Arsenal Banter Archive August 07 2015

 

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07 Aug 2015 23:08:07
Whenever I see Rambo or Wilshere being put out on the wing, it seems like a desperate attempt by Wenger to have a British player in the line up. Truth be told, fully fit, our strongest starting 11 this season might (if the Benzema rumours come to pass) only have Ox as the sole British player

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08 Aug 2015 07:59:12
I do not believe that Wenger tries to include British players in the team, unless they are the best players he has available. At times we have a selection problem as we have a selection of quality midfield players that prefer to play centrally opposed to wide. Hence, at times we have played Ramsey, Ozil and Cazorla wide. At full strength, clearly Walcott and Sanchez appear to fill the wide spots.

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08 Aug 2015 10:41:10
I'm not sure I'd go that far mate!
I personally think it's just a case of selection headache.

You have Ramsey, who had an amazing season in the 13/14 season, so you don't really want to drop him, but at the same time, you've got Cazorla and Coquelin who were in great form last season, so you don't want to break that up.
Yes, Ramsey suffered being out wide last season, but there just wasn't the opportunity to play him centrally.

I read somewhere that people think Wenger's trying to make Aaron into the new Ray Parlour, turning a centre mid into a wide player.

I think Ramsey would of been first choice Cm, but when Cazorla and Coq struck up that ridiculous partnership in the midfield, they were basically the first names on that team sheet.

This season, time may catch up with Santi a little, but I very much doubt it.
By playing in a deeper role, whilst there's more work to do with regards to possession, he doesn't have to be darting forward all the time to continue attacks. (Though he probably still will)
He's become more of a creator now, allowing the likes of Özil, Sanchez and Walcott to take up positions where they're dangerous.
He's basically undropable in current form.

Whilst Le Coq's work needs no explanation.

So, unless one of them drops their game, Ramsey and Wilshere will see less game time centrally this season.

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08 Aug 2015 11:12:50
Arsene showed what he thought was his best 11 during the run last season and the only change to that I see is the Theo and Olly decision, Rambo is in Arsenes best 11 as we stand.

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08 Aug 2015 11:20:07
Ramsey deserves to be in the team. Arguably our most important attacking player when he's on form.

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08 Aug 2015 13:33:10
Balance or lack of, gets undone eventually and that's a problem, a big one. Shoehorning your favourite players in a team is wrong. Why do we have defenders, midfielders and strikers and why don't we put our strikers in defence and vice versa, because its not what you do. Ramsay isn't a winger as long as he's got a hole in his arse. Make the players fight for their best pisitions and have the best player in the correct positions fighting. Later on in games, for tactical reasons, no problem. If ramsay or whoever can't get in his position, make him fight not give them a free pass to get in.

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08 Aug 2015 19:49:55
Top post Steve.

Totally agree.

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07 Aug 2015 20:04:47
I'm going to call it - been sussing out the Benzema rumours and it is close - even the BT guy Jake Humphrey says it is on the line - all my eggs in this basket - utter disappointment otherwise but the signs are he is coming

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07 Aug 2015 21:23:09
After my virulent backing of Benzema to arsenal a few posts down, I'm going to balance it a bit and be the bringer of bad news.

Humphrey (who I have no idea if he's reliable or not, even thought he works for a sports broadcasting company) didn't day Benzema was close, he said;

'A source who is rarely wrong tells me Arsenal are close to the signing that would make them genuine contenders. We shall see'

Yes, the assumption is he means Benzema, but what we need to win us the league is slightly subjective.
Most of us, myself included, say it's a striker, Benzema.
But he may feel we really need a new defensive mid, or even a new centre back.

Thing is, as we all know, most journalists tweet stuff to raise their profile, we as fans desperately want a big striker and with all the rumours flying about, we're clinging to any news about one.
All the people that will of followed Humphrey now, waiting to see what he says about it, that's just added to his profile and his marketability.

So I wouldn't get too excited just yet mate!

On the other hand, YES KARIM!

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07 Aug 2015 21:52:00
Wether it's Benz or not it must be someone special. Wenger keeps dropping the "exeptional" bomb.

Something is going on for sure

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07 Aug 2015 22:14:10
Balotelli?

