Arsenal Banter Archive February 04 2016

 

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04 Feb 2016 22:26:57
What do you all think of Liverpool supporters planned walkout in the 77th minute in their next home game?

It's in protest of next season's ticket increase in the main stand to £77 per game.

Do you agree?
In terms of getting their point across, do they have any other option?

Believable1 Unbelievable0

{Ed003's Note - I do.}

04 Feb 2016 23:20:21
I commend their action 100%, its about time the working man said no more!

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{Ed003's Note - There's a growing movement with football trusts popping up all the time (I'm proud to say I'm one who is a member of my clubs trust) enough is enough now football has/is changing way too far away from the supporter imo.}

04 Feb 2016 23:21:49
Will it make a difference though Ed?

The tickets are already paid for via season tickets.
It's like protesting at the price of beer by walking in a pub, paying for a pint, than only drinking half of it.
The landlord won't give a stuff because you have already paid full price for it.

I personally agree with the walkout.
It won't hit Liverpool (or FSG) in the pocket, but will generate bad publicity, something no club wants.

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{Ed003's Note - It makes a stance and one in the public eye which can only help getting football back to where it belongs,naive I know but this feeling is growing.}

04 Feb 2016 23:41:26
Agree Ed,
As they say, vote with your feet.

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{Ed003's Note - Shame it has to come to that but in reality they are leaving 13 mins early not exactly a strike,but I hope it gets enough publicity for it to change the owners price planning.}

04 Feb 2016 23:48:42
If LFC used their heads they would put the price up to £90 the maybe the fans would watch all the game then😥.

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{Ed033's Note - that's a cunning plan, growbun

04 Feb 2016 23:50:25
Its a show of intent and will have snowball effect, remember the reception the Bayern fans got from our fans?
Once it makes main stream news it will snowball very quickly nationwide.

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{Ed003's Note - that's is just a social media/some written press for a couple of days,nothing happened after did it ?

05 Feb 2016 06:25:02
Football clubs are a business, with enormous expenses, including the salaries and transfer fees paid to and for players. Ticket prices are governed by supply and demand. If a supporter doesn't like the prices charged by their team, then simply don't buy them and the club will have to reduce the prices. At our own cub, there is a long waiting list for season tickets hence the prices charged.

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05 Feb 2016 10:51:06
It there was a organised protest of fans who in their tens of thousands cancelled their sly subscription in the space of 48 hours things would change very quickly because TV money calls the tune in football and sly gets its money from the fans 100%.
No fans no advertising revenue
No fans no income so no billions of £s TV money coming into the clubs so no 300,000 a week players wages.
The fans are everything and without them football is finished.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Divided we fall but UNITED we fall asleep z z z z z z z.

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05 Feb 2016 08:11:20
Does it ever make a difference Ed?

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{Ed003's Note - At smaller clubs it has.}

05 Feb 2016 10:20:35
The powers that be are trying to have a social cleanse within football, they are pricing the working class out and after desperately trying to move away from the football culture of the 70's and in doing so we have ended up with the whole 'PC' brigade has got its claws into our game! Kids now get taught not to be competitive and have no fight in their bellys, to make moderate well rounded (skill less) footballers of the future!

It's the same now with ticket prices, the authority's with the joke that is FFP! Low and behold all the mega rich are now just carrying on as was. So now they try and price out the passionate working man from the game they love and a game that belongs to them.

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05 Feb 2016 11:40:11
at palace it did dags there message was crystal clear.

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05 Feb 2016 12:26:36
Isn't the stadium half empty by then anyway?

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05 Feb 2016 12:34:20
The average man in the street still holds all the power but is to busy accepting his lot to realise or utilise it.
We are only dictated to with our consent! A fact that fills me full of hope for the future.

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05 Feb 2016 13:06:23
It's something that's getting a bit out of hand and I do understand why their fans plan to do it!

I sometimes think English football is now just one by buisness, instead of being a sport.

I know some people will be quick to point out it IS a buisness, but all you have to do is look to Germany.
Where you can get a ticket to title winners and former champions league winners, Bayern Munich, to see Lewandowski, Robben, Ribery, Gotze, Muller, Costa, Alonso, Alaba, Boateng and more greats play, for around £20, where a similar price in England will get you a championship seat.

Without being the guy stuck in the past, football is and always has been a 'working mans' game.
And in places like London, where people aren't even being paid a living wage, let alone a good wage, it's getting to a point where people who'd go see clubs week in, can't do that any more.

