Squad Analysis

[AKBapologist]

Rules
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2094341,00.html


Information derived from a list of sources including
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_fc#First-team_squad
http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenals-25-man-premier-league-squad-2252470?
http://talksport.com/football/arsenals-squad-compared-and-after-transfer-window-13090458545


Homegrown players over the age of 21: 5
Bendtner, Nicklas
Walcott, Theo James
Gibbs, Kieran James Ricardo
Ramsey, Aaron James
Szczesny, Wojciech Tomasz


Non homegrown players: 16
Arteta Amatriain, Mikel
Cazorla, Santiago
Diaby, Vassiriki Abou
Fabianski, Lukasz
Flamini, Mathieu
Giroud, Olivier
Koscielny, Laurent
Mertesacker, Per
Monreal, Ignacio
Ozil, Mesut
Park, Chu Young
Podolski, Lukas
Rosicky, Tomas
Sagna, Bacary
Vermaelen, Thomas
Viviano, Emiliano


Under 21's registered to play in the EPL season 2013-2014 (Age by Jan 1st 2012, Players with a first team contract in bold, on loan in grey)
Afobe, Benik
Akpom, Chuba
Alves da Silva, Wellington
Aneke, Chukwuemeka Ademola Amachi
Ansah, Zak Andy
Bellerin, Hector
Boateng, Daniel
Campbell, Joel
Crowley, Daniel
Dallison Lisbon, Thomas Albert
Dawkins, Tarum
Eisfeld, Thomas
Fagan, Zachari Freddy Casey
Frimpong, Emmanuel Yan
Galindo, Samuel
Gnabry, Serge David
Hayden, Isaac Scot
Huddart, Ryan David
Iliev, Deyan
Iwobi, Alex
Jebb, Jack
Jeffrey, Anthony Lamar Malcolm
Jenkinson, Carl Daniel
Kamara, Glen
Lipman, Austin
Maitland Niles, Ainsley
Martinez, Damian Emiliano
Miquel Pons, Ignasi
Miyaichi, Ryo
Moore, Tafari Lalibela
Mugabo, Alfred Martin
O'Connor, Stefan Ramone Sewell
Olsson, Mats Kristoffer
Ormonde Ottewill, Brandon
Oxlade Chamberlain, Alexander Mark David
Raage, Jamaal Weli
Sanogo, Yaya
Siemann, Leander
Smith, Renny Piers
Toral, Jon Miquel
Uade, Obasiarinse Idehaloise
Vickers, Josh
Wilshere, Jack Andrew
Wright, Elliot
Yennaris, Nicholas
Zelalem, Gedion














Senior Squad, before and after:
http://talksport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/arsenalv2.jpg



Full list of transfers

In
Mesut Ozil [Real Madrid - £42.5m]
Emiliano Viviano [Palermo, loan]
Mathieu Flamini – Free
Yaya Sanogo – Auxerre – Free [Compensation €450,000]

Out
Marouane Chamakh [Crystal Palace - free]
Wellington Silva [Real Murcia - loan]
Daniel Boateng [released]
Gervinho [€8m - Roma]
Chuks Aneke [Crewe - loan]
Joel Campbell [Olympiakos - loan]
Andre Santos [released] [signed for Flamengo]
Francis Coquelin [Freiburg - loan]
Johan Djourou [Hamburg - loan]
Vito Mannone [Sunderland - £2m]
Denilson [released] [signed for Sao Paolo]
Andrei Arshavin [released] [signed for Zenit St Petersburg]
Sebastien Squillaci [released]
Jernade Meade [released]
Reice Charles-Cook[released]
Sead Hajrovic [released]
Philip Roberts [released]
Nigel Neita [released]
Samir Bihmoutine [released]
Josh Rees [released]
Sanchez Watt [released] [signed for Colchester United]
Conor Henderson [released]
James Shea [released]
Kyle Ebecilio [FC Twente]
Elton Monteiro [Club Brugge]
Martin Angha [FC Nuremberg]
Jordan Wynter [Bristol City]
Craig Eastmond [Released - Colchester United]

[Niall_Quinn]

Shite.

The squad I mean, not your analysis. A couple of key injuries and we're done for the season. Also I don't think there are 8 injury prone Frenchman available on frees.

[Master Splinter]

Einsfield :bow:.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Shite.

The squad I mean, not your analysis. A couple of key injuries and we're done for the season. Also I don't think there are 8 injury prone Frenchman available on frees.

Liar.

[Özim]

Pretty depressing looking squad, not much quality in there. Shocking we haven't managed to strengthen it yet, it really wouldn't be hard.

[Xhaka Can’t]

The type of squad list that has you wanting to shout "Who?" after way too many names.

[LDG]

Cheers for that AKB.

Fuck, we're well light on numbers, before you even begin to talk about quality.

19 means we only just have enough for first eleven and the subs.

