Winter Transfer Speculation

[Master Splinter]

Porto bought him last summer, he played 10 league games and now they're ripping off Stoke :lol:

What clubs do I guess.

Why aren't we being fleeced by Porto?

Wenger :doh:.

[Master Splinter]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_ibfWpAqU

Would have been great if he had any technique.

And do not forget his hat-trick in the Emirates Cup.

[Niall_Quinn]

So, have we safely navigated the wallet through another transfer window? How long to go until it's safe to be around fax machines?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I really hate 'upgrade'.

Football Manager's fault I reckon.

Also Jim White Day doesn't seem to be shaping up in any exciting way.

Rhodes to Boro is about as exciting as it will get.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Debuchy joins Bordeaux on loan.

[Marc Overmars]

Debuchy. :wave:

Very unfortunate spell for him here. Good luck to him though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Everton sign Oumar Niasse.

:unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Here he comes...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8do_wxlcq4

[Özim]

Porto bought him last summer, he played 10 league games and now they're ripping off Stoke :lol:

Hardly, he cost Porto 15 million, played a lot at Marseille where he impressed apparently.

[Özim]

Heard Wenger was seen in the £1 shop, came out with nothing as he was only willing to pay 99p.

Why pay the full asking price when you can walk out with nothing or buy some foreign unknown for cheap.

[Munchies]

ffs Sanogo's move is only on loan

[Özim]

ffs Sanogo's move is only on loan

Not surprised, no team is ever going to commit to signing this guy, no team except us it seems. Not sure what use a striker who can't score is.

De Boer got it right when he said he had nothing to offer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Heard Wenger was seen in the £1 shop, came out with nothing as he was only willing to pay 99p.



:sarcy:

[Static]

Are we relying on Chambers to cover RB, CB and CDM for the rest of the season then?

[Özim]

What clubs do I guess.

Why aren't we being fleeced by Porto?

Wenger :doh:.

Don't worry, we don't need to feel left out, we got fleeced by Southampton with Chambers.

[Letters]

Heard Wenger was seen in the £1 shop, came out with nothing as he was only willing to pay 99p.

Why pay the full asking price when you can walk out with nothing or buy some foreign unknown for cheap.

That is an excellent joke.
Well done.

[GP]

Are we relying on Chambers to cover RB, CB and CDM for the rest of the season then?

No, Gabriel covers CB and Elneny covers CM.

[GP]

That is an excellent joke.
Well done.

It's better than the bottle bank one, I guess.

[Özim]

That is an excellent joke.
Well done.

Thanks :good:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Heard Wenger was seen in the £1 shop, came out with nothing as he was only willing to pay 99p.

Why pay the full asking price when you can walk out with nothing or buy some foreign unknown for cheap.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FClAikNoJ2I

[GP]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A

[Power n Glory]

Way too accommodating for certain players. Would have kept Debuchy here.

[Xhaka Can’t]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8XTpCwicwE

[Niall_Quinn]

44 mins until Wenger's phone is repaired.

[Niall_Quinn]

38 mins until Wenger gets back from the dentist.

[Niall_Quinn]

Poor old Sky. Absolutely nothing of note happening anywhere. Nothing to see here - AND IT'S LIVE!

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

This always looked like a dead transfer window, the only club that is ever active in January is Newcastle

[Munchies]

Has Messi turned up yet?

[KSE Comedy Club]

He was on the tube and arrived at the Emirates....

But he was knocking on the door of the armoury store and unfortunately missed the deadline.

Oh well, back to Barca I guess :(

[Niall_Quinn]

On balance not a bad transfer window for us. The threat of Sanogo coming back has been lifted for another few months.

[Globalgunner]

So we didnt sign Messi then, after all the back and forth with Barca?

[Xhaka Can’t]

He must have been match ready so failed the medical.

[Niall_Quinn]

So who's it going to be in the summer window? Will it be Cavani, Lewandowski, Aguero, Fekky Mtripsi? Let the unfounded and unsubstantiated rumours commence.

[Munchies]

So who's it going to be in the summer window? Will it be Cavani, Lewandowski, Aguero, Fekky Mtripsi? Let the unfounded and unsubstantiated rumours commence.


Kalou ;)

[Niall_Quinn]

Kalou ;)

No, that one's true.

[Niall_Quinn]

So we didnt sign Messi then, after all the back and forth with Barca?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjtgNYBXlJs

[selassie]

Stoke paying £18m on a French CDM from Porto

Upgrading on Glenn Whelan

What clubs do I guess

That Imbula was very highly rated in France a couple of years back, had a lot of CL clubs looking at him. I think he may have lost his way a little bit but it could turn out to be a very good buy for Stoke if he gets back to the level he was at a few years back.

Stoke have done well in the European Market, fair play to Hughes, he's building a very nice side there IMO and it's quite a young side too.

[Power n Glory]

That Imbula was very highly rated in France a couple of years back, had a lot of CL clubs looking at him. I think he may have lost his way a little bit but it could turn out to be a very good buy for Stoke if he gets back to the level he was at a few years back.

Stoke have done well in the European Market, fair play to Hughes, he's building a very nice side there IMO and it's quite a young side too.

I thought it was him. Heard about this guy as well. Strange to see him move from Porto so soon. Must have had problems with the club or staff.

[JaneEmily]

That Imbula was very highly rated in France a couple of years back, had a lot of CL clubs looking at him. I think he may have lost his way a little bit but it could turn out to be a very good buy for Stoke if he gets back to the level he was at a few years back.

Stoke have done well in the European Market, fair play to Hughes, he's building a very nice side there IMO and it's quite a young side too.

I'm impressed with how Hughes has turned Stoke from rugby loving orcs into orcs that can play football. It must be like the ice age before civilisation for Middle Earth, I mean Stoke, right now.

[Letters]

Aye, to be fair I don't hate Stoke half as much as I used to.

[selassie]

I'm impressed with how Hughes has turned Stoke from rugby loving orcs into orcs that can play football. It must be like the ice age before civilisation for Middle Earth, I mean Stoke, right now.

Aye, they play some good stuff now. Still hate Shawcross and their "nutty" fan base, bunch of northern cants!

[selassie]

I thought it was him. Heard about this guy as well. Strange to see him move from Porto so soon. Must have had problems with the club or staff.

Yeah, I thought it was a strange move too, they paid a fair bit for him so it's not like they are turning over a huge profit on it.

[Özim]

Yeah, I thought it was a strange move too, they paid a fair bit for him so it's not like they are turning over a huge profit on it.

According to some Porto were fleecing them.

[Globalgunner]

This more or less adds to what a few people have been saying. The new TV money means backyard teams no longer need to employ tractor drivers to plough through the opposition in games. With the right managers, the level in the PL will go up. However this means fewer spaces for GHELs as they hardly ever have the skills, so the pundits will be in an uporoar, UK quotas will be imposed and the level will go back down ensuring England never win a major tournament for 100 years.

In the meantime, we at Arsenal better buck up our ideas. Top 4 is no longer any teams birthright.

[I am invisible]

I can't believe what I'm reading on this thread?! Adebayor's a top striker? Stoke and Mark Hughes deserve some respect?! What the hell is going on?!!

[Power n Glory]

I can't believe what I'm reading on this thread?! Adebayor's a top striker? Stoke and Mark Hughes deserve some respect?! What the hell is going on?!!

:haha:

[selassie]

I can't believe what I'm reading on this thread?! Adebayor's a top striker? Stoke and Mark Hughes deserve some respect?! What the hell is going on?!!

It's the Arsenal transfer thread what do you expect us to talk about?! ;)

[I am invisible]

It's the Arsenal transfer thread what do you expect us to talk about?! ;)

Wenger being a c--t? We haven't done that one for a while. Or maybe have a pop at Letters or Zim for posting something? It's all good...

Edit: might also be worth checking the carbon monoxide levels in everyone's homes...

[Özim]

So another transfer window passes us by with little happening except the customary unknown arriving, noone can say it's predictable.

Oh and before someone mentions it being the January transfer window and it being hard to sign anyone of quality, let me remind you what happnened last summer as well.

Clearly we have a manager who doesn't understand the meaning of planning and making significant signings and their impact on a club. We have got to be the most boring and predictable club in the transfer market surely.

Everytime Wenger makes some comment about signings and people still believe that he'll bring in someone proven and when he doesn't we excuse his signing some unknown by pretending he's going to be a quality player even though we've neither heard of him or seen him play. Dear oh dear when will it all change?

[I am invisible]

So another transfer window passes us by with little happening except the customary unknown arriving, noone can say it's predictable.

Oh and before someone mentions it being the January transfer window and it being hard to sign anyone of quality, let me remind you what happnened last summer as well.

Clearly we have a manager who doesn't understand the meaning of planning and making significant signings and their impact on a club. We have got to be the most boring and predictable club in the transfer market surely.

Everytime Wenger makes some comment about signings and people still believe that he'll bring in someone proven and when he doesn't we excuse his signing some unknown by pretending he's going to be a quality player even though we've neither heard of him or seen him play. Dear oh dear when will it all change?

Hey, at least this unknown doesn't have a broken back! Progress.

[Kano]

Everytime Wenger makes some comment about signings and people still believe that he'll bring in someone proven and when he doesn't we excuse his signing some unknown by pretending he's going to be a quality player even though we've neither heard of him or seen him play.

No-one has pretended he is going to be a quality player. We're just trying to make the best of a mismanaged situation by Wenger, as you can see by the quotes below.


this guy is an ubknown and thus we've seen nothing of him to make an accurate judgment


He's better than what we have, how can he not be as our backups are dreadfully inadequate


Not saying this guy is a dud btw, don't know anything about him

[Özim]

No-one has pretended he is going to be a quality player. We're just trying to make the best of a mismanaged situation by Wenger, as you can see by the quotes below.

I've seen plenty of people saying he looks quality and is exactly what we need etc etc

Truth is we know nothing about him or whether he's going to be any good and we shouldn't have to rely on a player like him at all (not saying he won't be good but we really don't know and thus far Wenger has already been reluctant to play him which is odd).

I agree about the mismanaged situation and there's just no excuse for it quite honestly, everytime I see one of these Wenger signings it adds insult to injury for me, firstly it proves he's incompetent in the transfer market and secondly if this guy does turn out to be average (just like the Wellbecks of this world) we're basically stuck with him with no chance of an upgrade for years.

With any normal manager if they got a signing wrong they'd be quick to spot this and rectify it, but with Wenger it takes him 5 years to accept it and in that time we have to put up with dogshite players.

[Kano]

I've seen plenty of people saying he looks quality and is exactly what we need etc etc

Truth is we know nothing about him or whether he's going to be any good and we shouldn't have to rely on a player like him at all (not saying he won't be good but we really don't know and thus far Wenger has already been reluctant to play him which is odd).

Not on here you haven't. That's a figment of your imagination. I just had a look at the Elneny thread and there isn't one comment like that. You probably saw those comments on that same forum you found that that random Egyptian guy.

And of course know one knows. Which is why no-one has said otherwise. Solely going by the fact that Wenger has only played him once shows we aren't relying on him.

[Özim]

Not on here you haven't. That's a figment of your imagination. I just had a look at the Elneny thread and there isn't one comment like that. You probably saw those comments on that same forum you found that that random Egyptian guy.

And of course know one knows. Which is why no-one has said otherwise. Solely going by the fact that Wenger has only played him once shows we aren't relying on him.

So after you were adament Athletico wouldn't selll in the transfer window due to a transfer ban they go and sell Martinez for 31 million, which proves my point about if you pay enough you'll get the player, we jus't didn't want to.

We should have had a go at signing Griezmann.

[Niall_Quinn]

I never really thought Wenger was complicit with the board in terms of holding back funds that could have been used to improve the team. Now I'm not so sure. Two transfer windows pass without filling key positions despite the fact we've had plenty of cash to finally close that legendary 2% gap. Must be deliberate. Nobody could be that incompetent or stubborn. Must be deliberate.

[selassie]

Hey, at least this unknown doesn't have a broken back! Progress.

:lol:

[Kano]

So after you were adament Athletico wouldn't selll in the transfer window due to a transfer ban they go and sell Martinez for 31 million, which proves my point about if you pay enough you'll get the player, we jus't didn't want to.

We should have had a go at signing Griezmann.

Are you still going on about this? You are comparing two completely different things. They have a transfer ban hanging over their heads (currently suspended on review) so with that in mind, why would they sell one of their best players when they have no hope of replacing him? Martinez wasn't one of their best players. He was very underwhelming. Used mostly as a sub and hardly scored any goals. It wasn't working out so they sold him.

This was also clear enough from the player, someone who Chelsea have supposedly been after for ages but have yet to put forward a bid:


“When the boss told the press that I’m such an important player, it made me want to stay even more," he said.

"I wasn’t looking for another team or anything, but now I think about it even less."

You need to stop basing your opinion on the internet and actually pay more attention to things. Which may be hard as you have very little interest in football and rarely watch games.

[Power n Glory]

I never really thought Wenger was complicit with the board in terms of holding back funds that could have been used to improve the team. Now I'm not so sure. Two transfer windows pass without filling key positions despite the fact we've had plenty of cash to finally close that legendary 2% gap. Must be deliberate. Nobody could be that incompetent or stubborn. Must be deliberate.

Of course it is. Remember this one and keep it in mind.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9797037/Arsene-Wenger-says-ticket-prices-only-way-Arsenal-can-compete.html


“Ideally you want ticket prices to be as low as possible,” he said. “But on the other hand the only way we can pay the wages and compete without any external help is to the ticket prices because it is our main income. Therefore we are in this situation where, of course, the prices are high.

Absolute bollocks. That extra income goes straight into Silent Stan's pocket and he knows that small increase in revenue isn't what keeps us competitive. It's the sponsorship deals.

[Niall_Quinn]

So Ozil and Alexis may well be just prudent mid term investments. When Pep lands with his limitless chequebook he may well want a player he already signed in the past, Alexis. And I would think in this market Alexis is now worth £60mill. So that's a nice return. And Ozil, we saw how we got a great deal when we landed him. He's another £60mill player waiting to cough up a nice big profit. Neither will want to put up with much more of this shit. They have gone from playing with superstars to pubbing it up with freebie Flamini. That can't last forever.

In the context of bringing in big players like this and then inexplicably failing to add the missing pieces to build a genuinely competitive team, do we now see the two fold strategy behind these signings? Appeasement (and a short term diversion from those crazy ticket prices) and sacred profit.

[selassie]

So Ozil and Alexis may well be just prudent mid term investments. When Pep lands with his limitless chequebook he may well want a player he already signed in the past, Alexis. And I would think in this market Alexis is now worth £60mill. So that's a nice return. And Ozil, we saw how we got a great deal when we landed him. He's another £60mill player waiting to cough up a nice big profit. Neither will want to put up with much more of this shit. They have gone from playing with superstars to pubbing it up with freebie Flamini. That can't last forever.

In the context of bringing in big players like this and then inexplicably failing to add the missing pieces to build a genuinely competitive team, do we now see the two fold strategy behind these signings? Appeasement (and a short term diversion from those crazy ticket prices) and sacred profit.

Yeah I was thinking the same myself last night, Ozil and Sanchez won't stick around too long whilst Wenger indulges in this balmy "vanity" project or whatever it is he is doing.

Interesting how the contract extension negotiation talks with both of them have gone very quiet.

[Özim]

Are you still going on about this? You are comparing two completely different things. They have a transfer ban hanging over their heads (currently suspended on review) so with that in mind, why would they sell one of their best players when they have no hope of replacing him? Martinez wasn't one of their best players. He was very underwhelming. Used mostly as a sub and hardly scored any goals. It wasn't working out so they sold him.

This was also clear enough from the player, someone who Chelsea have supposedly been after for ages but have yet to put forward a bid:



You need to stop basing your opinion on the internet and actually pay more attention to things. Which may be hard as you have very little interest in football and rarely watch games.

Completely disagree I'm afraif, money talks in football if you offer enough a club will sell and we all know how fickle players are, one minute they are kissing the badge the next they are playing for your rivals.

Had we bid early in the transfer window pretty sure we would have had a decent chance as it would have given Athletico a chance to find a replacement, we never try though we just sit there like lemons.

There's plenty of excuses and you've just put forward another one, big clubs and managers don't make excuses they make things happen, it's the club with small club mentality that do.

