28 Apr 2012 20:06:36
Sorry, this is going to be long but please read as I'd love to see what you think of my ideas.
Good performance today, no bad players. Good on Ramsey to go back to the place where his whole career changed and get booed yet still carry on to have his best game in a long time. Thought Rosicky was immense, will be a shame to see him drift back on to the subs bench next season, but all in all a point gained on our rivals rather than two lost, I feel. Certainly with a relatively simple final two games of the season compared to our rivals. I'd say 4 points would do it, but I think we'll get 6 and snatch third. Monumental effort from all after the season we've had.
On the topic of next season, I think it's clear we need Podolski plus another forward. Whether it be Giroud or another touted is a different question, but I personally think we could save money by bringing up either Joel Campbell to the first team or perhaps even take Carlos Vela back and see if he wants to play as well as he has done for Real Sociedad. I also thing the signing of a defensive player is important, and I think Vertonghen is the best and most likely option. So versatile, whenever our defense needs a re-shuffle we can switch him in to do a job. If Sagna gets injured, we have the options of either Jenkinson or Koscielny. If a centre half gets injured, we've got Vertonghen, Mertesacker and Miquel. If Gibbs gets injured, we've got Santos, Vertonghen and Vermaelen.
The problem, in terms of transfers, is who do we sign to bolster the midfield. I think it is fairly clear we'll be playing three in the midfield from now on with two defensively-minded players a la Song, Arteta and Wilshere. The question is, who would be our best midfield and from that we can garner who we need to improve that.
So lets take the ones from this season.
Song - Arteta - Rosicky
This is the one which guided us through in our astonishing run. We had the consistent concentration and coolness of Mikel Arteta who would boss the midfield week in, week out. We had the strength, power and also the 'Hollywood' passing of Alex Song who also played a big role defensively. Then we had the creativity of 'Little Mozart', a rejuvinated spirit in our side who could cause chaos with sumptuous balls in and expert dribbling and passing. Sounds pretty good. Now let's assume Wilshere comes straight back in after injury - where does he fit in to that superb midfield? Does he take the role of playmaker from Rosicky, allowing a more defensively minded midfield which also allows Song to get forward more often with Arteta playing behind, or does Wilshere take the place of the aforementioned Song to do defensive work and still have the calm, experienced head of Arteta to keep the cogs of our attacking machine whirring. Wilshere could, of course, take Arteta's place but we've done so, so well with him in there that I think it'd be hard to take him out, given his effect on the performances on the superb Alex Song.
Then of course there are the new signings to consider. Of the names I've heard, I'd say that the most realistic ones which we could sign are:
Yann M'Vila
Marvin Martin
Hernanes
Christian Eriksen
Younes Belhanda
All the names above would get into about 85% of the teams currently in the Premier League. But would they get into ours?
M'Vila is certainly a viable option, adding defensive stability but he'd cost a lot and would he be worth replacing Arteta and Song for? I'm not so sure. Martin would be a very handy little player and having watched many of Sochaux's games this season he's a little magician at times. At times. We need a truly consistent playmaker. Hernanes, once labelled as the 'new Kaka' certainly has the credentials of an attacking midfielder who has it all. Indeed, much of Lazio's success this season has centred around the success of the supply to Klose, and I'd suggest that Hernanes has been unlucky not to get more than his 2 assists in the Serie A. So certainly a possibility. Another stand-out name is that of Christian Eriksen. A truly mesmerising player, he will be one of the world greats in a couple of seasons. The only flaw with him is the youth, but would it be worth pairing him with the likes of Wilshere so they have time to grow and adapt into one of the most formidable midfield partnerships Arsenal have ever had? A mouth-watering prospect. Finally, there is Belhanda, who has really come to the party this season for Montpellier and paired with Olivier Giroud, the likely French champions have two of Europe's hottest properties.
For me, I would take the gamble on Eriksen. It's not a gamble on his talent - there is certainly no doubting that. It's just a question of loyalty. I believe that If we sign Vertonghen, Podolski and Eriksen, we'll win things as early as next season. With the money from those winnings, we can reassess at the end of each season, and if Eriksen stays loyal then he'll be part of a glorious new era in Arsenal Football Club's history. If/when he does well and we don't win things, we can sell him on for at least £5m more than we paid for him.