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07 Aug 2015 23:04:17
G62,

Going to fine you 2 weeks wages :-)

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07 Aug 2015 23:28:00
I'm cool with that Dags as I'm now self-employed and just coming to the end of a fortnights holiday so that amounts to around? Let me see 0 :-) so until Monday Balotelli Balotelli Balotelli :-)

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08 Aug 2015 00:45:51
Lol G62,

As Rocky once said, "Sue me for what?"

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07 Aug 2015 18:47:30
Hi people was wondering what are peoples thoughts on us going for vlaar a a 4th cb he is free with premiership experience . I think he would be good cover

Believable1 Unbelievable0

07 Aug 2015 20:25:33
Very poor choice mate

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07 Aug 2015 20:30:45
Decent CH but we already have Kos, Per and Gabriel, with Chambers as cover.

5 into 2 is a bit too much expense unless you are City or Chelsea.

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07 Aug 2015 21:16:12
I believe Chambers is out 4th Centre back, Monreal our 5th and Vlaar being out till Christmas probably wouldn't help his cause. Not for me

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07 Aug 2015 21:27:10
As I did a few posts down, I'm going to agree with Stephen again (I'm becoming too agreeable, this will have to change) but only on certain grounds.

If we could get Vlaar on a 1 year deal, for a lowish wage, it'd be win win.

He knows he wouldn't be a starting choice for us.
He knows that even Gabriel will be ahead of him.

But Calum has a while to go before he's at a level to play for us consistently.

We saw last season, that he did well when needed, but occasionally he was a bit overwhelmed.

Someone like Vlaar would just give us a bit more of an option, someone we can play in the Capital one, or even just as cover, as, God forbid, if our defenders pick up injuries/suspensions at the same time, we will be a little short.

I wouldn't mind Vlaar, just for a season.

That said, I don't think he's of the quality we should be looking at, but sometimes you just need a stop gap.

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07 Aug 2015 23:43:50
Who Ron Crete. I was under the impression when pundits went on about him that he was solid. But the concrete ref is that he runs like his feet are stuck in some

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08 Aug 2015 00:06:13
This deal is very much on. We will try our hardest. What a buy he will be.

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08 Aug 2015 13:36:37
Derby i think you posted in the wrong thread. Or at least i hope you did, he would be just like mert and we only want one mert not two. Calum will come through i think.

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07 Aug 2015 17:05:21
Got a Barclays fantasy football league set up feel free to join code is 167948-83013

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07 Aug 2015 18:30:53
nice one Saint..have just joined....

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07 Aug 2015 18:49:02
Is that the sky sports 1

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08 aug 2015 09:05:23
barclays

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{Ed002's Note - Perhaps adding a link would help?}

07 Aug 2015 10:20:22
OK so anyone knows what happened to Christian Beilik? He was supposed to be integrated into the first team this season, looked good from where he came. Tall and strong and great range of passing for his age!

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07 Aug 2015 13:52:11
He is or has been training with the 1st team this week, if you check the Arsenal web page he is in the photos of them all training. :-)

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07 Aug 2015 20:34:44
He might make a few cameo appearances in first team this season, in cup games etc and maybe the odd league game.

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08 Aug 2015 00:16:32
Okay thanks guys! I really think he can go on to become a good player for us!

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07 Aug 2015 13:34:31
From what I understand the Benzema deal is agreed, but is being kept quiet while Real are negotiating the signing of de Gea with Man U, as they don't need United knowing that they have funds from the sale to use.
Hence, de Gea isn't playing for United this weekend and Benzema has a 'thigh' injury..... Watch this space....

Believable3 Unbelievable0

07 Aug 2015 13:50:25
It won't happen I hope it does but it won't

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07 Aug 2015 14:10:06
Come on Robbie don't tease us. Sounds plausible and I have no info to share other than I have a real good feeling that it will happen

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07 Aug 2015 21:25:53
You might be onto something Robbie

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07 Aug 2015 09:28:24
Benzema hasn't even been to the Emirates for his medical yet but once he has the city utd and Chelsea fans should start to get very exited about his imminent arrival at one of them :-)

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07 Aug 2015 10:19:16
the manchester clubs need benzema more than us g62. if he comes to england i think manchester will be his destination.