[Kano]

Completely disagree I'm afraif, money talks in football if you offer enough a club will sell and we all know how fickle players are, one minute they are kissing the badge the next they are playing for your rivals.

Had we bid early in the transfer window pretty sure we would have had a decent chance as it would have given Athletico a chance to find a replacement, we never try though we just sit there like lemons.

There's plenty of excuses and you've just put forward another one, big clubs and managers don't make excuses they make things happen, it's the club with small club mentality that do.
The quotes are they as a caveat - they had a transfer ban confirmed earlier in January, so they were not going to sell to anyone. Atletico are in competition for La Liga, why would they sanction the sale of their best player mid-season? Not a single club put forward a bid for the guy. Both Falcao and Costa were sold in the summer.

If you had more to offer than cliched statements I'd take you more seriously but you hardly watch football, you are basing all your opinions on this from the internet and it's just another way to showcase your bitterness towards Wenger. This one is a real reach, even by your standards.

[Özim]

The quotes are they as a caveat - they had a transfer ban confirmed earlier in January, so they were not going to sell to anyone. Atletico are in competition for La Liga, why would they sanction the sale of their best player mid-season? Not a single club put forward a bid for the guy. Both Falcao and Costa were sold in the summer.

If you had more to offer than cliched statements I'd take you more seriously but you hardly watch football, you are basing all your opinions on this from the internet and it's just another way to showcase your bitterness towards Wenger. This one is a real reach, even by your standards.

Athletico aren't a big club, they're punching above their wait but it's been shown that if a big club offers enough they sell. Just because it's January that doesn't change a thing, as I said if you don't try you don't get and we don't try.

At the end of the day if a bid comes in and a player wants to leave there's little use trying to keep him, I wouldn't say we have that amount of influence after our decade of failure but we always take a defeatist attitude (just as you've just proved), it's always can't, won't, isn't......winners don't think like that I'm afraid.

Your words are mere speculation, there's no proof they wouldn't sell, it's just an opinion, like I said they sold Martinez and if a transfer ban was such a worry you wouldn't risk that in case there was an injury.

Once upon a time we signed Arshavin in January, I'm sure he was key to his club as well.

[Kano]

I think the transfer ban is pretty conclusive and logical proof.

And I've already told you that Martinez was not a key player. Half his games were from the bench and he hardly scored, so that doesn't hold up at all as an example. Griezmann is their main striker, they aren't going to sell him when you potentially can't find a replacement and blow their chances of the title. Just keep rolling out the cliches, one might come true soon.

[Özim]

I think the transfer ban is pretty conclusive and logical proof.

And I've already told you that Martinez was not a key player. Half his games were from the bench and he hardly scored, so that doesn't hold up at all as an example. Griezmann is their main striker, they aren't going to sell him when you potentially can't find a replacement and blow their chances of the title. Just keep rolling out the cliches, one might come true soon.

Torres is their main striker and had they sold Griezman they could have kept Martinez or signed someone else, I'm sure they could find someone in a month, most clubs can.

[Niall_Quinn]

Can you please stop talking about transfers in an Arsenal transfer thread!? It makes no fucking sense.

[Kano]

Torres is their main striker and had they sold Griezman they could have kept Martinez or signed someone else, I'm sure they could find someone in a month, most clubs can.

You mean Torres, the player who has started more games from the bench this season - they striker that has catipulted them up to second in the table with his fearsome strike rate of two goals so far. The guy they are likely to sell at the end of the season. That guy?

You won't replace somone like Griezman mid-season. Which is why is so rarely happens at this stage. It's lunacy to do so. Look at what happened to Liverpool ever since they grabbed the money over logic.

[Özim]

You mean Torres, the player who has started more games from the bench this season - they striker that has catipulted them up to second in the table with his fearsome strike rate of two goals so far. The guy they are likely to sell at the end of the season. That guy?

You won't replace somone like Griezman mid-season. Which is why is so rarely happens at this stage. It's lunacy to do so. Look at what happened to Liverpool ever since they grabbed the money over logic.

Yes that one, rumours circulating Costa will return to Athletico....so much for a transfer ban. Looks like we should have gone for Giezman after all, now that they've sold martinez tho, no chance :good:

[Kano]

I'll go check out the official statments in The Daily Star right now.

[Özim]

I'll go check out the official statments in The Daily Star right now.

Make sure you do, you may learn something about the world of transfers and making things happen rather than letting them fall on your lap.

[Static]

Yes that one, rumours circulating Costa will return to Athletico....so much for a transfer ban. Looks like we should have gone for Giezman after all, now that they've sold martinez tho, no chance :good:
They wouldn't have sold Griezmann to us in the window just gone. I very much doubt he would want to come here anyway.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2792796/antoine-griezmann-reveals-turned-arsenal-approach-order-link-diego-simeone.html

Have a look at that, he chose Atletico over us already, why would he want to go back on the decision he already made? Especially considering the way he spoke about Simeone.

Edit, also: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3419081/Diego-Simeone-changed-completely-struggled-six-months-great-rigour-discipline-reveals-Atletico-Madrid-star-Antoine-Griezmann.html

[Özim]

They wouldn't have sold Griezmann to us in the window just gone. I very much doubt he would want to come here anyway.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2792796/antoine-griezmann-reveals-turned-arsenal-approach-order-link-diego-simeone.html

Have a look at that, he chose Atletico over us already, why would he want to go back on the decision he already made? Especially considering the way he spoke about Simeone.

Edit, also: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3419081/Diego-Simeone-changed-completely-struggled-six-months-great-rigour-discipline-reveals-Atletico-Madrid-star-Antoine-Griezmann.html

I'm not entirely disagreeing, we don't have the appeal we once had as we're not successful anymore and are seen as serial bottlers, however if you don't try you don't get.

Newcastle tried their luck with Lacazette, wouldn't have minded him and West Ham signed Tevez and Mascherano in the past so stranger things have happened.

We could have gone for these players if we'd wanted to and we may or may not have got them, thing is we never try.

[Power n Glory]

We don't even need a world class striker. Just find someone that's competent in front of goal and has a bit of a pace. Giroud is the wrong sort of striker for that type of game. He always wants the ball played to his feet and he's not creating space for himself or others. Unless the ball is looped in over the top or crossed, it's difficult to get him an assist in a game like that.

There must be strikers available that can provide a bit of movement up top. It's not like we're looking for the impossible. For crying out loud, I'd even wager Walcott or Sanchez doing better in that sort of game up front because it's easier for our midfield to get them the ball.

[Munchies]

We don't even need a world class striker. Just find someone that's competent in front of goal and has a bit of a pace. Giroud is the wrong sort of striker for that type of game. He always wants the ball played to his feet and he's not creating space for himself or others. Unless the ball is looped in over the top or crossed, it's difficult to get him an assist in a game like that.

There must be strikers available that can provide a bit of movement up top. It's not like we're looking for the impossible. For crying out loud, I'd even wager Walcott or Sanchez doing better in that sort of game up front because it's easier for our midfield to get them the ball.


Could've easily bought Lacazette in the Summer

Just as strong, really fast and can score

[I am invisible]

We don't even need a world class striker. Just find someone that's competent in front of goal and has a bit of a pace. Giroud is the wrong sort of striker for that type of game. He always wants the ball played to his feet and he's not creating space for himself or others. Unless the ball is looped in over the top or crossed, it's difficult to get him an assist in a game like that.

There must be strikers available that can provide a bit of movement up top. It's not like we're looking for the impossible. For crying out loud, I'd even wager Walcott or Sanchez doing better in that sort of game up front because it's easier for our midfield to get them the ball.

If you get a chance, see if you can find a compilation of Aubameyang's goals from this season - he sounds like exactly the kind of player we'd all love to have up top with his blistering pace, and his current goal-a-game record, but there's a hell of a lot of tap-ins from a couple of yards out in there, and a lot of them are actually quite scruffy?

I think he's a great example of how you don't necessarily have to be a world-class finisher to be a very, very effective striker - what he lacks in super-sharp shooting, he makes up for in positioning and timing, and generally knowing where his team mates are going to put the ball. And there's obviously got to be more to his all-round game than that - if his sole contribution was rolling the ball in from a yard out, then Dortmund would just take the money and run. However, my first thought after watching that compilation was pretty much the same as yours: how hard can it possibly be to find a striker who can do that (and certainly for a shit sight less than Dortmund would want)? And also why can't one of our current lot do a similar job? Welbeck in particular looks very similar in terms of build, physical attributes and work rate, but I suppose for that plan to work he'd have to a) get fit, b) stay fit, and c) actually be played as a striker, and not shoved out on the wing while we try and keep Giroud and Walcott happy?

[Power n Glory]

If you get a chance, see if you can find a compilation of Aubameyang's goals from this season - he sounds like exactly the kind of player we'd all love to have up top with his blistering pace, and his current goal-a-game record, but there's a hell of a lot of tap-ins from a couple of yards out in there, and a lot of them are actually quite scruffy?

I think he's a great example of how you don't necessarily have to be a world-class finisher to be a very, very effective striker - what he lacks in super-sharp shooting, he makes up for in positioning and timing, and generally knowing where his team mates are going to put the ball. And there's obviously got to be more to his all-round game than that - if his sole contribution was rolling the ball in from a yard out, then Dortmund would just take the money and run. However, my first thought after watching that compilation was pretty much the same as yours: how hard can it possibly be to find a striker who can do that (and certainly for a shit sight less than Dortmund would want)? And also why can't one of our current lot do a similar job? Welbeck in particular looks very similar in terms of build, physical attributes and work rate (although I suppose for that plan to work he'd have to a) get fit, b) stay fit, and c) actually be played as a striker, and not shoved out on the wing while we try and keep Giroud and Walcott happy)...

I think Aubameyang started his life as a winger. I really don’t know how this sort of player can slip under our radar. He was playing in the French league before arriving at Dortmund. But I agree with you. Welbeck should be capable of playing the role. Theo, Sanchez even Campbell. Just someone that has a decent touch, a bit of pace and has the mobility to work from channel to channel, come deep for the ball on occasions, go in behind and also be effective on the counter. When teams sit deep against us, block the middle and restrict the space, we can’t afford to play a slow immobile brick of a player that can only play with his back to goal. I’ve noticed how Klopp’s playing Frimino and I don’t know why we haven’t tried the same.

Why not buy a winger and convert them to a striker? I thought that was the plan for Sanchez. Just before selling Gervinho we played him there and he didn’t look that bad and that guy has terrible shooting technique but he’d manage to find the net and pose a threat. Constantly moving. He had a great game against Southampton scoring 2. The Chelsea and City games were too much for him (even though he scored against Chelsea) but I don’t get why Wenger hasn’t tried this again. I don’t accept that there is no one on the market. I think he’s lost his eye for talent.

The problem I have with Giroud is that he’s not a threat to defenders. Hardly ever a menace that’s a thorn in their side. He has moments where he pops up for a goal but never a constant threat. For all of Theo’s faults, you could see against Bayern and Utd that he was a problem for their defenders and he didn’t have to score. We just need an upgrade on that sort of player. That should be our plan A all the time. Giroud should be plan B. There has to be a player out there or within the squad and it shouldn’t take £60m to get that from a player. I really don’t know why he hasn’t put pace up front as a priority now. Against Chelsea he took off his top goal scoring striker to play with pace. Surely that’s a sign? He’d never do that if that were Anelka, Henry, RVP…even Adebayor.

[Niall_Quinn]

Headlines this morning speculating Sturridge is leaving Anfield and we head the queue to buy him. This is an easy one to believe. Absolute crock who is likely to play 5 games a season tops? What's not to love?

[Özim]

Wenger saying cuts in ticket prices won't happen as players will need to be paid more and transfer fees will rise :lol: Oh dear Ironic really as the guy spends peanuts most of the time but overpays players who've done nothing, he's part and parcel of the problem.

He can't leave soon enough


Arsene Wenger: Arsenal boss says clubs need TV cash for players

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35502898 (http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35502898)

[Globalgunner]

Wenger saying cuts in ticket prices won't happen as players will need to be paid more and transfer fees will rise :lol: Oh dear Ironic really as the guy spends peanuts most of the time but overpays players who've done nothing, he's part and parcel of the problem.

He can't leave soon enough



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35502898 (http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35502898)

Need the money for Players.... and Managers......They are not exactly cheap either

[Özim]

If you believe reports he might be getting tired of the way the club does thing already, if he's holding out for signings he'd better not hold his breath, may see him playing for a Manchester club some time soon....

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/493818/Arsenal-Alexis-Sanchez-contract-demands

[Niall_Quinn]

£160k per week? Insane of course, but in an insane marketplace that's pretty conservative. With all this cash pouring into the game does the club really think it can keep on lowballing genuine stars in comparison to what those players can get elsewhere so it can overpay the average players or pay players to be injured for years? This has a nasty timing to it with chequebook Pep on his way.

[Özim]

£160k per week? Insane of course, but in an insane marketplace that's pretty conservative. With all this cash pouring into the game does the club really think it can keep on lowballing genuine stars in comparison to what those players can get elsewhere so it can overpay the average players or pay players to be injured for years? This has a nasty timing to it with chequebook Pep on his way.

There's talk of Guardiola being interested as well, wouldn't surprise me if it happened, was Sanchez one of his signings? Let's be honest we're never going to convince him of our ambition with Wenger in charge, everyone knows what he considers to be a good transfer window, a couple bargain bucket unknown buys that are better than what we have but oddly not ready to play.

The man in charge of convincing Sanchez to stay is the same man who relies on crocks like Rosicky, Diaby and Wilshere to make a major contribution every single season despite evidence to the contrary, hardly fills you with confidence

[I am invisible]

£160k per week? Insane of course, but in an insane marketplace that's pretty conservative. With all this cash pouring into the game does the club really think it can keep on lowballing genuine stars in comparison to what those players can get elsewhere so it can overpay the average players or pay players to be injured for years? This has a nasty timing to it with chequebook Pep on his way.
What's there to even think about - pay it! We're certainly not spending the money on anything else. Offensive sums by any normal person's standards, but relative to other footballers? He's probably delivering twice what other players we have are who are on upwards of £100k a week (even when he spends have the season out injured or being rested!) - hard to argue that he shouldn't be paid twice as much...

[Munchies]

Papers in Spain/Germany both say Ozil wants to leave

[Niall_Quinn]

What's there to even think about - pay it! We're certainly not spending the money on anything else. Offensive sums by any normal person's standards, but relative to other footballers? He's probably delivering twice what other players we have are who are on upwards of £100k a week (even when he spends have the season out injured or being rested!) - hard to argue that he shouldn't be paid twice as much...

If Theo Walcott is the benchmark then Alexis should be on £5billion a week.

But it was also going to be difficult to hang on to genuine star players what with the lack of ambition and investment. I wonder if a tour of Stan's new ranch might convince him to stay? This board and their new and eager spokesman Wenger are going to end up destroying the club as a football concern.

[I am invisible]

Papers in Spain/Germany both say Ozil wants to leave
Independently, or is one quoting the other? If it all stems from Marca or AS then it's probably bollocks...

[Niall_Quinn]

Papers in Spain/Germany both say Ozil wants to leave

We're going to need to win the title to keep our top players (apart from Cech who will probably see out his career here now). But Alexis, Ozil and I'd put Bellerin in the same class of desirables - plus players looking for a pay day despite the fact they can't deliver on the pitch, your Theo types, Ox, maybe even Jack, they aren't going to hang around to be paid less at a supposed top club that can't conquer Leicester City and is making noises about retaining Wenger until 2019.

Or we could beat Barca and the go on to win the CL. We could travel to the final on flying pigs.

But this club needs to do something, anything to demonstrate its ambition lies beyond the personal interests of the owners and a gang of highly paid execs, including the manager. The transfer window this summer was deeply damaging and couldn't have been a clearer indication of our lack of seriousness to compete at the very top of the game. Players at the top of their own game, who deliver on the pitch, are bound to take notice and plan accordingly. In the end even Henry left to win something.

Alexis said it after the last cup win, it's all well and good hoisting what is now a very minor trophy by comparison to the big prizes but it's titles they want (and cash of course). Domestically and in Europe.

[Marc Overmars]

While these stories about Ozil and Sanchez are probably nonsense, we shouldn't take them sticking around here for granted. No CL progress and faltering title challenges will see them consider their future, make no mistake about it.

[I am invisible]

No, of course not - if it gives the club a kick up the star then so much the better! Just saying it's probably not worth working ourselves into a panic over...

