Arsenal Banter Archive May 06 2014

06 May 2014 21:59:22
Ed025, aka the all knowing Ed (yes I was on Toffee page earlier and read your argument with Tommy Red, loved it lol).

Distin/Jag's better than Mert/Kos?

Serious?

Now, if you said Baines/Coleman better than Sagna/Gibbs I might agree.

If I threw a wardrobe down a flight of stairs in a 30 storey high-rise tower block it would have more finesse than Distin, and be more entertaining.

Jagielka? The bloke has more injuries than my local A and E dept.
In fact, he's so injury prone he should be an Arsenal player.
Abou Diaby was going to vote for him in his 'prem league team of the season', but decided against it, saying "I like him, but he has far too many injuries".

Ed, I think those tight Speedos have cut the circulation to you brain mate, or the Southern Comfort has started to kick in.

Awaiting your reply, lol.

{Ed025's Note - how very dare you dags.. distin is a legend mate, and this is jags first lay off in 2 years, they are certainly better than lurch and herman munster in your back 4.. :)

Ouch Ed025,

Any truth in the rumour Jags and Distins nicknames are Headless and chicken'?.

Only joking mate, 2 decent centre halves, to be fair.

I think Distin for his age is a quality center half. that duo is probably right behind the chelsea CB pairing and the Arsenal CB pairing.

spurs, Man utd, and liverpool just don't have a proper partnership at the back, while man city have done quite well just replying on Kompany and a headless demichellis ( although he's better than spock - lescott)

Distin? I have seen cruise ships turn quicker.although to be fair Distin comes ahead of a deli counter when it comes to slicing!

Would love to have a straight 100 metre race with distin and 0 miles per mertesacker

{Ed025's Note - good idea saint..but not if its raining..as we dont want the bolts in mertz neck rusting now do we mate.. :)

06 May 2014 21:01:38
Hi my fellow Gooners

Not long to go before we head Wembley way and play the FA cup final, all I hope for is that the players are pumped up and understand what it means to the fans and this great club what a major honour will do for our confidence. We have to take the initiative and not give Hull a chance, they maybe the underdog but we will have to close down their play and attack with pace. There will be the inevitable nerves but hey! we are the Arsenal and shouldn't be scared of anybody- success breeds confidence.

People may not agree but all this clamour for Fabregas is getting boring. For one, he is not a legend, two we do not need him, and three if he does come who do you drop. We have a choice of midfield from Ozil, Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcott, Santi, Rosicky, Ox, Arteta, Flamini, Kallstrom, Gnabry, Eisfeld, Zelalom and when fit Diaby. Don't get me wrong he is a very good player but Wenger will only put an Ozil/Santi or Ramsey/Wilshere out onto the wing to accomodate him, do we really need that? - look at the damage it did to Ramsey's progress, the fans were booing him but now he is playing his natural position he has flourished and is an important part of the team. Fabregas had an opportunity to carry on playing for Arsenal but left for Barca and is now not wanted there, he like many other ex Arsenal players are pondering their futures, whereas, I believe we are only a defensive mid and potent striker away from a very successful team. We have youngsters coming through, we have quality attacking midfielders, so Fabregas IMO is not required full stop-period.
Wenger should use the last Premiership game to test out a few youngsters and rest some key players. the FA cup is a must win game, Champions League is secured and we must think for next season.
Wenger should spend big on a marquee striker, buy a solid powerhouse defensive mid, cover for centre half and right back if Sagna leaves. The team has progressed from last season but in reality Wenger's bad January transfer window stopped us from achieving IMO the Double, we were top of the table, even with injuries mounting we were still creating chances but our forwards were not producing, purchasing a quality striker would have lifted the team.(the money spent would have been made up in shirt sales and winning honours) Hindsight is a horrible, cruel thing and Wenger will probably have sleepless nights about should've, could've, why didn't I. etc, but you live and die by your actions!
The FA cup could be the catalyst this club needs to sustain a successful team for many years to come.

onwards and upwards

Hulk Hogunner

{Ed025's Note - i cant believe he never asked for your advice hulk!, it looks like thats where he went wrong mate.. :)

06 May 2014 18:43:33
So if the Sunderland, West Brom result means Norwich are relegated what kind of team do you think Arsene should put out Sunday.

