Arsenal Banter Archive October 24 2018

24 Oct 2018 14:52:40
Great to see ozil play so well last match and enjoy himself. With all the movement around him, I'm sure he's going to start motoring again.

Lacca missed some opportunities, buy great movement and fast feet. Enjoying watching him.

Iwobi has shown a lot of improvement, but I remember when he first started in the first team he played well then form dropped and seemed to get nervous/ pressure got to him. I hope that's made him stronger now. Keep going Alex!

Moreno is rubbish. Would rather play with no left back. Please no.

How can kolasinac get grief when he started well and was then beset by injuries and sporadic games. He's an arsenal player. A new one. Give him a chance .

Leno has shown he's a great shot stopper.

Torreira looking great. Well overdue player.

Xhaka. Not worldbeating but was in great positions going forward. I hope this season he'll prove doubters wrong. I even wondered how he'd fair in some games played in the hole behind lacca. Loads of space for others or have him peppering the goal. Anyway, still can't believe the grief he gets having been played in the wrong position/ role and with a malfunctioning team, and alongside players who didn't compliment him. Captain of MonchenGB, Switz international, regular with AW and UE, yet not even premium standard according to the knowledgeable fans on here. With torreira hopefully he'll shut a few people up.

COYG.

24 Oct 2018 17:08:51
Jim,

What ever position he’s playing, why does he constantly get caught in possession or give the ball away in dangerous positions.

What decent midfielder cannot tackle and as a consequence give poor fouls away, again in dangerous positions.

So I’m not giving him stick but saying what I see. I’m not a coach, manager or particularly knowledgable on such things but even I can see that mate.

{Ed025's Note - the rule of thumb for me stoner...is would he get a place in any other top 6 side?, the answer is a definite NO...so im with you mate..

24 Oct 2018 17:27:20
I suppose the point is with xhaka, would he get in any of the top six midfields and the answer to that is a resounding no! So if that is the case how on earth is he good enough for our midfield. The guy is so limited in his tackling his control and his ball carrying he is a liability. We won't go anywhere while he is in our team against far superior opposition players. Our midfield improved immensely against Leicester as soon as he was taken out. The passing was quicker and tackles actually started being put in. The two players in there actually as a pair also started to carry the ball forward because they can. For me he is probably the worse midfielder since denilson and so unsuited to the strength and pace of the premier league.

{Ed025's Note - i said exactly the same steve..

24 Oct 2018 17:37:27
Well ed025 it is so so obvious mate. He isn't premier league quality and in any other top six team, he wouldn't even make the bench.

{Ed025's Note - 100% steve..

24 Oct 2018 19:21:34
You have some good points there Jim. I've said I won’t go on about Iwobi till the end of the season but I will add that he looks better than the first time he looked good. Xhaka is playing better and maybe he will improve further but have to agree he wouldn’t get into any other top six side. but he is looking better! I do wonder if emery had encouraged him to start using his right foot and he is opening his body before and looks more comfortable in transition. early days but things are better or should I say we are winning games that last year we wouldn’t.

24 Oct 2018 18:20:02
Hi ed025 mate,

Great to see you back. Hope alls good with you. I don’t want to pick holes in Xhaka and was excited when we signed him but he just doesn’t do it for me at all sadly.

{Ed025's Note - hey stoner, he just does not seem to fit for me mate, i thought he was a decent buy when you got him but he does not do enough for me..

24 Oct 2018 21:00:15
Browgun, I totally agree. High hopes for Alex but he's been a little overawed sometimes but looking much better.

As for xhaka, I don't think he's played well although has had some good games and always looks a threat from distance, but for me he's a deeper lying central playmaker with a presence, but he's been played as a DM and alongside players (like ramsey that do their own thing meaning he has to do all the things he's less good at and with no support from the back 4, midfield partner or wings so seems grossly unfair to write him off as useless before he's had a chance alongside torreiraand a settled back 4 where we can utilise his strengths. Tbf, I think the prem maybe too fast to suit him, and ozil makes his role a little redundant but I hope he does show what he's capable of.

24 Oct 2018 21:12:58
I think Xhaka has the Poldolski appeal to some fans, although pretty infective in the vast majority of games he has a thunderous shot that if and when it comes off is usually very spectacular.
For some fans that once or twice a season moment is worth his inclusion in every game just in case that's the game it happens.
But that's just me trying to see what others might see in Xhaka and of course I could be wrong, unlikely I know but I could be:-)

24 Oct 2018 21:24:05
Ive got to be honest Jim, I've watched him now 2 1/ 2 years now and i don't see any "strengths" i don't see what he actually brings to this team, except mediocrity. I don't care where he plays, he's out of his depth. But all your other points i agree with.

24 Oct 2018 22:23:20
The thing is if he can't play next to Torreira then where can he play in. Dicks system? He's not a striker he's not a attacking fullback hrs not a CB and no one can seriously suggest dropping Mesut to make room for him :-)
The thing is he is definitely better under Emery than Arsene but that isn't saying that much because how could he possibly be worse.
Maybe he does have something to offer someone somewhere but it isn't Arssnal and it isn't in the premier league.