My grandfather hasn't been to watch a game for over 2 years due to prices (I'd also add here, to be devils advocate, he's a man born in the 40's so there's a 50/ 50 chances it's just because he's tight)


At the end of the day, by squeezing supporters for every penny they've got, eventually you'll alienate supporters all together.



On the flip side, clubs like Arsenal do kind of have us by the short and curlies.
Because if we turn around next week and say we aren't going because we aren't paying that, Old Dave down the road will have that ticket in a heartbeat!

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05 Feb 2016 18:00:10
Absolutely D.

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04 Feb 2016 20:41:14
OK we're all disappointed at how the season is panning out for us and we all have an opinion on why and where things have gone wrong but on the bright side and looking at from a purely entertainment angle we have some changes cracking games coming up.
Bournemouth away and their up for a game of football
Leicester obviously needs no building up
Then the mighty Barcelona who always great to watch even when your on the receiving end of their quality.
The results are debatable but the entertainment shouldn't be.

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04 Feb 2016 21:02:58
At this point of the season (league) , was hoping, due to the decline of our competitors, to forgo the entertainment and grind out results and win the prem, ala Chelsea last season.

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04 Feb 2016 21:11:36
The reason is that most of us quietly thought we were going to get this league at a canter before xmas.

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Wolfsburg Sign FIFA 16 Player, Evans Threatens To Quit Leeds And More

04 Feb 2016 20:13:23
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Wolfsburg Sign FIFA 16 Player, Evans Threatens To Quit Leeds And More

Believable0 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2016 20:07:23
A lot of talk on here about Wanting Wenger out.

I'm not slating it as you have all given good reasons.

But, who will replace him?

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{Ed025's Note - im putting my name forward dags.. :)

04 Feb 2016 20:28:54
Ed,
You could employ Steve as team morale officer :-)

Derby as head of recruitment, although not sure if the £200m we have in the bank will stretch too far.

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{Ed025's Note - where would i get 10 KDB,s though dags?.. :)

04 Feb 2016 20:33:51
I'm up for the that Ed as you've stated you'd sign a top striker proper DM cover and get rid of Mertesacker, you had my vote at Mertesacker :-)

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{Ed025's Note - dont speak too soon G62..my masterplan also includes jack going on loan to colchester, the ox and theo never playing more than 20 mins, and the likes of gibbs, campbell, ospina, chambers, arteta and flamini are all up the road mate.. :)

04 Feb 2016 21:48:47
That's true Ed :-)

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04 Feb 2016 21:59:10
When can you start mate? £200,000 a day plus a bonus of new 1 million a day if you win the title in your first 3 seasons OK with you?
Oh feel free to bring Lukaku Stones Barkley with you but leave Gareth Barry where he is please :-)

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{Ed025's Note - i can start monday G62,,i,ll bing a brew.. :)

04 Feb 2016 23:28:45
And i will keep you topped up in kebabs to dunk in ya brew, Boss :-)

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{Ed025's Note - you have a deal my friend..

05 Feb 2016 11:15:31
Brilliant, is it a done deal then? :) )

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{Ed025's Note - you can be my fitness coach moe..

05 Feb 2016 16:46:13
Hell ya ed25. Ok then beers on me after every training session.

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{Ed025's Note - thats why i picked you moe..your a man after my own heart mate..

04 Feb 2016 16:08:37
Fellow Gooners,

We are looking pretty stale offensively at the moment. Defensively there is some frailty and mistakes but in my opinion we are solid enough, with kos as a constant and then rotation between merts and gab, plus solid fullbacks, bar a backup for bellerin.

But yes offensively. Like Moe said below Giroud for some reason seems to lack consistency when there is no real competition for his place. But what I don't get is why that is the case. Prior to Walcotts injury he was first choice. I know Giroud played very well in his absence, but I just think we looked so much more dangerous with Theo down the middle, running at/ through defenders. Pace for me seems to be the key this season with vardy and ighalo for example.

Even if its just rotation I would like to see Theo upfront again this season. Preferably first choice. Seems harsh to Giroud, but I think pace is what Ozil feeds off or to. With on either side of him and in front of him, he can pick anyone out. Again in my opinion.

The way we played against Bayern as well, I am sure we will have to replicate against Barca. Walcott was vital for that.

So for me Starting X11 against Bournemouth / for the foreseeable future needs to be the same apart from Walcott in for Giroud, and obviously le coq starting otherwise the same time. Oh and rotation between Gabs and Merts depending on the line we are playing.

Just an added note. In games where we are dominating possession in the latter stages, Giroud is a much better impact sub, gives us another dimension. Because by this point teams will be sitting deep and Theo's ability to stretch the back four becomes limited. So Theo to stretch and wear teams down, then Giroud comes on. Rant over. Slate at will.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2016 16:42:29
Does seem both struggle when 1st choice.

