Squad Analysis

[Olivier's xmas twist]

This is the worst squad Wenger has assembled since he's been with us. Gaping holes all over the place and a distinct lack of experience. Potential is there...but that's about it.

I absolutely cannot believe Wenger will go into this season with the squad as it is.

Well he never really assmebled it he was left with it, unless you mean from alst season. Then i agree Worst squad ever.

[AKBapologist]

5 quality signings Mr Wenger (not including Park chu Young) or else you'll be sacked by christmas...


I've even colour coded them to make it easy for you

Homegrown players over the age of 21
New Center Back (eg Subtovic)
New Left Back (eg Baines)
Johan Djourou
Vito Mannone
Alex Song
Theo Walcott
Armand Traore
Kieran Gibbs

Non homegrown players
New Central Defensive Midfielder (eg M'Vila)
New Creative Midfielder(eg Swienstiger/Shaquri)
New Striker (eg Rossi?)
Park Chu Young
Gervinho
Andrey Arshavin
Marouane Chamakh
Abou Diaby
Lukasz Fabianski
Laurent Koscielny
Tomas Rosicky
Bacary Sagna
Robin Van Persie
Thomas Vermaelen
Sebastien Squillaci

Under 21's likely to be a big part of next season. (in red those we'd probably need to make space for in the squad)
Ryo Myachi (18)
Craig Eastmond (21) (????)
Emmanuel Frimpong (19)
Henri Lansbury (20)
Aaron Ramsey (21)
Wojciech Szczesny (21)
Jack Wilshere (19)
Carl Jenkinson (19)
Ignasi Miquel (18)
Oxlaid Chamberlain. (17)


Home Grown Players Total: 6 (At least 8 is required in a 25 man squad)
Home Grown Players plus needed reinforcements: 8

None-homegrown players: 12 (17 is the limit)
None-Homegrown players plus needed reinforcements: 15

Current Squad size: 18
Current squad size plus needed reinforcements: 23 (IE we could still add another 2 players to fully maximise the squad in relation to the UEFA squad size rules!!)

[Niall_Quinn]

3 days to negotiate all those? We're all dreaming, or more like we can't wake up from a recurring nightmare.

[AKBapologist]

Then I guess he's going to get sacked. Don't break up a squad so thoroughly with only a handful of senior replacements. I expect a few more results like todays or the newcastle away with high numbers injured or suspended. No longer can he rely on the young squad bollocks either. It'll be perceptually young with this pattern re-occurring.

[AKBapologist]

This Weeks version

Players who have left, or are in the process of leaving have been removed. (Squillaci, Nasri, Traore, Eboue, Fabregas, Vela, Bendtner, Alumina, Clichy, Denilson) Players with serious doubts on there partisipation in grey.

Homegrown players over the age of 21
Johan Djourou
Vito Mannone
Alex Song
Theo Walcott
Kieran Gibbs

Non homegrown players
Gervinho
Andrey Arshavin
Marouane Chamakh
Abou Diaby
Lukasz Fabianski
Laurent Koscielny
Tomas Rosicky
Bacary Sagna
Robin Van Persie
Thomas Vermaelen


Under 21's likely to be a big part of next season. (in red those we'd probably need to make space for in the squad)
Ryo Myachi (18)
Craig Eastmond (21) (????)
Emmanuel Frimpong (19)
Henri Lansbury (20)
Aaron Ramsey (21)
Wojciech Szczesny (21)
Jack Wilshere (19)
Carl Jenkinson (19)
Ignasi Miquel (18)
Oxlaid Chamberlain. (17)


Home Grown Players Total: 5 (At least 8 is required in a 25 man squad)

None-homegrown players: 10 (17 is the limit)

Current Squad size: 15

With news that we are actively trying to sell, Sebasian Squillaci, Bendtner and Alumina as they will take little part of our EPL season, and that Traore is going on loan to QPR, we now could buy 10 players before exceeding the squad size limit.

WHISKY TANGO FOXTROT.

[AKBapologist]

If you didn't see this -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot.../14707733.stm?

[AKBapologist]

Deadline Day Edition:

This Weeks version.

