Arsenal Banter Archive January 06 2013

 

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06 Jan 2013 22:43:55
Why can't we play like we did in the last 20 mins?

Fast fluid football, and looking like we will score with every attack instead of passing it around the back.

kev88

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Because that would be easy!

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06 Jan 2013 22:14:56
The Guardian have released a top 20 TF targets article.

Of the 20 listed, we're apparently interested in:

Llorente £5m (ST - A Bilbao)
Fellaini £20m (Mid - Everton)
Villa £16m (ST - Barcelona)
McCarthy £6m (Mid- Wigan)
Ba £7m (ST - Newcastle)
Mbokani £8.5m (ST - Anderlecht)
Zaha £9 (ST - Palace)
Belhanda £12m (Mid- Montpellier)

I found this article interesting for a number of reasons. Firstly, because it also included the 'Balkan Messi' Alen Halilovic, the 16yr old Zagreb wonderkid who looks absolutely insanely good. We aren't interested which is odd. City, Utd, Chelsea, R Madrid, Inter and Juve are.

Secondly, the prices are all lower than people think they would be in reality. Obviously Ba had a release clause and is off that list, but all the other prices are pretty well lower than what we've all read clubs should expect to pay.

Thirdly, it highlights we are in the market for a forward. According to ESPN we have made a formal approach for Villa - this could of course be the usual handshake and a grain of rice offer we are known for but it seems we are deadly serious about bringing someone in. However, I distinctly remember this being the case about a lot of things. For example, according to many outlets, Samba, Cahill and Mata were all nailed on done deals that summer. This summer the M'Vila deal was as good as nailed on, only when it wasn't the Wanyama deal was then nailed on, and so on and so on.

I don't understand why we won't make signings. Why are we showing interest in players we don't need? Answer - because we do need them. So again, if this is the case, why are we not making signings?

Why were we tracking and making enquiries over 3 Song replacements in the summer if we then didn't bother signing any? We obviously needed the player if we were looking.

Why is it we need a player - but only if they are x or y price? 'We need a defensive mid - but we only need one if he's under £7m' is not the forward-thinking trophy-winning mindset of a top european club. It's embarrassing. Do we need a player or not?

So far we've sold Fabregas, Nasri, RVP, Song, Vela, Park, loaned B52 and Chamakh. To replace all of them we've loaned Yossi for one season and signed Cazorla, Podolski, The Ox and Giroud.. That is the cold hard truth. IMO The Ox doesn't count as all the rest were first team players whereas the Ox was a kid.

Where is the logic?

So Arsene do we need a striker? Yes? Buy one then. Spend some of that money the fans fill the club's purse with and show us a return on OUR investment in the club.

Do we need a midfielder? Yes? M'Biwa, M'Vila, Bender, Biglia, Wanyama, Capoue etc - all reported targets - so sign one Arsene. Pick the best one, offer what the club wants and sign someone.

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06 Jan 2013 22:09:43
I see the same thing that happened with RVP happening with Walcott right now. In the summer, I believe RVP's mind was made at the end of the season but Wenger told him to wait before he announced that he was leaving so that they could find a suitable replacement. I'm sure that is what's going on with Walcott, neither party seems dedicated enough to make the deal happen. Good thing is, a replacement will (surely?) be brought in. Whether he's Arsenal ready remains to be seen

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06 Jan 2013 21:37:00
Saw a while back someone suggesting trying out Kos or TV in the DM role but haven't seen this suggested for Jenks before. To me, whilst we still have Sagna, and he otherwise isn't getting the game time he deserves, it would be worth at least trying him out if nothing more than to give Arteta a rest. To me he is quicker then Arteta, can obviously tackle, and should be able to bring the ball out of defence. The way he gets up and down the wing shows he has the engine/stamina for the position.

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Not a chance. He's too young and inexperienced to understand the role.
Anyone who has played the game to a good standard will know it's not as easy as to just change positions. The discipline and concentration required to play in that Arteta role is immense

Paul

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It takes a special kind of player to work in the DM position, apart from ability, they must have a fantastic engine, not everyone can do it. They're a rare breed!
Willesden Gooner

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06 Jan 2013 21:35:32
Wenger won't sign anyone good in the window and if he does it will be someone young who won't get pkayed or someone old that will only be played for a few years

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Well that narrows it down... *sigh*

Bradders

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06 Jan 2013 21:26:39
For such a long time we have the same areas of weakness; A true leader at the back and a strong midfielder. With the loss of RVP it is obvious that we need a true goalscorer. If you look at all the best teams including ours in the past you need to have a strong spine to build from. I don't know what is holding us back, we don't need to spend the mega millions of others, but £40M should be enough to fill the holes. Finally get rid of the deadwood that we all know and start competing again.

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06 Jan 2013 20:49:28
I've seen a lot of posts and comments not just on here, but other websites also about how good Arteta is. I do agree that he is comfortable on the ball and a pretty good passer of the ball. But for me he shouldn't be a starter in midfield with Wilshere and Cazorla. We should sign an actual defensive midfielder who will be able to chase the ball down, tackle, break up the play and pass just to keep things ticking over. Arteta only does one of these things, and I for one could do that. If he was playing I would only play him along side a so called defensive midfielder, otherwise we just get left open in the middle of the park.

JH.

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Although I agree to some extent I think you're being over-critical of Arteta.

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06 Jan 2013 20:39:47
Don't think any1 knows who we are signing if we are I personally don't think aw will strengthen if he does it be 1 player at end of the window

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06 Jan 2013 20:07:03
Other things I do not understand -

Why will our players not shoot? One thing I have noticed is that no matter who is playing for us and what season it is, we have the same issue - our players will not shoot on sight.

This is costing us. So many other teams bag vital goals from the edge or outside the box because they have strikers and mids who actually want to win games by scoring goals themselves.

Ok so every once in a while Santi will shoot but Jack has about 5-10 great chances to have a great crack at goal every game and he never ever does.

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06 Jan 2013 20:04:47
Things I don't understand about today:

Rosicky didn't play - Santi should have been rested. Ros was our best player by a country mile against Olympiacos, we've been dying for him to come back from injury and he outs in a great performance only to be benched again. I don't get this.

The Ox didn't play - instead we play Ramsey out wide? IMO Ramsey had a bad game, kept giving the ball away and kept giving away free kicks and deserved to be booked eventually - yet because he wasn't 'as bad' as usual people are saying he had a good game - he did not.

Jenko didn't play. So it would appear Sagna can play two full sets of 90 mins as badly as I have ever seen and not only does he not get subbed, he doesn't get dropped for a cup game that would have been perfect for Jenko.

It was a must-win game and Podolski didn't start.

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It was clear today that both Arteta and Cazorla looks jaded and fatigued and need resting. When you have 2 of your 3 midfielders playing at only 80% because of fatigue is it then any wonder our performance suffers.

Arsenal are not like Utd or Chelsea that can coast through games and still nick a win, we have to play at full throttle each game to be effective. when we only play at 70-80% of full tempo we struggle to create any chances.

Now we are basically playing 2 games a week we need to rotate the players in the squad much more particularly the midfield. Today was a perfect opportunity to start with Rosicky move Ramsey back to midfield and start Ox out wide. Why Wenger persists playing Ramsey out there I do not know when he has more capable players to play that position.

Wenger needs to find 2 physical strong DM's Wanyama and M'villa would be great to take some strain off our smaller more creative players and give us a more solid platform in midfield.

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My feeling is that he didn't play Rosicky today because he's being sold, be that player plus cash or straight sell only time will tell. Some rumours circulating about Rosicky plus cash for Fellani, Ed, do you think there's any substance to this rumour or the usual bull? {Ed002's Note - I don't see Fellaini moving in January. Roma perhaps?}

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06 Jan 2013 19:44:50
First time poster I have heard that wenger will leave at the end of the season and pep will take over and this transfer window pep has been promised that we will buy some players he has recommended namely villa and mvila to prove this arsenal will offer villa a 3 year deal.

