Arsenal Banter Archive November 27 2014

 

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27 Nov 2014 21:59:33
With Arsene pulling off an against all the odds Master class in high risk decisions that pay of brilliantly naming Sanogo in the staring line up last night, I bet he wishes he still had Bentner to start for Saturday's trip to WBA :-)

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{Ed025's Note - he was very good tonight G62...for everton.. :)

Sir Clive Sinclair doesn't make strikers but if he did!

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27 Nov 2014 21:16:46
So Jack has glass ankles?

Just watched the tackle by Pat McNair - can not believe Jack is at fault for his broken ankle and Pat is unpunished

Not even a yellow card - it's crap tackles like that which deprive us of players like Jack, Diaby and Rambo as well as RVP at the time. It's not weak players but unpunished tackles

Pat should have had a yellow card at least - why is the victim victimised yet the offenders often let off?

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27 Nov 2014 23:15:52
Totally agree mate.

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28 Nov 2014 00:31:23
I would suggest asking Jack of all trades master of none to maybe start moving the ball quicker thus not drawing fouls?

He actually decent when he does.

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28 Nov 2014 05:24:09
Probably Jack should not have been on the pitch to receive that tackle given his own antics against Fellaini.

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28 Nov 2014 07:15:26
Red,
You have just made my day :-)

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28 Nov 2014 07:33:54
You're welcome Dags :-) lol.

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28 Nov 2014 07:50:12
And Dags thanks for the very apt description. :-)

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28 Nov 2014 13:00:01
Lol dog, u don't get this at all do you? man if brains were gun powder and all that.

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28 Nov 2014 14:53:53
Talking of brains REDman, I know you struggle with the letters and all that but I seriously PMSL when you replied to 1996 the other day and wrote 1966.

Now that was another classic from the school of lovely banter, only you could do that mate.

I'm certain you'll never grasp it. ;-)

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27 Nov 2014 19:28:39
Lakeville posted earlier about the availability of Messi and Ed002 replied it could be a possibility in Jan 2016.

Now, let's just assume he is available for £20m and his wages are £50,000 per week (I know, I know), which Prem team would have the best chance of acquiring his services?

Arsenal> we have a decent relationship with Barca (well apart from hijacking kids from their academy) and he might want to link up with Sanchez.
Plus, TV5 might put in a good word.

Man City> can't think of any.

Chelsea> To link up again with Fabregas.

Liverpool> Can't think of any.

Man Utd> Van Gaal?

Everton> So he can stroll along the beach, doing Southern Comfort ads with Ed025? (You love it Ed).

So, in summary, welcome to The Emirates Mr Messi.

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Messi and Sanchez do not get along.

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{Ed025's Note - everton it is then.. :)

Is it just me that doesn't see what all the fuss about Messi is?

He has already hit the peak of his career and will only go backwards from now on.

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{Ed025's Note - still a great player G95..

Of course but he's a) not worth anywhere near what he'll go for, b) not worth the ridiculous wages he is on, c) not a patch on Ronaldo. As far as I'm concerned there's Ronaldo then a huge gap then Messi, Suarez, Aguero, Sanchez, Hazard, Bale, etc.

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27 Nov 2014 23:00:37
Being the best player in the world, and arguably the best that's played the game I'd say being at his peak is a great place to be and exactly where I'd want him if I signed him.

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27 Nov 2014 23:37:19
Ronaldo had to wait for Messi to have an injury hit season to win the Ballon d'or,
says it all really

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27 Nov 2014 23:37:21
Ronaldo had to wait for Messi to have an injury hit season to win the Ballon d'or,
says it all really

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G95 that's really harsh considering he is and will be for a long time the best player to have ever graced the game and he is only 27. Peaked? Past it? Behave!

Ronaldo is fantastic and is of course a physical marvel but he lacks the grace and technique of Lionel. Messi will continue to bang in goals for many years to come.

Ronaldo will never equal or beat any of his records.

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Van der gunner. messi won't repeat his record scoring year so in one sense he has peaked. the fact he got voted world cups best player shows he does get favoritism. no doubting he's one of best ever tho.

1404 I think the fact ronaldo has tried other leagues and done well gives him an edge over messi for me. he's a physical machine. I think ronaldo has carried real madrid for years. messi had xavi iniesta at there peak supplying him,

give me ronaldo or messi for arsenal 5 years ago I take ronaldo

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I couldn't be more at the opposite end of your view Derby but we all have our opinions I suppose!

