Arsenal Banter Archive January 18 2014

 

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18 Jan 2014 21:47:09
Great win today, have gone through most of the posts here are my few points

Firstly Gnabry had a good game and he tried very hard to get on the score sheet because I think Podolski is getting back, he is very close, he came on today and played like a man possessed in attack and defense. Gnabry taking punt shots, from what I see podolski offers much more than Gnabry at the moment, next match expect carzola/rosicky on the right and podolski back on the left.

Now on to Giroud, I think some of the comments are unfair, todays game he was awful dint hold the ball up also well although involved in the first goal But credit where it is due, he has huge pressure on him, firstly being compared to the arsenal greats (henry, RVP, Anelka, Overmars), Arsenal have always had great strikers, so the pressure doubles. Secondly he is the only striker so more added pressure to perform, thirdly the only outlet, and I go on and on. Credit to the fans, who still keep singing his song, and applauding him all the way, he can only get better.

The comments on Wilshire have been nonsense, he has argubaly been the player of the month since ramsey has got injured.

Good times gooners our players are coming back.

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18 Jan 2014 21:37:23
FFS

There is no pleasing some gooners

We have the BFG

We are top of the league

If you want to moan f√¢k of to. UTD page

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18 Jan 2014 20:57:24
I was sitting on the back of the bus today and I passed wind and 4 people turned round and looked at me.

I thought I was on "The Voice".

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Dags. At least you got through the first round. You can up your game by crapping your pants at the same time in the next round. LOL

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I never thought of that, lol golds

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18 Jan 2014 20:53:52
Wheres Jenny Taylor?

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18 Jan 2014 20:43:16
Somebody oposted on here a little while ago whether you would choose Henry in his prime or Giroud. For me its a no brainer but I think after the last few performances we should be looking at it this way.We are trying to win one of the best leagues in the World if not the best and do our best in the CL yet we have a striker that would not be the on the team sheet as a striker for Chelsea, Man City, Barcelona, Bayern, Real etc . I could go on and on. So what are we doing with him? don't get me wrong anyone that has read my posts know that I love Arsenal but the fact is Giroud is well below par for what Arsenal need as a striker. He is not! I repeat NOT! top notch by a long way. I do not think we will find what we need in this window and I don't think we need back ups as we already have back ups for back ups it getting ridiculous with that. I hope we get our finger out in the summer and bring in a cream striker for next season its where we should be. if it costs £40, 50, 60 mill unforunately that's where we have to be now.By the way i'm not anti Giroud at all, truth is he is not doing it.

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Golds mate, that was me lol.

Right, i'm going to address your post.

I understand where you are coming from, I have posted that Giroud is not lethal enough in front of goal and if we had the likes of Suarez or Aguero we possibly would had a few more goals this season.

However, Giroud is a different type of striker to Messrs Suarez and Aguero, but than again Arsenal are a different type of team to Liverpool and Man City.

IMO, City and Liverpool are more direct than Arsenal. We use our midfielders more than they use their's, that said, yes City have a great midfield too, with Ya Ya, Navas, Silva and Nasri.

How often do you see Kos or Per boot the ball out from the back? very rarely. They play through the midfield, they feed the likes of Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla, Walcott, Rosicky.

When they get the ball, they run off each other, interpass with the purpose of looking for Giroud. When giroud gets the ball he than holds the ball up for the aforementioned players to run into position and feed off him.

Result? a tsunami or red shirts running forward to support Giroud because they know he is leading the line and waiting to pass to them so they can possibly score.

Could Suarez do that? could Aguero do that? possibly, but IMO, not as good as what Giroud can.
Yes, I would love Giroud to be more selfish and I would be the first to admit he is nowhere as lethal as Suarez and Aguero, but I guess he suits our style of play.

Yes, I posted a while ago that if we had Thierry upfront it would be amazing. I was wrong to compare Giroud to Thierry, but I could give Giroud a very nice compliment by saying he reminds me of Alan Smith, and that, in itself, is a compliment.

Golds, I know where you are coming from and to a large extent, I agree with your post. But, to be fair you have to look at what Giroud does for the team and what he sacrifices in terms of his own personal goal tally.