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05 Feb 2016 11:14:49
G62 maybe walcott is not the best finisher out there but for sure he makes the opponent defenders wear off with his pace and ask of them a lot. We were doing so well up front when there was competetion for the CF spot.

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04 Feb 2016 16:08:12
This is what i think should happen next season

Wenger. should go end of season even if he wins an honour we need a new direction. someone to keep the players buzzing rather than playing in second gear. we have no killer instinct no plan b no leadership

Cech. stay
ospina. leave
bellerin chambers gibbs monreal gabriel koscienly. stay

mertesacker debuchy. leave

hayden jenkinson szecsney. bring back

Ox ramsey ozil wilshere coq gnabry elneny walcott sanchez owobi. stay

flamini arteta rosicky campbell cazorla. leave


Wellbeck giroud. stay

sanogo. leave

Akpom. bring back

Blood a few yongsters like crowley zelalem toral etc

Buy. a dominating powerful centre mid and centre half. an out and out goalscorer.

Believable1 Unbelievable5

04 Feb 2016 18:38:49
Just imagine when the fan on the street can see what's needed more than the manager, it's a sorry state.

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04 Feb 2016 19:42:20
I agree with most of your post, but Carzola leave and Jack stay? What criteria dos you use there?

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04 Feb 2016 22:45:01
Hayden won't make it here, he's struggling at hull, akpom has a decent game every other 5 games.

Cazorla I wouldn't sell him and coq, have been excellent as the two midfield men.

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05 Feb 2016 11:10:52
You messed your plan at selling caz buddy. Otherwise all are valid and we all see this is the right move apart from the cranking Wenger.

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04 Feb 2016 11:02:18
We must play Coquelin and Elneny in front of the back four against Bournemouth. Bring back Mertesacker instead of Gabriel and play Walcott in the right attacking role.
Flamini and Arteta must never play for us again, they are shocking. An embarrassment that they are still selected.

Believable4 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2016 12:45:33
Didn't Southampton tear Mert to bits? And Campbell has probably had more good game out wide this season than Theo has had in a couple of seasons.
Gabriel is IMO a much better option short and long term.

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04 Feb 2016 13:19:56
I think he should drop Giroud and play walcott up front, leave Campbell out wide, and stick Per on the bench. Le coq is fully fit for next game which will keep flamini out.
every time Giroud get in his comfort zone he stop scoring.
There isn't competition for places, no worried about losing his spot in the starting 11, expect campbell and he is working his socks off.

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04 Feb 2016 14:27:41
That's why we had to sign an alternative to Olly for injuries loss of form or a different option, but what's to do now! What's done is done and we have what we have.

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04 Feb 2016 10:53:40
1. Ospina - Too short for a top keeper
2. Chambers - Poor cover at RB, the position he was signed for. Interesting to see if he will make it at CB or DM. Is young so needs to be given a chance.
3. Mertesacker - Too slow to play a high defensive line.
4. Gibbs, a midfield player turned into a defender and has never looked comfortable.
5. Flamini - Absolutely dreadful. One questions Wenger's judge me if he rates him.
6. Arteta - Never a defensive midfield player and even worse as he ages. He has been injured for the best part of two seasons. His wages have been a waste of funds.
7. Rosicky - Retained one year too long. Again wasted valuable funds on his wages.
8. Campbell - I'm still undecided, but I like his work ethic. The problem is that both Walcott and Ox should be played ahead if him. Would he be good enough for a top European team?

Believable3 Unbelievable2

04 Feb 2016 18:53:57
Good post.

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Brawl Bans Handed Out, Neville Refuses To Resign As His Valencia Player Receives Standing Ovation From Barcelona Fans Plus More

04 Feb 2016 10:53:33
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Brawl Bans Handed Out, Neville Refuses To Resign As His Valencia Player Receives Standing Ovation From Barcelona Fans Plus More