Whats a state :(

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

that squad is abysmal

who let it get to this? needs to be shot asap

[Niall_Quinn]

that squad is abysmal

who let it get to this? needs to be shot asap

What are you on about? Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott and now Koscielny. All saleable. Plenty of value in the squad yet. And some of these kids could be worth millions in future years.

[milla]

What are you on about? Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott and now Koscielny. All saleable. Plenty of value in the squad yet. And some of these kids could be worth millions in future years.

Frimpong is Brits born, do you think Liverpool would take him for £35mil? :coffee:

[Niall_Quinn]

Frimpong is Brits born, do you think Liverpool would take him for £35mil? :coffee:

I think they will be wary after the Carroll fiasco. I can't see them going beyond £30mill.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cheers for that AKB.

Fuck, we're well light on numbers, before you even begin to talk about quality.

19 means we only just have enough for first eleven and the subs.

Whats a state :(

Eisfeld and Gnabry. :bow:

Their time has come.

[Niall_Quinn]

Eisfeld and Gnabry. :bow:

Their time has come.

Precisely.

4th place here we come.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fourth place isn't inherently bad, just depends how it comes. If it's the scrape it on the last day variety and bomb out of all cups tamely, well that's a bit different.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fourth place isn't inherently bad, just depends how it comes. If it's the scrape it on the last day variety and bomb out of all cups tamely, well that's a bit different.

Or a bit the same.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No lose situation. :scarf:

[Niall_Quinn]

No lose situation. :scarf:

True. And we always have the great football we play to fall back on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Absolutely, you can watch Youtube of 03/04 to your heart's content.

In all llkelihood we'd play better football the more younger players we involved, so to bring it back on topic, bring on Olsson :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Absolutely, you can watch Youtube of 03/04 to your heart's content.

In all llkelihood we'd play better football the more younger players we involved, so to bring it back on topic, bring on Olsson :bow:

Olsson is the new Walcott :cloud9:

[milla]

Olsson is the new Walcott :cloud9:

Shit. :coffee:

[AKBapologist]

A nice interactive version of this can be found here:
http://www.arsenalreport.com/squad/

Apparently, Whilshire counts as under 21 for the coming season.

[LDG]

Are we down to a squad size of 17 now?

:wacko:

[LDG]

Also, :haha: at their cartoons for the players :lol:

[AKBapologist]

If gervinho fucks off and diaby continues his marvelous bill of health, then that's 15.

With Vermaelen out for several months and the possiblity Kos could be out too, we might not even be able to field a full bench even with the first team u21's

[Niall_Quinn]

This can't be right can it?

They have 27 listed on Arsenal.com which includes Chamakh, Park, Frimpong, Diaby, Bendtner and Gervinho. So that's 19. Not a brilliant squad granted, but we're not quite down to 15 yet. Give it another couple of seasons.

[AKBapologist]

Gervinho seems to be on his way out. Chamakh looks to be going on loan to crystal palace or qpr whilst Bendtner is negotiating additional beach time with Malaga.

They'll add to this list of transfer activity this summer: (thanks to ladyarse)


Out
Chuks Aneke [Crewe - loan]
Joel Campbell [Olympiakos - loan]
Andre Santos [released] [signed for Flamengo]
Francis Coquelin [Freiburg - loan]
Johan Djourou [Hamburg - loan]
Vito Mannone [Sunderland - £2m]
Denilson [released] [signed for Sao Paolo]
Andrei Arshavin [released] [signed for Zenit St Petersburg]
Sebastien Squillaci [released]
Jernade Meade [released]
Reice Charles-Cook[released]
Sead Hajrovic [released]
Philip Roberts [released]
Nigel Neita [released]
Samir Bihmoutine [released]
Josh Rees [released]
Sanchez Watt [released] [signed for Colchester United]
Conor Henderson [released]
James Shea [released]
Kyle Ebecilio [FC Twente]
Elton Monteiro [Club Brugge]
Martin Angha [FC Nuremberg]
Jordan Wynter
Craig Eastmond [Released - Colchester United]



[B]In
Yaya Sanogo – Auxerre – Free [Compensation €450,000]

[AKBapologist]

Rules
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2094341,00.html


Information derived from a list of sources including
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_fc#First-team_squad
http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players



Homegrown players over the age of 21
Theo Walcott
Kieran Gibbs
Aaron Ramsey
Wojciech Szczesny
Frimpong


Non homegrown players
Abou Diaby (lol)
Nacho Monreal
Lukasz Fabianski
Laurent Koscielny
Tomas Rosicky
Bacary Sagna
Thomas Vermaelen
Per Mertesacker
Mikel Arteta
Santi Cazorla
Lukas Podolski
Olivier Giroud


Under 21's looking to break into the first team (Age by Jan 1st 2012, Players with a first team contract in bold)
Alex Oxlaide Chamberlain (18)
Jack Wilshere (21)
Benik Afobe (20)
Chuks Aneke (20)
Ryo Myachi (20)
Welington (20)
Serge Gnabry
Thomas Einsfield
Carl Jenkinson (21)
Yaya Sanago (20)



Players in Limbo
Bendtner
Park Chu-Young


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

None-homegrown players: 12 (17 is the limit)

Current Squad size: 17 out of a maximum of 25


Updated to reflect Miquel and Yinaris going on loan, as well as the departures of CHamakh and Gervinho

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.arsenalreport.com/transfercentre/

Who are those three incoming transfers in addition to Sanogo? Plus click on Dan Crowley's name for a bizarre 404 error page.