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07 Aug 2015 10:35:14
If he goes to the premiership it be with arsenal

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07 Aug 2015 16:08:34
Stephen surely you remember Higuain and Mata having their medicals with us before joining Napoli and Chelsea :-) infact I think Higuain even bought a house in London especially for his medical if memory serves me right.

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07 Aug 2015 18:50:23
Really don't remember any of them having a medical

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07 Aug 2015 19:54:53
I'm with Stephen here and that's not just because I'm massively biased.

Chelsea don't need a striker, Costa's first choice, falcao will make a claim under Jose and Remy is happy to be their third option.
Benzema wouldn't join a club where he doesn't start.

Utd need a striker, yes, but first off, Rooney is starting centrally this season by all accounts, so assume he'll be the first choice.
Not only that, if you're about to move abroad, to join a club, who do you ask for advice?
People who've played there.
I'm sure Di Maria will give Utd and the fans that curse his name, a glowing review/

He's not joining Liverpool, he's only going to go somewhere with Champions league football.

That leaves city as the only other real option.
And once again, they've got Aguero who's their first choice.l and they've got Bony who's going to make a claim.

Whereas we, have Giroud as our only out and out, 100% striker and then Welbeck who can play up top or out wide, with Walcott and Alexis as strikers if needed.
So, straight out the bat he's almost guaranteed to start, at a club in the champions league.
Following from that, who's he going to ask for advice?
National team colleagues, like Koscielny and Giroud who get a lot of love and respect from the fans.
Plus Özil, who's self admittedly had a rough season and a half when he first joined.
But through that rough patch, the majority of the fans still sung his name, cheered him on.
That's the sort of thing he's going to tell his friend and former team mate.

We can offer him a big wage too, like other clubs.

But, the best for last, we have Arsene Wenger.
A world renowned coach, known for his love of bringing French players to the club, who's moulded and guided some of the best strikers the league has seen in the likes of Henry, Anelka, Kanu, Bergkamp (to a degree) and has been chasing benzema since his Lyon days.

So, to sum up, i too believe, that if Benzema leaves Real Madrid, he will come to Arsenal.

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07 Aug 2015 20:32:44
People it was a joke!
Neither Mata or Higuain actually had a medical and Higuain certainly never bought a house in London to have a medical with Arsenal prior to joining Napoli and i would be ever so slightly surprised if Benzema actually has a medical with us before joining city utd or Chelsea, although he wouldn't be the first to do so, Sorry Yes Yes Yes he would be the first to do so, phew that was close :-)

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07 Aug 2015 21:27:06
Some people are so gullible :-)

I mean that in the nicest possible sense.

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07 Aug 2015 07:29:26
In answer to the Monreal and Gibbs argument, we did finish 3rd with them, more so using Monreal, and once we had Coquelin in front of our DODGY defence we achieved this over the last 19 games.

Arsenal, 42pts scored 37 conceded 13.

Chelsea, 41pts, scored 32 conceded 16.

87pts won the title and Mourinho thinks it will require less this year because the smaller clubs are attracting some quality players.

It's not always down to an individual, but a collective.

Chelsea won the league with a right back playing at left back and the Ox kindly showed him he's not as good as everyone suggested he is on Sunday.

If we can pay the wages yes Benzema would be brilliant and another proper defensive midfielder because Arteta is someway off the pace accepting he is probably nowhere near match fit yet after his injury.

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07 Aug 2015 08:40:04
Good post Jenny and I agree Monreal has proved he's good enough in a team that has a DM works hard and is disciplined, before the city game that changed everything he looked average but to be fair at times even Kos looked weak in a team that got exposed so often.
A DM and the players refusing to go to city and get beat and possibly humiliated again playing in the usual manner changed everything.
I would love to see Gibbs improve too but for me he's a winger converted to LB who does his absolute best but just lacks a natural defensive mind.

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07 Aug 2015 09:01:15
Thats a v wierd post i must say, gibbs is a lb and always has been, he put in some excellent tackles i remember like one against wba if i am right to get us to 4th and a few more, its just injuries kept haunting him and there was never a good replacement, those were santos etc. So like scz he always knew his pos wasnt in danger until monreal displaced him which was only last season. Now he has lost his place and in some of the games he played last season he was trying too hard and having awful games. He is in the same mould as cole and clichy

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07 Aug 2015 09:09:37
I'm not adverse to improving anywhere g62 and that's how you stay ahead of the game but as a team playing as we are we're a very good team, now with Cech in goal.