25 Oct 2018 05:34:36
I certainly wasn’t pleased when we signed Xhaka 30 million wasted, I said from the start he was poor at keeping the ball. I really don’t know what he brings to us, yet Dick plays him week in week out as Wenger did along with him regularly playing for the Swiss .

Am I missing something then?

25 Oct 2018 06:22:35
I remember you saying that Banbury and sure I was thinking or saying give the guy a chance.

Well mate he’s had plenty and is sadly just not good enough.

I was supposed to go to the game Monday night but managed to get stuck in Banbury for reasons beyond my control and ended up watching the first half of the game in the Swan and the 2nd half on my phone in the Pizza Express as the Swan didn’t do food! 😂.

25 Oct 2018 08:05:53
You were stuck in Banbury stoner? How good looking is he 😂.

25 Oct 2018 10:06:43
Brow 😂😂😂😂 very mate. 👍🏼🍆.

25 Oct 2018 13:53:46
He didn’t ask you if his handkerchief smelled like chloroform did he 😀.

25 Oct 2018 14:19:41
His moniker is "stoner" so I'm pretty sure he's sniffed much stronger than chloroform. That only leaves one conclusion - he was a willing participant.

That aubergine emoji tells it's own tale!

25 Oct 2018 14:23:40
For me the main issue with Xhaka is as long as he plays he stops the development of others already at the club who can play the same position, such as Maitland-Niles, or even worse, stops us going out and getting better. I would take 15m for him and hand it over to Rabiot as a signing on fee in a heartbeat.

24 Oct 2018 02:11:39
I took a lot of stick last season when I suggested that we needed a new left back or possibly two. From reports it was suggested that we went after a new LB during the last window and we have recently been linked with LIverpool's Moreno, who will be out of contract this summer and Ajax's Nicolas Tagliafico, both smallish, rapid left backs, who would offer more offensively than the current pairing.
I have never been a huge fan of Monreal, despite him being a superb professional who gives everything, he simply lacks the pace that is needed by a modern full back. Whilst Kolasinac has been a huge disappointment, after a decent start, Wenger mysteriously dropped him and he has never looked the same since. Often injured, looking way too bulky, poor defensively and not giving enough offensively. I believe Emery wants his full backs to play as Bellerin did in the 2nd half v Leicester and see a signing, if nt during the winter window, in the summer one.

24 Oct 2018 08:36:33
I think it's more to do with Nacho age rather than ability, Monreal and Kos are both in the twilight of their careers so it's natural to be looking at long term replacements.
Under Shankley and Paisley Liverpool used to buy well known established players but they wouldn't see the first team for 3 or 4 months if they were lucky but would have to wait until they'd become accustomed to the Liverpool way and I think Dick is looking to do something similar at Arsenal.
Giving new players time to adjust and get used to this new Arsenal style in training before chucking them in the deep end makes sense to me.
So far Dick hasn't given new players a free pass he's making them learn and earn a place first and that can only be good for the long term mentality of the squad.
Ex cosy club members must shudder at the sight of Dick :-)

24 Oct 2018 09:37:06
Point taken about Monreal's age. However, from what I understand modern fullbacks tend to almost be rapid wingers, opposed to old fashioned defensive fullbacks. Under Emery when they fly forward the central defenders and defensive midfield players are expected to provide cover. In my day, we more often than not played 4-4-2 and when a fullback went forward the wide midfield players were instructed to cover the fullbacks. Hence why Bellerin, Gibbs, etc were converted wide players, a winger in Bellerin's case and Gibbs was a left sided midfield player. I had a discussion with my neighbour a former PL player, in respect of Bellerin's defensive ability, or rather lack of defensive ability and he told me modern full backs play far more offensively. I still feel that the full backs/ wing backs need to have defensive awareness and be able to tackle. Against Leicester when we were forced back in the 1st half Bellerin was poor and played a large part in their goal. In the second half he was outstanding, as we attacked. My favourite modern full back was Dani Aleves at his peak with Barca. He could defend and attack.

24 Oct 2018 09:46:41
RG mate, Your assessment on monreal is a bit wrong but that's your opinion. The fact you keep mentioning Liverpool’s moreno is bit odd as he’s not better than what we have. Kola was hit with injuries since arriving and I still believe he can do the job. Maybe we need another LB but just because Monreal is getting old and someone to bush Kola to do his best.

24 Oct 2018 10:55:53
RG61, I sincerely think the stick you get here is for the constant stroking of your own ego, more than anything else. You always come across as someone who constantly has to be right, and that gets very old very fast.