Strikers are judged on goals, Giroud will never be a 30 goals a season man, but if he chips in 15-20 goals a season he will probably assist the same amount.

peace out brother Golds.

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Two top posts with opposite views that's what makes this page so good. I have to agree with Dags at the moment. For 8 years we've seen arsenal win the possession stats and crab pass their way around the box and we finally have the front man who can unlock the potential of our midfield and we are top of the league. Could he score more, yes and maybe we need someone with better shooting percentage, but that alternative has to as good as Giroud at holding the ball, passing it off and generally being a beast in front of the oppo defence. I can only think of a couple of players who can do all that and they aren't moving to Arsenal because they are PSG or moving to Bayern.

We do need a quality Henry type striker as our other plan A

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18 Jan 2014 20:25:33
I wish fellow Arsenal fans would stop whinging. We are top the league and it is up to us to drive the team on.

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18 Jan 2014 20:10:40
Podolski or Giroud. Who would you all go for?

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Change formation to 4-4-2 and play them both up front!

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Both. Try them upfront together. City do it with Aguero and Negredo and Liverpool with Suarez and Sturridge.

Try them upfront as a pair, see what happens. play 4-4-2.

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Wouldn't try a 4-4-2, saw what we did to spurs in the fa cup (even though our midfield is far superior) played them off the park. For me it's too immobile and pockets of space is easily found between the mid and defence

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Try a 4-1-2-1-2 rather than 4-4-2?

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18 Jan 2014 20:10:17
Next couple of weeks
Us
Southampton away ( tough game for anyone but we have to expect 3pts) Palace at home? No disrespect but a draw would feel worse than losing at home to Villa.
City
Spurs away, far from easy and one of the biggest banana skins out there
Chelski at home, something has to give

Chelski
Utd at home, who knows with utd
West ham away, would be a shock if they dropped points
City away, see above

We just have to hold on to our non slip boots and in a couple of weeks time we could be looking in a better position than at any point this season

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We need something out of the big games against the big teams. Hope we do better against them than in the first half of season.

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G62, I have said it before and I will say it again.

GOOD POST MATE.

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18 Jan 2014 20:03:00
Dags the change when Pod came on and the extra charge he gave was immense. On todays showing Pods or Giroud I would go with Pods. He had two beauty shots and was unfortunate not to score one but for a reaction save by the goalie.Wait till you see the highlights mate.

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Guys I think you missing the point.

Giroud holds the ball up brings others into the game makes space for our midfielders, poldolski would not be effective as a lone striker it does not match his strengths.

Play him behind giroud then I feel we will see just how good both are.

So if it is one or the other would have to be giroud, change formation and then both.

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I believe you mate, Pod is very direct, which throws the opposition because they expect us to be very slow and pass and move and pass and move and try to walk the ball into the net.

The Pod puts the cat among the pigeons. Meeooww

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18 Jan 2014 19:36:36
Good result but not a great performance. I have written that sentence many times this season, but we won, and that's the main thing.

Everybody talks about how good Man City are this season, and to be fair, they are, but we are still above them, and if we stay above them for the rest of the season, we will probably win the league.

Did not see game so I can't post too many comments, but we are top of the table, enjoy.

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Agreed Dags, amazing how the media have focused on all the "Man City quadruple" and "best team in the world" talk when they're not yet top of their domestic league. And the team who are? Well, we seem to be enjoying the lack of spotlight and getting on with the job. I don't want to be too positive as we still have problems and our competition is stiff. But I have not seen us this composed and ruthless in years.

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18 Jan 2014 19:12:45
Eds. Do you think that instead of taking the P in the summer with the Suarez bid of £40 miilion and £1 we had been a bit more business like and bid £45 mill plus that he would have been an Arsenal player this season or do you think they were never going to sell him anyway? Thanks boys.

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{Ed002's Note - No.}

18 Jan 2014 18:25:14
And yet another banana skin is skilfully avoided, that's our biggest improvement this season.
If we don't win the tittle our failure to beat top teams and not buying a top striker will be blamed.

If we do win it :-) and we might just do that little thing, banana skin avoidance will go 95% towards achieving it.

One thing is for sure if we are crowned champions in May with all our injuries we have had all season long! I don't envy others chances of wrestling it off us next season when we will without question have added even more quality to our squad and would very unlikely to have as poor as luck with injuries again.