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06 Jan 2013 19:17:58
hi guys, was playing footy didnt watch the game, saw the teams though.. cazorla and arteta need a rest 100% the more I hear from wenger the more I doubt transfers,

I have no confidence in us winning any game, theo cant play up top on his own IMO like at southampton he cant hold it up or anything,

I DUNNO IM JUST CONFUSED WITH THE GENERAL AMBITION AND DIRECTION OF THE CLUB

like where are we going? how are we improving and what are our goals?

song and v persie for giroud pod and cazorla..... its really not that much improving and i dont know where were going where not rebuilding ? where not finished building? LIVERPOOL will be catching us soon there playing good football we just seem so slow and laboured GRRR someone shed light and make me feel better

Yorkshire Gooner Joe :D

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The people whove agreed and disagreed please comment, i like to knows people's opinions :D

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06 Jan 2013 19:14:46
We must concentrate on our defence guys, this has been a big problem for a while, lets all be honest about it we look really poor and have a real lack of understanding on how to defend set pieces, and even the most basic defending.The german is painfull at times to watch, hes too slow for the premiership.Sagna is ok going forward, but leaves big gaps on the right hand side, Gibbs is still learning, but still makes school boy errors.TV seems to be troubled being skipper. We lack pace and power in the middle.Santi is a ball player, great but no real pace and power.Arteta no real pace and seems to fizzle out in the second half.Jack has great vision, but its all getting too much for him, even though he throws himself in to tackles.He needs a midfield leader with him, someone in the viera mode. Basically we lack power and pace in midfield.the attacking side is ok but we need a decent wing come striker who can go past people .I would throw money at micah richards big time, he is exactly what we need.He can also play centre back if need be.Dont waste money on Villa, although a loan may be the answer.I would buy Luke shaw, great talent, buy zaha loan him back to Palace if need be.Is lopez the answer to our wide problem? or do we buy an out and out striker, like we used to have.We have money guys around 70 million has been mentioned and that was just for this window, so come on arsene spend it, or we might be in real trouble of making the top four, get your deals done now, so the new guys have a bit of time to get used to the premiership DEVON GUNNER

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Top post - agree totally about the defence.

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06 Jan 2013 19:12:36
Reference Ramsey, I think the single biggest thing is we all know that he simply is not playing to previous form or potential, don't know if the injury argument should still hold water, but he does not at this time to me warrant a starting berth or if I'm honest a subs spot.

But what to do with him as he's just signed a new contract, would a loan deal be wrong for him to allow him to show he has it or not because his place is better filled by other players right now. Would though, he accept a loan or think he needed one or does Arsene more importantly.

Much as I have absolutely nothing against him, I really don't believe we're doing him any favours playing him, he got game time today for me because of rotation but wouldn't we be better rotating Eisfeld into the first team.

I'm not posting this on his performance today just perplexed with how he could maybe be helped or if he isn't ever going to get back to his best, is his best good enough too. We all kind of talk about positions and players but we never feature him in any of them.

Stoner

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06 Jan 2013 20:39:34
He's not a winger! Can be a good player in CM. Imagine SAF putting Carrick LW or Rafa Benitez putting Lampard on the wing, they would look out of place.

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06 Jan 2013 22:13:18
I actually don't recall mentioning anything to do with him being a winger, just kind of asking what we can do to get him back to his best and if that's good enough.

I'm not playing him on the wing and whose place would you say he should fill.

Stoner

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06 Jan 2013 18:47:53
Hi Ed, how likely is the David Villa transfer looking, if so when is likely to go through? Also where does this leave Adrian Lopez? {Ed027's Note - he wants to play, if we are willing to pay up, he's ours

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06 Jan 2013 18:35:23
David Villa
Wesley Sneijder
Pepe Reina
Leighton Baines
fellaini
Take your pick

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I'd take the Everton boys - but they're not for sale.

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06 Jan 2013 18:32:02
News coming from Borussia Dortmund

Sven Bender has just signed a new contract.

Great DCM

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06 Jan 2013 18:10:27
i don't really have much against the fact we play ramsey on the wing - he did well today and did well against city meaning he has the quality. or the "arsenal way" with 4-3-3, it's okay for me because at best it works well and is really unstoppable. i'm even okay with wenger's transfer policy because when i look at the squad i see a damn strong one considering the money we have used.

my problem with wenger is his way of using his players. i don't know about you but i think cazorla has been a shadow of his former self in the last 3 matches. yet we keep playing him. sagna looks drained. yet we keep playing him. arteta has looked helpless at times because he's played vitrually every minute in the pl. yet we keep playing him. meanwhile, players like jenkinson, ramsey and even coquelin rot on the bench! the usage of the players we have is terrible because some play every game, some play none. the result is we have 11 fatigued players and 11 off-form players.

wenger has to start rotating. i'm not saying change the entire XI every game but hey, rest cazorla? or arteta? or sagna? every once in a while. di matteo did exactly that, kept his squad fresh and gave everybody a rest at times, even though that meant starting bad players at times.

iceman

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06 Jan 2013 18:05:35
is anyone else worried about facing Brighton away in the next round if we manage to scrape past Swansea at home?

psychocyst.

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06 Jan 2013 18:54:12
Not in the least, I'm just worrying about us getting passed Swansea for now.

Stoner

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Im sure we will win at home

watford gooner

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Psychocyst- i think you hit the nail on the head, Arsenal worried about meeting Brighton in the next round, pretty sad isnt it what Arsenal have become

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Don't take it the wrong way though. it's not Brighton that worry me, it's whether Jekyll of Hyde of our sides that show up is what i'm concerned about. even if we're running at 75%, we'd take most teams out easy, Swansea and Brighton included.

psychocyst.

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06 Jan 2013 17:46:33
Now the FA cup replay has been squeezed in between games to city and Chelsea. It's gonna cost us

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If we get past Swansea then were also be playing W/Ham on 23rd

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The fixture v West Ham is confirmed as 23rd. It is not conditional on the replay result vs Swansea.

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06 Jan 2013 17:40:00
Well well well, Kieran Gibbs!

Thse are my thoughts on Kieran Gibbs:

He has been brilliant on the whole this season.
His is improving rapidly.
He is integral to our attack.
He shows good skill a lot of the time to beat defenders.
There is a point in every game where he is in the box causing problems.
He makes Sagna look like a woman. Incidentally, when was the last time Sagna beat a defender or carried the ball into the box?
Gibbs shows how unbalanced the team is without a good attacking wing-back on the right. Jenko is better in this department than Sagna but miles behind Gibbs.
All our best play this season has been down the left and mostly involving Gibbs and Podolski - mostly.
He was my MOTM by a million miles.
I loved his ESPN interview.
His finish was world class, as good as Podolski's and dare I say it as good as RVP's last season (as was Podolski's). I think given the distance the ball travelled as well as the distance from boot to goal, RVP's was perhaps more difficult, but Gibb's goal today was as nice a finish for sure. Maybe my goal of of the season so far!

Metal Gooner

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It's obvious he likes to attack rather than defend so it makes sense (at least to me) to move him up as a winger that we sorely need and get a quality player who can defend first and then think about attacking. this allows Gibbo to stay on and help the flow of the game while letting Meade develop his game without being a third tier option.

psychocyst.

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So a left back good at going forward but pants as a defender. You've got your priorities wrong. Everything you list comes under 'nice to have'. Arsenal are undone over and over again by his defensive niavety.

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Did you see him defend against newcastle?Your analysis of gibbs is way off

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I'm amazed by those replies. i think gibbs is a very good defender and an odd mistake in a newcastle game doesn't change that when he has been class the whole season.

iceman

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Gibbs isn't a pants defender so I'm not quite sure where you're coming from? Simple fact is a defensive mid's job is to cover the wing back when they attack so if we're being undone because Gibbs attacks then blame the midfielder.

Also, we aren't being undone time and time again - yes he went to sleep against Newcastle but he was actually present, not up the pitch.

Our problem as always is we don't cover him. That's not his fault. It's a wing back's job to help in attack - try telling Evra, Cole etc otherwise.

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Gibbs is a great defender and he is still learning so he will only get better.
Go back to the last game of the season against west brom if it was not for gibbs with his heroic block we would not have been in the champions league.
The lad has got talent and he has arsenal in his heart which we couldnt ask for anymore from him he loves the club and always will.
Ali

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06 Jan 2013 17:38:24
We have Cazorla, Arteta and Podolski in our team, and Theo still hits free kicks.

Does he think he is Henry?

kev88

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I think that's the problem.... He ain't Henry.

Naz

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Agreed. That really has to stop.

Remember Podolskis great FK goal earlier in the season?