[Niall_Quinn]

Why did they come here in the first place? More promises?

[Niall_Quinn]

No, of course not - if it gives the club a kick up the star then so much the better! Just saying it's probably not working ourselves into a panic over...

When you consider who will be involved in contract negotiations and also has control of the chequebook in the transfer windows, maybe panic is the most suitable response.

Sigh. We've said it so many times but this summer we need to see proper, top tier reinforcements arrive or we can forget about existing top tier players hanging around. Plenty of clubs out there that can genuinely compete and will pay a lot more. For the modern player football is a job, there's no loyalty or cultural association. Pep will have unlimited funds in the summer, so will cunt bag over at Utd. You have to assume the chavs will be kicking in a pile of cash too. Love it or loathe it these are the big clubs in action. So are we part of that group or a tier below? It might upset the delicate sensibilities of the misers in our boardroom, it may well be vulgarity that causes manager to wretch, but we're either in this to win it or we chuck the towel in and assume our place with the also-rans. I guess if the latter occurs (99.99% chance) at least we have a nice stadium and a strong share price.

The alternative, of course, would be to get a proper manager in. We've seen how a proper manager can close that gap without having to spend a fortune. Unfortunately the guy we have has demonstrated time after time he doesn't have the know-how so if he's staying it will have to be the money route.

£100mill in the summer window and Simeone or the like brought in and we are looking at a whole new Arsenal with a whole bunch of possibilities. Minimum spend and the stubborn old bloke signed up until 2019 and we're fucked. I really don't know how there's anybody left who can't see that.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I thought it was Ramsey that Barca were after? :rolleyes:

[Kano]

I thought it was Ramsey that Barca were after? :rolleyes:

They want them all - they're all going to leave at once ffs!

[Xhaka Can’t]

They want them all - they're all going to leave at once ffs!

They can have all of our players and we'll have all of theirs.

And next year we'll finish 4th and go out in the first CL knock-out stage.

[Kano]

They can have all of our players and we'll have all of theirs.

And next year we'll finish 4th and go out in the first CL knock-out stage.

But more shirt sales, more merchandise and higher share values.

So everyone's a winner.

[Xhaka Can’t]

But more shirt sales, more merchandise and higher share values.

So everyone's a winner.

You're Boardroom material!

[fakeyank]

Can Barca just take Wenger? :pray:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They can have all of our players and we'll have all of theirs.

And next year we'll finish 4th and go out in the first CL knock-out stage.

To Barcelona.

[I am invisible]

I think Aubameyang started his life as a winger. I really don’t know how this sort of player can slip under our radar. He was playing in the French league before arriving at Dortmund. But I agree with you. Welbeck should be capable of playing the role. Theo, Sanchez even Campbell. Just someone that has a decent touch, a bit of pace and has the mobility to work from channel to channel, come deep for the ball on occasions, go in behind and also be effective on the counter. When teams sit deep against us, block the middle and restrict the space, we can’t afford to play a slow immobile brick of a player that can only play with his back to goal. I’ve noticed how Klopp’s playing Frimino and I don’t know why we haven’t tried the same.

Why not buy a winger and convert them to a striker? I thought that was the plan for Sanchez. Just before selling Gervinho we played him there and he didn’t look that bad and that guy has terrible shooting technique but he’d manage to find the net and pose a threat. Constantly moving. He had a great game against Southampton scoring 2. The Chelsea and City games were too much for him (even though he scored against Chelsea) but I don’t get why Wenger hasn’t tried this again. I don’t accept that there is no one on the market. I think he’s lost his eye for talent.

The problem I have with Giroud is that he’s not a threat to defenders. Hardly ever a menace that’s a thorn in their side. He has moments where he pops up for a goal but never a constant threat. For all of Theo’s faults, you could see against Bayern and Utd that he was a problem for their defenders and he didn’t have to score. We just need an upgrade on that sort of player. That should be our plan A all the time. Giroud should be plan B. There has to be a player out there or within the squad and it shouldn’t take £60m to get that from a player. I really don’t know why he hasn’t put pace up front as a priority now. Against Chelsea he took off his top goal scoring striker to play with pace. Surely that’s a sign? He’d never do that if that were Anelka, Henry, RVP…even Adebayor.

Yeah, I'm not really sure what happened with the 'Sanchez as striker' plan? Probably the same thing that happens to all of our plans - injuries. One or two wide men go down, and that's it! All of a sudden we have no choice but to keep Giroud up front, and play anyone out wide who is still fit and able to play there.

I'm not actually sure where I stand on the idea now, anyway? I was very much for it when we first signed him, and after last summer, when I really couldn't think of anyone more talented out there who we could have signed to play there... part of me is still curious to see how it might work out, and thinks that a partnership of Sanchez and Özil is potentially mouth-watering... but then another part of me thinks that we're already getting 20+ goals a season from him from the left, and that we'd be stupid to give that up? By all accounts Sanchez himself prefers playing on the left anyway, and it's working out pretty well for us... maybe we shouldn't go tinkering with it?

At this point, given the options we have (and assuming his injury woes are behind him), I think my first choice would be to give Welbeck a proper run as CF. He gives us the best mix of attributes - presence, pace + mobility, work rate, hold-up play, decent in the air and on the deck... he's not necessarily the sharpest, deadliest finisher I've ever seen, but I really don't think you need to be? If you're getting in the right places consistently then there's always goals to be had for anyone. Again, dig out a compilation of Aubameyang's goals from this season as an example, or just think back to what we managed to get out of Adebayor - we've squeezed more out of less before, so this should be achievable.

To be honest, I have a lot more time for Giroud than I do for Walcott at the moment - a limited striker he may be, but at least I generally feel that he delivers towards the top end of what his limitations allow him to across a season. We all know what the biggest problem with him is: he should be used as a horses-for-courses striker, but unfortunately we end up having use him far more often than we should, largely because of the brittleness of everyone around him. He's a good first-time finisher, and a great option to have to break down a deep defence and a packed area - I can't really blame him because we end up having to use him as our everyman for every occasion so often.

My issue with Walcott is that I never know what we're going to get from him? Sure, Giroud has his good games and bad, but at least he's fairly predictable with it (i.e. you can pretty much see it coming a mile of when he's not going to be suited to a particular game or against a particular opponent) - with Walcott though, it's a lot more erratic. He can be god-awful in a game that should suit him down to the ground, and he can suddenly turn up and win a game that you think he's going to be totally swamped in? I don't like not knowing what to expect from our players when we field them - you have to know, more or less, what to expect from your players before you can build a team around them and plan...

[Power n Glory]

Yeah, I'm not really sure what happened with the 'Sanchez as striker' plan? Probably the same thing that happens to all of our plans - injuries. One or two wide men go down, and that's it! All of a sudden we have no choice but to keep Giroud up front, and play anyone out wide who is still fit and able to play there.

I'm not actually sure where I stand on the idea now, anyway? I was very much for it when we first signed him, and after last summer, when I really couldn't think of anyone more talented out there who we could have signed to play there... part of me is still curious to see how it might work out, and thinks that a partnership of Sanchez and Özil is potentially mouth-watering... but then another part of me thinks that we're already getting 20+ goals a season from him from the left, and that we'd be stupid to give that up? By all accounts Sanchez himself prefers playing on the left anyway, and it's working out pretty well for us... maybe we shouldn't go tinkering with it?

At this point, given the options we have (and assuming his injury woes are behind him), I think my first choice would be to give Welbeck a proper run as CF. He gives us the best mix of attributes - presence, pace + mobility, work rate, hold-up play, decent in the air and on the deck... he's not necessarily the sharpest, deadliest finisher I've ever seen, but I really don't think you need to be? If you're getting in the right places consistently then there's always goals to be had for anyone. Again, dig out a compilation of Aubameyang's goals from this season as an example, or just think back to what we managed to get out of Adebayor - we've squeezed more out of less before, so this should be achievable.

To be honest, I have a lot more time for Giroud than I do for Walcott at the moment - a limited striker he may be, but at least I generally feel that he delivers towards the top end of what his limitations allow him to across a season. We all know what the biggest problem with him is: he should be used as a horses-for-courses striker, but unfortunately we end up having use him far more often than we should, largely because of the brittleness of everyone around him. He's a good first-time finisher, and a great option to have to break down a deep defence and a packed area - I can't really blame him because we end up having to use him as our everyman for every occasion so often.

My issue with Walcott is that I never know what we're going to get from him? Sure, Giroud has his good games and bad, but at least he's fairly predictable with it (i.e. you can pretty much see it coming a mile of when he's not going to be suited to a particular game or against a particular opponent) - with Walcott though, it's a lot more erratic. He can be god-awful in a game that should suit him down to the ground, and he can suddenly turn up and win a game that you think he's going to be totally swamped in? I don't like not knowing what to expect from our players when we field them - you have to know, more or less, what to expect from your players before you can build a team around them and plan...

I disagree about Giroud. We need him to find his form or someone else to step up and T up some chances for him. Yesterday’s performance from him was predictable and it has been for a couple of weeks now and that’s not a good thing. He should be a plan B striker coming on off the bench in that case. It might not be wise to tinker with Sanchez now and we really don’t have many wide options being honest.

As for Welbeck and Walcott…..your arguments against Walcott is probably what I feel more so for Welbeck. When he first arrived and had his run up front, he just wasn’t getting into goal scoring positions. He’d need a bit more time to adapt in that role. Walcott on the other hand started to find his feet in that role but got injured as per usual. I think he’s at his worst blowing hot and cold when on the wing. If he’s not scoring, he’s not really contributing that much on the flanks. If he didn’t score last night, people would have been all over his case. But first shot on goal and he scores. He’s the type of player, I feel, will get opportunities and end up putting them away once the confidence flows. Just like we’ve said about Ade, but Walcott has a better touch and finish. Certain games are suited for a striker like Giroud but I don’t think we’ve seen enough of Walcott to write him off.

I did a comparison of Walcott and Welbeck some months back and it’s telling. Walcott had never had a run up front for as long as Welbeck had last season. But in the short period Walcott has had games up front, he’s done a lot better than Welbeck. I’m still not sure he’s had as long a run as Danny up front. But right now, I think we need to switch things up. Giorud not scoring in the last 5 games should be a worry.

[Globalgunner]

I disagree about Giroud. We need him to find his form or someone else to step up and T up some chances for him. Yesterday’s performance from him was predictable and it has been for a couple of weeks now and that’s not a good thing. He should be a plan B striker coming on off the bench in that case. It might not be wise to tinker with Sanchez now and we really don’t have many wide options being honest.

As for Welbeck and Walcott…..your arguments against Walcott is probably what I feel more so for Welbeck. When he first arrived and had his run up front, he just wasn’t getting into goal scoring positions. He’d need a bit more time to adapt in that role. Walcott on the other hand started to find his feet in that role but got injured as per usual. I think he’s at his worst blowing hot and cold when on the wing. If he’s not scoring, he’s not really contributing that much on the flanks. If he didn’t score last night, people would have been all over his case. But first shot on goal and he scores. He’s the type of player, I feel, will get opportunities and end up putting them away once the confidence flows. Just like we’ve said about Ade, but Walcott has a better touch and finish. Certain games are suited for a striker like Giroud but I don’t think we’ve seen enough of Walcott to write him off.


I did a comparison of Walcott and Welbeck some months back and it’s telling. Walcott had never had a run up front for as long as Welbeck had last season. But in the short period Walcott has had games up front, he’s done a lot better than Welbeck. I’m still not sure he’s had as long a run as Danny up front. But right now, I think we need to switch things up. Giorud not scoring in the last 5 games should be a worry.

You can go on about it as long as you wish but simple fact is. Walcott is no striker. He does not have the instincts of a striker, the composure of a striker, the anticipation of a striker, or the physical strength of a striker. It took him close to 8 years with us to pick up the semblance of a 1st touch. He cant hold the ball up, cant head a ball. Is fragile and easily dispossessed of the ball. He is of similar stature to Jermaine Defoe. Even now at 32 Defoe is a better striker and probably runs just as fast.
If we started a season with Walcott as our main striker, we would be relegated for sure. To win top honours we need better than Giroud and certainly better than Walcott. I simply find it unfathomable that someone would have watched Walcott over these past 11 years and conclude. "Yes...thats the man".
If we tried to sell him now. I am pretty sure no club above the stature of Everton would even be remotely interested.

[Power n Glory]

You can go on about it as long as you wish but simple fact is. Walcott is no striker. He does not have the instincts of a striker, the composure of a striker, the anticipation of a striker, or the physical strength of a striker. It took him close to 8 years with us to pick up the semblance of a 1st touch. He cant hold the ball up, cant head a ball. Is fragile and easily dispossessed of the ball. He is of similar stature to Jermaine Defoe. Even now at 32 Defoe is a better striker and probably runs just as fast.
If we started a season with Walcott as our main striker, we would be relegated for sure. To win top honours we need better than Giroud and certainly better than Walcott. I simply find it unfathomable that someone would have watched Walcott over these past 11 years and conclude. "Yes...thats the man".
If we tried to sell him now. I am pretty sure no club above the stature of Everton would even be remotely interested.

:blah: Thanks for your opinion but you're wasting your breath. You don't need to contribute anything to this discussion. Especially if you're going to post the above. :good:

[Globalgunner]

:blah: Thanks for your opinion but you're wasting your breath. You don't need to contribute anything to this discussion. Especially if you're going to post the above. :good:

Need is not the issue on this forum. Posting is voluntary. If you only want to preach to the converted, then YOU are wasting your time. Walcott, the world class striker. He will be lucky to make the England squad for these Euros in any capacity. just wait and see.

[Power n Glory]

Need is not the issue on this forum. Posting is voluntary. If you only want to preach to the converted, then YOU are wasting your time. Walcott, the world class striker. He will be lucky to make the England squad for these Euros in any capacity. just wait and see.

That's not even the case of preaching to the converted because IAV isn't convinced either. But it's cool. I respect his opinion. When it comes to talking football, players, etc, I've got time for a few posters on here and respect their opinion. But yours isn't one quite frankly. Sorry.

[Globalgunner]

That's not even the case of preaching to the converted because IAV isn't convinced either. But it's cool. I respect his opinion. When it comes to talking football, players, etc, I've got time for a few posters on here and respect their opinion. But yours isn't one quite frankly. Sorry.

No need to apologise . People whose opinions do matter will adjudicate. If Walcott is at home watching the Euros while the team is packed full of Spud players. We will know his true worth.

[Power n Glory]

No need to apologise . People whose opinions do matter will adjudicate. If Walcott is at home watching the Euros while the team is packed full of Spud players. We will know his true worth.

How his England selection for the Euros even relevant to our title run? :lol: No need to answer because it doesn't matter.

[Globalgunner]

Of course it doesnt. Hes too good to play for England as a striker. Kane, Vardy, Rooney. They should watch Walnut and learn.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I think Walcott has frustrated us repeatedly over his career but there are far too many of our fans who have pointed to us playing well without him as proof we don't need him whilst ignoring the fact that we have played best when he has been on the field this season.

He's not popular at the moment but the fact we seem to see the best out of our 2 best players in Sanchez and Ozil when he plays is ignored at our peril. If pace really is all you need then Man ure really should sign Usain Bolt who is shamefully a fan of theirs and regularly whores himself to them.

Whilst we have the options we do I'd prefer we use Walcott up front a little more than we have been.............. but yes, sign Aubameyang this summer FFS.

[Ralpheroo72]

Debuchy can suck the back of them, moaning sod,hope he doesn't play fur us again

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10168469/mathieu-debuchy-claims-arsenal-blocked-his-move-to-man-utd

[Kano]

I think Walcott has frustrated us repeatedly over his career but there are far too many of our fans who have pointed to us playing well without him as proof we don't need him whilst ignoring the fact that we have played best when he has been on the field this season.

He's not popular at the moment but the fact we seem to see the best out of our 2 best players in Sanchez and Ozil when he plays is ignored at our peril. If pace really is all you need then Man ure really should sign Usain Bolt who is shamefully a fan of theirs and regularly whores himself to them.

Whilst we have the options we do I'd prefer we use Walcott up front a little more than we have been.............. but yes, sign Aubameyang this summer FFS.

