Wenger hardly played Vermaelan last season, who was captain. Why would he suddenly not be able to 'have the guts' to drop Arteta? :unsure:
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That's just it. Clearly he isn't good enough as you say, but why is Wenger handing him a new contract? I'm not sure he intends on keeping him as a backup squad player. He wasn't replaced in the summer and now a new deal is on the table for him. It's a worry.
The Atreta situation is one that helps explain the issues that we have under Wenger. Rather than buy specialist players for important roles ie DM, he will ask a player to alter his game to fill a role for the team - Is he doing this because he really feels that Arteta for example can become a world class DM or is he doing it to save the £30 mill it would take to buy the correct player. Even this year when questioned by the media about his lack of CF options in light of Girouds injury, he came out with Podolski, Campbell, Walcott, Sonogo as options, even telling us he bought Sanchez as a striker which was crap because he didn't give him that role at all pre-season. You CANNOT play the likes of the Chavs, Mancs, Barca, Munich by putting someone upfront because he's not good enough to play ahead of others in his real position. We played Sonogo against the reigning ( at that time ) champions of Europe last year when he had hardly kicked a ball for us, something is seriously wrong when this happens.
The only way forward is to have quality players in every position, players that are strong enough, fast enough & clever enough for the roles they play. On top of that we need squad players of similar quality to allow rotation without affecting the team.
Arteta shouldn't even be considered as DM cover, he is too slow & not strong enough. Having Flamini as cover has cost us already this season - the proof is infront of Wenger's eyes.
Watched a little bit of Willy Carvalho last night.
He was not too great.
I seriously think Wenger is still pinning everything on a fit Diaby.
He's his man in that role.
It's mental, but I can understand in a weird way, as a fit Diaby is just what we want and need.
Vermaelen was injured and lost his place. HE could see the combination of Merts and Kosc were ahead of him. Who is ahead of Arteta in that position. Flamini or a training cone. He dumps players he doesn't take a fancy to. But the players he likes as individuals he keeps them on even after they keep costing him points. The proof is in the pudding. Which crap player did Fergie ever keep playing in critical positions for purely sentimental reasons?
If you don't wince every time there is physical contact with Diaby you're a stronger man than I.
That role is one of the most physically demanding on the pitch, or can be, in terms of combined competing for the ball and yardage. I'm thinking of Schweinstiger in that role, running everything down, throwing himself into blocks and tackles, getting fouled constantly.
If we're going to play only 1 guy in there then he needs to be everywhere.