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Ronaldo for the past 18 months has been on fire, and rightly the better player at the moment. however the last two games for messi have been a bit of a scare for ronaldo.

however historically, messi has shattered records and scored and created goals of pure awe and genius.

im half portuguese and I always had a bit of bias towards ronaldo, however my football loving brain can't except it.

ronaldo is taller, stronger, faster, more athletic you name it he has it, like usain bolt he should be leaving him in the dust tracks, and then you have messi, midget. yet what he has done with his limitations. you have to admire what you see.

there is no shame in coming second, as the one who is first will eventually be second, I don't remember where I read this (either brilliant orange or the ball is round) but it was about the evolution of football, and how the techniques and medical advancement along with on pitch decisions have changed over the last 30 years that the future generations will score even more goals than what we see today.

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Messi has peaked. He was unplayable 2/3 years ago. He will never hit those heights again. He is one of the greatest players to ever play the game but he is not the greatest. Ronaldo is a level above him just now, there's no arguing with that.

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27 Nov 2014 18:48:27
That's the last time I have dinner with the lead singer from UB40.

There was a rat in the kitchen and he didn't know what to do.

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Gas mark 4, middle shelf, 3hrs and 20 mins,, garnish with mustard-serve with green beans and sauté potatoes.

YNWA

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Oh dagy oh dagy oh baby, that's a 1 in 10, Dagala is guilty, I can't help groaning at you, red red wine gone to your head? Food for thought

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27 Nov 2014 19:40:43
Lol, I like that G62.

Mick, you could always put a silly hat on it, buy him a few fireworks and play him upfront in place of Balo :-)

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Sanogo there dags, now you're just being daft.
Balo clearly needs a partner up front, why not play both!

YNWA

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{Ed025's Note - balo?...you mean bollo**s dont you mick..

27 Nov 2014 20:55:36
Mick, Balo and the rat?
Priceless :-)

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Bit of a kick in the nuts that ed.

YNWA

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{Ed025's Note - nuts being the operative word mick.. :)

Slightly off track Ed, but whilst your on form,, at your yearly Southern comfort, Speedo's too tight karaoke night,, do you always get up and treat the baying crown to a rendition of the theme tune from z cars.

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{Ed025's Note - no mick.its "if you know you history" mate..the rap version..

Spoil sport Ed,, not the reply I was after.
I do know my history and that was a cracking tune, came out about 1986ish, got to number 2 in the charts, topped only by the Chinese whispers tune "we would have been European champions" the wok version.

YNWA

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{Ed025's Note - and we would have mick!.. :)

27 Nov 2014 17:30:27
I'm not recently given to defend the current regime - in fact I really do think it's time to say Thank You Very Much and Goodbye to Messrs Wenger, Gazidis and Koenke, but let's bear in mind the one of the mitigating circumstances for our mediocre season to date is injuries. I know we have an appalling record and I know we should have investigated and changed whatever goes on in training, diagnosis and rehab, but last night we were without the following eight first teamers and put in a decent performance:
Szczesny
Debuchy
Koscielny
Wilshire
Ozil
Welbeck
Giroud
Walcott
plus I think Gnabry and of course the obligatory Diaby.

I'm not saying we should cut Wenger slack for constantly ignoring Podolski and Campbell, for failing to buy a centre back or two, for not replacing Arteta and Flamini with a decent defensive midfielder, for relying on the availability of Rosicky and Diaby, even for not playing Bellerin in his preferred position and therefore Chambers in his, for letting Jenkinson go. But imaging the squad we'd have with those eight fit and available and the competition for places then?

Anyone still awake?

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27 Nov 2014 19:11:07
Unfortunately Max, we will always be a team struggling with injuries.

No idea why. Maybe because we don't rotate our players enough, but I don't think we are different to any other team when it comes to using players.

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27 Nov 2014 15:46:42
Jack Wilshere out for an expected three months, Mikel Arteta out for 'a while'. I wonder what causes all these frequent niggly injuries?

I hear a lot about how Arsene Wenger revolutionised player's diets when he came to England, bit of a longshot but perhaps the diets are now making us as fragile as fudge?

Or maybe it's the training regimes? Rugby players work hard and train themselves to take big hits whilst we are known for our silky skills and athleticism, maybe we need to balance that out more?

Another reason could just simply be because the majority of our squad are of the delicate, small and flair type?