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06 Jan 2013 17:37:12
whats up fellow gooners is everyone as pissed off with swansea game as i am?we played so bad first half then when we finally get hold of game we throw it away with sloppy defending.on a good note arsene wenger will not be around forever so maybe anothe rfew years of rubbish but he will eventually leave.thank god


gaz the gooner

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06 Jan 2013 17:36:35
Belhanda is available... Ed is that true? {Ed027's Note - it's not true that he's 'available', it's the same situation as Giroud, if a big club comes in for him, they'll sell, provinding they get a decent fee, 15m+

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My mistake - I thought Turkish sides were bidding for him.

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05 Jan 2013 16:35:10
ED is there any news about selling the forehead? {Ed027's Note - nope

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06 Jan 2013 17:29:02
after this performance if wenger doesnt realise we need defensive back up in midfield and defence then i truly think he has lost his marbles.
the first they ripped right through the middle, merti was caught cold but this could have been avoided if a strong midfielder was in place and shored things up, arteta jack nor cazorla are defensive midfielders.
the second was just pants, zonal marking WTF FFS wenger dont you watch your games afterwards, every effing time we eff up on zonal marking, go back to basics and mark a man, nobody knows who to pick up, it cost us big time, now wenger will complain about a backlog of games - the players are tired - smell the coffee wenger if you go back to basics and stop the namby pamby football the team obviously cant play we might make things easier for ourselves, and play players in their positions, ramsey is not a wide man, he is losing confidence with every game and he will be another victim of wengers stupidity. walcott needs to be more aggresive in his play he doesnt close down keepers or defenders enough with his pace, if he wants to be top man play the part, by the way dont take free kicks - your pants!
cazorla and arteta will be washed out soon, its so obvious their tank is empty, with big games coming up, we should have gave a run out to coquelin ox rosicky or arshavin in these roles to allow them to recuperate. cazorla was anonymous for 90 per cent of the game today. should have let him come on from the bench.
a big up to gibbs played his heart out and scored a cracker, jack was trying to wake the rest of the team up with some meaty tackles but they didnt respond. giroud ran his socks off but should have got a couple. sagna doesnt seem to be on the same wavelength, his mind is elsewhere, merti looked like he had been away for 3 games, kosci was solid and szecs could have done better with the 2nd, he needs to boot the ball up the pitch rather than play ticky tacky with merti. podolski came on and we looked much more stronger and balanced.
overall we should have won convincingly but were lucky in the end to take it to a replay.
now go out and buy a class defensive midfielder and defender wenger!

GS

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Some good points....

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Great post GS I totally agree.

I was surprised to see an unchanged midfield 3. Hey Wenger there's this new thing called "squad rotation!"

Santi is completely knackered and his performances have suffered. Rosicky and Arshavin can still do a job for us!

Absolut Gooner

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06 Jan 2013 17:10:34
£100000 a week? Your having a bubble Theo. Shankley's definition of a great player " a player can be classed as great by not what he does with the ball with no time but what he does with the ball with time" (well something along those lines) Give Theo time and he is not upto the standard. Movement of the ball is poor, passing poor, tackling poor, defending poor, heading poor holding up play poor and I could go on. Man I hope the Villa rumours are true.

Sagna, another game that shows we should cash in. Looks like he doesn't want to be there.

Need to cash in on both player IMO. Zaha, and M'Villla/Wanyama/Strootman and Villa and Schnieder (spelling) would be nice. However even bringing all these players in would not mean we will stroll to a top four position. We don't have a talisman, Man Utd have the C##t, rubbishty have about 10 different talisman, chelski have Lampard, spuds have balend and Everton have felliani. Dam nit, Swansea have michu. Yes we have Jack but he ain't gonna score every game is he.

A very hopeful Naz

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Having a buble? = beak, greek, week
Having a Girraffe = Laugh.

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Bubble bath - laugh....

Naz

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Sorry Naz i was a bit elephant's when i posted that.

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No worries my old china.

Naz

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Couple of alternatives you may wish to consider:

Havin' an 'ot = Hot Bath = Laugh

Having a Ricky (Hatton (Hat'n = Hat 'n' Scarf = Laugh))

{Ed002's Note - Some years ago this you, bright, good looking journalist wrote a length article on Polari - which is very similar (broadly speaking). It was syndicated across a number of Sunday papers in North America. It is the source of a number of words that have drifted in to common use in England - Naff has interesting origins in Polari.}

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06 Jan 2013 17:05:27
After todays performance theres defiantly need for dm general who can be trusted to break up play.

Cazorla or wilshere seemed to be dropping too deep at times as they know arteta can easily be beaten by pace.

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I think the front 6 are playing with defending on there minds, we should have a good enough defence so that the rest of the team can just play.

1404

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06 Jan 2013 16:43:22
2-2 a cagey slow game up until the goal which suited Swansea's game better.

One dreadful mistake from Mertasaker in 2nd half and they scored, we then finally woke up and started playing with more tempo with Podolski coming on for Ramsey, coincidence I think not.

Ramsey did not actually play that bad but to be fair but he he is still out of position our wide and we looked far more of a threat once Podoloski came on and he linked with Gibbs much better down the left. Things just look more balanced when you play players in positions that suit them better, simples.

Also looked much more of a threat when Walcott started to move more centrally alongside Giroud. Why cant Wenger see this.

Pity we did not hold on for the 2-1 but pretty typical of us really, panic in the box when we needed composure. 2-2 is overall a fair result really on the balance of play.

Why Cant Wenger see that this 4-3-3 is not working effectivly enough for us, espeically when we have been playing the likes of Ramsey out wide.

Whenever Walcott and Giroud have formed a duel central partnership we have been much more dangerous, because defences do not know when to push up or stay back.

We need to get a strong physical athletic stay at home DM (Wanyame/M'Villa) and go 4-1-3-2 with Arteta, Whilshire and Carzorla behind the front two of Giroud and Walcott. We need more squad rotation a little using Podolski, Rosicky, Girvinho, Ox and Ramsey available to interchange those front 5 positions. Why do we always make subs at the same times, often too late when we need to change things sooner?.

We need to keep each player at full stamina levels as Arsenal need to play at full tempo to play really well. Carzorla and Arteta are both looking fatigued to me.

Ratings for game:-

Schenzy 6:- Not actually that much to do really, fairly solid but felt he should have done better on their 2nd goal in build up and held onto Ki's shot in build up .

Sagna 6:- fairly solid defensivly a made some good tackles, but offered little going forward and passing was off at times.

Mertasaker 5:- shaky at times and at fault for Michu's gaol should have been much stronger in challenge. For his size he should be physically dominant but is not needs more core strength.

Kos 7:- fairly decent but with lacking game time need better understanding with CB partner. Nearly scored.

Gibbs 8:- One of our best players, solid both defensivly and also made some good inroads going forward especially towards end of game linking with Podolski. Well taken goal good technique that any forward would have been proud of.

Arteta 7:- So-so tidy enough and worked hard as always, but as I have mentioned looking a little fatigued did not feature much attacking wise.

Wilshire 7:- Busy as ever trying the drive the team forward but some of his passing and dead ball deliveries were off mark today.

Cazorla 6:- Barely seen much of him, expected more but for me like Arteta looking fatigued to me he needs a rest.

Ramsey 7:- Actually did not play too bad but again Wenger is playing him in a position that just does not suit. It was evident that we looked far more dangerous with Podoloski in his place simply because he knows that position better.


Giroud 6:- very quiet first half hardly got a touch, better in 2nd half once once Walcott gave better support in centre. Good swivel and shot, slight injury effected his performance a bit aswell mind. He is striker that needs a partner in my book.


Walcott 7:- as with other forwards quiet first half but came alive more in 2nd half when started to link with Giroud better.

Podolski(Sub) 7:- Well taken goal and as a team we looked far more dangerous with him in wide left attack as opposed to Ramsey.

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06 Jan 2013 16:40:12
Yet again we can't defend a bloody corner, I was so angry, we get back into a game look to have won it and zonal marking f#%* it up for us again. Also why oh why does wenger persist playing ramsey out wide, I m starting to feel sorry for the boy. And on a final note every one did there bit nobody had a shocker but I think sagne days surely must be numbered the man has forgot how to cross a ball he just stops and passes back or sideways rant over
Yanman

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Ramsey gets loads of stick but the poor boy gets played out of position by wenger, ramsey isnt going to turn away a chance of playing for arsenal - wenger is at fault for not realising he is not suited there. ox arshavin podolski or rosicky would have been better suited. ramsey is a central midfielder. he needs to ply his trade in reserves to build up his confidence and play more direct and earn the name rambo again.