Places for Kallstrom, Sanogo, Jenks, Rosicky, Vermaelen, Viviano, Zalelem. Could see Diaby and Wilshere getting 45 minutes each. Bendtner at CB. Lol.

What does everyone think?

I personally don't think we should rest ALL of our starters and I don't think Wenger will. This will probably be to keep the main players' match sharpness! Maybe rest a few who may have niggles or play in positions that make them more injury prone. But for the most part I reckon we should and probably will only rest a few but players like Rosicky and Flam will start rather than others you mentioned.

Bentner at cb would be class!

{Ed025's Note - hes the best one you have got IMO.. :)

Szczesny (as he needs a clean sheet to win the golden gloves outright)
Jenkinson
Mertesacker
Vermaelen
Monreal
Flamini
Kallstrom
Rosicky
Wilshere
Chamberlain
Sanogo

Would be my team and rest up 10 players for the final.

Give bouldy 45 mins and put wenger in goal for 10. Lol

All in favour of playing the 'reserves' Jen, but I think we are on a good roll at the moment and we should keep the momentum going for the FA Cup.

Steve, no Thierry?

#upset.

Diaby should be physio for the day. He's had enough injuries, diagnosing injury should be quick and simple to him

06 May 2014 23:00:04
I'm thinking along the lines of JW and Dags to be honest but it's a difficult one. I don't know if he'd rest that many Greeny.

And Dags steve is simply going for the pace and power we've been missing with Bouldy and Wenger. ;-)

Ash I see Jen.

Manu petit anybody?

I believe he will play players that will feature in the F A Cup Final, to keep them ticking over, with the exception of Fabianski & any players carrying minor knocks.

07 May 2014 18:05:07
In my opinion, rest key players. Such as Gibbs, Sagna, Koscielny, Ramsey, Ozil and Giroud.

Team for Norwich: Szeszncy, Jenkinson, Mert, Verm, Monreal, Kallstrom, Arteta, Cazorla, Rosicky, Podolski, Sanogo.

Bring on Ox, Diaby and Wilshere (if fit) as subs to get a bit of match sharpness.

Team for FA Cup: Fabianksi, Sagna, Mert, Kos, Gibbs, Ramsey, Flamini, Ox, Ozil, Podolski, Giroud.

06 May 2014 17:42:31
Shezza in line for the golden gloves award, if only we hadn't that silly 6 week period

We always have a silly six week period, it's kind of traditional.

06 May 2014 11:59:16
i have had this discussions with a few friends and they all disagree. :(

i knw we payed 42 mil for ozil, but a season has potential 65 games for us. why is it that we expect him to play all games and does the player expect to play all those games for 90 mins.

similarly with walcott, yes u have speed and provide us with an option but we shouldn't expect u to play every game if u r fit.

in my opinion it isn't utilizing the squad in an efficient manner,

say 2 games a week, the first one starts ozil, walcott, ramsey and the second one start cazorla, wilshere, aoc. is that bad and why?

some say consistency and players need time to gel, but our squad has been together for a long time and that's why we have training sessions.

lets have your opinions.

I think having players who are accepting of this secondary role is the key to squad depth.

Rosicky, Arteta, Flamini are the only 3 I can think of who will gladly come off the bench and give us that option.

Now let's look at bayern, and after having not such a successful year to their standards and sparse game time for some of their key players they are asking questions and angling for moves (motivated by money or possibly dissatisfaction with role in team)

Goetze, Thomas Muller, Javi Martinez, are a few stellar names who seem to be upset about game time, I can only imagine mandzukic just adding to their frustrations once lewandowski joins.

So is the key to squad depth 22-25 first team players?

when I look at Man city, I see

Aguero, Silva, Nasri, Toure, Fernandinho, Kompany, Zabaleta who are their consistent starters, and the other players just keep rotating depending on injuries or competitions and so on.

So are they quiet because of the money they get to sit on the bench or because they were signed with the intention of limited game time?

At Arsenal we have

Ozil, ramsey, Ox, Walcott, Kos, Per, Sczesny, these are the key players, those that have no fear of losing their spot.

But would accept to sit out a game here and there especially in the FA cup and league cup to concentrate on the bigger competitions.