I love the 'Arsenal-esque' style of play and players and perhaps I am waffling a load of laughable theories but surely it isn't down to chance. I know football players in general are delicate but we seem to be cursed beyond coincidence and it really does affect us if people have to keep dropping in and out too often to allow the team to fully gel.

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27 Nov 2014 16:24:30
United seem to have been hit big time with injuries this season, albeit with the majority being pretty average players, but Jones, Smalling and Evans, 3 what you might call strapping defenders seem to get injured just lacing their boots up.

It would be a wonderful thing if we could get through a season with just the odd one or two.

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27 Nov 2014 18:29:46
Just seen a slo mo of the tackle by the young lad from United and it wasn't good.

Sliding in with studs up, not what you want to see, no wonder he's out for 3 months though.

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Yeah it was a badd'un, you could see his ankle sort of roll. You'll always get bad tackles though, think how much players like Neymar get targeted and bullied in a match.

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He always seems to be wrong place wrong time. Major set back for him. One after another

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27 Nov 2014 14:26:22
Where's Chris Redman gone?

I did'nt seem to catch any news on how his team got on in Europe this week? I mean all the big teams were playing weren't they?

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CTR is an arsenal fan, Manchester United supporter and a man city follower, he is now planning on buying Spurs FC.

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28 Nov 2014 00:34:29
Ahh there u are, thought I'd lost ya after we gave u ure annual hiding Saturday.

Yes all the big team played, some real surprises too, Dortmund and Munich losing and real only getting 1, wonder if anyone was crazy enough to back those odds.

Haha nice try my friend. got to do better thou or u will end up like laker after I Was finished with him a while back, never really been the same him.

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Yea that laker fella who predicted the mighty Manchester United fall and are now celebrating 4th place trophies? I bet you are having a laugh for sure.

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28 Nov 2014 12:58:24
Hahaha laker, yes u did my friend and we are hardly celebrating 4th, we are aiming higher, after all not much in the way of competition after Chelsea for now.

still it's a trophy, oh wait lol.

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27 Nov 2014 12:35:15
Anyone else think Santi has changed play a little bit this year. He seems to be rotating back more this year into the covering position and has done some really good defensive work. I thought he had a great game yesterday going forward and on the back foot. Not for the first time this year some of his best work was from deep and in the transition or the tackle.

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Santi is a good player, the issue was that playing Ozil seemed to leave him on the bench and then Sanchez arrived, add JW and Ramsey, as well as AW's need to play Arteta left him as a spare cog.

I love Santi but the issue is that we have too many, small, skillfull attacking players to accomodate them all (hence why we did not re sign cesc)

I say santi should stay, but he will not play if Ozil and JW are fit.

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27 Nov 2014 12:27:41
A good result last night for sure and one that will do our confidence a great deal on benefit. Unfortunately I still have huge question marks over the 11 Wenger continues to pick. Yes Sanogo got his goal but you’ve got to feel for both Podolski and Joel Campbell – what the heck do these guys have to do to get a game. Podolski has a bucket load of caps for Germany, is the best finisher at the club and actually has a very respectful goals to game ratio. Yes his work rate is questionable but if you’re playing him up top it becomes almost irrelevant. Same goes for Campbell, he had a good loan spell in Greece last year, had a cracking WC and was brought back to the club…. why? He has never been given a sniff of a chance by Wenger. Talking of players not being given a sniff, how we could use Jenkinson back from West Ham or even Bellerin at RB just now. Why Wenger continues to play Monreal at CB is beyond understanding, the guy is a disaster waiting to happen, you could play him at RB and he’d be better. Chambers should be standing in at CB every time Kos or Per are unavailable. Arsenal have a history of giving youth a chance so why not in defence, in midfield or upfront (Sonogo aside).

I’m aware this is a very negative post and will likely take some flack but I cannot help but feel all last night did was paper over the cracks in our team. The players won the match, they played out their skins and deserve all the kudos. I don’t think Wenger did anything differently to aid the result, tactically or motivationally. Continued ‘success’ in Europe means more of Wenger and I certainly would like to see him go at the end of the season.

I fear come the weekend it’ll be more of the same we’ve seen in the league this season. I hope I am wrong though.