Pace is needed when you are playing on the counter. Arsenal rarely do because an increasing number of our opponents are set up to hit on the break, meaning we get sucked into having the ball, closed down and away they go. Two games where I can remember where Feo did play well was when he had the space to cause problems, away at Leicester - before they changed the two full backs that has subsequently improved their defence - and at home to Utd, where ageing players left massive gaps in midfield for us to exploit. We saw a totally different second half in the Utd game once they shored up those holes. Our counter attacking didn't work that day for the latter 45 mins. When Feo was injured, as per usual, this season, Ozil was the best player in the league. Last season when Feo was injured, his yearly mid-season break, it didn't stop Alexis performing like a monster most weeks. The evidence is against Feo in terms of what he can give to this team on a consistent basis. Added to the fact that you can't develop a longterm plan around someone whose injury stats are always going to be higher than his appearances, goals or assists. Giroud is not exactly a world beater but at least you know what you are going to get from him. Feo brings too many unknown quantities to be anything other than a useful, short term use substitute. Aubamayeng would be great but we have to remember just how many of these 'big name' players from Dortmund have actually come across to the PL since Klopp transformed them.

[Kano]

Debuchy can suck the back of them, moaning sod,hope he doesn't play fur us again

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10168469/mathieu-debuchy-claims-arsenal-blocked-his-move-to-man-utd

Oh well. bye

[Power n Glory]

Pace is needed when you are playing on the counter. Arsenal rarely do because an increasing number of our opponents are set up to hit on the break, meaning we get sucked into having the ball, closed down and away they go. Two games where I can remember where Feo did play well was when he had the space to cause problems, away at Leicester - before they changed the two full backs that has subsequently improved their defence - and at home to Utd, where ageing players left massive gaps in midfield for us to exploit. We saw a totally different second half in the Utd game once they shored up those holes. Our counter attacking didn't work that day for the latter 45 mins. When Feo was injured, as per usual, this season, Ozil was the best player in the league. Last season when Feo was injured, his yearly mid-season break, it didn't stop Alexis performing like a monster most weeks. The evidence is against Feo in terms of what he can give to this team on a consistent basis. Added to the fact that you can't develop a longterm plan around someone whose injury stats are always going to be higher than his appearances, goals or assists. Giroud is not exactly a world beater but at least you know what you are going to get from him. Feo brings too many unknown quantities to be anything other than a useful, short term use substitute. Aubamayeng would be great but we have to remember just how many of these 'big name' players from Dortmund have actually come across to the PL since Klopp transformed them.

What is that? 6 games without a goal and we’re struggling against open teams like Leicester and teams that also sit deep. We know what we’re going to get from Giroud but is that enough?

[Globalgunner]

Who has scored more goals this season, Walcott or Giroud. Who has played more games, been absent far less?. Plan your future around a player who actually plays and scores more than once in a red moon. We can keep him but to move with the elite we need an elite striker.

[Power n Glory]

Who has scored more goals this season, Walcott or Giroud. Who has played more games, been absent far less?. Plan your future around a player who actually plays and scores more than once in a red moon. We can keep him but to move with the elite we need an elite striker.

Is that enough for this season. The remaining games we have left in the season. We only have internal options at our disposal so no point in talking about transfers. Giroud's done well this season but is this it for him? Have the goals dried up and do we keep going, clinging on, even though we're forced to play a certain style with him or do we try something else?

Take Walcott out of the equation because there is no point in debating that with you.

[I am invisible]

I disagree about Giroud. We need him to find his form or someone else to step up and T up some chances for him. Yesterday’s performance from him was predictable and it has been for a couple of weeks now and that’s not a good thing. He should be a plan B striker coming on off the bench in that case. It might not be wise to tinker with Sanchez now and we really don’t have many wide options being honest.

As for Welbeck and Walcott…..your arguments against Walcott is probably what I feel more so for Welbeck. When he first arrived and had his run up front, he just wasn’t getting into goal scoring positions. He’d need a bit more time to adapt in that role. Walcott on the other hand started to find his feet in that role but got injured as per usual. I think he’s at his worst blowing hot and cold when on the wing. If he’s not scoring, he’s not really contributing that much on the flanks. If he didn’t score last night, people would have been all over his case. But first shot on goal and he scores. He’s the type of player, I feel, will get opportunities and end up putting them away once the confidence flows. Just like we’ve said about Ade, but Walcott has a better touch and finish. Certain games are suited for a striker like Giroud but I don’t think we’ve seen enough of Walcott to write him off.

I did a comparison of Walcott and Welbeck some months back and it’s telling. Walcott had never had a run up front for as long as Welbeck had last season. But in the short period Walcott has had games up front, he’s done a lot better than Welbeck. I’m still not sure he’s had as long a run as Danny up front. But right now, I think we need to switch things up. Giorud not scoring in the last 5 games should be a worry.
Sorry mate, I never saw that comparison - probably too busy changing nappies, and mopping up drool and puke. If you can dig it out again though, I'll give it a read.

To be honest I would probably expect Walcott to come out on top on any comparison from last season, even with a shorter run to work with? He's a (slightly) more experienced player, who's been at the club for 9-10 years, and will have had a much better understanding with his team mates, and a much better knowledge of our system and the manager's ways. Welbeck would have only been at the club for about 5 minutes, during that run he had up front at the start of last season - he didn't even get a pre-season with us because of how late in the window we signed him - so I wouldn't be expecting to see anything particularly mind-blowing from him in terms of stats.

I'll admit that there's an element of fantasy football going on here, but I'm looking at these guys more in terms of raw attributes, and trying to picture the kind of striker that we could fashion with them. Work to be done with any of the current options, but I feel like there's a more complete package to be had with Danny than there is with Theo or Giroud. And, in theory at least, I don't think it should take too much work to get him there? Aside from being blessed with all the physical traits you'd have on your wish list, and being a pretty good all-round player, I like the fact that his attitude and work-rate are always consistent - you never have to motivate him, or stroke his ego, or get him angry before he'll make the effort. Where he lacks consistency, as you say, is getting in the right places at the right times - on the one hand that sounds like a pretty major problem when you're talking about your CF, but I actually think it's a relatively simple thing to sort out in the grand scheme of things? It's something that can be taught. Unfortunately, Theo can't really learn how to be bigger, just as Giroud can't really learn to be faster.

My personal opinion is that both Giroud AND Walcott are potentially most valuable to us as players coming off the bench. And that's not meant as an insult - it's more of tactical preference. Ideally, I'd want to start each game with a striker like Welbeck, who offers us a bit of both worlds - pace and mobility, as well as strength and hold-up play - then bring one or the other on once we've felt the game out, and seen whether there's a high line that is begging to be punished, or a packed area that needs breaking down. It's a move away from the more traditional 'best XI' way of thinking, and towards a more targeted approach, but, if used correctly, I think we could have a couple of really effective weapons on our hands?

[I am invisible]

I think Walcott has frustrated us repeatedly over his career but there are far too many of our fans who have pointed to us playing well without him as proof we don't need him whilst ignoring the fact that we have played best when he has been on the field this season.

He's not popular at the moment but the fact we seem to see the best out of our 2 best players in Sanchez and Ozil when he plays is ignored at our peril. If pace really is all you need then Man ure really should sign Usain Bolt who is shamefully a fan of theirs and regularly whores himself to them.

Whilst we have the options we do I'd prefer we use Walcott up front a little more than we have been.............. but yes, sign Aubameyang this summer FFS.

I'd rather have Walcott than not have him! Same with Giroud. They both still frustrate me at times, but I don't think either are bad players - far from it. I just don't think they're complete players, and that puts them more in the bracket of 'tactical option' than 'guaranteed starter' for me. No shame in that - that's just how the game is these days (especially where attacking options are concerned). If you can't get a world-class monster who can do everything, then you're best bet is a more modular approach.

Aubameyang? Top player, but, again, every time I watch YT compilations of all his goals from this prolific run he's on this season I'm left thinking "why can't we get one of our guys to do that?" 90% of them really are just tap-ins from a couple of yards out. I don't know... have a look for yourself, and see if you think it's anything we need to be paying £60-70m for?

[Globalgunner]

I'd rather have Walcott than not have him! Same with Giroud. They both still frustrate me at times, but I don't think either are bad players - far from it. I just don't think they're complete players, and that puts them more in the bracket of 'tactical option' than 'guaranteed starter' for me. No shame in that - that's just how the game is these days (especially where attacking options are concerned). If you can't get a world-class monster who can do everything, then you're best bet is a more modular approach.

Aubameyang? Top player, but, again, every time I watch YT compilations of all his goals from this prolific run he's on this season I'm left thinking "why can't we get one of our guys to do that?" 90% of them really are just tap-ins from a couple of yards out. I don't know... have a look for yourself, and see if you think it's anything we need to be paying £60-70m for?

If you take Aubemayang. He is like for like an identical physical specimen with Welbeck. Same physique, same pace. Except that Welbeck is less prolific and far more injury prone. We need him to save us E60m and be that guy. There is no rational reason for us to keep 3 nearly strikers as our main attack options. I would rather we get Akpom and Aneke back and start working with them then and junk our crap trioka of average players. Welbeck holds the most promise. He needs to keep fit and start finishing reliably.

[mastermind84]

Theo gets the best out of Özil and Sanchez but he is not prolific and only works in space.

We tried him up top against Chelsea a few weeks ago and he gave a horrendous performance. One of the worst we have seen.

The problem with our goals this season is not necessarily Giroud tho. Through expected goals and assists he has been the best striker in England and for Arsenal he is the only player converting their chances at a high clip. It's the others who are a problem, particularly Alexis.

We need a better version of Theo although Giroud has a ton of value. But we really need goals from other positions. A guy like Griezman would be perfect as he runs behind defenses (only Theo does that on our team) and he takes chances.

Welbeck is not a striker. He don't score enough or even take shots/

Saying that, I think Theo should start against Tottenham at CF because they play a style he would thrive against.

[Power n Glory]

Sorry mate, I never saw that comparison - probably too busy changing nappies, and mopping up drool and puke. If you can dig it out again though, I'll give it a read.

To be honest I would probably expect Walcott to come out on top on any comparison from last season, even with a shorter run to work with? He's a (slightly) more experienced player, who's been at the club for 9-10 years, and will have had a much better understanding with his team mates, and a much better knowledge of our system and the manager's ways. Welbeck would have only been at the club for about 5 minutes, during that run he had up front at the start of last season - he didn't even get a pre-season with us because of how late in the window we signed him - so I wouldn't be expecting to see anything particularly mind-blowing from him in terms of stats.

I'll admit that there's an element of fantasy football going on here, but I'm looking at these guys more in terms of raw attributes, and trying to picture the kind of striker that we could fashion with them. Work to be done with any of the current options, but I feel like there's a more complete package to be had with Danny than there is with Theo or Giroud. And, in theory at least, I don't think it should take too much work to get him there? Aside from being blessed with all the physical traits you'd have on your wish list, and being a pretty good all-round player, I like the fact that his attitude and work-rate are always consistent - you never have to motivate him, or stroke his ego, or get him angry before he'll make the effort. Where he lacks consistency, as you say, is getting in the right places at the right times - on the one hand that sounds like a pretty major problem when you're talking about your CF, but I actually think it's a relatively simple thing to sort out in the grand scheme of things? It's something that can be taught. Unfortunately, Theo can't really learn how to be bigger, just as Giroud can't really learn to be faster.

My personal opinion is that both Giroud AND Walcott are potentially most valuable to us as players coming off the bench. And that's not meant as an insult - it's more of tactical preference. Ideally, I'd want to start each game with a striker like Welbeck, who offers us a bit of both worlds - pace and mobility, as well as strength and hold-up play - then bring one or the other on once we've felt the game out, and seen whether there's a high line that is begging to be punished, or a packed area that needs breaking down. It's a move away from the more traditional 'best XI' way of thinking, and towards a more targeted approach, but, if used correctly, I think we could have a couple of really effective weapons on our hands?

I think you've summed up the problem with Welbeck already in this post. What I wrote was just a comparison on how long both have played up front and what they produced. As said with Welbeck, he needs time to adapt to the team and learn the role. Which is why I'm hesitant to say we should play him up front right now. He really needed a pre season to work on his game but injury has robbed him of that and it's very risky to play him up front now. He's had games where he looks totally ineffective and anonymous. In theory he should be the guy to take the role. He has the physique and speed to come short to link up play, hold up the ball, win it in the air and play on the shoulder. But I also thought Podolski would make an ideal striker. :doh:

When a striker gets zero chances and looks totally anonymous, I worry. More so than a striker that isn't clinical. My problem with Giroud now is the lack of shots he's getting on goal when we're playing ball to feet. I have a similar problem with Danny up front but hopefully he can work on that this summer. But it still leaves us with problem up front this season. Also, I don't want us going into the summer again waiting on Theo or Danny to play well up front which is what I fear Wenger will do. I think the way Theo is playing right now on the wing rules him out as a winger. We haven't seen enough of Welbeck but I'd rather not take a risk with him up front. Except maybe for a cup game or even Barca. Just not the league. I also hear what you're saying about Theo and Giroud's limitations and I wish we'd adopt a two striker system. I think they'd work well as a pair up front. But it's unlikely we'll change that.

[Power n Glory]

Theo gets the best out of Özil and Sanchez but he is not prolific and only works in space.

We tried him up top against Chelsea a few weeks ago and he gave a horrendous performance. One of the worst we have seen.

The problem with our goals this season is not necessarily Giroud tho. Through expected goals and assists he has been the best striker in England and for Arsenal he is the only player converting their chances at a high clip. It's the others who are a problem, particularly Alexis.

We need a better version of Theo although Giroud has a ton of value. But we really need goals from other positions. A guy like Griezman would be perfect as he runs behind defenses (only Theo does that on our team) and he takes chances.

Welbeck is not a striker. He don't score enough or even take shots/

Saying that, I think Theo should start against Tottenham at CF because they play a style he would thrive against.

Hard to judge Theo in that Chelsea game because we had 10 men and it looked like he was still playing on the wing for most of the game. Giroud has done well but we're a team that plays ball to feet and he's more suited to a direct style. We have to compromise somewhere. But agree with some of the other points. I think Welbeck needs time but he might not get that.

[I am invisible]

I think you've summed up the problem with Welbeck already in this post. What I wrote was just a comparison on how long both have played up front and what they produced. As said with Welbeck, he needs time to adapt to the team and learn the role. Which is why I'm hesitant to say we should play him up front right now. He really needed a pre season to work on his game but injury has robbed him of that and it's very risky to play him up front now. He's had games where he looks totally ineffective and anonymous. In theory he should be the guy to take the role. He has the physique and speed to come short to link up play, hold up the ball, win it in the air and play on the shoulder. But I also thought Podolski would make an ideal striker. :doh:

When a striker gets zero chances and looks totally anonymous, I worry. More so than a striker that isn't clinical. My problem with Giroud now is the lack of shots he's getting on goal when we're playing ball to feet. I have a similar problem with Danny up front but hopefully he can work on that this summer. But it still leaves us with problem up front this season. Also, I don't want us going into the summer again waiting on Theo or Danny to play well up front which is what I fear Wenger will do. I think the way Theo is playing right now on the wing rules him out as a winger. We haven't seen enough of Welbeck but I'd rather not take a risk with him up front. Except maybe for a cup game or even Barca. Just not the league. I also hear what you're saying about Theo and Giroud's limitations and I wish we'd adopt a two striker system. I think they'd work well as a pair up front. But it's unlikely we'll change that.

Yeah, perhaps this isn't the time to be playing around with that idea either, and Theo or Giroud are the best bets for now?

To be honest though, when you look at this...

http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/statistics

...then I think you've got to be pointing the finger at pretty much the whole of the midfield and attack when it comes to goals? I know we've been hampered by injuries, and to a certain extent we've just had to muddle through the last couple of months any which way we could, but it still makes for pretty dismal reading. Giroud and Sanchez have weighed in with their fair share (which isn't to say that they can now put their feet up), but no one else even looks close to breaking double-figures at the moment, and that's just not good enough. At this point, I'm pinning my hopes more on returning players giving us the numbers and options we need to allow us to put everyone back in their proper place again, but we need to rediscover our shape and cohesion bloody quick! Like 'before we go to that shit hole up the road in a couple of weeks' quick! That gives us a bare handful of games to get something figured out.

With regards to our summer plans, I could live with us taking a gamble on working with Welbeck or Walcott as CFs, if - IF - we bring in another world-class wide forward for the right. As long as we bring in a world-class attacker somewhere across that front line, I think we'll be OK...