GS

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06 Jan 2013 16:35:49
What date is the replay with swansea?

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06 Jan 2013 16:31:30
yet another totally ineffective display from ramsey just what does wenger see in him just more proof to me that a once great coach is now sadly way behind the times...brun gooner

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Did you make this comment before the game started?

Paul - Rochester

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One of our best players today im starting to think people are slating Ramsey for the sake of it

watford gooner

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06 Jan 2013 16:30:33
yet another totally ineffective display from ramsey just what does wenger see in him just more proof to me that a once great coach is now sadly way behind the times

Believable2 Unbelievable10

Tell me who WAS effective?

Paul - Rochester

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Gibbs

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Gibbs For the goal yes. For 90 mins no. Don't let a class goal cloud the overall performance. See how the pundits gave Michu as mon of the match. That shows how poor every other player was.

Paul - Rochester

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06 Jan 2013 16:29:09
Keep saying the defence is pants and keep getting disagrees. Not sure what you lot are watching.

Believable5 Unbelievable2

With you on that, Gibbs 8 out of ten im not seeing that at all.

1404

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06 Jan 2013 16:26:30
80th minute - hopping that we are lucky enough to get a draw.

Full time - feeling kinda robbed, thinking that we should've ended up winning the game.

We saw the arsenal of a few seasons ago, passing it around the box and picking out a decent ball with no end product.
Our attacks were fast, sharp and we moved the ball well. Quality in midfield but we missed too many chances up front.

Man of the match for me though, believe it or not...

Kieran Gibbs.

He tore the right side of Swansea's defence apart (can't remember names), was sharp and contributed a fantastic goal.

Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and just about everyone except for Sagna and Mertesacker also had a good game today.

Not the best game overall but our attacking play at times was superb,
Let's just hope we can beat them at home.

Nick.

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Your saying santi had a good game?, was nowhere to be seen until the last 10 mins

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Wasn't that impressed with wilshire today, thought his passing and crossing could have been better, every cross he put in the box went straight into the keepers arms, wether it was poor crossing or just no one attacking who knows, but sagna for me had a shocker again, jenk should play the next game. also think cazorla needs to step up a bit, he has been hiding in alot of games recently. when giroud limped to the side lines, i was screaming for podolski to come on, i knew he could he be the difference in the game, agree with man of the match tho, gibbs played well, got caught out defensively a couple of times but was our only real threat going forward

GlasgowGunner

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Interesting comment on Gibbs "got caught out a few times defensively". Call me pedantic but I like defenders who can DEFEND. {Ed027's Note - very few full-backs put defence first in the modern game, thats why we have seen a lot of them converted from wingers

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06 Jan 2013 16:25:54
So a first string Arsenal can't beat a second string Swansea, but Wenger still hasn't found anyone who can improve the team. If that's the case he should hand over the reins because this team wont make 5th spot.

Believable6 Unbelievable1

2nd string Swansea? Really? Yes i know that they didnt have Michu, but thats all they were missing! Ashley Williams has been a bit of a liability some times this season, with poor back passing and awful positioning at times. Just because Michu wasnt playing doesnt mean that its their second team. It was a decent result, especially away from home.

East Anglian Gooner

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Please EAG, will you have a word with yourself! We are talking about ARSENAL. Statistically the 3rd most successful club in English football history (behind the Mancs and the Hub-cap nickers whose success has been mainly post-war so they are really Johnny-come-lately's). So in the broader context of sustained success you could argue we are the most successful club. AND YOU SAY DRAWING WITH SWANSEA IS A GOOD RESULT !!

ClockEndClockEndGiveUsaWave

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This is what arsenal have now been reduced to we are supposed to celebrate scraping a draw at swansea

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06 Jan 2013 16:24:06
I think Ramsey is not good enough for arsenal i know he broke his leg but that's it he only broke his leg and mert smallest man going for a header

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May be we should be more worried that our manager seems to like playing our players out of position.Today Ramsey was no worse than any other of our players

Jaygun1

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06 Jan 2013 15:58:19
Ramsey should not be playing on the wing. Why didnt we start Rosicky, he is better out there.

I really hope/think we will get at least 2 signings before the replay which I think can make the difference.

WG

Believable5 Unbelievable0

He actually put in some decent crosses and showed some trickery with his twisting and turning.

He is not a winger though.

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06 Jan 2013 15:53:17
stop hating on Ramsey please, 1) he is NOT a winger, so he is always being played out of position, 2) he is only 22, and still young and learning, 3) he was injured very severally a few years ago, and it takes time to recover.
so lay off him, or atleast wait until he gets the chance to play in his favoured position, and then disappoints.
+ he didnt have that bad a game today.

Believable10 Unbelievable6

It doesn't take a few years from recovering from an injury to get your form back. Stop making excuses for him, hes not good enough and we shouldn't have offered him a new a contract. Even in his favoured position his simply awful, name me 5 good performances from last season to this.

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He is a bleeding joke where ever he plays so stop making excuses and wake up u deluded person.he is nowhere near good enough for arsenal an the fact wenger keeps playing him is a disgrace, manager needs a kick up the arse cause the club is getting worse every season selling our best players bringing in average players and hoping to work miracles.were not gonna get 4th but maybe its the wake up call the manager and our board need

gaz the pissed of gooner

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Ramsey had a good game. he's not a bad player. how can you slate a player like him? tell me what he did wrong?

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Well Gaz if your that pissed of then simply piss off, to me you hate Arron Ramsey before he gets on the pitch, today he had a good game, have a go at Carzola think he had a far worse game than Ramsey

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06 Jan 2013 15:48:54
I think today's game really highlighted how much we need a touch of quality in the final third and a midfielder to hold in front of the defence. So come on arsenal, get a move on with these signings. PLEASE!

Yorkshire Gooner

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If we had a M'vila/Wanyama in the DM role today i can't see Michu scoring.

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I think today proved that its the defence thats the bigger problem, they dont deal with anything and positioning is non existent, we look like we will concede with every attack.

1404

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Well said, it's panic stations every time the ball is played into our box. I don't care how many caps the back 4 have - they don't play as a unit or deal with threats effectively.

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06 Jan 2013 15:46:34
Ramsey instead of Podolski, WTF?Willesden Gooner

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06 Jan 2013 08:46:14
A very typical " i heard it from a guy who knows" rumour, but this one did make me raise a very inquisitive eyebrow, Arsenal are set to enquire after Nacre Chadli!

Eds, thoughts? {Ed002's Note - None right now. Well none I can post on a public forum.}

Believable0 Unbelievable0

Chadili's contract with Twente ends in the summer I think (don't quote me on it) he's a left winger, which we need, an he's relatively young and unknown.

Sounds like a Wenger deal

D {Ed002's Note - Not this summer.}

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Thanks for clearing ed, wasn't sure if it was this one, but it stuck in my mind for some reason!

D

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05 Jan 2013 21:27:31
If we have any chance of signing villa we need santi to get on the dog and bone and have word in his ear.

These two are very good friends. Pull ur finger out santi!!

Ed, can you get this message passed to santi for me?

Purchase {Ed002's Note - It appears to be in code.}

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06 Jan 2013 15:38:48
Why is the club tripping over themselves to give Theo more money? He better sign soon because a prolonged spell in the team is only going to expose the fact that really he is quite ****.

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06 Jan 2013 15:27:28
Supporting arsenal is tough, don't know how long my heart can hold on.

-Homesick-

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06 Jan 2013 15:24:34
Ever aince Sagna's injury hes never been anywhere near as solid,
Should sell him to PSG and sign Richards from city
Wilmslow Gooner

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06 Jan 2013 15:22:43
Why exactly did we sell Bartley??

DG

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He wanted game time

secret rider

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Because he has the turning circle of a bus, he makes Merts look like lightening

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Well for a turning bus he looked pretty decent.... was denied by the post and the big german had a shocker of a game, especially once Michu was on the pitch....

