Squad Analysis

[AKBapologist]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[McNamara That Ghost...]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[AKBapologist]

A few points.

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

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

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

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


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