[Grebbo]

http://www.arsenalreport.com/transfercentre/

Who are those three incoming transfers in addition to Sanogo? Plus click on Dan Crowley's name for a bizarre 404 error page.

All youth team players, between 15-17yrs old IIRC.

Dan Crowley is supposedly the next big thing. Been labelled as the next Jack Wilshere :lol: So he's an overhyped Englishman who showed promise at an early age only to turn to shit after being constantly injured.

[LDG]

http://www.arsenalreport.com/transfercentre/

Who are those three incoming transfers in addition to Sanogo? Plus click on Dan Crowley's name for a bizarre 404 error page.

That is fucked up, and quite :sick:

[Özim]

1 million for an unknown reserve with no game time under his belt, bit steep.

Probably be one of our missing squad players :rolleyes:

[LDG]

AKB, think homegrown over 21 should be 5 by your list? Unless you're not including oooh-ee-ooh-ah-ah-ting-tang-walla-walla-Frimpong??

[AKBapologist]

AKB, think homegrown over 21 should be 5 by your list? Unless you're not including oooh-ee-ooh-ah-ah-ting-tang-walla-walla-Frimpong??

Corrected, Ta.

He's injured but should be coming back soon. I wouldn't be surprised if he got loaned before november however - but I'll keep him on the list for now.

[LDG]

Corrected, Ta.

He's injured but should be coming back soon. I wouldn't be surprised if he got loaned before november however - but I'll keep him on the list for now.

So assuming he does piss off on loan, we need to buy 4 homegrown players over the age of 21? Is that right? Or can we include the U-21's as part of the deal??

[AKBapologist]

So assuming he does piss off on loan, we need to buy 4 homegrown players over the age of 21? Is that right? Or can we include the U-21's as part of the deal??

It's more a limit on the number of none homegrown players you have in your squad. Your maximum squad size is 25, of which only 17 can be *foreign*. You could actually have 25 home grown players over the age of 21, like Liverpool tried to do back when kenny was in charge.

Under 21's don't count in the limit at all, you can have as many of these as you want. Although for some, senior squad spots might be kept in reserve if they are close to being over 21 like Jenkinson and Whilshire.

[LDG]

It's more a limit on the number of none homegrown players you have in your squad. Your maximum squad size is 25, of which only 17 can be *foreign*. You could actually have 25 home grown players over the age of 21, like Liverpool tried to do back when kenny was in charge,

Sorry, I may be being thick here. Your list above says "At least 8 is required in a 25 man squad", which suggests that, as we only have 5, we need more?

:wacko:

[AKBapologist]

Sorry, I may be being thick here. Your list above says "At least 8 is required in a 25 man squad", which suggests that, as we only have 5, we need more?

:wacko:

In a 25 man squad, at least 8 players should be homegrown. (ie, another way of saying you can only have 17 foreign players) - If you have less than 25 in your squad, you can have less homegrown players.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sorry, I may be being thick here. Your list above says "At least 8 is required in a 25 man squad", which suggests that, as we only have 5, we need more?

:wacko:

Diaby counts multiple times.

[LDG]

In a 25 man squad, at least 8 players should be homegrown. (ie, another way of saying you can only have 17 foreign players) - If you have less than 25 in your squad, you can have less homegrown players.

:good:

Interesting.

[Özim]

:good:

Interesting.
In short we don't have to worry about signing anyone.

[selassie]

The squad is horrible, we're 2 injuries away from a real struggle this season as it stands. Fair play to Arsene, he's gotten rid of most of the "shite" he bought in/developed...but there is still a lot of work to be done with that Squad if we want to push on and close the gap on the the teams above us.