New Signings in Green


Homegrown players over the age of 21
Johan Djourou (Center Back)
Vito Mannone (Goalkeeper)
Alex Song (Defensive Midfielder)
Theo Walcott (Wide Forward)
Kieran Gibbs (Left Back)

Non homegrown players
Alumina (Goalkeeper)
Squillaci (LOL)
Andrey Arshavin (Wide Forward)
Marouane Chamakh (Center Forward)
Abou Diaby (Central Midfielder)
Lukasz Fabianski (Goalkeeper)
Laurent Koscielny
Tomas Rosicky (Central Midfielder)
Bacary Sagna (Right Back)
Robin Van Persie (Center Forward)
Thomas Vermaelen (Center Back)
Per Mertesacker
Gervinho (Wide Striker)
J Y Park (Wide Striker)
Mikel Arteta (Central Midfielder)
Yossi Benayoun (Wing/Midfielder)
Andre Santos (Left Back)


Under 21's likely to be a big part of next season. (in red those we'd probably need to make space for in the squad)
Ryo Myachi (18) (Wide Striker)
Craig Eastmond (21) (Defensive Midfielder)
Emmanuel Frimpong (19) (Defensive Midfielder)
Aaron Ramsey (21) (Central Midfielder)
Wojciech Szczesny (21) (Goalkeeper)
Francis Coquelin (19) (Defensive Midfielder)
Jack Wilshere (19) (Central Midfielder)
Carl Jenkinson (19) (Right Back)
Ignasi Miquel (18) (Center Back)
Oxlaid Chamberlain. (17)


Home Grown Players Total: 5 (At least 8 is required in a 25 man squad)

None-homegrown players: 17 (17 is the limit)

Current Squad size not including under 21's: 22




How did we do?

In terms of raw numbers, OK, although I am surprised to be seeing Alumina still at the club. It also means that come winter, if we plan on adding any new faces, they either have to be English, or we'd have to flog Arteta to the highest bidder.

In terms of quality, I'm not too sure. We've got to hope Arteta picks it up another notch (as moving to a bigger club can often initiate) as I suspect Whilshire will be out for plenty of games (post pubescent growing pains) if we try to rely on him. Beyond that, we're slightly better in defence on paper however whats key is injuries. Being unable to form a solid back 4 partnership trumps the individual qualities of whoever we sign.

With Mertesacker, it's also likely we'll be playing with a deeper back line as well as 2 CDM's (in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-1-3 formation) actively looking to provide deep cover - although imo his pace (or lack of) in most respects has been overblown.

Which signing will make the most impact? I would like to say Park as a wild guess. Not really the type of striker I felt we needed (IE, Drogba circa 2009) but is closer to RVP in technical ability. Given that hes gone in 2 years, it'll also be rather typical that he becomes our star payer. Beyond that Gervinho already looks to be a quantum leap in terms of direct running.dribbling.crossing when compared to Nasri last season and may form a great partnership with Theo and RVP.

The Jury's out on the rest, Santos maybe good in possession, but very little evidence so far that he'll be good in our league, Arteta has been described as a sidewise passing crab by some everton fans, although his (poor) injury record has been over stated. I fear the 8-2 thrashing the kids recieved demonstrate just how far away they are from truely making an impact. More of them should have been sent on loan, Miyachi, Afobe, Jenkinson and Oxlaide in particular, should have gone on 6 month loans to EPL clubs (specifically Bolton) allowing them to make mistakes and get EPL gametime under their belts... However in a number of cases, they seem close to being second choice...

I believe Gervinho is an improvement on Nasri, Mertesacker will likely improve our defence however in general, I think we've regressed. We will find it harder to keep possession, which generally means we'll concede more goals from open play. Whether we score more or a similar amount depends on how well our wide forwards do as our central midfield will struggle to assume roles and produce from those areas as well as we did last season.



First 11


Alternative First II


Second 11


But then again, the changes of this lot consistently being fit is slimmer than RVP playing 44 games in a season...

[Fats]

tbf on most occasions i would say that we have a little more depth but knowing our luck we'll struggle to have 11 fit players

[KSE Comedy Club]

Arteta will be in the first 11.

[fari]

all a bit strange. i was out all day and came home and heard benayoun signed and i was like whaaat. arteta is quality, a proven prem baller. our defensive line needs to be lower to accomodate merts cause opp teams will just take a page from manu's book and hit it over the top, i think this season will see a different arsenal in terms of defensive pressure and organization.