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27 Nov 2014 13:48:27
To some extent, I see what you're saying, inasmuch as we would benefit from rotating certain players to reduce our chances of injuries. In that sense, if Wenger had brought Sanogo off straight after Sanchez's goal, he would have walked off instead of limping.
I also think that playing the 19-year-old Bellerin at RB would make more sense than playing the 19-year-old Chambers, who clearly has the build of a CB, doesn't have a future as a full-back and lacks the pace that Bellerin can offer. I think the issue there is that playing Chambers at CB means playing him on the inside centre right and playing Per on the inside centre left, where he really doesn't like to play. If Per were injured rather than Koscielny, Chambers would play alongside Koscielny, Bellerin would play RB and Monreal would presumably warm the bench. Koscielny was fit enough to make the bench last night though and was still rested, so he might well start this weekend.
Lastly, I disagree quite strongly with what you say about our forwards. Sanogo has the strength, pace and power to hold the ball up properly. I think several people are confused about Campbell: he was hardly a revelation at Olympiakos and he had one especially good WC game against Uruguay followed by a string of mediocre performances. His problem is that he is the slowest attacking player the premier league has ever seen. What's more, he's most comfortable playing in positions where Arsenal have enough depth. I just don't understand why Wenger didn't sell Campbell towards the end of the transfer window while his reputation off the back of the WC would have pushed up his market value. That money could have been put towards a proper replacement for Vermaelen or an effective CDM

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I agree gunnerbeglorious with your last statement, when I saw that sanago had started I thought why not start poldiski. I like you believe that Campbell is not good enough, everyone seems to feel he had this amazing world cup, he scored one goal and then ran out of steam, average season in a weak league, we should have sold him off the back of the hype and used the money,
on poldiski its true that his finishing is better however his work rate is poor and for a player who seemingly wants to play when he came on last night he hardly put in a shift, there were times last night when Ramsay who had played the whole game was running ahead of pod to close the defence down and pod was walking around the pitch, good player but not good enough to be a luxury player.

Last night game was a good one and a good result and yet I feel we played better against utd and cam away with nothing, if we can continue to play the way we have been but continue defending as a team as we did last night then I really believe that this can still be a very good season for us.

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27 Nov 2014 11:24:07
I'd like to talk about oxlade, and how he's progressed so far,

Given we are in what? Week 12? The stats aren't going to be the same at the end of the season but here goes:

2013/14:
Crosses - 0.7
Sucsessful crosses - 0.14
Passes - 23.6
Dribbles completed - 1.5
Chances created - 0.4

2014/15:
Crosses - 3.9
Successful crosses - 0.58
Passes - 32
Dribbles completed - 3.2
Chances created - 1.7

He's starting to live up to his potential, and hopefully he can help save our premier league season! For me he's out most improved player.

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He's always shown that given a run of games he can be a hugely effective player. We have to remember his age and experience. Confidence is key and he certainly seems to be thriving in his prolonged run in the team.

I am very much looking forward to seeing him compete with Walcott for that spot on the team sheet.

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Before the season started I asked who was our most likely players to do this season what Aaron did last season.
For me it was Ox all the way, for England he is already a must play and only injury robbed him of world recognition in Brazil imo as I feel he would have as brightly in the world cup as he did for us in Munich last season.
We need to be building around him as Everton will Barkley as both have amazing futures ahead

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27 Nov 2014 07:40:01
RIP Phillip Hughes. Sporting tragedy, absolutely gutted. Thoughts and love to his family and friends.

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Totally agree a very sad day that puts all sports results into perspective.
God bless him and all those close to him.

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27 Nov 2014 12:18:07
Tragic. It was a terrible thing to happen and cricket has lost a real talent.

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27 Nov 2014 07:13:29
Sanchez
Ox
Jack
Chamber's
Welbeck
Are my top 5 performers in order during the first third of the season

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27 Nov 2014 08:50:21
Good shout, although Gibbs has been very consistent this year

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While I like Welbeck I'm starting to come round to Utd's thinking in selling him. Yes he runs about a lot but what else does he contribute. Giroud is by far the more efficient striker.

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27 Nov 2014 12:21:53
Gibbs, when fit, has been putting in regular MoM like perfomaces. He knits the team together down the left side. Ox has taken his chance to play and should be hard to displace when other return. Sanchez! Nuff said.

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Both Gibbo and Giroud crossed my mind to put ahead of Danny but I decided Olly had not played enough and kieran for me is not improving anything like he should be buy now, he's a good player who has the potential to be very very good but he was a good player 4 years ago with that same amount of potential, just my opinion.