P. S. : Good luck with your next "I was right" moment.

24 Oct 2018 10:40:54
It's true RG the days of out and out wingers are gone for now at least and the modern fullback is expected to provide the attacking width while also defending.
Nacho for me is good going forward and in defence but because of his age he has more difficulty in combining both than younger fullbacks.
Playing 3 CBs makes life easier for the modern fullback while only playing 2 CBs means you must have two cmf players who enjoy the defensive side of the game as much as the attacking side and are prepared to do the donkey work while others get to shine more obviously.
Torreira is perfect for one of those two spots and I think Guendouzi will not be to long away from being his regular partner and then we will be much more difficult to score against rather than simply relying on our keeper to be outstanding all the time and the opposition to be a lot less than clinical.
We are a work in progress and ideally we need to improve in cmf fb and CB positions, whether we improve the players we have or bring in new players for those roles remains to be seen but I'm sure Dick will have us sorted one way or the other by this time next season.

24 Oct 2018 10:42:20
If we sign moreno it will be a terrible mistake, there's a reason he's out of contact, if you ask any Liverpool fan who they least want to see on the team sheet moreno would be at the top of their lists.

24 Oct 2018 11:38:54
Whoever we sign I personally will back Dicks judgement until the player gives me reason to think otherwise in an Arsenal shirt.
Do I think we should re-sign Gibbs? No but if Dick decided to I'd be open to the possibility that under Emery he might cone good for us, it's the same with Moreno for me personally.
Some players just don't make it at some clubs but there must have been something that Liverpool saw in him at one time and maybe Dick thinks he can rekindle that.
Of course this is all subject to us actually being after him and getting him :-)

{Ed002's Note - Raul Sanllehi is the key person in respect of transfers.}

24 Oct 2018 11:55:38
You took the words right out of my mouth sharpie.

24 Oct 2018 12:36:41
OK cheers Ed002, in that case I will back Rauls judgement until I see reason not to :-)
As always the proof of the pudding is in the eating and for me of the pudding is pleasing to the palet then I don't care if it cost 50p from aldi or £50 from Marks and Spencer or its given to me as a gift.
Torreira cost what 26 millions while Xhaka cost 35 millions which just goes to show you don't always get what you pay for and a bulging Wallet is no substitute for a keen eye for a quality bargain even if that bargin needs a bit of work to make it all it could be when you first get it.

{Ed002's Note - I thought Arsenal sold Bulging Wallet to Everton last year?}

24 Oct 2018 13:31:28
We did indeed mate and on that note I see Jack has Said if Arsene had still been Arsenal manager he'd have signed a new contract with us, phew lucky escape there then :-)

24 Oct 2018 15:47:44
RSharp - Yes, I usually am correct, you clearly have a chip on your shoulder.
I post comments in order, hopefully, to get intelligent responses which are interesting and of course may differ from my own and on occasions may alter my opinion.
People made comments about Monreal, but the proof is that reports are that we wish to acquire a LB. Monreal's contract, I believe expires in June 2019, and I haven't heard of any proposed extension.
I also differed from most in respect of Holding and Chambers. Again I am proving to be correct, as Holding has improved and is playing well. Whilst Chambers having been relegated with Middlesbrough, is doing his hardest to keep his loan record up by getting relegated with Fulham. Shame he didn't join the Toot on loan. The club extended both players deals, but I was bemused by Chambers deal being extended as he looks a Championship level defender at best and I can't envisage him returning successfully to the club. Perhaps it was thought that we could sell him for a decent price if he has a long contract?

{Ed002's Note - Arsenal did look at a LB in the summer but nothing came of it, and I am told by an ex-Arsenal defender that in the U23s there is young LBs, Tolaji Bola, of which much is expected. The expectation is that Monreal will leave at the end of his contract in the summer.}

24 Oct 2018 17:38:31
Yes Ed and reports are that Emery doesn't rate either of our current first team LB's. Whether that is true or not I'm not certain, but as you stated the club have been looking at LB's and recent reports have linked us with Moreno and the Ajax LB Tagliafico. It will be interesting to see if Bola comes through. I quite like Chilwell the Leicester full back, but English players tend to command high prices.

24 Oct 2018 20:24:08
I think you need to come out of your shell a bit RG ;-) you seem to hold back and be a little apprehensive about bigging yourself up to others.
Maybe if you told us a little about yourself it would help?
Maybe share what standard of football you played and managed at or maybe any current footballers you hang out with or maybe tell us what material wealth you've accumulated and what extravagant lifestyle that wealth has lead to maybe that would help us all respect your football opinion a little more mate ;-)
Seriously jusf stick to the swapping views and opinions mate, your quite an interesting poster when you do that.
As for all the rest of it mate, seriously no one's impressed and it just lessons people's ability to take your posts seriously and swap decent opinion with which is a shame because when you drop the act your a good poster.

24 Oct 2018 21:38:13
"yes, I usually am correct" 😂😂😂 it's exactly that kind of comment that people give you stick for.

24 Oct 2018 21:42:40
RG61, anyone (even in chat) who has spent more than 10 minutes speaking to me will tell you that your "chip on shoulder" theory is about as accurate as Emile Heskey.

You're constantly seeking validation with your, "I said this and people gave me stick and now it's come to pass" shtick. You should take your Nostradamus act on the road.