I do not think we need to address our depth by buying squad players but turning some of our current starters into squad players.

I'm being narrow minded and only replying to the Özil part, because I saw it and all I know is rage.
I have the exact issue with my mates.

First off, Mesut is adapting to the league.

Some do instantly, like Santi and Sagna

Some never do, like Gervinho.

But others take time, like Koscienly and Mertesaker who, now they've settled, are easily, EASILY the best CB pairing in
The league (I went there, come at me other fans).

Not just that, Özil isn't, nor has he ever been, a 90 minute player.

Madrid rarely played him over 70 minutes as he doesn't have the stamina to keep it up.

Look at his best displays, they all came after breaks.

Firstly when he first joined for about 3 months, then he dropped off.

Then he got injured and came back v Everton and tore the place up.

Then was injured again and came back a fortnight ago and was unplayable since.

He's not like a lot of our players who can run for 90mins, but at Madrid they had the luxury of subbing him and playing Modric etc in that AMC role.

We don't always have that, but should really look at moving Santi in the centre after 60-70 then moving Poldi or Monreal to the left to replace him.

Özil will be sublime next season, as long as we, A: rest him properly and B: provide him a mobile forward he can aim for and use his runs, instead of aiming at the tree that is Giroud.

{Ed025's Note - ahh, poor ozil...cant manage 90mins a week..he wants to try bloody digging roads for 40 hours a week, and for lesss than he pays for a decent meal!...rant over...by the way distin and jagielka are far superior to merts and kos..

Hey, Ed025, I agree with your first point wholeheartedly!

Whilst I don't possess the fitness to play a sport for 90 minutes at a high tempo either, and by 90 I mean 40, it does frustrate that a highly fit and conditioned athlete isn't set for 90 minutes week in and out, however, it is what it is!
I'll forgive him when he's terrorising opposition midfields next season!

As for the second point. let's not be silly here!

{Ed025's Note - im telling you D, jags and distin all the way mate, both good footballers as well, not hoofballers like..?? :)

Merts and Kos are cultured players!

Have you seen the pass accuracy for these 'hoofballers'?!

There's one way to settle this ed025.

We'll never agree on this.

I propose shots.

Last man standing is victorious.

06 May 2014 17:33:20
Ed0025,

Please leave the jokes to Dags and G62 :-) lol.

Totally agree Jen, lol.

{Ed025's Note - its no use leaving it to the chuckle brothers jen, mike and bernie winters were funnier.. :)

Eds right about Jagielka I've seen him a couple of times pass the ball through the eye of a needle into the net, Howard didn't stand a chance with either

Lol Ed,

Snorbitz was lovely though mate.

{Ed025's Note - he was chooochy face.. :)

Mike and Bernie winters were also better centre halves than Jags and Distin

06 May 2014 10:34:31
See, with LFC providing so much comedy on the field, we don't need jokes posted on here!

You're 4th mate.

06 May 2014 08:28:29
Suarez wasn't crying under his top, not sure where that idea comes from. He was shaking with laughter, he has a clause in his contract saying if Liverpool don't win the league he can leave for Real Madrid

Its going to be tough for Brendan Rogers next season with expectations being greatly raised, CL football to cope with and top four an absolute minimum requirement and all very likely to have to be done without Suarez.
Tough at the top? I think he's about to find out just what that means, if he gets it right he will become an Anfield legend for sure.

06 May 2014 01:44:56
IF Cesc is available and IF we have the supposed 1st option clause, surely we activate it. Like Wenger said on Ozil, when you have the opportunity to sign someone of that class, you take it. Regarding where he fits in the team, can anyone see him playing a holding mid role like Gerrard has slotted into so well? Pinpoint passes from the back and intelligence to read and break up play. Anyone?

No thanks, he walked out on Barca as a kid, he walked out on Arsenal despite being captain & having 3 years left on his contract. The Barca fans have sussed out his limitations as a player. In any event, we have many options in midfield and funds would be better spent in other areas.

Im not exactly known for my brilliant predictions but I think Cesc will come home this summer but he will not be playing a holding role because that's Benders job :-)
Ox Ramsey Bender Cesc Ozil, I'd be a little chuffed with that

Could play as a false number 9 like he does for Spain. Pointless debate though he's not coming