Well done today lads

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Great analysis G62, totally agree.

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18 Jan 2014 18:19:40
Limerick. I've just come from watching the game. Just saw your post and yes mate! Jack is starting to get on my tits too!
His passing lately is awful and as you said he is always on the ground. Giroud lately I'm afraid to say is not good enough for our team simple as that. We need to buck up our ideas we should be burying teams like Fulham who were absolute amateur for most of the game. As far as taking on Bernatov as a back up! forget that, he is about as much good as a one legged man in an arse kicking contest. I've said it before we are going back to trying to walk the ball into the net again when we should be having a pop. When the Pod came on we seemed to liven up. Unfortunately unless you see the whole game either on TV or at the ground you will not understand what I really mean as the highlights won't do it. Gnabry is going to be an awesome player I hope Arsene decides to keep him as I've heard worrying rumours today that they were thinking of selling him.

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Golds, I agree. Personally, I think Pod should start more games because he gives us something different, EG, he likes to have a pop at goal when he gets the opportunity.

PS, Gnabry won't go anywhere mate, trust me. Wenger loves him to bits, the only place he might go is on loan, although definitely not this season.

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Apart from Wilshere flopping around a bit, I completely disagree. Where are you getting this 'poor passing' from? He makes a mistake every now and then but certainly not as much as Ozil or Cazorla. This isn't a dig at any of them - we just have a fast-tempo passing game and some get it wrong sometimes.

Do you remember Wilshere's pass for Walcott's goal against Cardiff? It was unbelievable. He was immense against Spurs. He scored a great goal and gave a fantastic assist against Villa. He gave another assist today and was involved in most of our attacks. I think he's been our player of the month and I'm not sure we'd have won the last few games without him. Not sure if you're focusing too much on small negatives or ignoring positives?

I think you're being equally harsh on Giroud. He has the same PL goal tally as Negredo who is getting universal praise and has played more games. Same with Lukaku. I agree we could do with another option but saying he's simply not good enough is madness.

I watched the whole game so know what you mean about us having lulls and periods where it looked stale. But football matches are often won by bursts of brilliance - Wilshere has been providing these, Giroud has been putting them away almost once every 2 games.

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18 Jan 2014 17:11:06
Difficult to moan about 2-0. Another clean sheet, another performance where we did enough without over exerting ourselves, another game where we were in total control.

Man city smashed in 4 again. However, they still conceded 2. I make them favourites for the league but I believe they will drop points away to the likes of ourselves.

Think the team has done extraordinarily well to maintain their consistancy in such a strong league this year. We have strength in depth as has been proven by our ability to cope without Ramsey, Ozil or Cazorla throighout the season.

For me though our player of the year is Mertesacker. God forbid he gets injured because he is the true leader of this team and his reading of the game is peerless.

Onwards and upwards, next league game is Southampton away which is going to be a *******, but I believe we have what it takes to beat them

Coyg

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Agreed Original, totally.

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18 Jan 2014 16:59:31
anyone else disappointed with Wilshere, he always seems to be on the ground as well as giving the ball away and very slow to get back and help out. I know this is a love Wilshere site and might upset most people, but this is what I think.

Limerick Gunner

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See I've always thought Cazorla is always guilty for that much more, I've lost count of the times I'm screaming at while he is sat on his arse waving his arms at the ref while teams counter attack

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Thats jacks game though,

hes a touch little s.o.b.

Jacks game is inviting players in to challenge him so he can either go past them or pass it to someone whos pull off to tackle him, 6/10 though the players fall for it and mistime their challenge/get too frustrated with him and he wins us a free kick. depends on the referee, today he let play continue alot.

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Tough I meant**

but yeah he's arrogant which just intices more hotblooded tackles.

i expect wilshere to put in a few great years of performing but will brobably retire at 30 unless he adapts his game and becomes an english santi!

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18 Jan 2014 16:05:56
Arsenal lucky not to concede an early goal in the 2nd half. proving a bit of a struggle

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18 Jan 2014 15:44:06
43 minutes in and making hard work of it. Very poor!

