Arsenal Banter Archive May 25 2016

25 May 2016 21:10:41
If wenger had spent 1bn pounds over the paid 10 years - what we we have won?

Go read the guardian report - both Chelsea and City have spent over £1billion pounds


State they are in: The financial picture for the year Chelsea won the title again is standard for the Roman Abramovich era. The Russian oligarch increased funding by £75m, taking his interest-free loan up to a staggering £1.097bn since he bought the club in 2003. Chelsea paid the most in wages in the Premier League, despite an income below Manchester United, Macherster City and Arsenal.

Now you understand what Wenger has had to compete against

Our debt - 6m helped by selling property and players plus funding a huge redevelopment program.

Hats of AW - well done.

Like I say - we need a new business model not a new manager.

25 May 2016 22:35:33
Raneiri and Leicester! makes ya think doesn't it.

25 May 2016 22:58:17
Once in how many premiership years?

25 May 2016 23:08:25
Gunner people can try and paint pictures and create scenarios but for me wenger can have all the money in the world and he still is the same manager with the same ideas and he isn't as good as maureen, fergie, benites, pep, scolari or hiddink in my opinion. They set teams up to suit and are tactical aware, wenger isn't in the same league. Wenger couldn't do what ranierri did and he can't do what maureen has done at the other end of the scale. I have always said nobody could have got us through the transition period of the move like wenger but that doesn't make him a top manager now.

26 May 2016 00:03:17
SY4
nice post:)
COYG andi.

26 May 2016 00:42:29
Steve
I knew it was you 2 lines into your post. 😀
Wenger has already shown he is ruthless and improves the squad in the early years when he had money
He has also dropped his captain, dropped Key players and changed formation / set up and style this season.
He has had to sell key players which I am sure killed him but he did it for our great club
Give him a chance now we have a little money even if not 1bn pounds.
If you had 500m to spend on fantasy football and I only had 50m. Would the odds be even?
Give him a break as he deserves it
Look at the real reason - funds.

26 May 2016 08:27:16
I knew it was Steve as soon as I saw Steve. r written at end of post :-)

26 May 2016 08:52:31
Steve R wake up mate. Wenger has proved time and time again that he is the special 1. Had Stan listened to some foolish fans and got rid of Wenger the banks would pull the loan. Wenger could walk into any team chelsea mancity man u barcelona real madrid psv juventus. They have all attempted to sign him. Be very thankful for what we have and realistic about what we need is a new owner not a new manager as our manager is irreplacible.

26 May 2016 11:55:27
Steve r, all the managers you mentioned won leagues with good money, but they never won it like Wenger did. All the managers you mentioned couldn't have managed a team in such a redevelopment stage. Wenger did. With a bit more quality in the squad, you can imagine what he would achieve. That's factual.

26 May 2016 12:28:23
Did did did did, stop raking the past. Now he is past it and has been for years. He is not an elite manager now, was but not now. Sorry but he will prove me right next season and taint his legacy even more.

26 May 2016 21:47:55
We may not won anything again but that's because the right players are not bought. that's down to the owners not wenger. He is a loyal servent and will take the blame away from the owners.

{Ed025's Note - i think the money has been there for quite a few years g4e, and as much as i admire arsene i believe it was him who decided not to use it which was a mistake that ultimately cost arsenal the title mate..

26 May 2016 22:40:45
We truly won't know the answer until Wenger publishes his book. But in order to keep stability of the club we must get behind the club and the team the manager. If the fans want results rather then money in the owners pockets then the blame has to be with the owners. Wenger has been doing too much compared to other managers with being involved with fitness training running of the club transfers let him manage the team and deliver him the players we need and want without worrying about the purse for a season. Let him enjoy his holidays without worrying about the transfer window and watch how we flourish.