But what to do with our other midfielders? Arteta, Wilshere, Song, Ramsey, Diaby, Coquelin, Frimpong, Rosicky and, hopefully, Benayoun? I would propose that we have two parties: the rotation party and the squad party. In the rotation party would be Arteta, Wilshere, Song and Rosicky. In the squad party would be the rest. The system would work almost like a league. You'd have a priority list. If your performance drops, your place is taken in the rotation party by the best, most suitable performer from the squad party. You would then have a chance to work your way back up. This would mean Carling Cup/FA Cup games/dead rubber Champions League group games to blood both youngsters and also satiate the squad party's desire for match practice, while our rotation party would give us midfield options such as:
Arteta - Song - Eriksen
Arteta - Wilshere - Eriksen
Song - Wilshere - Eriksen
The above midfields would give us such incredible balance between attacking prowess and defensive capabilities. I strongly believe that this tactic of the rotation and squad parties will usher in a new-found glory that Arsenal have been lacking and deserving for the last 8 years, and finally we could paint some trophies around the Emirates boards instead of leaving the 2005 FA Cup there as a reminder of former brilliance.
But what do you guys reckon? Is this a good idea? What would do do this summer?
Thank you for taking the time to read.
GM7
Extremely good post. i'm still not convinced by m'villa though.
EF
Wilshere will eventually be pushed further up field its where he made his name as a youngster, last year he played deep due to fabregas being around and to improve his discipline/defensive game. Wenger did the same with fabregas when he first played for us. I would quite like us to sign m'vila but i do think frimpong and coqulien deserve a chance first
Hi mate, wicked post.
For me, if/when Wilshere gets back, it must surely be Rosicky who makes way. I know he has been good, but what he actually achieves with that good is not always that much. Jack can do whatever Ros can do but IMO has a better strike from range is better at passing and easily as good at dribbling. Arteta is a mainstay for me, he's been one of the best players in an arsenal shirt in the last 3 years. So assuming everyone is fit and M'Vila comes, I think we could expect this:
M'Vila, Arteta, Wilshere. Obviously M'Vila as DM but as far as where the other two play I don't think it matters, they're both capable in the middle as well as further forward but I must say I see Jack as the ACM.
I cannot understand why we're buying M'Vila if we're keeping Song. I really don't get it. Where does Song go? What happens with Jack/Arteta/Rosicky like you asked? It's just a strange move for me. The only thing I can think of is that M'Vila is coming, Song has effectively worked himself out of a place by being quite good in the middle where there is no place for him and may be sold. Or We keep Song and AW has no intention of bringing in an ACM which IMO is the biggest shame. For me, we have DMs, we have CMs, we have wingers, they aren't all great or good enough but they're there, we have no skilled ACM like Mata/Fabrega/Arshavin role and we have needed one all season, if AW spends £18m on M'Vila but doesn't buy an ACM then we will struggle to challenge next season.
Quite the post - some good points though. I think Wenger is trying to figure out where Wilshire goes as well. Is he a CAM (replacing Rosicky) or is he a true CM (replacing Arteta)?
If Ramsey were to come good, one would assume the long-term future trio at Arsenal would be:
Song Ramsey
Wilshire
Long term this doesn't seem a terrible proposition, but I agree with GM7 that:
Song Wilshire
Eriksen
Longer-term would be BRILLIANT. That said, I don't see eriksen moving this year and so we need to look to other targets. Given his age I think Belhanda could be a good fit as well.
However, outside of that - I would rather Wenger wait (perhaps loaning another decent midfielder as cover) than to splash cash on an average palyer like Marvin.
Instead waiting until the following Jan or summer window.
Billybob
100% dead on... please go tell Wenger. ;)
R.O.B
85%, 17/20, top 3, I see what you did there...
Incredibly well written; a joy to read. All sounds good to me!
Ben
This post could have been put up last may/june when were heading into the previous summer window. Its a no brainer that eriksen would be a huge signing, but the reality is wenger wont be spending such funds on any player.