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18 Jan 2014 15:04:13
Not sure what Poldolski has done to Arsene but it must be bad!! Still no sign of him getting a start or probably even a part.
Whatever I was he did I hope Ramsey ain't done too

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18 Jan 2014 13:12:45
I can't people are still discussing January transfers lol

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Because its January, and its the transfer window.Hope I've cleared that up for you.

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If you are silly enough to believe Arsene is contemplating buying someone in January then more fool you lol

I suggest you wise up to AW's thoughts on the transfer window

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Under these circumstances, I don't see why Wenger wouldn't attempt to buy someone such as a striker or winger. How could you be so sure Banbury that he won't? Once again, no one saw Ozil's transfer coming. I like to be realistic, too, but to say Wenger isn't going to buy someone this January is more of stretch than saying he is. With the injuries that we have, I reckon a LW/ST will be bought or even a CB.

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18 Jan 2014 08:42:38
Ok I had my moan earlier about the never ending Draxler rumours. I've calmed down now.LOL! I know I've asked this before but it's Saturday. 3pm Kick Off Versus Foolham.i just read that Rosicky could be back playing with a mask on to protect his nose which is good news. Anyhow PREDICTIONS I still feel its going to be 4-1 to us. Any improvements boys and girls.?

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I'm going to have a cheeky punt on 5-1, Kosceilny to score anytime (if he's playing!)

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I'd like a 3-0 win with Wilshere and Giroud (2)

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3 0 two in first half one in the second,

Plus a little man from Cleethorpes in the crowd will be captured on camera with a very cheeky smile as the second goes in, he doesn't go to many games due to cost but goes home to his bungalow very happy and excitedly looking forward to MOTD

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18 Jan 2014 12:13:53
Golds,

I'm just in the Mac D's on Highbury corner before we walk over to the ground shooting the breeze with Draxler who says he's over here for some kind of book signing or something.

Anyway he reckons we're going to score a few and his mate Ozil will be on the score sheet.

My Germans a bit rusty but sure that's what he said. ;-)

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3-0 to the Arsenal. Giroud, Cazorla and Wilshere.

Can't see our back 4 conceding against this team, full of has been's, no youth, no energy. If it was 5 years back they'd have a pretty impressive team, Berbatov, Duff, Parker, and even a little flair with that guy Ruiz (always been a bit hit and miss.) could make something out of nothing on occasion.

But this isn't 5 years ago! Haha. Should be an easy 3 points. An easy clean sheet and a wave of attacking master class.

Ps. Please play Podolski.

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CZ, you need to brush up on your German!

I saw Draxler in the KFC last night ordering a big Daddy Zinger meal with XL fries, and he told me he was here to see 'Kelly Brook Singing' can see how that was mistaken for 'book signing'.

Anyhow this is 100% true, you can ask 'Malaga' as he was in the corner dressed as a pink fairy elephant drinking a dairy milk crushem.

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I think we'll be losing first half. Without certain players pushing on early (Gibbs, walcott, ramsey) we tend to be slow to start games at home.
Berbatov after 20 minutes or so, then we'll get 3 second half.
I hope I'm wrong and we keep a clean sheet.

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I reckon 2-0 to us, Cazorla with both goals.

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18 Jan 2014 08:31:14
Jeez! I don't normally have a moan but here we go once more! this Draxler business is like a Groundhog Day on here again just like the Higuain saga of the summer. I don't know about you Eds but its doing my head in already. In the summer the Higuain talk was suffocated to within an inch of its life and its happening again with Draxler. let's give it a rest for a while now . Pleeeez LOL

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17 Jan 2014 23:43:57
Alright gunners. What's the opinions on paying 37 million for potential when in turn that sort of doh could buy a finished product type. To win the epl this year arsenal need to buy a proven goal getter and replace Walcott. Now how much would the board be willing to spend as this wouldn't be a kick and the baws off 85 million. What players of this calibre are available etc. In my opinion draxler is an awesome talent but is currently worth no more than 15 mill.

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Agreed mate, don't think we will sign anyone this window exept possibly as stop gap striker I.e berbatov for 2m or someone on loan. I do believe however 99% draxler will be an arsenal player in the summer. Him plus another striker and a center back we will have a right go on all fronts next season

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Because in 3 years time. Draxler will be worth 60/70million, he is that good. Reminds of a bit of Bale from them down the road.

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