[AKBapologist]

via lady arse

In
Yaya Sanogo – Auxerre – Free [Compensation €450,000]


Out
Marouan Chamakh [Crystal Palace - free]
Wellington Silva [Real Murcia - loan]
Daniel Boateng [released]
Gervinho [€8m - Roma]
Chuks Aneke [Crewe - loan]
Joel Campbell [Olympiakos - loan]
Andre Santos [released] [signed for Flamengo]
Francis Coquelin [Freiburg - loan]
Johan Djourou [Hamburg - loan]
Vito Mannone [Sunderland - £2m]
Denilson [released] [signed for Sao Paolo]
Andrei Arshavin [released] [signed for Zenit St Petersburg]
Sebastien Squillaci [released]
Jernade Meade [released]
Reice Charles-Cook[released]
Sead Hajrovic [released]
Philip Roberts [released]
Nigel Neita [released]
Samir Bihmoutine [released]
Josh Rees [released]
Sanchez Watt [released] [signed for Colchester United]
Conor Henderson [released]
James Shea [released]
Kyle Ebecilio [FC Twente]
Elton Monteiro [Club Brugge]
Martin Angha [FC Nuremberg]
Jordan Wynter [Bristol City]
Craig Eastmond [Released - Colchester United]

[Niall_Quinn]

Looks like Wenger's mum was called in to clear out his room when he was away in Vietnam.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Add Perez to the (don't know yet) list.

[LDG]

Add Perez to the (don't know yet) list.

At the risk of over-hyping the lad.

Probably the most talented player I've seen at the club.

Perez :bow:

[Master Splinter]

LDG :bow:.

ollie's grammatically competent cousin :bow:.

[Munchies]

Project Youth :rose:

Seems only Jack/Cesc have progressed from our youth teams into our first in the last 8 trophyless years right ?

[LDG]

LDG :bow:.

ollie's grammatically competent cousin :bow:.

Best comlipment i'ver ever had thb.

[LDG]

Project Youth :rose:

Seems only Jack/Cesc have progressed from our youth teams into our first in the last 8 trophyless years right ?

Gibbs?

Chesney?

[Munchies]

Gibbs?

Chesney?

Ah forgot those, still, poor return :(

When are we going to get Julio Cesar for that matter ? Chesney needs to be pushed ffs.

[Master Splinter]

Ramsby, Theo and Ox were all 16/17 when they arrived too. Theo especially spent some time with the yoof teams.

It seems like Gnabry and Zelalem will be involved with the first team this season too.

[Master Splinter]

Ah forgot those, still, poor return :(



Compare it to every other team in the League.

A few breaking through is the norm.

[AKBapologist]

Ah forgot those, still, poor return :(

When are we going to get Julio Cesar for that matter ? Chesney needs to be pushed ffs.
It's an excellent return tbhf.

Some of you need to get your expectations checked.

[LDG]

It's an excellent return tbhf.

Some of you need to get your expectations checked.

Quite right.

In fact, we supply a lot of clubs with very good players

What is wrong with fans these days.

It's like we're supposed to have a Messi factory.

That has never what it is about.

We over-relied on it a bit, but at one point, we had a team average age of fucking 21 in a cup final, challenging for titles. We just didn't suppliment it with a bit of experienece.

We were soooo fucking close.

Meh. I digress.

We've had one of the best returns of youth.

[Marc Overmars]

Srsly, who is Perez?

[Joker]

Srsly, who is Perez?

Here's a Youtube video of him:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMzG-yMbBPY

[Grebbo]

Srsly, who is Perez?

http://footy-portal.com/?p=270307

[AKBapologist]

Srsly, who is Perez?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl82ITuTgcE

[Cripps_orig]

Project Youth :rose:

Seems only Jack/Cesc have progressed from our youth teams into our first in the last 8 trophyless years right ?
Yeah it's been a bit horrific.

We've got a couple more through than you've named and in terms of other clubs its probably similar but they haven't totally focused on youth as we did so to get similar amount of players through despite it being a priority of ours is a bit shocking.

Should've been more

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl82ITuTgcE

:lol: those fucking eyes. i wouldnt mess with him

i bet he has a legion of columbian drug lords working for him back in his homeland

hacks down a player 5 minutes into his debut? legend already tbh

sign him up. looked composed too. not afraid to get stuck in.

hope wenger doesnt turn into wenget

[AKBapologist]

On the plus side, we've cleared out a lot of deadwood. On the minus side, we've got 11 goals we've got to replace. (7 gervinho, 2 chamakh, 1 miquel and 1 arshavin) With a combined 78 appearances (from the full list of people sold or on loan). What's the point of clearing out deadwood only to panic by again on the last day of the season.

[AKBapologist]

https://twitter.com/DanCompton/status/367052232157458432/photo/1

[GP]

https://twitter.com/DanCompton/status/367052232157458432/photo/1

@DanCompton's tweets are protected.

[Cripps_orig]

https://twitter.com/DanCompton/status/367052232157458432/photo/1

There's nothing there

[McNamara That Ghost...]

On the plus side, we've cleared out a lot of deadwood. On the minus side, we've got 11 goals we've got to replace. (7 gervinho, 2 chamakh, 1 miquel and 1 arshavin) With a combined 78 appearances (from the full list of people sold or on loan). What's the point of clearing out deadwood only to panic by again on the last day of the season.

11 goals to replace? Two of those came against Reading in the 5-7! Arshavin only scored in one of the cup games too.

[AKBapologist]

11 goals to replace? Two of those came against Reading in the 5-7! Arshavin only scored in one of the cup games too.

