Arsenal Banter Archive November 20 2016

20 Nov 2016 15:27:40
In hind sight its all to easy to be right and I for one thought Arsene made 100% the right decision to let Jack go this season but with us struggling so much without Caz looking at the situation now Jack would have been the closest thing we had to a like for like replacement.
I know I know the injuries and he probably wouldn't have been available if he was still with us but still as it turns out with the luxury of hind sight he might have come in handy this season.

20 Nov 2016 16:27:07
Gunner wenger bought elneny and then xhaka to fill caz's spot. Elneny is solid and reliable to a point but xhaka for the money so far has been disappointing and wenger obviously doesn't trust him yet. If wilshire had stayed who's to say he wouldn't be injured at arsenal, the environment at Bournemouth suits him. For me the wilshire decision was correct, buying xhaka is questionable at the moment.

20 Nov 2016 17:10:58
For me steve
Elneny is a very decent supporting cast member
Xhaka is strictly soap opera standard and a long way off getting a call from Hollywood on current performances
Ramsey thinks he's in the Tom cruise league and is only interested in delivering all the best lines for himself
While for all Jacks faults of which there's quite a few he does have it in his locker to be a director and influence wether the movie gers nominated for an Oscar or goes straight onto DVD.
Without Caz there is no one to bring out the best of a very decent cast and keep the plot on track.

20 Nov 2016 17:47:03
Gunner the only movie he would get nominated for is The English Patient.

20 Nov 2016 17:59:55
Very good Steve :-)

20 Nov 2016 19:09:29
Very, very good. Really made me chuckle.

Got to agree with most of what you said g62. It's odd - two or three seasons ago, we had several players who were suited to that Santi role of solid distribution from deep. Arteta could do it quite well and I think Rosicky was the closest to a like replacement for Santi, able to draw a player in, go round him and then whip a fantastic ball further up the field with pinpoint accuracy. What we lacked then was steel. Now we have a bit more steel but no-one who can dictate play from deep. Wilshere, if fit, could have a go at that for Arsenal. He does it brilliantly for England, although he'd have a lot less time on the ball in the Prem. Would do it better than any of our current options though (Santi excluded) .

Speaking of our current options - I don't get why people are so kind about Elneny. I have never been wowed by him and he strikes as most effective when coming on to shore things up because he can slow play right down. He only dictates play by slowing it down and will rarely manage 90 mins in the Prem because he literally can't get past third gear and the intensity of the league doesn't suit him.

Pains me to say it but the best way to get in someone who could fill in effectively for Santi would be to rescue Cesc from the Chelsea bench in January.

20 Nov 2016 19:13:10
Replacing Santi is going to be very hard. He is so key to getting the balance right. He takes the pressure off Ozil in an attacking perspective, is disciplined in defence while linking defence and midfield. Big shoes to fill.

Granit needs time to adapt while Elneny had a poor game.

Getting Jack out the door - made sense. He could replace Santi - yes. BUT injury wise he is too risky as is Santi now.

The player to fill his shoes Cesc - I know you hate me now!

20 Nov 2016 20:16:44
I think it's a good shout SY mate, without Caz we can either attack or defend but not both as we did against Chelsea so well and if Fabregas can give us that in Caz absence why not.

20 Nov 2016 21:11:10
Throw £50m at West Ham for Payet.

Top player.

{Ed025's Note - i agree dags..

20 Nov 2016 21:37:41
Fabrigas is yesterday, payet is class but might be to much a maverick for that roll.

20 Nov 2016 21:49:41
I agree gbg mate Elneny for me is a tryer who will always give his best but is his best good enough for more than cover? I hope he prove me wrong because I like the bloke, Cesc would be a perfect Caz replacement for us I know this will upset some but they would soon get over it if we were still in the title race at the start of May.
Dags I would love to see us sign Payet but he will have lots of options who won't mess about with silly offers that insult both Payet and west Ham intelligence,

20 Nov 2016 22:14:06
Blaise matuidi would be my choice to replace santi, ok, ok i can dream.

20 Nov 2016 23:25:23
Javi Martinez 😉.

21 Nov 2016 06:43:53
Perhaps we should have or do have the option to recall Wilshere from Bournemouth in the January window.

20 Nov 2016 03:27:34
Hello my gooners. just wanted to drop in and say a few views.
As frustrating as perfomances like today can be to us all, I can't be the only one that is appreciating the balance between the resiliance and ruthlesness we have shown so far this season, 18 games in all competitions.12 wins,5 draws, and 1 loss and only 15 goals conceded, add the fact that we have scored 43 goals (in any business that's very efficient work) .
In these 18 games let's be honest aswell we haven't hit top form in at least 40% of them, yet we are still producing positive results (Leicester, Southampton, Burnley, Swansea, PSG, Utd, That lot, Ludogorets) Now i'm not saying this squad is anywhere near the invincibles. but this is the first sign in a long, long time we are showing that squads mentality (lets not forget the invincibles luck at times such as rvn missed penalty, or the scraped draw away to portsmouth when Yakubu missed a sitter for 2-0 after the league was won, even the home against portsmouth with that penalty or liverpool at the end of our "famous week", )
Basically i'm sorry for the essay but its bloody good seeing the whole picture come together once again at Arsenal! Get Bellerin, Welbeck, Cazorla all back into action and let's make a new chapter boys!

20 Nov 2016 07:53:53
True, we can't complain we are one of very few teams that are still in with a chance in the Pl, CL and the League Cup. The sole match that we lost was played without Mustafi, Koscielny, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Welbeck, Ozil and Giroud. We even had to play our 4th and 5th choice centre backs, Holding and Chambers.
We now need to push on, with winning performances In the run up to the new year. Finishing top of our CL group would be a huge boost to the teams confidence.
I would like to see us consider trying to sign a LB and a midfield player to cover for Cazorla who looks no closer to coming back from injury.
Against PSG, I would like to see us play Cech (which won't happen) , Gibbs, Xhaka, Ox, Iwobi and Giroud. We need to rotate players during the current heavy schedule or more injuries may occur.

20 Nov 2016 10:09:31
Results are everything when it comes to competing for titles and in the main our results are good.
I personally have no interest in listening to anymore excuses as to why it's impossible for little old Arsenal to challenge for the title but not for Leicester and Liverpool to do so.
Aaron Ramsey playing out wide in all but Arsene's view is a mistake but if we keep getting the results that keep us well in the race what does it matter what Arsene does or who he picks to play where.
Personally I think there are lots of weaknesses that need addressing but all the time we keep getting away with them, good for Arsene.
Last minute penalty against Southampton at home, last seconds handball by Kos against Burnley, both Middlesbrough and Swansea created as many genuine goal scoring opportunies as us at the Emerirates, has the rub of the green been with us? I'd say so but its irrelevant because we are in a good position to kick on from.
If Arsene is to be treated the same as all other managers and be assest by his results it has to be a 9/ 10 so far for the season, which if he maintains then he should be offered a new contract in May but by the same token should things go a little less well and by the time may gets here we are in a yet another top 4 battle then the final weekend of the season has to be the biggest and the absolute best farewell party football has ever seen civic reception an all.
So far so good this season Le prof.

20 Nov 2016 10:47:43
You have my vote 62.