If a player such as eriksen were to join arsenal and win something who is to say that the player wouldnt stay!! Why are we being so negative to say a player would leave automatically after a season ?
Great post.. i too like you and others is not sure about Mvila..why buy him..may be , money should be used in buying a second striker (after podolski) who comes of the bench.
Gaurav
Interesting that no one mentioned Chamberlain. In my opinion the CAM role will be his best position once he has a bit more experience.
This summer my priority would be goal-scoring forwards and versatile defenders.
Generally a very good post. however I have a few comments:
I don't see any central midfield movement so long as diaby remains fit and wilshere is expected to fully recover from his current injury. If this doesn't materialise then we might see movement, especially a large transfer if the injury to wilshere is as career threatening as has been rumoured (i am only going on rumour here as i have no specialist knowledge)
I would tentatively suggest that the first choice starting midfield next season will be:
Song
Diaby
Wilshere/Ramsey (or wilshere's replacement)
Wenger clearly sees something special in ramsey, at the start of the season wenger played him in the hole and gave him a consistent run there at a much earlier stage in his career (in terms of games at the highest level) than he did with fab. so i do think wenger will revert to that at the beginning of next season.
This does mean that both arteta and rosicky will be rotation players.. which given their ages, their quality and that we should have three games per week again next season, will be vital in providing adequate squad strength to challenge on all fronts.
to be clear im not saying i wouldn't want any of those players mentioned to join us, im just not convinced they will. i think podolski and vertonghen, with the exception of some younsgters, will be the only new blood.
CB
To the point on wilshire. After being out for an entire year, even if he returns to fitness there is simply no way he can play 30-40 games without picking up niggking injuries.
He is going to be keeping diaby company. Very sad... But probably true, I hope I am wrong, but I'd this I'd the case - then we definitely need a CAM.
Billybob
Gm7,great post mate..
mother goose
You don't need to worry about the length of your post if they are this brilliant mate. I find myself agreeing with everything you have said here although I would probably add an experienced keeper as well like Sorensen or Wiese.
Sydney Gooner
What your post highlights is the areas we need to sign. a versataile defender, goal scoring attacking midfielder, 2 strikers and i would add that a goal keeper is required as all our back up keepers are s**t! so lets assume that Podolski and Vertogen are in the bag. We could bring back Campbell as the other striker and i agree about Erikkson. So do we need Mvila? i think yes Song is decent but he shoukld have direct compatition for his space and he should also not be expected to be in peak condition for 50 games.
the biggest job is getting the deadwood out, so that the players mentioned above can be bought in. we can not afford to bring all these players in without having the same amount leave. and i'm not so sure the deadwoods will be happy to give up there £500000 a week for the good of Arsenal fc!!
First of all i would like to say brilliant post Gm7, anyway i think we should buy vertogen as like use have all said he is a very verstatile player and he could be a key player for us keeping clean sheets from set plays etc,etc. plus once we snap up podolski he will diffently be a key role for us. as for the whole m'vila, erikson thing i agree with u by not buying m'vila but as he is french i can see wenger buying him before erikson' but if we buy erikson and not m'vila y dont we play 4-2-3-1 formation with wilshere and song as CDM's we can play arteta in CAM and swap erikson about on the wing between the ox, gerviniho and walcott and with podolski also being very versatile he can play anywere on the front line. then vp up in strike. as for ramsey and rosicky etc although they mighten like it y not just loan them out like chelsea did with benayoun and give the young players a chance.
VP.10
Again, I'd like to say great post.
I would say the stunning performances from Rosicky may be his final bow out as he's at the age where he may start to slow down and lose some flair, so I'm looking forward to the flight between Rosicky and Wilshere next season, young, come-back kid vs veteran on form.
I'm a bit bored of the M'Vila rumors, I'd like him to come to us, but I'm very much of the opion if we do, great if we don't never mind. Our midfield are great and Wilshere's return will only push everyone that buit further to win their place in the starting 11.
I think that's what we need in defence as well. two or three signings, to help push everyone forward and to also be able to give Vermalen a rest without the defence falling apart.