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27 Nov 2014 07:05:51
Now for West brom Southampton and Stoke 3 very good tester games that will tell us if last night was a turning point or not.
Great to see us not conceding and looking much much more professional and disciplined than at any time this season so far

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27 Nov 2014 10:40:03
Totally agree and would go further and say more disciplined than the last 10 years. Maybe penny has dropped that 90 minutes Gung Ho is not the answer! Think that the final straw was the Man U game - so noticeable last night how we got into a defensive frame of mind almost at all times. All this with 3 or 4 of the back 5 not regulars and with Arteta in front. can't wait for defenders to come back and that elusive specialist DM in January! Terrible Terrible news about Phil Hughes - RIP - puts it all into perspective

COYG

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27 Nov 2014 12:24:55
They looked more like last year's team yesterday. Not amazing, but disciplined. Not as dominant in possession, but much better and calmer without ball. Almost like they knew what they were doing ;)

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27 Nov 2014 07:04:02
I know nothing about Cricket, but absolute tragic news about Phil Hughes.

RIP mate.

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{Ed025's Note - very sad dags..

I'm absolutely devastated, gutted. Thanks for sharing.

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{Ed025's Note - tragic mate, apparently a good guy RIP phil hughes..

27 Nov 2014 04:21:42
Solid performance & a good result. The back four defended deeper, which benefits Mertesacker & Monreal, who are not blessed with great pace. The rest of the team defended well, providing cover for the back four. Sanogo took his goal well. We need to be patient with him, as he has an excellent international record and is only 21. I only wish Wenger had noticed that he was fatiguing after 65 mins & replaced him with `podolski, before he was injured.
On the injury topic, we suffered another two muscle injuries, Arteta's being a recurrence of his calf problem. This must be addressed, as the injuries mount up yet again.
We must rest players on Saturday & use our squad or else we will suffer even more injury problems. Sanchez is clearly playing on the edge, Oxlade cpuld also do with a rest befor the midweek match against Southampton.
We can bring in Koscielny, Flamini, Rosicky, Campbell, Podolski, Giroud & Gnabry. That would give 7 of the 10 outfield players a well needed rest. THis won't happen of course, we will only bring in Flamini for Arteta & Giroud for Sanogo. I appreciate that changing as many as 7 players could unbalance the side, but we must try & rest Sanchez, by starting Podolski & Oxlade can be rested with Campbell given an opportunity.
It is great to have qualified for the last 16 with a match to go. We must now work our way up the table, into a top four spot.

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It's all well and good saying rest this player or that player but can we really afford to rest Sanchez, OX etc when we desperately need as many league points as possible? Our squad is too thin, not a chance we can rest our top players at the moment.

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VDG - If we don't rotate our squad, then more injuries will no doubt occur. We have just played Man U & Dortmundt with only days between the matches. We then have WBA on Sat, followed by Southampton the following Wednesday, then Stoke at the weekend, followed by Galatasaray midweek in Turkey. What state will Sanchez be in by then? Don't forget he has recently returned from playing 2 matches abroad for Chile. He is starting to look fatigued & injuries tend to follow. Indeed, what is the point of having internationals such as Rosicky, Podolski & Campbell, if we don't play them? I don't suggest we make 7 changes, but with a busy December we must rotate at some point.

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27 Nov 2014 12:28:04
Robbie has it right. it's a dilemma, but that is what a squad is for. It ain't going to get any more restful between now and January 2nd.

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27 Nov 2014 03:56:31
Thats was an very un-arsenal performance.

We defended as a team, looked solid at the back and were clinical infront of goal. Wasnt the most exciting of games, but we grinded out the win, got 3 points and even kept a clean sheet.

A very professional approach to the game. that's exactly how we need to perform against the big teams. Credit to Wenger, he got his tactics and team selection spot on.

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27 Nov 2014 12:30:49
It's exactly how we won last year. Surrender a bit more possession in order to keep discipline and shape. I hope they keep it up, lesson learned, etc.

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Ed033 Note: The Arsenal Player Ratings page has been updated to the latest Arsenal match.

You can also vote on Man of the Match for the latest game using our Arsenal Man of the Match Polls page.

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26 Nov 2014 23:46:54
Another game, another injury but that's our luck I guess.

Anyway.

Fantastic result for us tonight. It's just what we need to hopefully get the motivation and self belief up to get over this slump. Like a few have mentioned already I must admit I was impressed with Arsene's tatics probably for the first time this year but we must now play like this consistently.

Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel after all.

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