25 May 2016 20:00:00
Was Xhaka at Basel at the same time as Elneny?

25 May 2016 20:16:40
i think so yes.

25 May 2016 20:29:00
Nah mate, Xhaka left Basel the season before Elneny joined.

25 May 2016 20:54:15
Dags is authority on Elneny, he knows nothing about driving or even where the EU is and often ponders where his lap disappears to when he stands up but on Elneny? He's ya man :-)

25 May 2016 20:55:15
Cheers.

25 May 2016 23:19:52
Lol G62,

Love the lap comment.

Have to admit, "Told you so about Elneny" :-)

26 May 2016 07:23:28
Fair play Dags mate :-)

25 May 2016 18:50:02
so happy with the xhaka deal. been watching him for a few years now and he stands out not only for club but for country, you can esily see he's the best player on the pitch with both teams. any gooner who has watched him play will be chuffed with this. just can't see him not making a massive difference we have needed this type player for some time. If wenger is liberal with the cash then we could really have a team next year. having his spirit along with alexis next year will be a winning combo. let's see how the others spend but if mr wenger addresses the areas needed then i'm feeling stragely optomistic. good work so far in the window but early days. fingers crossed.

25 May 2016 20:30:29
Our new Vieira mate.

25 May 2016 22:21:33
wow Dags a brave statement there and no doubt not all will agree. Truth be told from what I have seen of him Xhaka loves a tackle, and from another few things I have seen (and told) , we will be back to practising with 10 men again just like the old Viera days.

That statement might not be too far out from what i have/ seen been told. Need to see a little more of him to be honest, but I look forward to it next season. If he does play a hard hitting holding role then good job AW. Could of used a player like that though at least 5 seasons ago onwards.

25 May 2016 22:55:07
The worrying thing is who will be leaving to balance the books. We all know tne Yanks love a profit.

25 May 2016 23:09:44
Could he be more defensive and be our Petit?

25 May 2016 23:22:41
Absolutely Gavsta,

Xhaka said today, "I am a leader on the pitch".

I can't remember the last Arsenal player to say that.

Xhaka's style of play is to break up the opposition's play and set up a counter attack.

Vieira?

25 May 2016 17:08:44
Lovely bit of business from Arsenal and early doors too.

Pat on the back arsene n co :)

Wonder what squad number he'll be?

25 May 2016 19:35:47
I did hear 34 with coq going number 8.

25 May 2016 16:09:13
Long time lurker. Etc. Etc.

So, I've seen lots of others' thoughts, and tons of criticism of AW, and I do think tactically he should have tried something new to mix it up (although arguably he's done that by conceding possession more this season) , but I do hope there's a grand plan.

Here's what I'm thinking/ hoping:

GK - obv Cech for a while yet, so just wants a solid backup who will bide time before taking over. Ospina? Sczes? I don't think it'll be either tbh. Who? No idea. A But land would be good. Nothing this season unless ospina wants to move.

CB - its got to be King Kos and Gabriel this season. AW weening mertesacker out of the team. Still a role when not playing so high, but exposure too likely now. I really think AW is planning for Chambers in that role longer term, so think an experienced centre back not likely unless someone of real quality becomes available (as cech for gk) . Otherwise How would you keep gab and chambers?

Rb - obv It's bellerin's to lose, so want another young fb who will bide time. Jenkinson is decent enough cover, if he stays (debuchy even better, but don't think he will) , but will look for a hot prospect over next season. Still have Chambers as emergency cover.

LB - Hope Gibbs gets a chance this season. Him and Montreal are good going forward. Have seen a lot of teams exposing our left side though. If either leaves, would hope for a more defensively minded left back. Can't see anyone established coming in unless one leaves, so only young prospects until then.

Midfield - Looks good to me! Hope xhaka is strong and takes control. Cazorla, Ramsey, wilshere, coq, elneny all staying. Will try different combos of AM+DM and rotate, but hopefully competition will help them all. Aw to double up DM with xhaka+coq to close out games or when trying more counter style play (as against barca) . A couple more youth players to get a try this season too perhaps.

Ozil and Sanchez pick themselves.

