damn good return for 13 mill

17 Aug 2015 16:19:43
To be fair bergovic pulled off some decent saves and aguero made them chances happen because he can get in behind, hold the play up he can do it all. No one critised him for not hitting the back of the net with those four chances because he made them happen he was knocking on the door and a man with a wooden head knew it was a matter of time. I'm buzzing that giroud scored and a very well taken goal indeed. He might score next game then go missing for a couple of games. He needs upgrading simple as . If we are happy with giroud then we are supporters that love to fantasise in failure.

17 Aug 2015 16:40:34
Banbury no one is saying he isn't wasnt good value for money, this is about what you have just said. Basically to win big you generally have to buy big. We have money we have the basis of a good squad, girouds position is only one of a few positions that need the financial input to take us to the next level, which as it stands we're short of. People on here have stated we don't need anymore signings, fine that's their opinion, my opinion is, you don't sign you stand still. We should alwaýs be looking to improve the team, regardless. One of the signs of a great talent is how many opposition fans hanker after your players and as much as we all think various players are this and that only a handfull fall into that catagory. The more you have the better team you are likely to be.

17 Aug 2015 17:04:50
That's very correct Banbury the figures are good the 13 million was a good return. But the fact is will need someone else to go that step further.

17 Aug 2015 17:27:18
B82

And that's my arguement in todays market we get fantastic value from Giroud , who just lacks one thing in my opinion PACE.

His finishing is actually very good, the goal against Palace was excellent.

We do need to go further but AW does love a bargain

17 Aug 2015 17:33:04
We will sign another player I'm sure of it. No way can he spend just 10mill on cech and be done. Fans won't accept it

Hel wait for benzema or do a late panic deal if not.

17 Aug 2015 18:05:35
If we could spend the money on cutting Walcott and giroud in half then stitching them up with each other problem solved.

{Ed025's Note - you would end up with a whippet...that could not hit a bulls arse with a banjo.. :)

17 Aug 2015 23:28:26
Well I guess you couldn't have the speed without using walcotts legs so your probably right ed

17 Aug 2015 07:03:38
Hard earned win against a Palace team that will cause other contenders problems at home.
I still feel we need a dominant defensive midfield player, particularly in games like this agsinst tall physical teams. When Coquelin was substututed we looked more vulnerable.
We also need a top quality striker. Apart from a superbly taken goal, Giroud did little else.
Interestingly, not one English player started the match for Arsenal.
Against Liverpool at home, I would like to see more pace in the team and would consider selecting Gibbs, Oxlade and Walcott. Of these I would start Gibbs in place of Monreal, who still fails to be convincing and I fail to understand the current Arsenal love in for this rather paceless player. At least Gibbs adds much needed pace to the team. I would also consider playing Walcott wide right, in place of Ramsey.

17 Aug 2015 09:17:42
Imo Monreal is a more accomplished left back and I would not risk dropping him against Liverpool

17 Aug 2015 09:29:42
Not sure I agree there mate!

Monreal may not be he fastest, but he's much more defensively solid than Gibbs and rarely sets a foot wrong these days.

You need balance on the wings and our left side is almost perfectly so.
Alexis is all action but is at his best going forward, Monreal's defensive nous allows him to not have to worry about coming back to defend all the time.

Gibbs comes too far forward in attacks and although he's quick, he's not Bellerin quick, he can't always get back in time, which drags Koscielny out to shore up the left and leaving Per exposed.

When he first joined, Monreal was a bit shaky, but he's gone from strength to strength and is really one of our most underrated players.

17 Aug 2015 11:16:59
Couldn't agree more with those of you defending Monreal. He's got better positioning than Gibbs, is stronger in the air, less injury-prone, more defensively-minded and above all, much better at passing. How many times has Gibbs gone bombing forward just to put in a shoddy cross? Nacho, meanwhile, finds himself in positions to cross less often but then offers worthwhile supply from those positions, as he showed yesterday.
If you really think he 'fails to be convinving', watch yesterday's game again, then have a think about how well you'd do keeping Bolasie and Zaha quiet...

17 Aug 2015 11:49:37
Monreal will likely always play when sachet does as he offers more defensively as sanchez will be camped up field. Same reason we play a tuck in winger on the right when Bellerin plays as somebody must cover him if the ball is lost. It's azilpucuata plays behind hazard, for the same reason.

People keep moaning about Ramsey on the right instead of theo. If the whole right side of the team is left vulnerable to counter attacks we'll be getting shipped 8-0 every game!

17 Aug 2015 12:38:34
Monreal has been terrific for us, one of our most consistent performers. He can't be dropped on the basis that somebody else is quicker. He hasn't been exposed for pace in any games recently.

17 Aug 2015 12:50:25
I agree with all the support to Monreal but I understand what Robbie is looking for. Gav makes an excellent point above, regarding the need for a RW that can cover Bellerin when he pushes forward. I'd like to see Ox in RW for Ramsey. Firstly, he brings serious pace nad directness yet will get back and cover when required. Secondly, it let's Ramsey know he's not untouchable and needs continue to earn his spot. Robbie was calling for pace against Liverpool, playing Walcott up front with Ox on the wing injects serious pace whilst maintaining a strong balance. I really hope we start with those guys!

16 Aug 2015 21:07:45
Ubistonk, on what you replied to my last post. It goes without saying we played well today, got a good result at a very tough ground, though it was pretty touch and go. Ozil and Santi were immense today.

It was worth mentioning Ramsey though, he looked awful until he was played down the middle but even then he was frustrating to watch at times, considering we've seen the heights he can reach and how important he is for us when played in the correct position and is doing what he's supposed to be doing.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm more than happy for you to flag me on being overly pessimistic if I'm getting proven wrong come the final whistle :)

17 Aug 2015 12:42:35
The problem he has CI, is that if he doesn't play wide he doesn't play. There is no way he starts ahead of Coq, Santi or Ozil at the moment. That's the dilemma.

17 Aug 2015 13:21:52
finally though, its a great dilemma to have, in which top quality player has to start on the bench.....lets put it another way, it could be which player out of Flamini or Arteta has to start with the other on the bench....

16 Aug 2015 20:30:11
The pitch looked like a carpet.