Believable0 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2016 08:21:55
Bit of a late reaction to the Southampton game but due to the time it was on live here in Australia I did not end up seeing it till last night.
At the risk of sounding like Steve I am feeling very gloomy. For me, that was our last chance of re-igniting our title bid. We have just about the toughest draw (us or Leicester? ) from here on in. And the way we are playing and the mind set of many of the players, I cannot see us responding to the challenges ahead. If we have to go to City to get a result on the penultimate game (even if only a draw) can anyone honestly say we could do that? We won there last year, but there was nothing riding on the game. I honestly do not think we have been playing well this year. Only Man U and Bournemouth, for me, we comfortable wins - all the other wins looked close despite some being in the end by 3 goals. I think we were playing better in the latter half of last year than we have in this year. The reasons? Injuries for sure but we always have those. I feel Ramsey, the Ox and Walcott (and even to a lesser extent Bellerin) have regressed this year. Wilshire too, but his performance is always counted by how many games he is fit for (zero this year) not how he plays. (Does he play? )
And why, oh why, we have been playing Flamini instead of Chambers I will never know.
It is really getting too depressing to watch us so far in 2016.
We always seem to have one good calendar year followed by one bad one. Groundhog day, of a sort.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2016 10:21:54
Everything is far to cosy at the Emerirates for Arsenal football club to be all it could be right now.
Arsene has the safest job in football regardless of where we finish in the league and the players get given contracts and payrises like confetti regardless of age ability availability or consistency.
No one has to prove them selfs to anyone once they've been around for a while and that hasn't done Arsene of the team any Favours at all, Arsene Wenger is a fantastic manager but not having to prove or explain himself to anyone for so long he has lost his edge, let's face it Arsene invented the 4th place trophy in the first place :-) would the Arsene Wenger of 20 or even 10 years ago accepted 4th as success? Of course not but the distinction between success on and off the field has become blured over time IMO.

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04 Feb 2016 11:01:11
I agree, g62. It is all too complacent and predictable. We need a new manager even if that manager is worse. I have followed Arsenal for 46 years but the last 10 have been the least interesting even though we are playing attractive football. But each season is the same as the one before now. I'd be just as happy this year with 5th and Wenger getting sacked. Just not 3rd or 4th with 70 to 76 points, please.

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{Ed025's Note - you are spoilt then melbourne..most teams supporters would give their right arm for the success arsenal have had over the last 10 yrs, champions league every year and 2 FA cups is not to be sniffed at, just because you are the mighty arsenal does not give you a divine right to win the league every year mate..

04 Feb 2016 09:52:12
I cannot for the life of me understand why we extended Arteta's deal. He was injured most of last season was a stop-gap defensive midfield player at best. Flamini is simply dreadful and Rosicky at 35 years of age was a big risk. In effect we have wasted the wages spent on these three players, two of which have hardly played and the third played, but god knows why!
Oxlade has been a big disappointment this season and Walcott looks off form. Bellerin has been steady, but has not made any real progress this season.
The squad looks unbalanced, with the 3 poor ageing players I mentioned, as well as too many central attacking midfield players; Ozil, Cazorla, Ramsey, Wilshere and Rosicky. Wenger plays these plays out of position, either in a defensive midfield role, which doesn't suit them and often results in injury or by playing them wide. We need more defensive midfield players. We should buy Wanyama in the summer and play him alongside Coquelin, with Elneny as back up. in the central midfield role keep 3, from Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil and Wilshere. Whilst we need a top notch striker.
So next season:
Goalkeeper: Replace Ospina.
Defence: Bring in a RB as cover for Bellerin. Replace Mertesacker who is not suited to playing a high line, due to his lack of pace.
Def mid: Sign Wanyama
Central attack: Sign a top class forward.

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04 Feb 2016 11:23:41
nearly 200 mill in the bank tho eds. i don't think we are reaching out full potential. that was the point of moving stadium. but now the owners are used to the profits.

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04 Feb 2016 09:51:44
you have a team that finished 3rd and ok we got a world class goalie handed to us. but them you sign a 5million pound player in jan from the swiss league. (may turn out a gem yet)

at the end of the season you don't win the league its not exactly an algebra lesson to work out why.

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04 Feb 2016 12:57:09
The point is Ed mate we have the resources to win this premier race but haven't used them instead we've kept the cosy club all together happily going for their daily massage and congratulating each other on their new deals despite playing only a handful of games over the period of a few years and that can't be right or good management mate.

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{Ed025's Note - im not saying mistakes have not been made G62, i honestly think that benzema and a DM would have you clear at the top by now, i just dont like to hear the club or manager being trashed mate, maybe money has not been spent due to the fact that the club will need a new manager shortly and he will want his own players?, he would have a fantastic kitty to work with if thats the case..

04 Feb 2016 17:32:33
Fair comment Ed I understand your admiration for Arsene and of course Arsenal but it is just frustrating to be so close to being able to really compete and not go that extra mile to make it happen.
The next manager will inherit a Kos and Monreal at almost 32 Caz 33 Giroud 31and Cech 35 so he will need a lot of that money to replace 5 of our current first choices pretty soon after joining us which if we're lucky will bring us back to where we are now, we are wasting our current best players including Ozil and Sanchez by not adding a couple of quality additions while that's all we need.