What's your point? Would you rather we have been knocked out of the cups earlier? Or that the 5 league goals scored by gervinho were surplus to requirements in the year that saw us finish above spurs only in the last match of the season? (again)

My point is that we couldn't afford it last season, what makes this season any different?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What's your point? Would you rather we have been knocked out of the cups earlier? Or that the 5 league goals scored by gervinho were surplus to requirements in the year that saw us finish above spurs only in the last match of the season? (again)

My point is that we couldn't afford it last season, what makes this season any different?

My point is this is a way of looking at it that doesn't make much sense. Where would the goals come from without RVP was asked. Now we're doing the same thing again. I'm banking on the fact we won't need 7 goals to win a match next time in a Cup or if we do someone else, someone that is in all likelihood better than Chamakh will step up.

In a Wenger system chances will always be created for most players on the pitch. To talk about 'replacing goals' is to assume the matches will go in exactly the same way. Gervinho scored against Chelsea, where we lost, he scored against Swansea but we were already leading. Arshavin scored in a 6-1 win against Coventry when we already had a lead.

I know you are in 'meltdown' but really, as I say, this is not exactly thinking things through.

[AKBapologist]

I'm just quantifying the wisdom of selling a bunch of players (regardless of how bad) without replacing them. You could argue that there goals were meaningless (I disagree, especially considering games vs swansea, montpellier and reading) but the weight of numbers in appearances meant that other more productive team members could be kept fresher. (unless they were already injured).

Either way, we're relying on reserves like no team in the top 6 is even close to, are you banking on project youth to fill in the extra goals or for giroud to be a 30 goal a season striker?


And another point, A wenger system that relies on goals from midfield doesn't work in big games. Hence our atrocious record against teams in the top 6. Even wenger knows it's dumb, hence the flapping around for a top striker.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'm not arguing they were meaningless goals, they scored those goals, so it can't be meaningless but the meaning ends when a new season begins.

By your thinking, before the transfer window ends we don't have any goals to replace as those players didn't score in either of the league games that occur before it, nor those two games that immediately follow it. You don't need a 30 goal a season striker to achieve what our basic aim probably is.

If Wenger is trying to buy a top striker for goals in the big games, then why does it matter he hasn't replaced goals from players that didn't score in the big games?

I can see how people might be thinking Wenger is pushing it a little bit but not so much that it should induce meltdown.

[AKBapologist]

The point about wenger ball and top strikers isn't exactly connected to the point about the deadweight going. The point about the deadweight going is more a question about their contribution to the team last season, in goals, assists, and appearances. That we're WEAKER now, with them gone, and unreplaced than with them here, and able to fill in when our top scorer inevitably get's injured during internationals. (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-theo-walcott-injured-england-2158245?)

And just another point, we didn't replace RVP's goals with goals from midfield, we signed 2 strikers, who scored (a little less) than RVP did last season combined. Yes, Carzola scored an impressive number of goals last season, and you could hope the team scores more (if walcott scored more goals per minute than he did (already better than bale), even some of the waltnut tosspots might have to come round to the notion he might be world class) - but I'm not willing to bet a penny on that with so fewer players left to rotate with tbh.

[Harland]

Shite.

That's my response to the thread title.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saying weaker in capitals doesn't make it any more true, less number yes but that doesn't neccesarily equate to being weaker. When you talk about analysis, why don't you think about what combination of players we will have that mightly actually work rather than focusing on 'replacing' a pre-ordained amount. I think someone like Gnabry would be able to be a thread in combinations with what we currently have up front for those occasional roles, based on what I saw pre-season.

The same goes for Eisfeld but I doubt whether Wenger really trusts him.

I don't think it matters if they replaced his goals or not - I don't really know how we can say his 30 goals were replaced by them and just say the other 30 odd weren't replaced by the rest of the team. Plus, are we not forgetting about how a better defence can help us to be better in attack? I'll feel more comfortable with Koscielny and Mertesacker in defence for those bigger games, should it go that way, so hopefully we won't be 2-0 down in the first half at WHL or Stamford Bridge.

[AKBapologist]

Saying weaker in capitals doesn't make it any more true, less number yes but that doesn't necessarily equate to being weaker. When you talk about analysis, why don't you think about what combination of players we will have that might actually work rather than focusing on 'replacing' a pre-ordained amount. I think someone like Gnabry would be able to be a thread in combinations with what we currently have up front for those occasional roles, based on what I saw pre-season.
The squad is weaker with deadwood gone than it would have been if they were still here, I say this because:
1. Zero competition for places, none, zilich. Instead of a Gnabry getting a call up based on merit, injuries will force him into the team, on unknown confidence levels and, well, you should all know how that works out.

