Our lack of quality in central midfield

[Joker]

A lot has been said about the dreadful performances of Gervinho, Walcott, Squillaci, etc yesterday, and that's warranted, but we shouldn't overlook the fact that our central midfield was completely outclassed by Fulham's. In the second half they had I think over 60% possession for a sustained period. Moreover, yesterday wasn't the only occasion when a mid table team has managed to boss possession against us. 5 years ago, teams like Fulham would never have managed so much territorial control against us, even when we had midfield players out. This just shows how poor our midfield has become IMO. I rate Ramsey, but he's out of form and needs to be dropped IMO. I don't rate Arteta at all, and don't see what he's contributing to the side. Some supporters claim he's adding defensive solidarity, but where was he yesterday when Dembele was waltzing through our midfield? He wasn't tracking their midfield runners, and on a few occasions he lost the ball in very dangerous positions. Offensively, he's given us almost nothing this season, which puts a lot of pressure on Song to hold the midfield together.

This is another area that needs rectifying this month. Even Wilshere's return won't cover up the dearth of top quality options in midfield.

[Kano]

so every midfield in the prem below ours must be absolutely fucking awful, using your logic.

[Niall_Quinn]

so every midfield in the prem below ours must be absolutely fucking awful, using your logic.

We are bottom of the league with no points - how much more proof do you need that all our players are shit?

[Flavs]

Arsenal were better in the past shocker



Jog on

[LDG]

Last 16 games = W10 L4 D2
Previous 16 = W4 L5 D7

We're better than we were in every department since we lost 8-2 to Utd.

Wilshere coming back will only make it better.

Shut up moaning.

Mata - Chelsea - Same position as us basically. They have Lumpard, Essien etc etc.

It's what you do with your players as a team, not individuals.

[Letters]

Last 16 games = W10 L4 D2
Previous 16 = W4 L5 D7

We're better than we were in every department since we lost 8-2 to Utd.

Wilshere coming back will only make it better.

Stop using facts
You know that's cheating.

[Kano]

this is going well.

[GP]

Joker

Most appropriately named poster ever?

[Coney]

I don't think there is a big midfield issue. I still think the main issue is finding a couple of finishers to backup RvP. This situation has not changed in years. We have got the ball to the opposition box without too much trouble over the last few years but apart from RvP, we just don't have people to finish the job off. If we could put away just a few more of our chances over the year, we would be challenging for the title every year. It's that last few yards that is our downfall.

[Letters]

I don't think there is a big midfield issue. I still think the main issue is finding a couple of finishers to backup RvP. This situation has not changed in years. We have got the ball to the opposition box without too much trouble over the last few years but apart from RvP, we just don't have people to finish the job off. If we could put away just a few more of our chances over the year, we would be challenging for the title every year. It's that last few yards that is our downfall.

Other years though I think we've been scoring far more from midfield with people like Nasri and Cesc doing well. We don't have that now. We do need another striker who can actually put the ball in the net but we need the midfielders to be chipping in too.