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06 Jan 2013 15:21:31
Wouldn't it be nice if we had a couple of new players before the replay. What do you reckon would be the odds on that? ;-) I'm going for 0%. Hope I'm wrong.
Flybo

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06 Jan 2013 15:09:43
THAT is why I keep saying we don't need a striker.

Poldi, Theo and Giroud to rotate up top, and we're sorted.


D

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06 Jan 2013 14:53:53
Ramsey playing wing indicates we will sign a winger
wilmslow gooner

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Or maybe hes resting Pod and Gerv is in Africa

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06 Jan 2013 14:22:36
this formation just doesn't work to easy for defenders to pass it round 1 striker as we pressure far too deep for this to work we need 4-4-2 with the ox on left theo right and Lukas and giroud up front we would dominate this game. is it just me that can see this ?

Believable3 Unbelievable0

Pod and girod up front.
go 442.
goodbye wally.
ha... dream on:(
andi

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06 Jan 2013 14:20:09
We should sell Theo already. he is awful, cannot even pass a ball 5 yards. no way worth anywhere near 100k. get rid of him and sign proven quality.

p.s Ramsay is still as pants as ever

Believable7 Unbelievable3

06 Jan 2013 12:59:12
First eleven starting, it looks like Wenger wants to stay in this cup for a while. We are the favourites with the bookies but Swansea steam-rolled us last time.........

Believable0 Unbelievable0

How can it possibly be a first 11 with ramsey in it

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06 Jan 2013 13:18:09
Great interview from from Gibbs on Espn

Jaygun1

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06 Jan 2013 13:10:28
You may actually win today with Swansea resting several players ;)

Sydney!

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06 Jan 2013 15:55:17
Hey Sidney! Have you managed to sort out your apse from your elbow yet.

Stoner

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06 Jan 2013 12:51:38
So. Jenko doesn't get a game. Ramsey starts.

Here we go again.

Believable5 Unbelievable0

06 Jan 2013 12:46:20
Ramsey stArts out wide really wenger I hope we go out and you get sacked

Believable2 Unbelievable5

Ramsey played well person!

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06 Jan 2013 12:20:29
The problem with our socialist model is we do not WIN ANYTHING!

If we were a club at the top of the table who won things then we would be in a position to say to players 'Look, you're coming to a club that will guarantee that you win things and become a part of history if you do your bit. So you can earn millions with us over the course of your seasons here and win things and certainly challenge for everything whilst playing with world class players and accept the wage we offer you, or you can go elsewhere, try and get richer quicker but win what?'

Then it's fine. Players have a very simple choice - get rich quick or potentially win things and still get rich.

So, for example, Man U could install a socialist wage structure and still bring world class players to OT.

We haven't won diddly squat, haven't been top of the league due to points (as opposed to alphabet) once in several years now, not at any point in any season for years, and so how can we say this model is defensible?

Wenger - you are a moron. You are out of touch with modern football, or indeed football. You prove this every time you open your trap:

'Other teams are getting stronger' - yes they are, so why isn't the 5th richest club in the world? We are getting weaker.

'Scouts don't give me the info because they know the fans want world class' - utter drivel. Yes we do want world class but the scouts give you affordable world class and you ignore it.

'Business tends to be done towards the end of the window' - his chat in the summer. He was wrong.

'In January players are not available' - wrong.

'In January the window is quiet for the first couple of weeks' - wrong. I see Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, Reading, Liverpool and Spurs have all made moves of sorts and brought players in. Day 1 most of their talks started and day 1, 2 and 3 most if not all were finished.

Wenger, you're out of touch, you are an idealist in a realist world - you think the class we exhibited in aeons past is enough for your ideals to keep us a top club and it doesn't.

Look how much we struggle against basic opposition just because they too know how to play good passing football.

Out of touch. I wonder if we'll turn up today. End of the day we reward players for doing nothing for us so why should they turn up? Nobody in that team has had to work for their wages.

Believable5 Unbelievable1

This is absolutely the most short sighted posted I have ever read.

Im not sure if you understand that Arsenal is not owned by Arsene Wenger.

The assumptions you make regarding spending behaviour are instituted by the club and adhered to and supported by the manager.

Wenger is actually more in touch with global economics and business managment than any other manager in sports.

We compete in a global marketplace, one that has grown significantly since our last title. In addition our expenses have also dramatically increased, yet we have maintained a balance between financial prudence and results!

Be frustrated for not winning, question the managers tactics and purchases if you like, but use common sense when critiquing Arsene Wenger. Consistently challenging on all fronts, increased revenue, a propensity to be cost effective in purchases while financing a new stadium during an economic downturn amongst increased competition is nothing short of brilliant! And yet you dont see thats its not his money to spend as he pleases and so he works within the confines of his parameters.

The club is getting stronger but we have to respect that Arsene only acts as an employee. The financial decisions on spending are made by the board and ownership!

Its amazing to me how short sighted some people are. I for one am glad that Arsene takes so much brunt of criticism because it only increases his value to those who make the decisions at the club, they know his value and true Gooners do too!

I do hope that our recent results lead to purchases this January. I will always support Arsene because I believe he acts as a mediator between the clubs immediate desires and the needs of the supporters. At our club I believe this is a very difficult act and he handles it always in a manner that is befitting of our glorious club!

Its easy to forget a mans accomplishments when we are so myopic in our approach! As a business we are the most responsible football club in the world, I am proud of this achievement and I do believe our patience as supporters will be rewarded because Arsene Wenger has created the right foundation for continued success!

Gunners4Life, In AW we trust!

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Gunners4Life this isn't the first time you've sounded deluded and it won't be the last - but you are. Everything in this post has come out of his mouth and has been proven to be wrong. What a meaningless comment 'we compete in a global marketplace' what does that mean? We can employ players from all over the world and still can't find good ones?

I don't care if we're the most responsible club in the world - we're also the 5th richest yet do we have the 5th best anything in the team? No we do not!

By rights we should have the 5th best team on the planet but we definitely do not have that.

The fact that we pay some subs the same amount as starters and the fact that Wenger believes that paying everyone the same amount is beneficial when we still have the 2nd or 3rd biggest wage bill in the league and subsequently our best players leave PROVES it is a flawed system.

Tell me were you happy that Ramsey started on the wing? And that we didn't see the Ox play? Were you happy that in a must win game our best striker by a country mile was on the bench?

Were you satisfied that after giving the ball away and conceding umpteen free kicks and getting himself booked in the first half, Rambo wasn't taken off at half time?

Were you happy with Jenko's performance? Oh wait - he DIDN'T PLAY!

Honestly your Arsene-fandom is worrying. What he did 10 years ago was exactly that. 10 years ago. Times have changed.

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Global marketplace implies and indicates increased competition, as such the ability to attract and pay according to a structure is more difficult.

We are not the 5th richest club, Stan Kroenke is the majority shareholder of the world's 5th richest club and hence he decides the strategy of the club.

Arsene Wenger is an employee of the club, he acts in accordance with the policies of the organization.

What he has done over the past 10 years is a big part of the reason the club is the 5th largest in the world.

He has enabled the club to grow in terms of revenue generated, acquisition of assets and brand recognition. We continue to attract world class talent, and we do this in a financially responsible manner!

Has he made mistakes? Absolutely! However considering the parameters and confines of our business model he continues to remain the clear choice and hence the continual support of the board!

I prefer to examine the performance of a member of our club based on the entirety of our circumstances! For this reason I will continue to support Arsene Wenger however I will also continue to question the ambitions of the board and owner, it's simply too easy to blame Arsene and I for one believe he more than anyone has the desire to see Arsenal as champions again!

Gunners4life, In AW we trust!

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06 Jan 2013 12:05:20
I am very worried. I know we have time to turn things around but will we?

A post asking whether we'd be happy with 5th and a trophy or 4th and no trophy triggered this post - it has to be 4th?

The thing is, people are suggesting that if we fail to get champs league again then this will be the kick that the club needs - I really doubt it.

Gazidis has said time and time again that they budget for no chaps league football 2 years in every 5 of their budget. He said we are run in such a way that we can afford not to be in the champs league.

Does this sound like a guy desperate to land top 4?

Not to me.

I cannot see Wenger saying it's a disaster we failed to land top 4 - I can definitely see him suggesting that we had a great run, no other team has done that, we should be proud and we are perhaps mad to think it would last forever.