2. What ever defensive organisations and tactics we acquired last season (TBH, it was mostly the midfield ramsey and arteta bossed it) could have applied to the *deadwood* - Given that we don't have any defensive cover atm, are you expecting our first choice CB pairing to play all 60 games? Or do you think rotation just means playing the same 11 in different parts of the pitch?

3. The injury spiral. The smaller the squad, the more each individual player has to play, the more pressure they are under to be brought back into the squad quickly when they do get injured and with such a small squad to choose from, and with a respectable number that squad being over 30...

And re: your dig at "Anaylsis"
Combination of players for particular positions? The reality is each player has so many hats that it's rather pointless, Carzola is likely to play in every midfield position and forward position beyond CF and CDM. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ramsey playing in right back before the end of the season given no reinforcements and with Miqel and Yanaris on loan, we don't even have any viable reserves in defence. We're also a goal keeping injuring and red card away from Sagna playing in goal, btw, who is our reserve goal keeper this season? Sagna will probably play at center back at some point this season too, soon if Kos's injury is confirmed. And if wenger has figured out that ramsey, diaby and rosicky don't work on the wings (if we ever have all 3 to pick from at any point this season) we're short on natural wingers even if you imagine podolski, walcott and carzola being ideal in those positions.

And that's before having the luxury of having a potent CF option....

But I guess we shouldn't forget Sanogo...

The whole point is - our squad is thin, wenger knows this, I'd be surprised if he doesn't remedy this with another panic buying spree... to ask, again, what was the point of the clear out if ideal targets weren't chosen in advanced and given a full pre-seaon?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The squad is weaker with deadwood gone than it would have been if they were still here, I say this because:
1. Zero competition for places, none, zilich. Instead of a Gnabry getting a call up based on merit, injuries will force him into the team, on unknown confidence levels and, well, you should all know how that works out.

2. What ever defensive organisations and tactics we acquired last season (TBH, it was mostly the midfield ramsey and arteta bossed it) could have applied to the *deadwood* - Given that we don't have any defensive cover atm, are you expecting our first choice CB pairing to play all 60 games? Or do you think rotation just means playing the same 11 in different parts of the pitch?

3. The injury spiral. The smaller the squad, the more each individual player has to play, the more pressure they are under to be brought back into the squad quickly when they do get injured and with such a small squad to choose from, and with a respectable number that squad being over 30...

And re: your dig at "Anaylsis"
Combination of players for particular positions? The reality is each player has so many hats that it's rather pointless, Carzola is likely to play in every midfield position and forward position beyond CF and CDM. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ramsey playing in right back before the end of the season given no reinforcements and with Miqel and Yanaris on loan, we don't even have any viable reserves in defence. We're also a goal keeping injuring and red card away from Sagna playing in goal, btw, who is our reserve goal keeper this season? Sagna will probably play at center back at some point this season too, soon if Kos's injury is confirmed. And if wenger has figured out that ramsey, diaby and rosicky don't work on the wings (if we ever have all 3 to pick from at any point this season) we're short on natural wingers even if you imagine podolski, walcott and carzola being ideal in those positions.

And that's before having the luxury of having a potent CF option....

But I guess we shouldn't forget Sanogo...

The whole point is - our squad is thin, wenger knows this, I'd be surprised if he doesn't remedy this with another panic buying spree... to ask, again, what was the point of the clear out if ideal targets weren't chosen in advanced and given a full pre-seaon?

I'm not sure how 'deadwood' as you call it could be relied upon to provide competition. It's deadwood for a reason, surely? Anyway someone like Gnabry is not going to be a starter barring injuries in all likelihood so I don't imagine it would be the case that he would lack any motivation. Talented young attacking players tend to be unburdened by fear and without wanting to sounding wistfully clichéd have something to prove.

Out of the players previously mentioned it is only Gervinho that made any signficant amount of appearances last season (at 26) - Arshavin and Chamakh had about 16 appearances between them and that's heavily weighted in Arshavin's favour.

Talking about Wenger bringing players back prematurely has been occuring for multiple seasons, I don't disagree that the squad could be stronger but clearly Wenger didn't feel he could rely on Arshavin and Chamakh otherwise they would've played a lot more than they did last season, even when we did have injuries (though last season wasn't too bad in comparison).

I don't expect Mertesacker and Koscielny to play 60 games together, that would be silly but I do expect them to play as many matches as Mertesacker and Vermaelen did as a pairing last season. Also, we have no idea who we will yet play in those 20 games so I don't feel that we should be looking at much outside of what could happen for league games (and the two play-off matches).

Sagna and Jenkinson will be in the right-back position for most of the season. I don't think there is much of a problem in terms of numbers for defence, we could possibly do with one more CB that is content to be a squad player but anything else would just be getting players in for the sake of it.

If you mean as of right now who is our second choice goalkeeper? I suspect Fabianski.

Targets were chosen in advance I'm sure of that but seeing it through, even when circumstances from the selling side is our problem. It's not always desirable to get things done very early on - you can never be entirely sure who will become available for instance but I agree, there should be a limit to how close we're willing to go to the window without one of the targets attained.