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{Ed025's Note - i appreciate that G62, i just dont want arsene to remembered as a nearly man or even worse castigated and people glad to see the back of him, the guy following him will have a very difficult job trying to emulate arsene and i would hate these pages to go the same way as united,s where every other post is a moan about the manager mate..

04 Feb 2016 18:11:18
It is a shame Ed because he has been the best ever Arsenal manager but I think most are now looking to his successor to make us serious contenders and accept Arsene will not do what's needed to archive for one reason or another.
I really like Arsene as person its just his decisions as our manager I struggle to understand.

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{Ed025's Note - fair enough G62, and good luck with the quest to find his successor, i think you might need it mate..

04 Feb 2016 18:57:00
ED

Do you class CL as a success then? Not sure I agree with that.

How about Gus as a successor.

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{Ed025's Note - yes bambam i see CL qualification as success but its the minimum requirement for a club of arsenals stature, i also see non-qualification as failure, gus for me is a very good interim manager these days mate..

04 Feb 2016 19:46:56
As long as its someone who doesn't ignore the obvious like the DM we needed but were 5 years without or the top class keeper we haven't had since Lehman at best and Seaman at worst and doesn't give contracts and more importantly squad numbers to players who so obviously will never play a meaningful part for us again I will back him 100% mate.
All of the above things should never have happened and the Arsene Wenger who joined us wouldn't have let it either.

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04 Feb 2016 04:52:49
THE CENTRE OF THE PARK

Hi Everyone,

i hardly ever post but really enjoy reading every day.

I think the main problem with Arsenal is not being able to get a foothold in the middle of the park. We managed it with the combo of le coq and carol but now they are missing it has really messed up the balance of our midfield. Le coqs' reemergence power and tackling and massive improvement on the ball combined with Santi's skill and experience meant we could manage to dominate the centre somehow early on this year even though it's still not ideal.

We need a big dominator in there which le coq can do but we need someone to share it with him or challenge him for it. A fellani (when at everton) or a Wanayama type. It's a must next year. We need Santi and Le coq back fit to rebalance it.

Bless Flamini he battles hard and has given 100 percent since his return from Italy but him and Arteta are too slow now and just not good enough from game to game. Rambo can't be a dominator unfortunately unless he constantly on the ball and having one of his 1 in 6 games good days.

I love Rambo and always want him in but he needs the right players with him to let him just buzz around and get forward in and around the box. --- Maybe Elneny can bring something but we don't know enough yet and we'll see.

The problem is the middle of park. Defence is good. Kos, Merts and Gabs are good enough to win the league this year. Left back is strongest in the league with Nacho and Gibbs. Ballerina is doing his job very well. The last few games the gaols have dried up but we are Arsenal and they will come again and have never been the problem.

let's get the midfield balance back somehow Wenger and dominate in the middle like we didn't against Stoke or Southampton and many games lately. And Le Coq should have started against Southampton. I honestly have nothing against Flamini (apart from him leaving for Millan when we really needed him in his prime) but Le Coq is better.

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04 Feb 2016 07:08:14
Flamini is a liability. I love the guy, but footballing-wise, he isn't good enough. He's prone to too many mistakes, isn't dangerous when he has the ball, and has very bad positioning in the flow of play and on set-pieces. I'd like to see Elneny play rather than him.

Also, Bellerin. He's going to be a great player, no doubt. However, he's immature at the moment and had a howler against Southampton, giving the ball away too often.

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04 Feb 2016 09:57:25
The main problems have been:
1) Playing Mertesacker in a high defensive line.
2) Having only one defensive midfield player, Coquelin, who was out injured for a period, with no cover.
3) Having too many central attacking midfield players and playing them out of position to accommodate them; Ramsey on the right wing, Cazorla or Ramsey in a defensive midfield role.
4) Lacking a world class striker.
Defensively, we need cover at RB and to replace Mertesacker.
Defensive midfield: Sign Wanyama. Giving us three options: Coquelin, Elneny and Wanyama.
5) Sign a world class forward.

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04 Feb 2016 11:06:23
TheMessenger - I don't even like Flamini, never mind rate him as player. All he does is stand shouting and pointing. He is slow. His positional sense is useless, often defending way too deep, in line with the CB's, causing confusion and leaving a gap ahead of them. Thankfully, Coquelin is fit again and we have signed Elneny. Flamini and Arteta should never play for us again and should be released at the end of the season. I would rather play Ramsey and the Ox out of position, as DM players, rather than select either of these two players.

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