[selassie]

I think Walcott has frustrated us repeatedly over his career but there are far too many of our fans who have pointed to us playing well without him as proof we don't need him whilst ignoring the fact that we have played best when he has been on the field this season.

He's not popular at the moment but the fact we seem to see the best out of our 2 best players in Sanchez and Ozil when he plays is ignored at our peril. If pace really is all you need then Man ure really should sign Usain Bolt who is shamefully a fan of theirs and regularly whores himself to them.

Whilst we have the options we do I'd prefer we use Walcott up front a little more than we have been.............. but yes, sign Aubameyang this summer FFS.

Think that ship has sailed now, Wenger chances it in the market, he's known for putting offers in then walking away if they are not accepted.

It will take a massive offer to get Aubameyang in the summer and I suspect we'll face heavy competition for his signature.

Wouldn't be surprised if we go into next season with the same set of forwards. Welbeck will phase out Giroud, that's how I see Wenger operating.

[Niall_Quinn]

Utd are lining up a £70mill deal, according to the newspapers. So definitely true. But in this market that's what it will probably take.

[Power n Glory]

Yeah, perhaps this isn't the time to be playing around with that idea either, and Theo or Giroud are the best bets for now?

To be honest though, when you look at this...

http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/statistics

...then I think you've got to be pointing the finger at pretty much the whole of the midfield and attack when it comes to goals? I know we've been hampered by injuries, and to a certain extent we've just had to muddle through the last couple of months any which way we could, but it still makes for pretty dismal reading. Giroud and Sanchez have weighed in with their fair share (which isn't to say that they can now put their feet up), but no one else even looks close to breaking double-figures at the moment, and that's just not good enough. At this point, I'm pinning my hopes more on returning players giving us the numbers and options we need to allow us to put everyone back in their proper place again, but we need to rediscover our shape and cohesion bloody quick! Like 'before we go to that shit hole up the road in a couple of weeks' quick! That gives us a bare handful of games to get something figured out.

With regards to our summer plans, I could live with us taking a gamble on working with Welbeck or Walcott as CFs, if - IF - we bring in another world-class wide forward for the right. As long as we bring in a world-class attacker somewhere across that front line, I think we'll be OK...

We’re really not getting much out of our midfield. No goals for Cazorla, 2 for Ox, only 6 for Ozil and Ramsey. Walcott only on 6 and it may be worth switching him back to staring on the right but he really needs to step his game up and be more productive. But yes, we really need to get our midfield scoring.

[selassie]

Utd are lining up a £70mill deal, according to the newspapers. So definitely true. But in this market that's what it will probably take.

Aye, think a lot of their recruitment depends on them securing CL. They have a lot of work to do to fix up their team IMO.

[mastermind84]

Hard to judge Theo in that Chelsea game because we had 10 men and it looked like he was still playing on the wing for most of the game. Giroud has done well but we're a team that plays ball to feet and he's more suited to a direct style. We have to compromise somewhere. But agree with some of the other points. I think Welbeck needs time but he might not get that.
the heat map has him in the left penalty area mostly and mostly in front of goal

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959613/Live/England-Premier-League-2015-2016-Arsenal-Chelsea

The fact that we were playing 10 men and Chelsea sat so deep is the best example of why you cant play Theo at CF all the time.


Also Giroud has one of hte best first touches in the league at striker and loves playing those slide rule passes.

We dont have the ideal striker on this roster.

[Globalgunner]

Time to go back for the one that got away: Serge Aurier. Him and Bellerin could do double duty on our RH side for 10 years

[Kano]

He was suspended for three games for abusing a ref and putting it online and then the recent news.

I don't think Wenger would go anywhere near him.

[Globalgunner]

He was suspended for three games for abusing a ref and putting it online and then the recent news.

I don't think Wenger would go anywhere near him.

He would be cheap (relative). We all know how Wenger loves a cheap deal.

[Power n Glory]

the heat map has him in the left penalty area mostly and mostly in front of goal

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959613/Live/England-Premier-League-2015-2016-Arsenal-Chelsea

The fact that we were playing 10 men and Chelsea sat so deep is the best example of why you cant play Theo at CF all the time.


Also Giroud has one of hte best first touches in the league at striker and loves playing those slide rule passes.

We dont have the ideal striker on this roster.

Is it wise to pick out a game where we had 10 men coupled with the fact that we had the worst and least creative duo in the middle of the park (Flamsey)?

It's not really worth going deep into this game. The heatmap shows he was more so on the left and that corresponds with where he mostly received the ball. You can see his touches below. All down the left.

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959613/Live/England-Premier-League-2015-2016-Arsenal-Chelsea

But you're right certain games he won't be suited for but there is too much of a wide assumption of what he can't do without the game time to back it up. People assume he couldn't hold the ball up and link up play, but the Man Utd game says otherwise.

Or he can't play against teams sitting deep...West Brom game says otherwise.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baef2jCJDxo

Walcott really hasn't had enough games to say what he can or can't do. We won't agree on him but if you look at that West Brom game, that's want from a striker when teams sit against us. Someone in that mold. Someone that posts up against defenders like it's basketball to receive the ball only to look to lay it off isn't what we want. It's too dependent on other players making runs unmarked into the box and having space to shoot. By the time the balls been pass the space has been closed.

We don't have the ideal striker in the roster but we need to find a solution this season. Someone needs to find their second wind, a player needs to come back from injury or Wenger needs to do something tactical. We're scraping by at the moment.

[mastermind84]

Is it wise to pick out a game where we had 10 men coupled with the fact that we had the worst and least creative duo in the middle of the park (Flamsey)?

It's not really worth going deep into this game. The heatmap shows he was more so on the left and that corresponds with where he mostly received the ball. You can see his touches below. All down the left.

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959613/Live/England-Premier-League-2015-2016-Arsenal-Chelsea

But you're right certain games he won't be suited for but there is too much of a wide assumption of what he can't do without the game time to back it up. People assume he couldn't hold the ball up and link up play, but the Man Utd game says otherwise.

Or he can't play against teams sitting deep...West Brom game says otherwise.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baef2jCJDxo

Walcott really hasn't had enough games to say what he can or can't do. We won't agree on him but if you look at that West Brom game, that's want from a striker when teams sit against us. Someone in that mold. Someone that posts up against defenders like it's basketball to receive the ball only to look to lay it off isn't what we want. It's too dependent on other players making runs unmarked into the box and having space to shoot. By the time the balls been pass the space has been closed.

We don't have the ideal striker in the roster but we need to find a solution this season. Someone needs to find their second wind, a player needs to come back from injury or Wenger needs to do something tactical. We're scraping by at the moment.

I chose it because it was an example of what we are talking about. Theo wasnt a threat in that match at all vs a team that sat deep. His touches were on the left but also a lot in the area. I use Costa as an example but the touches are in very similar locations on the pitch:
http://i.imgur.com/Q8X8TWe.png


Ideally, all I want is for people to score goals outside of Giroud. Thats it.

[Power n Glory]

It's not a good example because we had 10 men. It makes no sense to compare him to Costa because they had full squad. What did Vardy do against us once they went down to 10 men? Nothing at all. It's a bad game to reference.

[mastermind84]

ok.

[I am invisible]

One thing that might get some more goals flowing with Giroud and Ramsey, might be to to simply swap Özil and Ramsey around every now and then (i.e. Özil on the right, and Ramsey behind the striker, in the middle)? Let's be honest, if we've got Giroud leading the line, then having Özil in the middle, sliding in through-balls all game is probably a bit of waste of time - might be better to have him pinging in those laser-guided crosses instead? Ramsey prefers playing through the middle, but doesn't really have the discipline or passing range to play the deeper roles, so it may solve that problem. And Giroud generally seems to find another level of usefulness when he has midfielders like Ramsey or Wilshere behind him making overlapping runs into the box - he's not actually a bad play-maker in his own right when it comes to playing cute one-twos around the D, and clipping players in with subtle little flicks and chips?

Obviously Sanchez is just Sanchez and will be awesome whatever.

[AFC Leveller]

We still dont have anyone performing to a high standard on the right hand side and if the likes of Ox and Campbell cant nail it down then the answer is to go out and buy a right winger. Mahrez would be great, he is a provider and a goal scorer.

[I am invisible]

We still dont have anyone performing to a high standard on the right hand side and if the likes of Ox and Campbell cant nail it down then the answer is to go out and buy a right winger. Mahrez would be great, he is a provider and a goal scorer.

Mate, I'm up for going for another world-class wide attacker, if world-class CFs are still looking thin on the ground. Unfortunately though, it's not really the answer for us until June at the earliest...

[Power n Glory]

One thing that might get some more goals flowing with Giroud and Ramsey, might be to to simply swap Özil and Ramsey around every now and then (i.e. Özil on the right, and Ramsey behind the striker, in the middle)? Let's be honest, if we've got Giroud leading the line, then having Özil in the middle, sliding in through-balls all game is probably a bit of waste of time - might be better to have him pinging in those laser-guided crosses instead? Ramsey prefers playing through the middle, but doesn't really have the discipline or passing range to play the deeper roles, so it may solve that problem. And Giroud generally seems to find another level of usefulness when he has midfielders like Ramsey or Wilshere behind him making overlapping runs into the box - he's not actually a bad play-maker in his own right when it comes to playing cute one-twos around the D, and clipping players in with subtle little flicks and chips?

Obviously Sanchez is just Sanchez and will be awesome whatever.

You might be right about that. Wenger has been trying to encourage Ozil to score more goals but it’s not really working out. Ramsey may benefit from playing higher up the pitch but his shooting has been off lately as well. But it’s worth a try. Bif needs to work off someone. The goals he set up for Ozil and Walcott are examples of that. Or Wenger has to bring Walcott back to the right. He hasn’t really played there all season. We need to see a change somewhere.

[selassie]

One thing that might get some more goals flowing with Giroud and Ramsey, might be to to simply swap Özil and Ramsey around every now and then (i.e. Özil on the right, and Ramsey behind the striker, in the middle)? Let's be honest, if we've got Giroud leading the line, then having Özil in the middle, sliding in through-balls all game is probably a bit of waste of time - might be better to have him pinging in those laser-guided crosses instead? Ramsey prefers playing through the middle, but doesn't really have the discipline or passing range to play the deeper roles, so it may solve that problem. And Giroud generally seems to find another level of usefulness when he has midfielders like Ramsey or Wilshere behind him making overlapping runs into the box - he's not actually a bad play-maker in his own right when it comes to playing cute one-twos around the D, and clipping players in with subtle little flicks and chips?

Obviously Sanchez is just Sanchez and will be awesome whatever.

Yep, I think that may have even happened in periods on Sunday in the second half, Ozil and Ramsey swapping positions. I think we're simply going to have to "Pub" it out until Santi or Jack come back and hope we can carry on picking up enough points to stay in touch.

The Ramsey & Coquelin partnership isn't bad but it lacks the required control we need in Midfield if say a Santi or Jack were playing their. That's one of our biggest issues at the moment, we're not controlling games like we were earlier on in the season and I think a lot of that still has to do with our issues in Central Midfield.

[Power n Glory]

Mate, I'm up for going for another world-class wide attacker, if world-class CFs are still looking thin on the ground. Unfortunately though, it's not really the answer for us until June at the earliest...


Exactly. We have to find an internal solution this season.

[I am invisible]

You might be right about that. Wenger has been trying to encourage Ozil to score more goals but it’s not really working out. Ramsey may benefit from playing higher up the pitch but his shooting has been off lately as well. But it’s worth a try. Bif needs to work off someone. The goals he set up for Ozil and Walcott are examples of that. Or Wenger has to bring Walcott back to the right. He hasn’t really played there all season. We need to see a change somewhere.

It doesn't have to be an 'all the time, every game' thing - it's just an option that we can try out, if plan A isn't working. It wouldn't even require any real effort or a valuable substitution to make the switch - just get word to the two players to change places.


Yep, I think that may have even happened in periods on Sunday in the second half, Ozil and Ramsey swapping positions. I think we're simply going to have to "Pub" it out until Santi or Jack come back and hope we can carry on picking up enough points to stay in touch.

The Ramsey & Coquelin partnership isn't bad but it lacks the required control we need in Midfield if say a Santi or Jack were playing their. That's one of our biggest issues at the moment, we're not controlling games like we were earlier on in the season and I think a lot of that still has to do with our issues in Central Midfield.

Totally agree about Santi and/or Jack - we've badly missed the kind of control they can provide. I'd even be tempted to give Mo a run in the middle while they're getting back to match-fitness, assuming his distribution is as solid as we've been led to believe? Ramsey just doesn't work for me there - he's not a terrible option to have there or anything like that, and he certainly has all the attributes that you'd look for in a modern day central midfielder, but I just don't think his priorities and his judgment are right for the job? His natural instinct will always be to attack, so I'd rather have him down as an attacker who can drop back and help with the defending when needed, rather than deeper player who can add an extra man to the attack (if that makes sense)?

[selassie]

It doesn't have to be an 'all the time, every game' thing - it's just an option that we can try out, if plan A isn't working. It wouldn't even require any real effort or a valuable substitution to make the switch - just get word to the two players to change places.



Totally agree about Santi and/or Jack - we've badly missed the kind of control they can provide. I'd even be tempted to give Mo a run in the middle while they're getting back to match-fitness, assuming his distribution is as solid as we've been led to believe? Ramsey just doesn't work for me there - he's not a terrible option to have there or anything like that, and he certainly has all the attributes that you'd look for in a modern day central midfielder, but I just don't think his priorities and his judgment are right for the job? His natural instinct will always be to attack, so I'd rather have him down as an attacker who can drop back and help with the defending when needed, rather than deeper player who can add an extra man to the attack (if that makes sense)?

Yep totally agree and they are exactly my thoughts on Ramsey, I like him and think he deserves a place somewhere in the starting XI but I'm not totally sold on him starting in Central Midfield, especially not in the big games.

Despite all that having the Ramsey & Coq partnership could work in our favour against the likes of Man Utd & Spurs away as we will no doubt allow both teams to dictate the game with the sole intent on hitting them on the counter. We are going to need to be really ruthless and efficient with our finishing in both games.

We certainly need to be careful though and both of them in Midfield, especially Coquelin is going to need to give the Defence plenty of protection.

[Dein-machine]

Yep totally agree and they are exactly my thoughts on Ramsey, I like him and think he deserves a place somewhere in the starting XI but I'm not totally sold on him starting in Central Midfield, especially not in the big games.

Despite all that having the Ramsey & Coq partnership could work in our favour against the likes of Man Utd & Spurs away as we will no doubt allow both teams to dictate the game with the sole intent on hitting them on the counter. We are going to need to be really ruthless and efficient with our finishing in both games.

We certainly need to be careful though and both of them in Midfield, especially Coquelin is going to need to give the Defence plenty of protection.

"We are going to need to be really ruthless & effecient with our finishing in both games" - its not happening mate, Giroud, Welbeck & Theo are about as ruthless as Audley Harrison.

[I am invisible]

Yep totally agree and they are exactly my thoughts on Ramsey, I like him and think he deserves a place somewhere in the starting XI but I'm not totally sold on him starting in Central Midfield, especially not in the big games.

Despite all that having the Ramsey & Coq partnership could work in our favour against the likes of Man Utd & Spurs away as we will no doubt allow both teams to dictate the game with the sole intent on hitting them on the counter. We are going to need to be really ruthless and efficient with our finishing in both games.

We certainly need to be careful though and both of them in Midfield, especially Coquelin is going to need to give the Defence plenty of protection.

I could see him working well in a 3-man central midfield, e.g. if we ever wanted to give Özil a break, and have Coq, Ramsey and Wilshere behind 3 attackers - it would rely on two staying back while one went forward, but it could work? I could even see Ramsey being OK in a 2-man midfield against weaker, more timid opposition, who we know are going to sit deep all game - probably not much point in having 2 deep CMs, if the other team aren't going to venture out of their own half all game? But against more challenging opponents, and assuming we're sticking with 4231 as our preferred formation, then he doesn't really work for me in CM.

The funny thing is, I actually see CM being dominated by box-to-box players again going forward, so Ramsey should, in theory, be a perfect fit. It just comes down to that all important question of judgment for me. I think the future B2B midfielder needs to be positionally disciplined and defensively switched on before anything else, with the ability to suddenly surge forward if it opens up for them - win the ball first, then burst forward and take a whole line of the other team out of the game with one move. Ramsey has all the ability to do the job, but he still marauds around everywhere too much for my liking. That kind of irrepressible, relentless enthusiasm, and the willingness to chase everything down would be a huge asset in one of your attacking players - it's the sort of thing that would lift them from being just one of the pack to something really quite special - but as one of the guys in the middle, who you're relying on to protect the defence and control the game, as much as you want to see them get forward and contribute to the attack? I just don't know. I think you'd end up with a 50/50 chance of him being as much of a liability as an asset...