I'm not sure how many players will come in this window, we have been linked to Gaya the Seville left back but he's apparently just signed a new 5 yr deal, Rahman the guy linked to Chelsea didn't get great reviews on sly the other day but I've not seen him play and Rodriguez the Wolfburg left back didn't look that great against us. Moreno was supposed to be a great young left back and was pretty woeful at Liverpool.

Like the DM position it's a difficult one to fill, Carvalho is injured and we've also been linked to Krychowiak but as a previous fan of Wanyama I'm now not so certain and what do I know. :-)

So either of those two and one of Benzema who looks to be Wengers preferred target or Lewandowski would take us up another notch or two and like every says, we have the money so let's do it.

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07 Aug 2015 09:26:19
The whole monreal and Gibbs argument I'm my eyes is the fact when you look at the team and work backwards the problems in order are as follows

1. CF
2. Competition for le coq
3. Lb

Agreed 1 and 2 need addressing promptly whilst a LB would be the next area I would upgrade after. Monreal and Gibbs are ok and depending on who we play one or the other can be good.

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07 Aug 2015 13:24:38
unlike this board (bored?)i don't think Wenger has a left back issue, its a made up controversy to help everyone get through the last days of summer. So unlike the boss, I look forward to getting the season started and sooner the better so we get back to discussing why we have so many injuries, Jack is a way bigger problem.

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07 Aug 2015 17:58:37
Cangun,

I would love a healthy Jack, as would everyone else, but, it is not big problem for this team.

Caz or Ramsey would start over him in his preferred position. The other two positions he is suited for: Ozil/Caz is better at and Le Coq is better at, if we are being honest.

It would be great to have Jack for rotation, impact sub, depth, but he does not get in the first choice 11, based on past evidence.

Wenger would have to shift Wilshere/Caz/Ramsey/Ozil to the wing to accommodate Jack in the first choice 11. On the wing, we have Sanchez (a guaranteed starter when match fit), and your choice of Walcott, Ox, and Welbeck on the other wing - Wilshere is not a better winger than any of those players, and he is not more creative than Ramsey/Caz/Ozil. So if we were going to sacrifice width for creativity it would be to ensure that caz/ramsey/ozil are in the squad not Jack. (Sidebar: I hope Wenger never plays Ozil on the wing again and I have serious reservations about Ramsey and Caz playing there)

We NEED two things to complete the squad a worldie CF and competition for Le Coq.

We WANT an upgrade at LB (Gibbs has poor positional sense and is injury prone and Monreal has done well but does not offer a lot going forward and has always felt like a temporary solution) and potentially CB (Mert is too slow to play a high line and for his size gets bullied far too much) BUT that depends on how good Chambers is and how far along he is in his development.

This team is otherwise very strong back to front and on the bench.

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07 Aug 2015 20:48:18
James agree with all of that and if we could better than Gibbs and Monreal I'd be happy, it's just getting that player and have you too forgotten Gabriel who Wenger said recently that he believes he will become an exceptional defender. :-)

I can't wait to see him and Koscielny have a good run together.

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06 Aug 2015 23:54:17
jack will always get injuries he keeps the ball to long has a extra touch and draws players in i love the kid but he's always going to be a bit part player and never have a constant season only my opinion 1st time poster don't be to harsh on me

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{Ed025's Note - what you say is fair RG..

07 Aug 2015 07:23:25
Rather give ozil the no 10 jersey.

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07 Aug 2015 08:50:03
Whats that got to getting hurt in training? I remember diaby once injuring nasri no big deal was made of that as it is done here

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07 Aug 2015 09:13:57
I'm sure i read an interview last season where he basically admitted that he gets injured because he keeps the ball top long and too close to his feet, but that he isn't prepared to change his style!
Sorry Jack but maybe you should reconsider, you obviously have the technical quality to change and even if it takes a small part of your game away at least you might be able to complete a few months without an injury.
Just my humble opinion but he's wasting his career on a treatment table which is very sad indeed

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07 Aug 2015 15:57:03
Its also been said Diaby injured himself in that tackle

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