Sorry but I just do not feel as though the significant people at the club really care about top 4. Nothing the have said in the last 8 years makes me feel that they are worried. We don't sign world class players as a champions league team so do you really think we will be worried about not signing them when we aren't?

I don't know if I'm bummed out because I haven't slept well and feel like death or because I have genuine reason to be?

Believable4 Unbelievable1

I think the point has been missed, it seems we are only content to finish top 4, we are Arsenal we should be champions!!

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06 Jan 2013 11:52:46
My team for today:

GK-Wojeich Sczenzny-(picks itself really)
RB-Bacary Sagna-(pace down the right and experience)
CB-Per Mertesacker-(height and strength, someone to bully the likes of graham and michu)
CB-Laurent Kosceilney-(Height and pace)
LB-Kieran Gibbs-(To outpace Dyer and pace down the line to support the winger)
CDM-Thomas Vermaelen-(Experimental here but adds better defensive quality to the midfield, stronger midfield and breaks down attacks, also to add more defensive players to defend set peices)
CAM-Santi Cazorla-(World class passing and can create chances out of nothing, also an eye for goal)
CAM-Jack Wilshere-(Determination, grit and passion sums him up and he can support the attack and also break up play where needed to)
LW-Lukas Podolski-(An eye for gaol down the left and can also help Gibbs when he is in trouble)
RW-Theo Walcott-(Although he doesn't want to play there I feel it is his best position and can cause there wing backs problems and deliver decent crosses)
ST-Olivier Giroud-(He adds height and strength to the attack something we have been missing lately and can get on crosses and can finish with his feet, he is becoming a more rounded player and is adapting to the physical side of play in England now)

I feel this starting 11 will win is the match and my prediction is 3-0 if we start like this.

Gooner Red

Believable1 Unbelievable5

Just seen Michu's goal..... second rate
players nurtured by Wenger for the last 6-7 years. Utter despair watching this crap. No invention. Frail at the back. Why employ Steve Bould if you don't use his knowledge. We need a world class goalie too. Seriously. Sczezney can't save point blankers. Dominating centre half required. Defensive mid also. Wengers time has come. Please do the right thing and resign.
Oh ! and Board shove off too . If only this was possible....

Agree3 Disagree1

Mertesacker is terrible. 5 good games at the beginning of the season does not make me think differently. We need a new CB or put kos and verm back together

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06 Jan 2013 11:50:26
Well folks i personally think we wont win today and i feel Wenger feels the same, ie the reason for no new signings as yet.

Wengers plan is well if we get beat today the fans will hit the roof, but then we will make a bid for someone to calm the fans.

Do we think Wenger is really interested in the clubs finances for arsenal ? emm. well news sources true or false are saying he decides who gets payed there amount of wages really, well mr Wenger why are you the highest payed manager in the premiership 7.5 mill a year.

we need to stop buying could be good players and buy good players fact, because us arsenal fans are sick of hearing yes we are building a special team here very cheep but 2 years latter sell the lot.

come on we have had enough.

Believable7 Unbelievable4

Hold on a minute. They've taken the lead ! Hold on a second minute we've lost the lead ! 2 - 2 . Can't defend. Again and again the same old depressing story. My sister and my wife would do a better job at defending than this lot. I could weep.

Agree5 Disagree0

06 Jan 2013 11:08:35
Everyone stop with the villa rumors he said himself his. Wife is pregnant and there is no chance of him moving to England

Believable2 Unbelievable6

Fingers crossed

1404

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06 Jan 2013 11:06:51
Just been looking at the transfer book and was amazed to see that we were 6/1 fav to sign Ashley Young. Bit pie in the sky maybe. Thought I'd get any opinions. Not too sure myself, but???

Estepona gooner

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When has man u ever sold us a GOOD player? oh yes the french defender who scored an own goal for man u brill.

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06 Jan 2013 11:04:58
Strootman, Howedes and Baines, we have enough up top if Theo stays. Get rid of Geronimo in the summer for a proper winger.

I appreciate that wont happen but geez would be a great team.

Shez, Jenks, Howedes, Verm, Baines
Ox, Jack, Strootman, Cazorla
Theo, Podolski.

Subs. Kos, Giroud, Eisfeld, Gibbs, Sagna, Arteta and Per.

Wouldn't even mind the two Germans in the centre of defence.

Stoner

Believable6 Unbelievable3

06 Jan 2013 10:46:21
Wenger has said that we will only get a striker if we get injurys and if we do then Henry will come back so all this talk of villa and Lopez is rubbish no one will be coming in next three weeks wenger out

Believable2 Unbelievable3

06 Jan 2013 10:28:27
I understand Wenger when he says our priority is to sort out Theo but I actually disagree - our priority surely in this very moment is to bring in players to help us secure top 4 and strengthen us for next season?

Sorry but we are not obliged to sell Theo this window - we should just go about our business screw him, if there are players out there we want then go them, it shouldn't depend on Theo.

I don't get why our focus has seemingly been almost entirely on everything to do with Theo - even the Lopez/Villa deals seem linked to Theo - how's about we go out buy a winger and def mid and a CB and arry on shifting players out and then maybe Theo will think 'actually we've signed some amazing players here this looks good' instead of trying to twist his arm to stay. Believe it or not Wenger Podolski is a CF Giroud is a CF The Ox is probably as good there as Theo so what's the problem? Why are we not trying to deal with the fact that Gervinho is off/crap, we ave no left winger, no defensive midfielder and badly need CBs?

I really don't get why it takes so long to sort this stuff out. Choose any January day - get Theo, Ivan, Wenger in the room, lock the door, et them to hash it out but the end of the day. Tell Theo this the contract, sign it or f*** off, if you wanna go to Liverpool and sit on the bench like Borini and be behind Sterling in the line-up or go to Chelsea and be behind Ba, Moses, Torres, Mata etc, or City and be behind Tevez, Dzeko, Aguero etc and maybe play three games like Sinclair then go ahead! If you want to play for a champs league team and et a start then sign the contract, stfu and stay here! 7 years of watching you clown around and now you play hardball, you're a joke!

And Wenger you need to grow some testicles - and make some signings. Day 6 and NOTHING has happened, so far you've loaned Djourou with no buy option (sorry do you actually want to KEEP this guy?) you haven't released the Squid, you've loaned Chamakh to a rival instead of doing business with a French team desperate to have him, what else?

Why will you not SELL these players? Loads of teams would have Djourou ffs! And Chamakh! Maybe not for the £15m tag you want Arsene but ffs get the jobs done and stop screwing around - look at Fergie - Berba £4m possibly the bargain of the year - Gibson £2m or something, Park £4m or something. Just do what it takes to get rid permanently not bloody loaning!

Also get some decent CBs, Djourou 4th choice is horrendous.

Look at City - Kompany Lescott Toure Richards. Chelsea - Cahill Luiz Terry Ivanovic
Man U - Vidic Rio Jones Smalling Evans

None of them have a 4th or even 5th choice CB as bad as Djourou we need someone who can come in and not make the rest of the team sh!t themselves, also someone who can give the top 3 a break.

This window is about so much more than bloody Theo Walcott, we have bigger fish to fry and if Wenger thinks he can fanny around, not make deals and then blame it on the Walcott thing then he may as well start thinking about life away from the Emirates at the end of the season because we fans will be voting with our feet!

Believable14 Unbelievable4

We need more than Theo signing an extension to stand a chance of getting a Champions league place next season, which yet again is our only realistic aim this season.

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Great read and well said.

Agree2 Disagree0

Would actually say Djourou is a pretty good 4th choice. Agree with the fact we should not be waiting on Walcott to sign other players though.

Hackney Gooner

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06 Jan 2013 10:24:39
Oh the joys of being a gooner all thother clubs tare starting to business early in this window.. Again we seem to take forever to get our business surely it would be better to it done early nd get them in place for the next game.. If theo dont to sign then thats ok but get on with it and sell him.. I dont like the way it drags on.. I really that we do get some players in that will turn our season around.

Joe n

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06 Jan 2013 10:22:19
Socialist wage policy? Irrespective of one's politics this is nuts. Sport is a pure meritocracy and since the day Sky bought football in the U.K. it's solely a business and will not change until or unless the appetitie to watch it goes and/or Sky pull out an no-one replaces it.

Anyway, transfer speculation....