[Power n Glory]

I could see him working well in a 3-man central midfield, e.g. if we ever wanted to give Özil a break, and have Coq, Ramsey and Wilshere behind 3 attackers - it would rely on two staying back while one went forward, but it could work? I could even see Ramsey being OK in a 2-man midfield against weaker, more timid opposition, who we know are going to sit deep all game - probably not much point in having 2 deep CMs, if the other team aren't going to venture out of their own half all game? But against more challenging opponents, and assuming we're sticking with 4231 as our preferred formation, then he doesn't really work for me in CM.

The funny thing is, I actually see CM being dominated by box-to-box players again going forward, so Ramsey should, in theory, be a perfect fit. It just comes down to that all important question of judgment for me. I think the future B2B midfielder needs to be positionally disciplined and defensively switched on before anything else, with the ability to suddenly surge forward if it opens up for them - win the ball first, then burst forward and take a whole line of the other team out of the game with one move. Ramsey has all the ability to do the job, but he still marauds around everywhere too much for my liking. That kind of irrepressible, relentless enthusiasm, and the willingness to chase everything down would be a huge asset in one of your attacking players - it's the sort of thing that would lift them from being just one of the pack to something really quite special - but as one of the guys in the middle, who you're relying on to protect the defence and control the game, as much as you want to see them get forward and contribute to the attack? I just don't know. I think you'd end up with a 50/50 chance of him being as much of a liability as an asset...

Echoes my thoughts on Ramsey. He needs to sit down over the summer and think on how he can help the team. He needs to remember the goals starting coming once he started doing the basics and cut out the Hollywood stuff. Has all the ingredients but needs to add some intelligence to his game. Maybe throwing him back into a DM role will get him to hone his game.

[I am invisible]

Echoes my thoughts on Ramsey. He needs to sit down over the summer and think on how he can help the team. He needs to remember the goals starting coming once he started doing the basics and cut out the Hollywood stuff. Has all the ingredients but needs to add some intelligence to his game. Maybe throwing him back into a DM role will get him to hone his game.
:good:

He's also very fond of citing Steven Gerrard as a player who he's modelled his game on, so it probably wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to have a closer look at how Gerrard was actually used, and where he was most successful? He started out in the middle for Liverpool, but despite his eye-catching personal form, the team never really amounted to too much more than a decent cup side. During Liverpool's most successful recent spell, under Benitez, he was mostly shunted out to the right, while they opted for a ball-winner (Masscherano) and a holding midfielder (Alonso) in the middle. Then, later on, he moved back to CM again, but by that point he'd kind of worked out that he needed to look at players like Pirlo for inspiration, because that's what the game was starting to look for.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not writing him off as a CM - not at all. It's like you say though - he needs to have a sit down and really think about what the role demands these days. Is it still a perfect match for the kind of player he wants to be? If not, then he has a choice in front of him: modify his game to fit the role; or find a role that fits his game.

Edit: cutting out the Hollywood shit is sound advice either way :good:

[mastermind84]

Gerrard's best two seasons came at right wing and as a support striker right off Torres.

Ramsey should not look to him for any inspiration, imo.

He has the problem a lot of British central midfielders have, which is they all want to be Bryan Robson.

[I am invisible]

Gerrard's best two seasons came at right wing and as a support striker right off Torres.

Ramsey should not look to him for any inspiration, imo.

He has the problem a lot of British central midfielders have, which is they all want to be Bryan Robson.

:good:

I'm OK with him looking at Gerrard for his inspiration, just as long as he does it with a critical eye, and pays attention to how and where he was used. If he's looking at him as inspiration for playing down the right or behind the striker then far out! If he's looking at him as inspiration as a central midfielder, then even the man himself had started to realise that he had to become more Andrea Pirlo than Bryan Robson by the end...

[mastermind84]

:good:

I'm OK with him looking at Gerrard for his inspiration, just as long as he does it with a critical eye, and pays attention to how and where he was used. If he's looking at him as inspiration for playing down the right or behind the striker then far out! If he's looking at him as inspiration as a central midfielder, then even the man himself had started to realise that he had to become more Andrea Pirlo than Bryan Robson by the end...

Ramsey should try and mimic Xavi, but honestly those guys are really unique.

Arteta woulda been a good role model if he hadnt fallen off the face of the Earth.

[I am invisible]

Exactly. We have to find an internal solution this season.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lastolwvno

?

[Niall_Quinn]

Foul-mouthed Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier could be on his way to Arsenal, according to the Daily Express.

The 23-year-old has been suspended by the French club after an astonishing rant in which he insulted his team-mates and manager in graphic fashion and promoted coach Laurent Blanc to call him "pitiful".

Nevertheless the Express says that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is prepared to overlook Aurier's antics and make a "shock move" for him this summer.

Taking its cue from French sports daily, L'Equipe, the Express says that the Gunners will "offer him a fresh start" in the wake of the latest controversy. Aurier's suspension is his second in less than a year: he was banned for three matches bu Uefa in 2015 for criticising a referee.

Could add spice to the post game interviews.

[Munchies]

Just realised that Wenger will no doubt be working for French Tv/other tv stations for the Euros/Olympics maybe too

Guy has his excuses ready already ffs

[Özim]

Just realised that Wenger will no doubt be working for French Tv/other tv stations for the Euros/Olympics maybe too

Guy has his excuses ready already ffs

Don't forget prices will be inflated after the Euros and we won't get good value for money, there's another ready made excuse for his lack of quality signings.

[Marc Overmars]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3463143/Arsenal-midfielder-Mathieu-Flamini-set-leave-club-end-season-not-offered-contract-extension.html

Flamini set to leave. :rose:

Lets hope Mesut doesn't cry about it.

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3463143/Arsenal-midfielder-Mathieu-Flamini-set-leave-club-end-season-not-offered-contract-extension.html

Flamini set to leave. :rose:

Lets hope Mesut doesn't cry about it.

Plenty of time between now and then for this to be reversed. That article is highly suspect, it says we are set for a big midfield signing in the summer.

[Power n Glory]

Don't forget prices will be inflated after the Euros and we won't get good value for money, there's another ready made excuse for his lack of quality signings.

'We can't compete with the financial might of China' - that's the new one. He's already started his campaign.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/05/arsene-wenger-premier-league-chinese-money

[selassie]

Plenty of time between now and then for this to be reversed. That article is highly suspect, it says we are set for a big midfield signing in the summer.

Wenger will just promote from within, I suspect Iwobi is Rosicky's replacement, El Neny is Flamini's and Chambers will be asked to fill the void if injuries mount up in Midfield, aswell as being backup to Bellerin and 4th choice CB.

I'd be surprised if Wenger buys anymore midfielders.

[Kano]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3463143/Arsenal-midfielder-Mathieu-Flamini-set-leave-club-end-season-not-offered-contract-extension.html

Flamini set to leave. :rose:

Lets hope Mesut doesn't cry about it.
I wouldn't be upset if we get rid of Ozil. I think he'll have to two years left on this contract this summer so if he doesn't re-sign, we need to shift him on instead of being dicked around. Considering what we've got back from him in 3 years at the club, especially compared to someone like Sanchez, there is a huge difference.

[Letters]

I wouldn't be upset if we get rid of Ozil.
:blink:

Ok. He's broken the PL assists record already, two thirds of the way into the season. And he's only 27.

[Power n Glory]

I wouldn't be upset if we get rid of Ozil. I think he'll have to two years left on this contract this summer so if he doesn't re-sign, we need to shift him on instead of being dicked around. Considering what we've got back from him in 3 years at the club, especially compared to someone like Sanchez, there is a huge difference.

Ozil needs to score more goals and step up his influence in the big games.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ozil needs to score more goals and step up his influence in the big games.

Even when we play shite Ozil will leave the pitch having created multiple decent chances. I think he created 10 chances in that rubbish outing against Southampton, a record for the season. What we need to do is put better players around him, he's wasted otherwise. He'd already have broken every record in the book if we had some fucker who could take more than 1 from 15 chances. More Ozils, less Girouds and we're finally competing.

[Power n Glory]

Even when we play shite Ozil will leave the pitch having created multiple decent chances. I think he created 10 chances in that rubbish outing against Southampton, a record for the season. What we need to do is put better players around him, he's wasted otherwise. He'd already have broken every record in the book if we had some fucker who could take more than 1 from 15 chances. More Ozils, less Girouds and we're finally competing.

Ozil needs to score more goals and look to be a bit more selfish. He needs better players around him but I wish he could step it up and be more influential. Change the game with more shots on goal or taking his man on to set himself up or open the game up more.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ozil needs to score more goals and look to be a bit more selfish. He needs better players around him but I wish he could step it up and be more influential. Change the game with more shots on goal or taking his man on to set himself up or open the game up more.

Is this the player's decision or the manager's? Given the amount of shooting opportunities all our players pass up you have to wonder if there is some sort of sanction attached. Ozil, like the rest of the team, has missed Santi. When these two were on the pitch they were statistically the best attacking and defensive midfielders in Europe, as a pair and individually - by a mile. Saw the stats the other day and could scarcely believe the gap between them and the rest. Which is a big worry because what sort of shit will Wenger dig up so he can cheapskate a replacement for Santi? What's he got left, one season, two tops? We haven't managed to get a sustained period with Ozil, Cazorla and Alexis all on the pitch. Our game is transformed when they play together, but take out even one of the pieces and it goes backwards fast. Which is why we should have quality options available for all three. And we would have less injuries if Wenger could figure out that a proper rotation policy is preferable to trying to cram all the top names into the starting eleven and then make do and mend with shitty reserves when he's run all the starters into the ground. We'd be getting more from Ozil if we had a proper manager.

[Letters]

Even when we play shite Ozil will leave the pitch having created multiple decent chances. I think he created 10 chances in that rubbish outing against Southampton, a record for the season. What we need to do is put better players around him, he's wasted otherwise. He'd already have broken every record in the book if we had some fucker who could take more than 1 from 15 chances. More Ozils, less Girouds and we're finally competing.
Fewer, dammit! Otherwise agreed.
There was one game...yeah, I think it was Southampton, where he was creating chance after chance and must have been face-palming at the failure of all and sundry to convert them.

[GP]

Fewer, dammit! Otherwise agreed.
There was one game...yeah, I think it was Southampton, where he was creating chance after chance and must have been face-palming at the failure of all and sundry to convert them.

SUNDRY OUT!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Fewer, dammit! Otherwise agreed.
There was one game...yeah, I think it was Southampton, where he was creating chance after chance and must have been face-palming at the failure of all and sundry to convert them.

I said fewer but you changed it :sulk:

[Kano]

:blink:

Ok. He's broken the PL assists record already, two thirds of the way into the season. And he's only 27.

Previously he had two seasons of underachieving, which is not enough for a player of his stature. The return hasn't been consistent enough.

And the PL assist record stands at 20, held by Henry. Although he should beat that with a dozen games left.

[Marc Overmars]

I wouldn't be upset if we get rid of Ozil. I think he'll have to two years left on this contract this summer so if he doesn't re-sign, we need to shift him on instead of being dicked around. Considering what we've got back from him in 3 years at the club, especially compared to someone like Sanchez, there is a huge difference.

That's crazy bro. Selling Ozil would set us back 5 years.

I don't deny he's taken a long time to iron out the inconsistencies but he's undoubtedly a top player. It would send out a very damaging message if we couldn't keep hold of him.

[Kano]

That's crazy bro. Selling Ozil would set us back 5 years.

I don't deny he's taken a long time to iron out the inconsistencies but he's undoubtedly a top player. It would send out a very damaging message if we couldn't keep hold of him.

If he doesn't sign, we have to sell him. We can't risk losing the valuation and he's goes for peanuts the following season and going by his comments, he doesn't appear to be in a rush. He is a very good player but I don't think he'll hit the same heights as we have seen this season.

[GP]

If he doesn't sign, we have to sell him. We can't risk losing the valuation and he's goes for peanuts the following season and going by his comments, he doesn't appear to be in a rush. He is a very good player but I don't think he'll hit the same heights as we have seen this season.

If we had better strikers (and more from midfield) he could literally be on 236 assists already. Sanchez has been particularly poor this season by his own standards.

He's world class and he needs to stay at all costs. No point cashing in if we're going to use the money to buy inferior players.

[Kano]

You can't judge an AM purely on assists because that stat relies on another player to actually make them become something relevant.

Sanchez has been poor since his return from injury but was fine at the up until November.

I won't be crying if Ozil was to leave.

[Power n Glory]

Is this the player's decision or the manager's? Given the amount of shooting opportunities all our players pass up you have to wonder if there is some sort of sanction attached. Ozil, like the rest of the team, has missed Santi. When these two were on the pitch they were statistically the best attacking and defensive midfielders in Europe, as a pair and individually - by a mile. Saw the stats the other day and could scarcely believe the gap between them and the rest. Which is a big worry because what sort of shit will Wenger dig up so he can cheapskate a replacement for Santi? What's he got left, one season, two tops? We haven't managed to get a sustained period with Ozil, Cazorla and Alexis all on the pitch. Our game is transformed when they play together, but take out even one of the pieces and it goes backwards fast. Which is why we should have quality options available for all three. And we would have less injuries if Wenger could figure out that a proper rotation policy is preferable to trying to cram all the top names into the starting eleven and then make do and mend with shitty reserves when he's run all the starters into the ground. We'd be getting more from Ozil if we had a proper manager.

Wenger has openly said Ozil needs to score more goals and Ozil has openly said he doesn't. That's not Wenger's fault. The style of play isn't preventing shooting opportunities either. Ramsey can always manage to get a few shots on goal and you only have to watch Ozil when in and around the box to notice he's looking to cut the ball back. He's one of the worst culprits when it comes to not shooting. He won't drive into the box with the ball, won't attempt to take his man on, that's all down to the individual. He has to be more aggressive but that's just not his style. Can't blame Wenger for this one because he has challenged him to score more.

[Power n Glory]

You can't judge an AM purely on assists because that stat relies on another player to actually make them become something relevant.

Sanchez has been poor since his return from injury but was fine at the up until November.

I won't be crying if Ozil was to leave.

Something we agree on. The Giroud/Ozil combo doesn't work at all. On the one hand we have a striker that isn't very mobile and getting into space but pretty good at the team play. A more aggressive attacking midfielder could work off Giroud's knock downs and hold up play. Wilshere is an example and he's had some good moments with Giroud. Not saying Jack is the ideal player but the runs he makes into the box is just one example. Ozil should and could do more.

[mastermind84]

Wenger will just promote from within, I suspect Iwobi is Rosicky's replacement, El Neny is Flamini's and Chambers will be asked to fill the void if injuries mount up in Midfield, aswell as being backup to Bellerin and 4th choice CB.

I'd be surprised if Wenger buys anymore midfielders.
if he does not buy a midfielder after this season then he should tender his resignation.

I understand wanting to see more of Iwobi for Rosicky, but we desperately need a couple more. Especially since you cannot rely on Wilshere.



Even when we play shite Ozil will leave the pitch having created multiple decent chances. I think he created 10 chances in that rubbish outing against Southampton, a record for the season. What we need to do is put better players around him, he's wasted otherwise. He'd already have broken every record in the book if we had some fucker who could take more than 1 from 15 chances. More Ozils, less Girouds and we're finally competing.

the truth.

I think Ozil needs to score more but he is doing what we paid for him to do. He is providing the chances but we have wasters finishing his chances. (Sanchez is the biggest culprit this season)

[I am invisible]

Something we agree on. The Giroud/Ozil combo doesn't work at all. On the one hand we have a striker that isn't very mobile and getting into space but pretty good at the team play. A more aggressive attacking midfielder could work off Giroud's knock downs and hold up play. Wilshere is an example and he's had some good moments with Giroud. Not saying Jack is the ideal player but the runs he makes into the box is just one example. Ozil should and could do more.
Yeah, it is a bit of a shame with Özil. On the one hand, you can't really grumble too much, because he's already arguably the best play-maker in the world, and on most days, that's enough. But still... you can't help but feel that he could be something spectacular, if he really got a taste for goals...