[AKBapologist]

A few points.

Sagna's been drilled to play center back, at +30 years old, and can't cross for shit - a smart move imo. According to reports, we're interested on a 29 year old right back from juventus.

Bringing back players from loan has some pretty serious penalties in most of the agreements. And tbh, I don't think any of the loanee's are good enough to play on a daily basis in the first 11. Have a good look at that list btw, there's another +40 appearances from players like Coquelin and Mannone....

Which brings me back to my other question, who is our 3rd choice keeper now? I don't even know who the reserve keeper is? Iliev? (who?)

And finally, our reserves, featuring Eisfied, Hayden, Bellerin, Zelalem and Akpom just lost 5 - 1 to colchester united fyi. There previous result was a 7-0 loss to luton town.


I'd rather be looking at the Arsenal Ladies squad for reinforcements tbh.

[AKBapologist]

Any ideas what the bench would be on Wednesday? Hell, what the fuck will the back line be against Fulham.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

[Niall_Quinn]

Don't know who will play at the back vs Fulham. We'll have to start drafting kids in I suppose. Don't know who we'll have for defensive cover on the bench. Wenger is a laughing stock. Who has ever been this poorly prepared for a season?

[AKBapologist]

Mail are reporting that AOC is out for the rest of the year.

In total our sick bench looks like this:
Thomas Vermaelen
Mikel Arteta
Ryo Miyaichi
Ignacio Monreal
Abou Diaby
Bacary Sagna
Tomás Rosický
Aaron Ramsey
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Notice how every one of our +30 year olds is now injured. In addition, Walcott, Wilshire and Carzola were not match fit and are high risk at further injuries given the matches we've got (4 between now and the 2nd of September, including a London derby and 2 CL qualifiers...)



Another way of looking at things is that we've got 15 players who don't have injuries, including Bendtner, Park, Frimpong and Ryo. Tottenham have around 23, 24 if they sign Willian and manage to retain Bale...





Guide to Super Market Sweep 2013:

99% Chance of signing: Goal Keeper. You can't have only 2 senior keepers, further more, Damien Martenez hasn't been good enough apparently and Dragen Illev has been played in his place during recent reserve matches. Who this will be is anyone's guess, but, an older experienced goalie who wouldn't mind the bench would be my choice.

90% Chance of signing: CDM. No Arteta, no midfield. It's as simple as that, Ramsey can't screen midfield on his own - he's currently injured now anyway, even if you expect arteta back soon (4-6 weeks), he's over 30 and must play less games this season, than the 43!! he made last season. Wilshire needs to get the fuck out of lower midfield and learn to become more productive around the box.

80% Chance of signing: Right Back: Sanga was shocking, both at right and left back this weekend. He's been pretty bad throughout pre season. Furthermore, injuries, age and the lack of competition mean this position is very light.

50% Chance of signing: Center forward: The problem here is that I believe Wenger is looking for diversity in the type of options we have up front. Someone mobile, creative who can create chances, and/or is clinical. I don't think there are many options available for this right now, or at least, not at any price we're likely to spend.

30% Chance of signing: Left sided winger. We've over relied on our right hand side last season. Although having a balance between a technical and pacey winger is ideal, both need to be productive in terms of goals and assists. Gervinho wasn't the answer any more than Poldolski was, and although AOC was somewhat productive on the left this weekend, most of the game we lacked width due to his tendency to cut in - which was also a problem on the right with Theo. Now that Gervinho has been sold, AOC is out for 6 months and the nearest thing we have to an alternative is Ryo (who's also currently injured)... we're a bit fucked. We really need a creative winger, ideally left footed, but I'm not holding my breath.

20% Chance of signing: Center back. Sagna can play there, (when he's back from whiplash or a broken neck) and so can Ramsey (when he's back from injury...) - We may panic buy just to deal with the next couple of games however...

[Niall_Quinn]

Mail are reporting that AOC is out for the rest of the year.

That's a massive and possibly fatal setback to his career if true. Apparently Wenger was working them all into the ground in pre-season, had to get his numbers right in the spreadsheet.

[AKBapologist]

That's a massive and possibly fatal setback to his career if true. Apparently Wenger was working them all into the ground in pre-season, had to get his numbers right in the spreadsheet.

I don't know what the fuck happened in pre-season. TBH, I think the internationals had more of a toll on all of our GHEL's tbh. None of them were sharp.

[Niall_Quinn]

Well of course the meaningless friendlies are just crazy at this time of year. Another bunch of cunts with snouts at the trough.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Wojiech Szczesny - A player who 18 months ago had the position locked down is giving ammunition to his doubters with displays of costly eccentricity

Lukasz Fabianski - Arguably a player that should have been cleared with a lot of the other dead wood, injury prone and unreliable on crosses

Bacary Sagna - You don't know what your going to get from him anymore, we know that he is a capable and gifted full back but his concentration and his willingness to support his fellow defenders raises huge question marks.