Getting to he nitty gritty now.

Iwobi - done really well. Will play wide or central in absence of ozil, but in rotation only for now.

Ox - I still think he's great. Often the most direct, and actually shoots. I just think his confidence dips when doesn't have a run of games. If AW doesn't plan to give him that, should let him go.

Walcott - Always hoped he would come good. Still think he could really perform, but one major flaw - he's part of a team! Was watching just him for long periods in games and he was making good runs behind defenders, and the ball was going to Sanchez or other wing. If AW is keeping him, he either needs to demand other players (ozil in particular) make more effort to release him, OR rotates him up front. At the min, he is lost out wide without supply.

Cfwd - Giroud is a really solid rotation option, and when arsenal need some presence in the box, or we plan to bring Alexis and Theo in to the game. As with everyone, I think this is the position most in need of a real quality injection - fast, proven striker. Who? I don't know enough, but AW has to get a name that will inspire the team. Other teams have their deadly strikers - kane, aguero, vardy, sturridge. I always wonder what benteke could do with our supply given what he did with villa, but too similar to giroud. I know nothinflg about morata. Only player that looked possible was higuain, but gone now? If aw doesn't buy, it can only mean AW is gambling his reputation/ legacy on Theo being that player. I like his dedication, but if it backfires, will cost us the title again, and importantly will make big players doubt the teams potential and may move on. Too big a gamble.

My thumb is knackered. I'm off.

25 May 2016 19:09:08
Welcome aboard Jim.

25 May 2016 20:24:08
Thanks G62.

25 May 2016 22:37:35
Think you covered most of the topics there although i flash read some of the bits. You covered defence well, I think chambers has a roll to play at Arsenal. He is at a great young prospect for me and very agile with his positioning. yes he needs to fix a few things in his game but I think nothing more then game time could fix.

I think AW needs to make the move and bring another centre back in with a little pace (maybe one that can play left back as cover also). We have a good left back set up but you do have to wonder about the injury consistency. For me i would like at least 1 more CB and a decent attacking option that scores a lot of goals. that's what they call wishfull thinking tho.

Good post, chins up fellow gooners (there always CL qualification again next year) .

25 May 2016 12:59:03
Is it me or does Xhaka look like a taller more reliable Wilshere?

25 May 2016 14:12:07
Emphasis on "reliable" hopefully mate.

25 May 2016 14:20:30
Wilshere on steroids!

25 May 2016 14:36:05
Taller, you mean not sat down holding his ankle?

25 May 2016 15:47:06
Tall as in not lying on an injury table.

25 May 2016 16:36:34
Sy4 that killed me 😂.

25 May 2016 22:44:55
I love Wiltshire I really do, Arsenal in his blood. Question tho, does anyone else think he looks like his legs are to small for his body when he is running? I am actually being serious now, from the 1st day that I watched him to present. I just wonder if maybe its the way he runs that looks funny or if I just have Wiltshire leg goggles on as all the other players look normal when they run.

Every time he is back from injury everyone is like "Jack, don't lunge into that tackle ". I am more like "wow Jack did they cut another 3 inches off in your last knee op". All jokes aside, he scares the living daylights out of me when he is running. I think maybe he has some kind of abnormal leg growth and that is what causes his injuries. I know it sounds ridiculous, but go watch a video of him running. It scares the hell out of me in matches.

25 May 2016 00:04:08
Simone zaza is what we need he is amazing.

25 May 2016 00:50:36
1 goal every 4 games for Juventus.
Think West Ham and Southampton are sniffing.

25 May 2016 12:37:40
Maybe 1 in 4 for juventus bus I believe his work ethic and pace will suit us and he doesn't mind a shot. Cannot go by goals to games ratio as juve have a complete different style of play to us. look at Torres for instance 1 in 2 for Liverpool and 1 in about a million for Chelsea.

{Ed001's Note - Morata plays quite often behind a striker or out wide as well.}