[Power n Glory]

Yeah, it is a bit of a shame with Özil. On the one hand, you can't really grumble too much, because he's already arguably the best play-maker in the world, and on most days, that's enough. But still... you can't help but feel that he could be something spectacular, if he really got a taste for goals...

I wouldn't even go as far as saying he'd the best playmaker in the world. He's great at providing the final ball. Or maybe the ball just before the assist but it's not as if we constantly see and feel him pulling the strings in the middle. For me, someone like Pirlo or Xavi are the real playmakers. Example, we lost Cazorla in the middle and it's like the whole flow and distribution of our game has been totally disrupted. Ozil is great at picking the final ball but I think a playmaker is someone you can build a team around and he elevates everyone's game. They're whilly influential onntge teams style of play. But in general I agree. Even if Ozil can't pull the strings in that way, at least be the deciding factor. The difference between a win and a draw. That means more than just providing the assist because as Kano said that's too reliant on someone else finishing their dinner.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mesut leaving would be horrific. He must not be sold.

[Marc Overmars]

Barca reportedly want Bellerin. I guess those rumours were inevitable.

Pique and Iniesta apparently had a little word the other night. Slimy cunts.

[Power n Glory]

Mesut leaving would be horrific. He must not be sold.

If Wenger's still in charge, yes it would be.

[Static]

Barca reportedly want Bellerin. I guess those rumours were inevitable.

Pique and Iniesta apparently had a little word the other night. Slimy cunts.

Wenger should really loot them tbh. A swap deal involving Neymar would be fine by me.

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3470131/Arsenal-135m-bank-manager-Arsene-Wenger-half-strengthen-squad.html

Not sure how he knows any of this, but here we go with the summer transfer window anyway. Having seen the way Wenger has deployed his resources this season I doubt it will make any difference who we sign, if anyone at all. Because there's still that issue of there being no top, top, top quality out there. New contracts for Wilshere and Ox - you have to hope that's not true. Rewarding players for being injured and being shite. I can understand having to bribe Ozil and Alexis to stay, considering they could easily go to clubs with ambition.

[LDG]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3470131/Arsenal-135m-bank-manager-Arsene-Wenger-half-strengthen-squad.html

Not sure how he knows any of this, but here we go with the summer transfer window anyway. Having seen the way Wenger has deployed his resources this season I doubt it will make any difference who we sign, if anyone at all. Because there's still that issue of there being no top, top, top quality out there. New contracts for Wilshere and Ox - you have to hope that's not true. Rewarding players for being injured and being shite. I can understand having to bribe Ozil and Alexis to stay, considering they could easily go to clubs with ambition.


Under no circumstances should that crackpot be handed more cash (not that he'd spend it anyway).

[rodders]

Under no circumstances should that crackpot be handed more cash (not that he'd spend it anyway).

May be financially prudent, but shows Arsenal have no interest in competing with Chelsea , Man U etc.

[Power n Glory]

Under no circumstances should that crackpot be handed more cash (not that he'd spend it anyway).

Exactly. He's bought Chambers, Gabriel and Elneny so there should be no need for a new CM and CB. That's over £30m down the toilet if they're not good enough to do the job. He can't be trusted to spend wisely. Hope he walks this season. He's an embarrassment.

[Marc Overmars]

Last summer was a cock up but we've bought a spread of players in various positions over the last few transfer windows, none of them came cheap so I don't think he should be given more cash for the sake of it. Maybe he should actually earn his money and try to coach these guys into a cohesive unit before spending heavily again.

[LDG]

Last summer was a cock up but we've bought a spread of players in various positions over the last few transfer windows, none of them came cheap so I don't think he should be given more cash for the sake of it. Maybe he should actually earn his money and try to coach these guys into a cohesive unit before spending heavily again.

Exactly.

For once, the spending thing is irrelevant, as it's proved that spending doesn't make a team.

We have good enough players (certainly to compete this season). We've had good enough players in the past. The one constant, is that Wenger is incapable of balancing a team, and has an inability to either change tactics to suit, or instil the knowledge for players to react to different situations.

[Power n Glory]

Last summer was a cock up but we've bought a spread of players in various positions over the last few transfer windows, none of them came cheap so I don't think he should be given more cash for the sake of it. Maybe he should actually earn his money and try to coach these guys into a cohesive unit before spending heavily again.

Yep, Ospina, Welbeck, Bielik, Debuchy....a massive waste of money. Welbeck shunted out over to the wings as soon as Giroud was fit and was a panic buy, Debuchy was unfortunate but is on his way out already and we just bought another keeper so no real need for Ospina.

[selassie]

Exactly.

For once, the spending thing is irrelevant, as it's proved that spending doesn't make a team.

We have good enough players (certainly to compete this season). We've had good enough players in the past. The one constant, is that Wenger is incapable of balancing a team, and has an inability to either change tactics to suit, or instil the knowledge for players to react to different situations.

Yeah totally agree, I don't trust Wenger to build a balanced team irrespective of the funds he has available.

[Kano]

Yeah totally agree, I don't trust Wenger to build a balanced team irrespective of the funds he has available.
It's a catch-22. We clearly need better players in certain areas and with Wenger around for next season, maybe even longer, money will have to be spent.

[selassie]

It's a catch-22. We clearly need better players in certain areas and with Wenger around for next season, maybe even longer, money will have to be spent.

For sure, but I sure as hell don't expect Wenger to spend it wisely, if he does at all. He absolutely cannot be trusted.

As other have stated, if he isn't willing to pragmatically go out and buy the required quality then he needs to push what he has in the squad to the their absolute limits. He needs to find defined roles for the players and tell them that's where they play and this is what is required of them, if they don't follow instruction then put them up for sale. For example, if Theo isn't happy playing a bit part role as backup striker/winger then he should be sold. He has no right complaining about not getting chances upfront when he can't even control a football, Ramsey is the same, complaining about not getting chances in Central Midfield, yet when he plays there he has the likes of Danny Drinkwater playing him off the park.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yep, Ospina, Welbeck, Bielik, Debuchy....a massive waste of money. Welbeck shunted out over to the wings as soon as Giroud was fit and was a panic buy, Debuchy was unfortunate but is on his way out already and we just bought another keeper so no real need for Ospina.

Bielik :haha:

I forgot about him. I guess he must be a shit hot prospect if we've had to buy Elneny.

[Özim]

One the one hand I want to see us spend money, on the other I don't want Wenger to waste it on unknowns and cheaper sub-standard players.

The guy just can't be trusted in the transfer market, he wastes a lot of money by buying crocks and unknowns when that money could be put towards signing top quality players.

His transfer record in the last few years is more miss than hit and the amount of money this club has wasted due to his blind faith and total belief in certain players is ridiculous, he really needs to move on so we can bring in someone with fresh ideas, more desire to succeed and modern football methods and tactics.

[Kano]

For sure, but I sure as hell don't expect Wenger to spend it wisely, if he does at all. He absolutely cannot be trusted.

As other have stated, if he isn't willing to pragmatically go out and buy the required quality then he needs to push what he has in the squad to the their absolute limits. He needs to find defined roles for the players and tell them that's where they play and this is what is required of them, if they don't follow instruction then put them up for sale. For example, if Theo isn't happy playing a bit part role as backup striker/winger then he should be sold. He has no right complaining about not getting chances upfront when he can't even control a football, Ramsey is the same, complaining about not getting chances in Central Midfield, yet when he plays there he has the likes of Danny Drinkwater playing him off the park.

Thing is, I think it makes more sense to look at the reality of the situation. This is why I’m not calling for Wenger to leave, even though I think he should’ve two seasons ago, because I don’t see it happening, at least for another year. It just corners you into frustration that leads to anger and bitterness you can’t do anything constructive with, except rage.

So in relation to how he manages to the squad, in real terms, nothing is going to change. We know his approach hasn’t changed since he arrived at the club and it isn’t going to for the remaining time he has here. That relates to the money too. He will spend this summer, on how and what return we see from them, we do not know. But for definite he is going to stand by certain players (and let’s face it, no-one is going to buy Theo on his current wages so we’re stuck with him) and certain issues will keep repeating themselves – unless he gets in players with not only the right level of ability but the right attitude too. That is a key part missing from the squads of the past ten years.

I heard this on the Arsecast while out running last night and it certainly rings true. He is very much a confidence manager, so when things are going well he can maintain that momentum and inspire the team onto long runs of form. When the shit hits the fan however, he struggles to dig the players out of a hole, he can’t lead them with confidence they may be lacking. That is reflected in the players he has had at his disposal for the past decade too.

[selassie]

Thing is, I think it makes more sense to look at the reality of the situation. This is why I’m not calling for Wenger to leave, even though I think he should’ve two seasons ago, because I don’t see it happening, at least for another year. It just corners you into frustration that leads to anger and bitterness you can’t do anything constructive with, except rage.

So in relation to how he manages to the squad, in real terms, nothing is going to change. We know his approach hasn’t changed since he arrived at the club and it isn’t going to for the remaining time he has here. That relates to the money too. He will spend this summer, on how and what return we see from them, we do not know. But for definite he is going to stand by certain players (and let’s face it, no-one is going to buy Theo on his current wages so we’re stuck with him) and certain issues will keep repeating themselves – unless he gets in players with not only the right level of ability but the right attitude too. That is a key part missing from the squads of the past ten years.

I heard this on the Arsecast while out running last night and it certainly rings true. He is very much a confidence manager, so when things are going well he can maintain that momentum and inspire the team onto long runs of form. When the shit hits the fan however, he struggles to dig the players out of a hole, he can’t lead them with confidence they may be lacking. That is reflected in the players he has had at his disposal for the past decade too.

Yeah I see what you are saying and that is the reality, however it won't stop me personally from getting emotional about the situation. Of course we are all powerless and can't really influence the way he manages or should I mismanages the team but given the current predicament it drives me crazy that Wenger hasn't or isn't seizing this opportunity. Excuse after excuse after excuse is all we hear, he's not even being honest.

He has literally been handed the title this season, if you look at the circumstances closely it really does defy belief that we look set to miss out on the title this season, to rub salt in the wounds we are likely to finish behind Leicester and The Spuds, how can Wenger as a so called top class manager sleep at night if the above happens? It's a sackable offence, he would get sacked at any other top club.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yeah I see what you are saying and that is the reality, however it won't stop me personally from getting emotional about the situation. Of course we are all powerless and can't really influence the way he manages or should I mismanages the team but given the current predicament it drives me crazy that Wenger hasn't or isn't seizing this opportunity. Excuse after excuse after excuse is all we hear, he's not even being honest.

He has literally been handed the title this season, if you look at the circumstances closely it really does defy belief that we look set to miss out on the title this season, to rub salt in the wounds we are likely to finish behind Leicester and The Spuds, how can Wenger as a so called top class manager sleep at night if the above happens? It's a sackable offence, he would get sacked at any other top club.

Again it comes back to what his purpose at the club is, in the eyes of the owners. Look at it another way. Based on that share sale last week, the club is worth well over a billion quid on paper now. Kroenke's stake cost £500mill and, if those share prices are an indicator, his shares are worth £900mill today. That's spectacular if it can be realised. So the fans are asking the owner to sack a manager that has returned an astonishing level of growth at a time when growth is almost unobtainable in traditional markets, non-monopolies at least.

What really matters to a man who has no connection whatsoever to the NLD, who knows fuck all about the Lysestershire Foxes, but can see another 4th place trophy at hand and another bumper CL bonus hitting the books?

Arsenal is a corporation now. Football is a marketing tool, not a sport. Kroenke is the spider sitting pretty at a moment when the cash pouring into football has become obscene beyond comprehension. It just doesn't get better than that. He's got the absolute number one manager in the world steering the ship. Is he going to sack him and bring in a loud mouthed captain that starts demanding irrelevant shite like the top players required to come 1st, when 4th is all that's required to achieve incredible financial results?

In a normal industry he might have to worry, because being the 4th best mobile phone provider or the 4th best games console provider or the 4th best supermarket can be precarious. But this is football. The consumer base is locked in, to a fanatical degree. It's so perfect you couldn't do better if you had a magic wand or a genie in a bottle.

Sack the manager? What kind of crazy talk is that? The fans? Fuck them. They'll keep paying anyway so who gives a fuck what they think or say or do?

[selassie]

Again it comes back to what his purpose at the club is, in the eyes of the owners. Look at it another way. Based on that share sale last week, the club is worth well over a billion quid on paper now. Kroenke's stake cost £500mill and, if those share prices are an indicator, his shares are worth £900mill today. That's spectacular if it can be realised. So the fans are asking the owner to sack a manager that has returned an astonishing level of growth at a time when growth is almost unobtainable in traditional markets, non-monopolies at least.

What really matters to a man who has no connection whatsoever to the NLD, who knows fuck all about the Lysestershire Foxes, but can see another 4th place trophy at hand and another bumper CL bonus hitting the books?

Arsenal is a corporation now. Football is a marketing tool, not a sport. Kroenke is the spider sitting pretty at a moment when the cash pouring into football has become obscene beyond comprehension. It just doesn't get better than that. He's got the absolute number one manager in the world steering the ship. Is he going to sack him and bring in a loud mouthed captain that starts demanding irrelevant shite like the top players required to come 1st, when 4th is all that's required to achieve incredible financial results?

In a normal industry he might have to worry, because being the 4th best mobile phone provider or the 4th best games console provider or the 4th best supermarket can be precarious. But this is football. The consumer base is locked in, to a fanatical degree. It's so perfect you couldn't do better if you had a magic wand or a genie in a bottle.

Sack the manager? What kind of crazy talk is that? The fans? Fuck them. They'll keep paying anyway so who gives a fuck what they think or say or do?

:gp:

Yep, that's the sad reality and it depresses the hell out of me! :console:

[Özim]

Yeah I see what you are saying and that is the reality, however it won't stop me personally from getting emotional about the situation. Of course we are all powerless and can't really influence the way he manages or should I mismanages the team but given the current predicament it drives me crazy that Wenger hasn't or isn't seizing this opportunity. Excuse after excuse after excuse is all we hear, he's not even being honest.

He has literally been handed the title this season, if you look at the circumstances closely it really does defy belief that we look set to miss out on the title this season, to rub salt in the wounds we are likely to finish behind Leicester and The Spuds, how can Wenger as a so called top class manager sleep at night if the above happens? It's a sackable offence, he would get sacked at any other top club.

The reality is however we're only a top club in name, everything else at the club says we're a club content with being 2nd best, it speaks volumes for the losers mentality that circulates this club, NQ made a very valid observation the other day about how Arsenal and Barca have changed since the 2006 CL final, one club has gone on to win everything and won't accept 2nd best, the other epitomises being 2nd best and has little interest in changing it, one club cares about what happens on the pitch the other just cares about what happens off the pitch.

If we are indeed a top club, then we're an embarrassment and a shining example of what not to do for all other top clubs out there, we've even seen ther players, clubs take the p*ss out of us and rightly so because in football terms we're a joke thanks to Wenger and those above him, former players, former managers, other managers, other players have been saying it's not been working for years and yet nothing changes.

When we come out of the CL draw and players are happy to be playing us you just know something is wrong.

[Power n Glory]

Thing is, I think it makes more sense to look at the reality of the situation. This is why I’m not calling for Wenger to leave, even though I think he should’ve two seasons ago, because I don’t see it happening, at least for another year. It just corners you into frustration that leads to anger and bitterness you can’t do anything constructive with, except rage.

So in relation to how he manages to the squad, in real terms, nothing is going to change. We know his approach hasn’t changed since he arrived at the club and it isn’t going to for the remaining time he has here. That relates to the money too. He will spend this summer, on how and what return we see from them, we do not know. But for definite he is going to stand by certain players (and let’s face it, no-one is going to buy Theo on his current wages so we’re stuck with him) and certain issues will keep repeating themselves – unless he gets in players with not only the right level of ability but the right attitude too. That is a key part missing from the squads of the past ten years.

I heard this on the Arsecast while out running last night and it certainly rings true. He is very much a confidence manager, so when things are going well he can maintain that momentum and inspire the team onto long runs of form. When the shit hits the fan however, he struggles to dig the players out of a hole, he can’t lead them with confidence they may be lacking. That is reflected in the players he has had at his disposal for the past decade too.

