Arsenal Rumours Archive August 12 2017

12 Aug 2017 12:54:53
to me, last nights match proves one thing. We still need help defensively!
I don't know how many times we need to struggle at the back but come on. Going forward, we played some amazing football and it was fantastic to watch but talk about nervous every time there was a counter attack!
Van Djik is surely a must have based on that performance and J M Seri.
Appreciate we have many players so we really to offload in both those positions also.

12 Aug 2017 14:47:19
We need to get our CB's back, that's for sure. However, any team would struggle with 5 CB's out or not ready to start: Mustafi, Chambers, Mertesacker, Gabriel and Koscielny. We were left with 9ne young CB and two LB's!

12 Aug 2017 15:48:39
We do need them back yes and we need another! There are too many that are not good enough. Holding, Kos, Van Djik and Mustafi would be more then enough for us to hold a title winning squad!

How can we start a season with 2 full backs making up the back 3. Shocking.

As for being negative, no fan wants to be but despite a win, defensively we were shocking! We have the time to fix it so why wouldn't we try. COYG!

12 Aug 2017 21:03:17
As well as the defence the midfield duo were hopeless at stopping attacks, xhaka allowed the first goal scorer a free header and was weak and gave the ball away for the second. While he provided an assist at the other end, he didn't win one aerial battle or make one tackle all night. That is our problem.

12 Aug 2017 22:10:16
we need 2 CBs before the start of next season.

1 - Mertesacker - Retiring
2 - Kos - still awesome but last season we started to see him lose pace, he's what, 31 - 33. need a replacement.

as for the op, we played a young cb and 2 lbs, any team would have struggled defensively.

13 Aug 2017 07:15:33
I suggest that we see how the back three perform once the CBs are fit. I agree that we need to consider buying a CB and I would try and buy Van Dijk, as Southampton may prefer to sell to us opposed to Liverpool. Van Dijk in the centre with Mustafi and Koscielny either side would be excellent. Mete, Gabriel and Holding could provide cover. In respect of DM players, if he had been fit I would have played Coquelin against Leicester taking into account the defensive absences this would have made sense, opposed to Elneny who is more offensive. What concenerd me was that we were set up so offensively, with both wing backs flying forward and neither Ox nor Bellerin are th best at defensive duties. Don't forget Bellerin was originally a wide offensive player. Kolasinac was very influential, but as one of the 3 CB's he was often found quite far forward. We play Stoke away next and I would like to see Coquelin brought in for Elneny to provide greater defensive stability. The back three should comprise of Mustafi, Merte and I can't decide whether to play Holding or Monreal? I would probably plump for Monreal as Holding played poorly against Leicseter and Monreal's experience may be necessary at Stoke. Once back from suspension, Koscielny would come in for Monreal and Gabriel for Merte.

13 Aug 2017 10:00:23
I'm not too worried about the back line as I'm sure mustafi and kos will add some stability. Maybe another cb would help. I agree with Steve a DM is needed. Also i would've liked a new young gk. granted it's hard with us having 2 bit Cech for me has been hit or miss lately. And ospina I have doubts about being our number one.

14 Aug 2017 12:20:32
Agree D16, Ospina is a good shot stopper but i fear he is a bit too small for a premiership keeper, he would have been even more exposed against Leicester with those long throws. I am a big fan of Butland, and would love to see him come in for next season, assuming he keeps fit this season, and of course I hope he has a stinker in his next game!

14 Aug 2017 12:31:08
Agree Epping butland was my choice. It's hard because we do have 2 quality keepers. Keeping 3 happy would've been impossible.

11 Aug 2017 23:21:34
Great game kolasinac, lacazette, ox, welbeck of the starters all played well, plan b did his job again. But what a shambles at the back and center of midfield. Not improved our defensive organisation or ability. Long season ahead. Xhaka and elneny looked like headless chickens and are a real worry. Need a holding mid and at least one top defender for starters.

12 Aug 2017 00:45:33
As a neutral I found you were awful to be honest and actually routed against you in the end as the underdog matched you everywhere BUT having a class striker makes the difference. Lucky result but 3 points are 3 points build on it and go forward.

12 Aug 2017 00:47:37
And Cech.
He never fills me with confidence.

12 Aug 2017 02:02:35
Dags he's a great keeper but his kicking is dire and he seems as unsure as the defence at times.

12 Aug 2017 09:50:47
Elneny is by far the weak link here. A solid, disciplined and dependable DCM is needed for sure. Who? Throw a name in the hat at this stage i guess.

As for Czech, agree with both Dagz and Steve. I'm personally very intregued to see how Szcnezny does at Juve. A) He seemed fairly cheap to me B) We could potentially need him.

I like Ospina and Czech but neither jump off the team sheet as a solid league winning keeper (anymore) . I'm not saying that Szcnezny does either, but could be a big year for him.

12 Aug 2017 09:51:14
Matched you everywhere 🙄 Yep they scored 4, had 70% possession, had 27 shots and played some really attractive football.

They matched us in being so rubbish at defending.

12 Aug 2017 12:24:39
I have to agree with you stoner mate. I think we seem to forget that Cech didn't have a proper experienced line in front of him that he can trust much and keep to his job, it back fired but as I said earlier, I will not throw my toys out of the pram just yet. Yes we might need to strength our defence, van dijk will be the answer but I will not but my hope up for to happen as its very unlikely.

12 Aug 2017 12:50:29
Not many teams would cope with 4 CBs being out. I though Xhaka had a good game, but Elneny lacked defensive discipline. Clearly with a weakness at CB, it would have been better to play Coquelin, if he had been fully fit. I thought the team generally lacked defensive discipline in the circumstances with both wing backs flying forward and even Kolasinac kept popping up too far forward for a CB, but then again he was instrumental in a couple of our goals. Once our CB's are back we will no doubt improve defensively and offensively we looked exciting.