Per Mertesacker - Absolutely useless when it comes to dealing with any side that has any pace although is arguably our best performer when it comes to defending set pieces.

Laurent Koscielny - Has shown in many games that he has all the attributes to make for a top defender, has a tendency to blot his copybook with rash decision making at times.

Kieran Gibbs - Good defender but often has a tendency to leave us exposed by being a little too keen to get forward

Thomas Vermaelen - Seems almost like he is distracted on the pitch, undoubtedly a player with great ability but you have to question his motivation currently

Nacho Monreal - With the exception of the QPR game last season where he was atrocious, hasn't really done much wrong and makes me feel left back is a position where we are more than adequately covered.

Carl Jenkinson - Was rather unfairly dropped from the side last season when Bacary Sagna returned to full fitness but he's done himself no favours with absymal displays in pre-season.


Aaron Ramsey - I think we all know that this guy is someone i have total loathing for and perhaps i give him more abuse than he deserves at times but when i think of the players who have been part of the Arsenal midfield in the past, i think a player that forever seems to get his passing wrong and has zero pace has no place in the Arsenal first XI


Jack Wilshere - Makes me wonder if a player that has been out injured for as long as Jack has will ever get back to being the player he was in 2011.


Mikael Arteta - I don't think anyone other than Arsene Wenger would have had Arteta playing as a defensive/holding midfielder, i don't think anyone other than Arsene Wenger would have thought playing him in that role was anything other than a terrible idea. He is an attacking midfielder and i think at best a squad player who can probably give us something decent from dead ball situations.


Tomas Rosicky - Again another player whose potential has been stunted by long-term injury, undeniable quality his vision and range of passing is excellent but again he is too old, too inconsistent and too injury prone to be playing for us week in, week out.

Abou Diaby - A player i've always liked and the sentimental side of me has always wanted him to make something of himself despite his injury blighted career but you cannot flog a dead horse.

Santi Cazorla - Can score goals, can create goals, has bags of pace, is excellent on the ball and is a gifted passer of the ball....so why is he being played on the sodding wing?

Theo Walcott - I think we accepted years ago he was never going to be more than a "good player" not world class, but sometimes you have to wonder where the consistency is. There are times even when he isn't on the scoresheet that he puts in a shift and works his bollocks off, but more often than not you see a lazy player who puts in diabolically bad crosses and more or less gives us nothing going forward.

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain - Doesn't get played enough.....Arsene speaks of putting his faith in youngsters and developing them but this isn't borne out when the Ox is benched for most games and when he comes on is played through the middle where he will invariably be less effective.

Lukasz Podolski - I don't know what's happened with him...where is the player that was busting a gut for us at the beginning of last season not only to get forward and make things happen but also track back and assist the midfield and defence. Maybe he's got fed up of never being given a full game...can't decide whether Arsene Wenger has completley mismanaged the guy or whether his attitude just stinks.

Olivier Giroud - Have a lot of time for him and i think he gets a lot of undeserved criticism because we are comparing him unfavourably with other strikers before him that were endowed with pace something he just isn't....i think if the midfield quality was there the guy would make hay in front of goal.

Yaya Sanogo - Have absolutely nothing to say about him, have not seen anything of him apart from one game in the Emirates cup where he looked dreadfully out of his depth.

[Niall_Quinn]

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain - Doesn't get played enough.....Arsene speaks of putting his faith in youngsters and developing them but this isn't borne out when the Ox is benched for most games and when he comes on is played through the middle where he will invariably be less effective.

I have a nasty feeling Wenger sees him as the new Arteta. Perhaps a year out while Wenger clears off and a new manager will get Ox back on track.

[AKBapologist]

We've somehow managed a miraculous recovery of all players except AOC /s

In total our sick bench looks like this:
Thomas Vermaelen
Mikel Arteta
Ryo Miyaichi
Abou Diaby
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain


Note how quickly players who aren't fresh or are picking knocks are been shoved back in.


We should have a first choice back 4 for the Fenerbahce game, I'd imagine podolski on the left instead of AOC. Beyond that, the team pretty much picks its self these days.

[Power n Glory]

One of them will pick up a long term injury.

[GP]

Monreal is in the squad as well.

[Niall_Quinn]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop ignoring injury news coming from the club. So the long terms injured are back and the short term injured (2 weeks) Ox is out for half a year?

[AKBapologist]

Op updated to reflect the new signings of Mathieu Flamini and Bendtner.

[Niall_Quinn]

Op updated to reflect the new signings of Mathieu Flamini and Bendtner.

There's really no call to rub it in.

[AKBapologist]

Will update this later today... But in the meantime, what happened to Park?

[Cripps_orig]

Will update this later today... But in the meantime, what happened to Park?

Still with us

[AKBapologist]

OP updated.

/thread.