Hence the discussion about The Invincible team mentality. There was something already there mentally and we had leaders that would slap the eyeball out of players not pulling their weight. Wenger needs a strong captain. Kos should never captain the squad. Way too quiet but a change in armband won't help.

[Özim]

Again it comes back to what his purpose at the club is, in the eyes of the owners. Look at it another way. Based on that share sale last week, the club is worth well over a billion quid on paper now. Kroenke's stake cost £500mill and, if those share prices are an indicator, his shares are worth £900mill today. That's spectacular if it can be realised. So the fans are asking the owner to sack a manager that has returned an astonishing level of growth at a time when growth is almost unobtainable in traditional markets, non-monopolies at least.

What really matters to a man who has no connection whatsoever to the NLD, who knows fuck all about the Lysestershire Foxes, but can see another 4th place trophy at hand and another bumper CL bonus hitting the books?

Arsenal is a corporation now. Football is a marketing tool, not a sport. Kroenke is the spider sitting pretty at a moment when the cash pouring into football has become obscene beyond comprehension. It just doesn't get better than that. He's got the absolute number one manager in the world steering the ship. Is he going to sack him and bring in a loud mouthed captain that starts demanding irrelevant shite like the top players required to come 1st, when 4th is all that's required to achieve incredible financial results?

In a normal industry he might have to worry, because being the 4th best mobile phone provider or the 4th best games console provider or the 4th best supermarket can be precarious. But this is football. The consumer base is locked in, to a fanatical degree. It's so perfect you couldn't do better if you had a magic wand or a genie in a bottle.

Sack the manager? What kind of crazy talk is that? The fans? Fuck them. They'll keep paying anyway so who gives a fuck what they think or say or do?

In the end though, it won't change because the fans don't want it enough as highlighted by our full stadium every other week, they'll turn up regardless and the club knows that and if they don't others wil which ultimately gives them very little important to the club, if something is dispensible you don't worry too much about it.

10 years of this and nothing has changed and it won't, because the fans won't make their feelings clear that this isn't acceptable, they might say it isn't but in the end they still turn up on Saturday afternoons and still pay for their season tickets.

[Özim]

Hence the discussion about The Invincible team mentality. There was something already there mentally and we had leaders that would slap the eyeball out of players not pulling their weight. Wenger needs a strong captain. Kos should never captain the squad. Way too quiet but a change in armband won't help.

Seems to me Wenger has brought in players with no leadership qualities, probably so that noone dares question his methods, if you bring in players like Keane or Vieira then you're likely to clash heads from time to time, if you bring in players like Ramsey and Ozil you won't.

[rodders]

As an Arsenal supporter since primary school I have never been so depressed. It is now pretty much certain what we have all feared that the management have no real interest in winning anything and a manager who lives in the dark ages.

[Kano]

He's back :bow:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/03/emmanuel-eboue-short-term-sunderland-deal-trial-sam-allardyce

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I've been wishing all season we signed Payet.

[Kano]

Should go in for Gotze this summer, only one year left on his contract and Pep is on his way out too.

[milla]

Should go in for Gotze this summer, only one year left on his contract and Pep is on his way out too.

Gotze is good, but Marko Pjaca is better. He seems to have everything for a wide striker, 6ft tall, fast, can dribble and pretty accurate in front of goal. Get him this summer before the Euro (if he is called to play for Croatia he is guaranteed to make the headlines). He won't be one of the Wumger pet project, he would walk into our right wing spot. :coffee:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Should go in for Gotze this summer, only one year left on his contract and Pep is on his way out too.

Blimey, how have they allowed that!

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Blimey, how have they allowed that!

Because the guy hardly ever plays and clearly wasn't rated by Guardiola

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I've been wishing all season we signed Payet.

Why??? He's a good player no doubt but when you've got someone better like Ozil in that position, you really want to prioritise the positions we don't have strength in.

[Kano]

Because the guy hardly ever plays and clearly wasn't rated by Guardiola

He's been a regular first team player at Bayern and for Germany but he's been out injured this season since October. So in that sense, he's perfect for us. The main problem with buying him is his best position. He's been used all over the place at Bayern and rarely his best position, behind the striker. At Dortmund he was fantastic there. Maybe he could work alongside Coquelin a bit deeper, who knows.

[Niall_Quinn]

Talk of us challenging Utd for £70mill Aubergine (or whatever his name is).

Yeah right. Of course we are. We'll definitely be outbidding Utd.

[Gooner23]

The Arsenal marketing team probably in full swing leaking bullshit rumours to try and take the spotlight off Wenger.

[Marc Overmars]

The Arsenal marketing team probably in full swing leaking bullshit rumours to try and take the spotlight off Wenger.

Season ticket renewals soon I believe.

[Gooner23]

And that.

Theyre actually probably sweating a bit right now as the tide does seem to be turning. Not many Wenger supporters left now!

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Why??? He's a good player no doubt but when you've got someone better like Ozil in that position, you really want to prioritise the positions we don't have strength in.

You just answered your own question. I'm not saying I want us to make him the prime target. But I'd have been delighted if we had signed him last summer. He'd have helped share the burden with Ozil and might have even been able to play elsewhere. West Ham got him for next to nothing in the market these days.

As it is Ozil will play until he breaks and be damned should he perform anything less than the expected level. We'll keep playing him anyway!

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Because the guy hardly ever plays and clearly wasn't rated by Guardiola

You're talking as if his value as an economical asset is an irrelevance.

[Marc Overmars]

You just answered your own question. I'm not saying I want us to make him the prime target. But I'd have been delighted if we had signed him last summer. He'd have helped share the burden with Ozil and might have even been able to play elsewhere. West Ham got him for next to nothing in the market these days.

As it is Ozil will play until he breaks and be damned should he perform anything less than the expected level. We'll keep playing him anyway!

I don't think WUMger would sign a player if it meant putting an established player's nose out of joint. Too much man-management involved there, he'd rather persist with duds because they do as they're told and his favourites can play without fear of losing their place.

Though he did sign Cech which was a ruthless move. How bloody important does that one look now?

[hobson's choice]

We have to purge first before we start buying.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ox to West Ham is the latest media punt.

[I am invisible]

Ox to West Ham is the latest media punt.

Walcott to Wham too.

[Marc Overmars]

They'd probably be unrecognisable at a club like West Ham.

[Globalgunner]

Keep the Ox, let the waster go.

[Niall_Quinn]

Keep the Ox, let the waster go.

Not too long ago people, including myself, were saying keep Theo, give him another chance to come good. Now he's worse than he's been at any time in his career. The same will happen to Ox under Wenger. There's really no point keeping anyone who is still in development, not unless we are getting rid of Wenger and bringing a proper manager and coaches in.

[Globalgunner]

Not too long ago people, including myself, were saying keep Theo, give him another chance to come good. Now he's worse than he's been at any time in his career. The same will happen to Ox under Wenger. There's really no point keeping anyone who is still in development, not unless we are getting rid of Wenger and bringing a proper manager and coaches in.

Ox is 22, has latent talent, can do more than run pretty fast. Walcott is 27 was never destined to be a footballer, more a sprinter, let West ham take him to the Olympics

[Niall_Quinn]

Ox is 22, has latent talent, can do more than run pretty fast. Walcott is 27 was never destined to be a footballer, more a sprinter, let West ham take him to the Olympics

A couple of years back, when Southampton's influence was still evident, I thought Ox might develop into our best player. Not now though. He's going backwards. We know why.

[fakeyank]

I agree that we should keep Ox ONLY if Wenger is gone. If as expected, Wenger signs a 10 year contract extension then there is no point of keeping him here. He will become Walcott Mk II.

[I am invisible]

Yeah, I'm kind of done with Walcott - doesn't impress me enough as a striker, and doesn't want to be a winger. I like him as a tactical bench option, but how much are we paying him? Probably too much for that kind of role. And would he accept it?

Ox has time on his side, but he needs to forget about being a central midfielder and really focus all of his efforts on learning the winger / wide attack role, because he's starting to get left behind by guys like Campbell and Iwobi. This seems to be a recurring problem we have with all of our British players at the moment (with the possible exception of Gibbs) - none of them have a defined role in the side, and they're not really learning how to perform any one job to an exceptional, professional standard.

[IBK]

A couple of years back, when Southampton's influence was still evident, I thought Ox might develop into our best player. Not now though. He's going backwards. We know why.

Interesting piece by Henry Winter in the Times who says that Guardiola wants the Ox in the Summer as a winger . If the player can stay fit, I would back him to become a superstar under Guardiola's tutelage, and it says a lot about Wenger's failure to bring his on. If I were the Ox and Guardiola comes calling - it would be a complete no brainer.

[Niall_Quinn]

Interesting piece by Henry Winter in the Times who says that Guardiola wants the Ox in the Summer as a winger . If the player can stay fit, I would back him to become a superstar under Guardiola's tutelage, and it says a lot about Wenger's failure to bring his on. If I were the Ox and Guardiola comes calling - it would be a complete no brainer.

This is the real danger for the summer and next season. Because Wenger has performed so badly, because our owners have been so complacent and give out such a strong message that nothing will change, because our major rivals are all cycling their managers and by extension their squads, we could end up having our best players cherry picked.

Like you say, Ox to the gypos is a no-brainer for the player. What does he genuinely see for his future under Wenger's mismanagement? And I agree, all that talent he has locked away will be unlocked and used against us. Sickening if it happens. I can even see Theo improving under a, what I have now started terming, "proper" manager.

Ozil and Alexis, what about them? Bellerin, Kos.

The flip side will be nobody wanting to come here as they witness players heading out the door, coupled with the fact the chavs, gypos and Utd will be throwing around that new TV cash like confetti. Of course we will spend fuck all, the board has already put out the message to manage our expectations. £70mill tops, that's a piss in a bucket these days. If they'd have spent it before the inflation accelerated we might have been okay, but now we are just as badly out of the game as we were at Highbury, comparatively.

This could have been so different has we moved for Pep. A complete reversal in the expectations and potential. The players would be excited, the fans delirious, prospective transfers buzzing at the prospect, sponsors falling over themselves, our rivals panicking and overreacting.

Wenger is doing serious foundational damage now. He'll destroy the club before he leaves. Sure, we'll have a lot of cash but fuck all else. He needs to go right now, before the big blows start landing.

[IBK]

Sanchez apparently saying that signing a contract extension is conditional upon assurances about the club's direction - particularly signings. Cannot blame him at all really - given what he has seen so far!

[Kano]

Sanchez apparently saying that signing a contract extension is conditional upon assurances about the club's direction - particularly signings. Cannot blame him at all really - given what he has seen so far!

Sauce?

Although he also needs to smarten his game up a little. This constant cutting back onto his right foot is being read by nearly every defender. He could also do with exerting less energy bombing back in the build-up play. Maybe he gets frustrated at what he sees around him and wants to make things happen but it nulifies his effect further up the field.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sanchez apparently saying that signing a contract extension is conditional upon assurances about the club's direction - particularly signings. Cannot blame him at all really - given what he has seen so far!

And around we go. A player like Alexis doesn't need to be here, slumming it in a team that has zero ambition beyond the balance sheet. I hope he doesn't do a RvC though and start trashing the club. He's becoming more vocal, I hope he remembers the fans have been 100% behind him since the day he arrived.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sauce?

Although he also needs to smarten his game up a little. This constant cutting back onto his right foot is being read by nearly every defender. He could also do with exerting less energy bombing back in the build-up play. Maybe he gets frustrated at what he sees around him and wants to make things happen but it nulifies his effect further up the field.

His goal against the spuds showed where he should be playing and how we should be using him. But the fool in charge likes his trickle taka and Possession Trophy triumphs.

[Özim]

Sanchez apparently saying that signing a contract extension is conditional upon assurances about the club's direction - particularly signings. Cannot blame him at all really - given what he has seen so far!

Same old same old, we won't give him assurances because Wenger won't spend in the transfer market, if this is true can't see him sticking around, but then what player with any kind of ambition would.

[Marc Overmars]

Sanchez apparently saying that signing a contract extension is conditional upon assurances about the club's direction - particularly signings. Cannot blame him at all really - given what he has seen so far!

History will certainly repeat itself if we don't begin to look like legit challengers, our best players were stripped away to the point where there wasn't anyone decent left to take. Now after a few years of rebuilding we just cannot afford to let that happen again.

[Marc Overmars]

Eboue signs for Sunderland...

:lol:

[Kano]

Guendogan's agent apparently in talks with City. Which would be a bloody good signing.

[Munchies]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdG92cYWAAAQkiE.jpg

Emmanuel Eboue's first goal for Arsenal came against Sunderland in the League Cup in October 2005.


:bow:

[IBK]

Sauce?

Although he also needs to smarten his game up a little. This constant cutting back onto his right foot is being read by nearly every defender. He could also do with exerting less energy bombing back in the build-up play. Maybe he gets frustrated at what he sees around him and wants to make things happen but it nulifies his effect further up the field.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/premteams/6921988/Arsenal-transfer-news-Alexis-Sanchez-wants-160000-a-week-and-transfer-assurances-in-new-Gunners-deal.html

[Kano]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/premteams/6921988/Arsenal-transfer-news-Alexis-Sanchez-wants-160000-a-week-and-transfer-assurances-in-new-Gunners-deal.html
I knew it would be The Star or Sun or something similar. There may well be truth to it somehere but at the moment this is a month old story, created in fantasy land.

[IBK]

I knew it would be The Star or Sun or something similar. There may well be truth to it somehere but at the moment this is a month old story, created in fantasy land.

Same as 90% of Arsenal 'news', TBF. Wouldn't surprise me if there's something to it, though...

[Niall_Quinn]

It coincides with his pretty public statement about the club's mentality. Don't have what it takes, not too far from, won't do what it takes.

[Power n Glory]

Sanchez apparently saying that signing a contract extension is conditional upon assurances about the club's direction - particularly signings. Cannot blame him at all really - given what he has seen so far!

'Sporting Ambition'. :lol:

Henry said the same. RVP said the same after. I'm sure this story will keep going until a contract has been signed or when he's linked with another club. Then the club can start pulling out the old we 'offered a generous' contract BS....we've been here before.

[Penguin]

Can't blame him at all if it's true. He didn't sign for us to get embarrassed in the league and in Europe every year. Winning the odd FA cup isn't good enough.

[Niall_Quinn]

'Sporting Ambition'. :lol:

Henry said the same. RVP said the same after. I'm sure this story will keep going until a contract has been signed or when he's linked with another club. Then the club can start pulling out the old we 'offered a generous' contract BS....we've been here before.

And will keep returning to the same place for as long as the loon in charge is permitted to drive the club in circles. What a ridiculous club this is. Trying to get to the top of the sport by building the biggest bank balance. No points are awarded for that, no trophies handed out. The fans can tell them, the players can tell them, the pundits, the media, but nothing sinks in. The old fool still reigns supreme. There is no quality out there, players don't move until so-and-so moves first, we only want somebody better than what we have, we will try to do it, we will be busy, we almost signed him, we are in the waiting period, £40mill +£1,.. I think his only honest statement was his desire to see the January window closed altogether.

[Munchies]

Breaking | Arsenal are in advanced discussions for the transfer of striker Anthony Koura from Nimes for €2m, according to France Football.



Rated 65 on fifa.
http://www.futhead.com/16/players/8014/anthony-koura/

http://futhead.cursecdn.com/static/img/16/players/205334.png



:haha:

[Globalgunner]

Cheap Martial...maybe. Sanogo reprised more like.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Kalou's cousin

[Kano]

FIFA ratings :doh:

[fakeyank]

Breaking | Arsenal are in advanced discussions for the transfer of striker Anthony Koura from Nimes for €2m, according to France Football.



Rated 65 on fifa.
http://www.futhead.com/16/players/8014/anthony-koura/

http://futhead.cursecdn.com/static/img/16/players/205334.png



:haha:

Just when you think Wenger cant troll you more, he pulls something like this out of the bag! :haha:

I think Abramovich pays him an extra 9 million a year so that he can continue trolling the shit out of Arsenal FC.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wouldn't surprise me in the least if Wenger eventually gets done for smuggling immigrants. The football player cover is genius.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Breaking | Arsenal are in advanced discussions for the transfer of striker Anthony Koura from Nimes for €2m, according to France Football.



Rated 65 on fifa.
http://www.futhead.com/16/players/8014/anthony-koura/

http://futhead.cursecdn.com/static/img/16/players/205334.png



:haha:

He's so shit Wiki can't even be bothered to update his last three seasons.