Random Arsenal Shit (When it's not worth starting a thread)

Good to see him back. We could do with more athlete ball options.

i cant remember where but also read that we may not send akpom out on loan as we are considering bringing him into 1st team proper. silly move. we cant afford projects to push for a title, we need established players IMO and that's also why i don't think Morata would be good. but that's for another thread.

but ox, gnabry on wings is pretty decent. both seem to play without fear and like to take on the man. both seem footballistically intelligent as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by I_Killed_Kenny

i cant remember where but also read that we may not send akpom out on loan as we are considering bringing him into 1st team proper. silly move. we cant afford projects to push for a title, we need established players IMO and that's also why i don't think Morata would be good. but that's for another thread.

but ox, gnabry on wings is pretty decent. both seem to play without fear and like to take on the man. both seem footballistically intelligent as well.

---

I heard we were considering him for the Coventry game and sending him on loan after. Which makes sense.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice

Here's a good piece on the winger / wideman debate. I think it's quite concise in making a case for us having one more traditional winger and one unorthodox wide midfielder.

From the tactics column

Wide players

The unfortunate injury to Theo Walcott – arguably the one player that gives “depth” to Arsenal’s team – means Arsenal might revert back to a “wingerless” system, although the returns of Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can soften the blow of the loss. It’s an interesting system Arsenal used without Walcott earlier this season. Normally, you think of selecting players by their positions on the pitch – one striker, two wingers, an attacking midfield etc. With Arsenal, it’s about how they can manipulate space better. Usually that means playing a creative midfield on one flank, to allow Arsenal to keep the ball better, and one winger on the other side who stretches play.

Arsenal know as well, that they’ll often face teams that defend with two holding midfielders so what they’ll do is ask one of the wide players, or both as it has been at various points this season, to come off the flanks and create an overload in the middle. That creates space, of course, for the full-backs to push forward, but it also gives space to that wide player – who initially might have been suffocated on the flanks – in the hole in between the opposing full-back and just to the side of one of the two holders in a 4-2-3-1. That’s what Arsenal frequently try to do; get into that space (sometimes called the half-space or the quarter-space) because they know it is hard to cover. Why? Because the opposing winger will never track that far, while the full-back knows that if he tucks in too narrow, it distorts the shape of the team. The onus then, is on one of the holders to squeeze the space but of course, by trying to engage one of those creative wingers of Arsenal’s, say Santi Cazorla, he runs the risk of leaving the middle open.

It’s hard to explain but it’s an opportunity area for Arsenal to exploit, a gap where good players often take advantage of (think about it as the hole in the Death Star; imperceptible at first but a weakness nevertheless). One team who frequently expose this space is Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich who instead of asking the creative wingers to narrow, they move wider and open that space for the full-backs or another midfield to run into and occupy. With Arsenal’s attacking game all about dragging opponents about, watch closely and see how many goals they create this way. Lukas Podolski is particularly adept at this, drifting inside and playing one-twos before bursting behind the marker to play a cut-back or get onto one himself.

---

Good article from Arseblog.

This also caught my attention.

Quote:

---

Wenger says, by deploying a central player wide, it allows him to “get used to using the ball in a small space, as the touchline effectively divides the space that’s available to him by two; when you move the same player back to the middle, he breathes more easily and can exploit space better.”

---

Glad to see the Ox back indeed who I personally don't think is particularly less talented than Mr Popular Ross Barkley.

It will be interesting to see where Chamberlain plays long term wise....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice

Glad to see the Ox back indeed who I personally don't think is particularly less talented than Mr Popular Ross Barkley.

It will be interesting to see where Chamberlain plays long term wise....

---

some type of central role I think. 2 good feet and seems adept at taking balls (ahem) from any angle and moving forward so to sit him on one side or the other may take much from his game.

ever seen him train? clips i have seen, he has a smashing shot, strikes the ball very cleanly. also saw him taking corners and the whip and bend on the ball is brill. really wana see him take on some set pieces in games

I think I mentioned it in a thread recently. Every clip of him in training I've ever seen, he looks amazing in. Like you say, shooting and scoring from all over.

Most 2 footed player after Cazorla at the club.

Ox had a really good pre-season, like Ramsey. Started off the season well, too. Then :(.

Ox, Theo and Podolski have all been super productive in their cameos this season. As has Ger Nabry. Ger Nabry is next :rose:.

Actually, Bendtner has two goals and an assist from his few performances and he was struck down too. :lol:

This theory holds water. :(

At least it means Diaby will score two amazing solo goals and set up five more upon his return.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

At least it means Diaby will score two amazing solo goals and set up five more upon his return.

---

...he's not due back on February 8th by any chance?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Coutinho Is Boss

...he's not due back on February 8th by any chance?

---

Nah, he said Giroud will do it for him. :coffee: