Arsenal Banter Archive May 07 2015

07 May 2015 14:57:09
All this talk about what signings we need to take us to the next level, and we need 2-3 world class players. People saying we need a top goalkeeper, centre back, holding mid, winger and/or striker.

Now based on our form since the Southampton game on new years day (I think?) we have been the best team in the league and hugely successful with the exception of a horrific slip up to Monacco in the first leg.

In the first half of the season we were quite frankly awful, we once again failed to top our CL group, crashed out of the CC and spent most of it 6th/7th in the league. This was down to Wenger and the players. As well as injuries and lack of personel in some areas. Losing Kos and Debuchy long term was damaging, as it ment playing an inexperiened Chambers and Monreal out of position. We conceded some very sloppy goals which cost us games we should have won. Eg Hull 2-2, Swansea 2-1 and Stoke 3-2. No Giroud, Ozil, Walcott and Ramsey out of form or injured meant we struggled for goals and creativity. Despite Ox and Sanchez stepping it up.

However we have fixed all these problems, which has lead to us winning 11/14 league games since, aswell as reachig the FA cup final. This was due to more capable cover at the back in Bellerin and Gabriel. Also Ospina has been a huge calming influence and improvement on Szseszncy. Coquelain has been our first out and out DM since Gilberto Silva. Cazorla has been in amazing form, Ramsey refound form, Rosicky stepped up when called upon and Ozil has also been sublime. And Giroud replacing Welbeck has helped it all click into place uptop, aswell as him scoring a shed load of goals.

So what do we need to change? Why do we need to go out and spend £80m-£100m and even more on wages? Is Cech, Howedes, Schniederlin, Reus and Higuan really neccassary?

Ospina has statisically been the best keeper in the league (of those who played 10+ games). Our back four has 2 capable players in each position, and a perfect blend of experience and youth. The CDM problem is solved and we have way more attacking options than we need. We could lose Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Wilshere, Ox, Cazorla and Welbeck: and still put out a starting XI capable of beating any team.

Honestly, does Opsina really need replacing? Its not even being too sentimental and loyal to players. He is a fantastic keeper, stats and performances do not lie. Mertesacker, Kos and Gabriel are 3 very good CBs and Chambers is still learning and capable.

What does Reus/Pedro or Higuan/Benzema off that Walcott/Ox or Giroud already doesnt? We would be naive to think Higuan or Benzema would come in score 25+ in their first season. And Reus? Like we need another injury prone player. £50m+ on a winger and striker that would offer what more exactly to our team?

I agree we do need to get another DM to rotate with Coquelain. As Diaby and Flamini need to go. And maybe a keeper depending on if Szeszncy stays (which i suspect he will).

Have some faith in this current team, which as it is can achieve great things.

{Ed025's Note - is that you arsene?...you always need to refresh the side DG to stop it going stale, new players also keep the others on their toes and gives a boost to the whole club imo mate..

07 May 2015 15:41:12
I am one who has great faith in my team and my manager, I pointed out how strong our squad it is when you look at our bench and asked a question could our 1st team be improved to make our bench even stronger.

Simple answer is yes, ed025 said what about a World Class striker, I agreed and gave some options.

In a reply I asked whether Lacazette would be the signing to make, to play him and Sanchez either side of Giroud.

You yourself say let's buy another DM, so the simple answer is yes we could make our first team stronger and no we should in no way stand still and not take the opportunity to improve, we need to go up a level. Surely the league isn't as far as we want to go.

Can you see Mourinho buying no one and sitting on his Laurels thinking that was a cake walk.?

{Ed025's Note - we all know the answer to that one red dog..

07 May 2015 15:42:22
Yeah ed, but who? Who is going to genuinely make our squad better and retain the balance?

{Ed025's Note - thats what arsene is paid for saint, but as an example..stones for per, ibrahimovic for giroud, and matic for le coq...now i know that is not happening, im just saying there are players who can improve the team mate..

07 May 2015 15:56:43
spot on Ed 025 the team always needs improving, because this wasn't done at the start of the season led to the problems we had. It's Arsene's job to get us to win the lge, if he had spent well in the right positions we may just have done it. He didn't so we don't.

{Ed025's Note - thats right sagalout mate, if you stand still in this game you get passed by, im not sure if arsenal would have won the league with this team from the start, but one things for sure, it would have been a hell of a lot closer..

07 May 2015 16:16:16
I am sure Stan Kronke must be posting on here as I keep seeing posts worrying about our wage or transfer bill! I have absolutely no interest in how and why we pay a transfer fee or wage bill. I will let the well paid board members and CEO worry about that. What I do worry about is seeing a Giroud or Le Coq suffer a serious injury two weeks into the season and suddenly realise that we have destroyed our season for the price of a top player we should have signed in the summer, instead of using a cheap stopgap (such as Monreal as CB). Even better, these days we don't even need to sign a decent reserve, we can actually sign someone good enough to step into the first team, such as a Schneiderling. Therefore stop worring about how much a Reus or equivalent would cost, as, if he makes our first XI stronger (which in Reus's case, injuries or not he would), then we should go for it. I know a certain team down the road who play in blue certainly will, even though they have won the league.....

{Ed025's Note - i could not agree more epping..great post mate..

07 May 2015 16:17:05
I will be watching Higuain today, i have not done so since he was at madrid and i liked him then, forgotten how decent he is.

but ox/walcott over pedro i can understand, over reus? no way no how not even funny, he is simply sensational.

we need a DM, we def need a keeper, not sure if begovic is in the frame, but i reckon he needs to make a step up and why not give him a try, if he does not cost the world.

but a forward/winger is absolutely essential, i can assume in the summer we will sell quite a few to make these additions.

07 May 2015 16:32:00
We need 2-3 more players that's probably it and depends on who leaves. Wouldn't mind swapping Schezza for a new number 2, Schneiderlin and a poacher like Pedro undoubtedly a few departures and loans - as Ed says just to freshen things up a bit ;-))

07 May 2015 16:38:37
I think it's also worth saying that it's easy to be short-sighted about these things when you're caught up in the hype and momentum of a team's great run of form. Make no mistake, we've been near-exemplary for a whole season but we are talking about the full 9-10 months that make up a season. Moreover, as you rightly say, we didn't win our CL group, we crashed out of the league cup and we exited the CL at the last 16. Should we wish to improve, adding depth will help us get through the toughest period of September-March, when games come thick and fast for those in the CL. I hate to say it because I don't wish to respect a man who needs to learn some respect himself, but the depth Jose has gone for at Chelsea is a prime example. Our squad looks great but some fresh legs and one or two upgrades on our regular benchwarmers WILL not go amiss

{Ed025's Note - spot on FPT..

07 May 2015 21:20:04
Sure, our team when fully fit is fantastic.
But image Kos, le Coq or Giroud suffer a broken leg week 1, do we really believe Gabriel + Mert, Arteta and Welbeck are adequate cover if they did? I don't, we need little bit of squad strengthening and a world class forward to keep Giroud on his toes, imo.

09 May 2015 08:59:55
The thing I worry about is squad harmony and balance, it's a very difficult thing to achieve, and right now we have it. I think if Chad can work his magic, we get rid of some dead wood and bring a genuinely talented target man we can really go for the title. But the problem is who will this player be, lewandoski would be my choice as a target man... Unlikely though. Also if Gotze become available in the summer and I have a feeling he might, we ought to sign him

07 May 2015 12:58:05
In a cruel spin of money ball rules, should we have sold joel Campbell last season?

{Ed025's Note - yes..

07 May 2015 14:35:10
His stock would of been high after the world cup.. Might have got £10m for him? He's a very capable player and i'm sure he could do well in the league, he's just too far down the pecking order to get regular chances for us. Even when Walcott and Giroud were injured long term at the start of the season he wasnt getting game time.

07 May 2015 15:13:31
Use him as bait to sign Carvalho.