We must re-sign walcott and Villa would only be good business on a loan. Having Villa, Walcott and Giroud is better than just Giroud (I like him but it's a risk just having him as our only main striker) so we must persist with Theo up front. It's so blindingly obvious I am staggered that anyone can think of letting him go. Sure he has been inconsistent but which youngsters aren't aside from the very very best? By the same argument we should have got rid of RVP five years ago.....

It's defence where we need reinforcements: I'd like Micah Richards to replace Sagna, a fourth centre back to support TV5. Koscielny and Per, a left back (Baines is obvious but unlikely) and as always, an experienced reserve 'keeper.
In midfield, much as I'd like one, a Vieira replacement - who wouldn't, but who would we sacrifice?
Look on the Arsenal website first team squad players page: there are seventeen players I think we could do without - we all know the usual suspects, but I'm afraid I'd include Frimpong and Gervinho along with Flappy, Squid, JD (gone), Santos, et al

I know we'd all love a "marquee" signing but under the Peoples Republic of Arsene which greedy mercenary (as we almost all are) will come for £52k per week plus a little bit more so that they don't think they are on the same level as Bendtner?

Max Farnham.

Believable3 Unbelievable0

06 Jan 2013 10:19:25
With Barca still oweing money from the Song deal, Wenger is looking to get villa on the cheap, by letting them off the Song Money, so if they agree, and we end up paying a nominal fee, of say £6-7, which is probably about what Barca have paid us so far for song, we'd basically of had a straight swap of Song for Villa.

D

Believable2 Unbelievable2

Barca most likely want so much money from us for Villa for revenge for us selling Song to them for such a high amount.

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06 Jan 2013 09:03:39
David villa have asked the top folks of camp nou to a move to the emirates.. but if they only wants to accept an offer 16 mio £ I think its way to much.. he's 31 :s

Believable3 Unbelievable1

06 Jan 2013 09:01:41
Arsene say's it is our job to pay wages that are sensible and defensible.
How is it that we have players that we cannot sell but have to loan out like Cham, Djou & squid because there wages are to high for other clubs. Arsene is like a broken record as he keeps on spouting the same rubbish which as lost us our best players. He must be replaced this summer.
KJ

Believable4 Unbelievable0

06 Jan 2013 08:58:52
I thought we were after Isco who is reported close to joining Chelsea. Another Mata?
GunUp.

Believable4 Unbelievable2

06 Jan 2013 08:28:23
I dont just get the Villa thing
Its not good business, spend 18 mill.on an injury prone striker, at his age,
why not keep RVP, offer him more weeken our rivals,
crazy
I want walcot to stay but dont think he is world class striker, the board should have tied him up 2 yrs ago, They need to look at what they are doing,

Believable3 Unbelievable0

Couldn't agree more

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Be another case of the board or the club messing up another contract and if he left will then blame other clubs for paying inflated wages.

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I agree with you about why not keep RVP but the fact is he had his heart set on a move Mancini has come out and said they were in talks with him at the end of March beginning of April he wasn't going to stay no matter what. And he is on much higher wages than villa is as well so we would have to have paid more. And Villa isn't injury prone he played an average of over 30 games a season for every season before the last one where he broke a shin bone difference between one injury and being injury prone. United signed RVP who really is injury prone and look how that worked out.

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06 Jan 2013 07:05:03
My greatest fears were realized after reading
Wenger's quotes today.

At first, I thought the board might have been the ones restricting some of the funds for transfers, contracts etc but now I realize how much power Wenger actually has at the club.

I had real trouble with the bit where Wenger said that they "need to knock out some good players to make room for others". Now this explains a lot of our star players leaving. Of course, some of them wanted to leave but the club didn't nowhere near enough to keep them by offering a better contract.

I absolutely don't blame van Persie at all for leaving if the club didn't offer better terms or weren't ambitious enough to sign better players. I find it absurd that he was earning only 10/20k more than Squillacci or Chamakh who hardly kicked a ball while he carried us to a top 4 spot.

Frankly, I think this "socialist" model in football is doomed to fail if we're after trophies even though it might make the club richer. No star player would want to join us if they're going to be surrounded by average reserve players who earn as much as them. And on the flip side, Arsenal would be a dream club for any average young talent who's looking to just get by and make millions in the process by doing nothing. I really don't understand this philosophy of some players can't earn more than others that don't do as much for the team.

For the past couple years, we've scraped our way into the champions league and it saddens me to say that I think we won't be so lucky this time.

Enough with all the talk of limited resources Wenger has had to work it, he chose to work within those constraints and it's clear to see the club hasn't moved forward in the last 5 years. 19 points behind man u last season and getting ucl because of a last minute tackle in our last game of the season is simply not good enough for a club like Arsenal.

Up until this point, I have always been pro Wenger, but these new quotes are starting to make things clear for me now. I hope Wenger still knows what he's doing and I'm willing to wait and see what happens but come the end of the season if we don't get top 4, then I think we might have to look for another manager.

COYG,

Nate

Believable13 Unbelievable7

06 Jan 2013 04:19:03
Wenger act like a big club manager for once in the last seven years and and stop with the compromises.

Walcott & Sagna need to given 3 days to accept the club's offer.

If they do not accept, then approach ManCity and offer Bac or Theo for a straight swap with Micah Richards and sell the other for £15m and buy Baines for whatever it takes, then we improve our defence and have a group of full backs so good that we would not have to spend money on expensive wingers.

6 months starting now to find buyers for Park, Santos, Djourou, Chamack, Bendtner and Denilson, or risk them running the last year or so down too, and adding to this embarrassment. If they do not agree to moves away because they'll earn a few quid less than the millions we've given them for doing eff all, then tell them to stay away from training - let's see what deals they'll each get in a year's time as free agents that haven't even trained for a year! Let them rot properly, these guys have gone AWOL at the time of need so F*** THEM don't even waste coaches time keeping them fit.

Let AA23 go back to Zenit or anywhere else, get as much of his absurb 110k p/w earnings off the books for the last 6 months.

Tell Gervinho to stay in Africa on holiday, he might get poached for that forehead, and look for a new club, cos Ox and Eisfeld are playing now.

Sicknotes Rosicky and Diaby...well I'm not so much angry as dissappointed...i think diabys contract is up this summer, and get what you can for TR7


redgoon

Believable15 Unbelievable2

Redgoon, I almost entirely and wholeheartedly agree. Go through the squad if you would and weed out the rest. I like the idea of not even training those we don't want any more

Max Farnham

Agree6 Disagree1

I think we have had the best out of sagna, as he is getting very sloppy and seems not to care as with the rest of the team.

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06 Jan 2013 04:05:55
With Holtby going to Spurs next season, how about going for Hummels or Subotic

sheyzal

Believable5 Unbelievable4

CB's arent our problem. We have 3 very talented players in this position.

We need full backs, a cdm, fwd

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06 Jan 2013 03:57:23
We won't sign David Villa, I just don't see it.

Maybe on a loan, but I still think Lopez is more likely.
Even though we should bring in Falcao, whatever it costs, he is a goal machine.

Nick.

Believable2 Unbelievable5

This isnt fifa Nick. Its not that easy. Look how hard it is for money bags Chelsea to try and sign Falcao. He wants massive money and a top club...which is not really us anymore. He will go to Madrid.

Barca have already ruled out a loan move for Villa, not gonna happen.

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06 Jan 2013 03:09:47
Szesney KEEP
Fabianski SELL (50k on a backup GK! really) (Any decent backup with on not too high wages)
Mannone 3rd choice on 30k?

Gibbs KEEP
Santos SELL Not a left Back/On 60k!(New Backup left back needed)
Koscielny KEEP
Vermaelen KEEP
Mertesacker KEEP
Djourou Decent 4th choice (Not a right back)(If CB'S continue to be inconsistent, sell both squill and djourou and bring in Howedes/mbiwa/any CB to challenge the 3)(Maybe in his personal interests to prove himself elsewhere)Overly criticized at times)
Squillaci SELL on 50k! kmt Winner of Arsenal's biggest financial waste
Sagna KEEP (Possibly 2 season's left)
Jenkinson KEEP

Diaby Gamble on injuries and KEEP
Wilshere KEEP
Arteta KEEP
Rosicky SELL on 80k!(Perhaps end of season)(Replace with another CM)(Injured and getting old)
Ramsey Loan (Or stop playing on the wings)(Plays a different style of CM to the roles we use...)
Cazorla KEEP
Coquelin KEEP - Good Backup/prospect
Arshavin Sell - on 78k (Should have been playing Cazorla's role. A bit late now) (Proper winger to replace)
Frimpong - Resign/Maybe loan Good backup/prospect
Park - Sell on 50k!kmt
Denilson - Sell on 60k! (Replace with another CM should have been holtby for next season - oh well)

Podolski - KEEP (Should play striker sometimes)
Giroud - KEEP
Walcott - KEEP - (Be smart about resigning. Shouldn't be highest paid. 80-90k compromise not higher than that.
Chamberlain - KEEP
Gervinho - Probably KEEP.Reason= (Can't Shoot, Bad decision making but great dribbler and can beat his man. Needs faith and fan support. Shouldn't play striker.
Chamakh - SELL. On 50k!(Lost form and had lack of opportunities. Tough luck no longer needed. (Replace with a quality striker)
Bendtner - SELL On 50k!(He might actually have potential to be good. Oh well. Will never be loved

Believable10 Unbelievable3

Very, very good post. I disagree just with Diaby situation. He can be a great player, but is a HUGE gamble... He had too many chances... He must move on and be replaced with proper tough scary DM

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It's easy to say sell all the players you mentioned, and I agree they should go, but the reality is not many other clubs outside the top few in most countries could afford to buy them. Don't even mention the wages.
We have an alarming number of non performing over paid primma donnas who are more than happy to sit around from week to week and have no problem taking the money.

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06 Jan 2013 11:49:54
How do you know everyones wages?? You believe everything you read in the papers?

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Nice post i would sell diaby/ghervinho/manonne / djourour /sagna

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I agree. Sagna has played inconsistently lately, if he continues, he may also need to be properly replaced. Agree with your semi- defence of djourou/gervinho.
Positions in order of need
1) backupLeft Back
2) Centre Mid (maybe 2)
3) GK
4) Winger
5) Centre back
6) Striker

Never change too much in a January transfer window. Getting 3 of these is realistic.

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06 Jan 2013 01:33:25
would you be really surprised if theo is already signed but not revealed as cover for wenger. So he can go safely and try so sign players but only to be unwilling to fork an extra 1-2 million on to the bid to get them. then after the dissapointment he will say, " oh its ok weve signed theo" all of you fans should love me.
Love arsene, but we are used to him by know, would this situation really surprise you?
NI Gunner

Believable5 Unbelievable1

It would make sense to announce Theo's contract first. if everyone thinks he's leaving, clubs will want more for their players since they know we NEED to buy to replace him.

psychocyst.

Agree1 Disagree0

Good point
NI Gunner

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06 Jan 2013 01:19:23
I asked this question a year ago, the response was pretty 50-50. So..

Agree - FA Cup winners and 5th/6th place in PL.
Disagree - Trophyless year but 4th place in PL.

I think a trophy and a good run in Cl would put the club in a better position than the monotony of 4th again. Maybe losing CL football for a season would be the kick up the @rse we need. The board seem content with CL football every year so surely they will take action if it were gone. Whether they sack the scapegoat that is Wenger or gift him £100m to spend change is good. We've already secured a british core so lets progress from their. Man C, Man U, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been in Europa league recently/currently so it would not be too bad. I reckon we would win the bloody thing.

I cannot see this cycle of deprivation being broken without a catalyst for change. A trophy or even runners up/semi finalists of CL would reinstate Arsenal as a top team and we would be able to sign those top players.

Detroit Gooner

Believable8 Unbelievable15

4th place

Paul - Rochester

Agree1 Disagree3

Just see liverpool...

Agree0 Disagree0

Hurts to say it but the FA cup has lost its luster.

European football attracts top players.

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06 Jan 2013 01:10:00
to be a champions legue title contender what we need is
ins:
villa
adrian lopez
mvila
mbiwa
luke shaw

outs
andre santos
squilliaci

Believable6 Unbelievable3

06 Jan 2013 00:58:32
Hey guys,

These Villa rumours seem to be gathering pace now, I'm not so sure that he would be the perfect signing for us. If we're going for a striker than we might as well try Higuain. He's similar to Villa in that he's a great finisher, pacey and would complement well with Giroud in a 2 man attack for example. The fact that he's still only 25, experienced at the highest level and doesn't get much playing time at madrid (granted his injury issues), I think he would be a great signing for our team. What do you guys think?

Nate

Believable6 Unbelievable3

You can only purchase players who are available to buy. Higuain is not for sale.

Stezza.

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06 Jan 2013 00:06:58
Starting to think that Podolski and Giroud were signed both as strikers for when Theo leaves.

With AW looking for a winger, Pod and Giroud can be used centrally. And I'd rather have Podolski as a CF than Theo any day.

Villa, Podolski, Ox and Santi front four anyone?


Kev88

Believable2 Unbelievable4

06 Jan 2013 00:01:06
i really want david villa at arsenal a spanish 1st team player who has played at barca can bring that light in this dark time for arsenal.

i would also love lopez he would be great for us to play along with villa and theo if we play 4-3-3.

for me theo should go we could cash in and get better players with the money but he cant go now he can leave in the summer or so.

i can see another chamberlain in zaha they both will play great zaha is much better then gervinho so i will take zaha any day.

richards i love this guy when he was in man city he was strong pacy every thing i loved about a player i always dreamed of having him in arsenal and now we are linked i am so happy.

bring in m'villa a superb dm and can ruin teams happiness with his strength he can also pick out a pass sign him


london gunner

Believable3 Unbelievable2

05 Jan 2013 23:42:54
Agree for Villa
Disagree for Lopez

eliems

Believable13 Unbelievable6

05 Jan 2013 23:12:59
It's pretty obvious that our midfield isn't working out at the moment. Now Diaby is back, do you prefer him or Arteta. In my opinion Diaby is one of our best players when he's fit, while Arteta is class but the physique for the defensive midfielder position isn't good enough.

Agree for Diaby
Disagree for Arteta

Believable6 Unbelievable10

Diaby can come back into the side without dropping Arteta. Shift Cazorla onto the wing and play Arteta, Diaby and Wilshere in the middle.

Stezza.

Agree5 Disagree0

Arteta and wilshere and Ramsey must rotate on Wilshere's or Santi's positions but Diaby or player similar to him must start every game

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05 Jan 2013 22:55:25
The shear fear that having David Villa in our our starting 11 would cause defences is worth it. Do you think Fergie gave a special mention to Gervinho when he was up front NO! Villa on the other hand am guessing will be a good 2 days of training and running drills to look after him therefore creating space for others. Am sure most oppposing managers tell there players to give Gervinho loads of space and time cause he wont do squat except run into no space at the byline and either fall over or put in a useless cross.

Holmesy

Believable5 Unbelievable1

05 Jan 2013 22:43:14
Why are people on here getting so upset about holtby and ba we didnt want them and we didnt need them 1 is an unprover youngster which is what we dont need when we have enough decent youngsters and 3 of the best midfielders around and the other 1 is a stiker with a bad injury record and has got metal pins in his leg which can cause his career to end at anytime.
I know i dont care about them 2 players going elsewhere and i know there are better ones around that we will sign.
I am really hoping that we do get david villa as i think he is world class and 1 of the best strikers around.
Aah

Believable2 Unbelievable0

05 Jan 2013 22:39:06
Either Villa or Lopez has to be Walcotts replacement no way we sign Villa if Walcott is staying. Got to be why Walcott thing is dragging so club can go look walcott gone hello VILLA. I just dont see the logic otherwise. We dont have RVP wages on the books now plus rid of Chamakh, Djourou, Squill going probs Arshavin too so is room in wages. Villa is truly world class Spains all time top scorer says it all but i am for some very unsure about his signing but if it comes off it is a statement of intent by the club and hopefully followed by 3 more signings in the window of a LB, Keeper, Left Winger.

Holmesy

Believable2 Unbelievable0

05 Jan 2013 21:00:47
Yann M'Villa odds have pushed out to 5/2 from 11/8 and QPR are now favourites to sign him. Does this mean anything or just where bets are being placed.

Andylat

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It means wenger has no interest in him otherwise we would of got him in the summer. Just more media rubbish linking us to him.

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