Match reaction Vs West Brom

[Dr Singh]

Concerning Gnarby, I didn't pay attention to any preseason stuff or much of last season, but from what i've seen, he looks a lot more promising, when he's attacking through the middle.

He has been effective through the center but it's tragic having a playmaker of Ozil's caliber and then sticking Ramsey and Jack on the wings, essentially crowding him out whilst offering absolutely no width, making us predictable and having no pace.

[Dr Singh]

The problem with Walcott on the left is I don't think he's actually good enough at football to make it work. I could however see Chamberlain making a more seamless transition. Much better dribbler, higher quality technique and better long range shot.

[Power n Glory]

The problem with Walcott on the left is I don't think he's actually good enough at football to make it work. I could however see Chamberlain making a more seamless transition. Much better dribbler, higher quality technique and better long range shot.

You'll have to go a little deeper than that because if that's the case, what Walcott is doing on the right wing is a miracle. For a guy such limited ability, he shouldn't work down the right either. Ox struggled badly playing down the right but I'd agree that he'd cope better on the opposite flank.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

good point from hansen on MOtd2 - wilshere doesnt back himself to skin someone outside and whip in a cross so he cuts in. However this would work much better if he were on the right, so he can either shoot or find more of the pitch to aim for with a pass.
Back in the day the same thing was true with aleksandr Hleb.

We should just drop Arteta, play Wilshere in his natural position, then have a natural winger like Gnabry there. It isn't genius. Play players in their natural position and drop the average ones.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

You're back

Thoughts on Ramsey overall this season?

I am a bit like Jim White in that i am more prominent during Transfer Window season.....not in the regard that i am grey haired or scottish.


Still does a lot of things that irritate me but my main concern is that if i stop criticising him he will go back to the way he was earlier in the year...i still think if you compare him to Ozil, Cazorla and Wilshere (at his best i mean not the lukewarm performances he's mostly delivered so far) he will come up short but that's not a criticism that's just fact...but his effort has been first rate and he's extremely confident in front of goal (with the possible exception of against Napoli where he was forever trying to get the ball onto his preferred foot before shooting but in fairness Giroud, Arteta, Ramsey and Ozil were all equally culpable in that regard).

A lot of people I know who i have been open on my views about Ramsey seem to think i must be devestated that he's doing so well...which seems a bit ridiculous to me. As long as he's wearing an Arsenal shirt i am exceptionally happy that his performances are markedly improved and he's scoring goals.
With Flamini in the side there is less emphasis on him to sit back and protect the back four which he has never really been able to do that well, i would reiterate that his passing is not at the same level of players as Ozil and Wilshere (I know Jack has hardly been at his best but some of the opportunities he laid on against Stoke were class) but that's no bearing on Ramsey....i think if he keeps a good eye for goal...keeps doing the simple things well and continues to combat his indecisive nature in possession...he will continue to be an asset for us this season. But should he slip back to the player that infuriates me my vitriolic abuse will escalate even more because i've seen what he is truly capable of.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Problem with the current situation is Giroud has all the pressure in the world. He had a good game, but he still squandered 2 big chances that a world class striker would not. I'm not going to single him out mind you because Jack and Gibbs also had decent chances but failed to even test the keeper.

Agree with the rest. Flamini and Arteta should only start together if we are perhaps playing in Europe. I'm really hoping Wenger doesn't plan on making Flamini, Arteta and Ramsey his first choice trio and then run them all into the ground and watch us fizzle out.

The majority of our early success has been based on the midfield trio of Flamini, Ramsey and Ozil. The fact we broke this up to accommodate for Arteta terrifies me. I'd go as far to say that if Wenger repeats this mistake against Norwich - regardless of that result or performance, we won't win anything again this season.

That pressure is there because even he knows there is nobody at the club to seriously contend with his position. He knows that if he doesn't score it is likely to have a big impact. His reaction to the possibility of the club signing a world class striker in the summer was interesting and telling. He was practically begging the club to make signings like the rest of them were. I would surmise that even though he likes being the main man, he doesn't want it all to be on his head because you can't play well all the time.

I blame Wenger for the extra bit of pressure on him and nobody can try and pretend that a top forward was not the clubs priority considering our most concerted efforts and bids centred around that position.

The bigger issue in the game was the fact that two central midfielders were playing wide at the same time weren't they? Having one there is bad enough, but having two there is too much for a side like West Brom. I don't think it is impossible to beat a team like this with tactics like this but clearly you want the best tactics and personnel for the given scenario. I was surprised because Wenger showed more faith than I knew he would with Gnabry recently but then held him back in a game in which he might have very well made the difference....even after he has been able to have a little rest after his 3 games in a week.

I do feel that People do forget that Ramsey playing wide has worked well before (on the odd occasion) as has playing others like Benayoun wide in the past, but it does not work all the time and certainly isn't ideal against most teams. I heard someone speculating that Cazorla is no longer first team the other day but if you ask me, he can't come back quick enough. He is still our best player as far as I'm concerned.

[Nayan]

Do you know how many times I've said this about Walcott? We should be playing inverted wingers like how Real Madrid and Munich play Di Maria, Ronaldo, Ribery and Robben. Walcott could score way more goals if cutting in from the opposite flank on set up on his preferred foot to shoot. It's the same for Podolski.

Wenger makes odd decisions. He never once tried Vela down the right wing so he'd always be coming in on his left and that's where Vela currently plays now for Socidad. Would have made life so much easier for the kid. He introduced the concept of inverted wingers with Overmars and Pires so I have no idea why he goes against it with certain players.

No I dont know how many times.
Walcott has pace, does beat a man on the outside and there is some point hitting a long ball into space over the fullback for him to chase down, in the classic speedy winger sense, or at least as an inside right. Wilshere is nothing like that hence the point about putting him on his 'opposite side.' Walcott could try that from time to time as robben/duff used to but not systematically no.

Leave it with vela though - he didnt get that particular chance because he was utter shit, when presented with a boatload of other chances. NOthing to do with wenger's tactical nous. the boy was pony

[Nayan]

I thought about that but not sure if it would work with Walcott, cutting inside the pitch is not easy especially if dribbling is not your forte. However this role would suit perfectly for Ganbry or Miyaichi, both players are comfortable dribbler whilst Feo will most likely nutmeg himself in process.

exactly. playing close one-twos and working in cramped condiitons is not what walcott offers. making him cut in all the time instead of using the pace everyone screams at him for not using is as daft as asking jack to skin his fullback outside and whip a cross to giroud's eyebrows.

neither of those ideas makes sense.

[Penguin]

That pressure is there because even he knows there is nobody at the club to seriously contend with his position. He knows that if he doesn't score it is likely to have a big impact. His reaction to the possibility of the club signing a world class striker in the summer was interesting and telling. He was practically begging the club to make signings like the rest of them were. I would surmise that even though he likes being the main man, he doesn't want it all to be on his head because you can't play well all the time.

I blame Wenger for the extra bit of pressure on him and nobody can try and pretend that a top forward was not the clubs priority considering our most concerted efforts and bids centred around that position.

The bigger issue in the game was the fact that two central midfielders were playing wide at the same time weren't they? Having one there is bad enough, but having two there is too much for a side like West Brom. I don't think it is impossible to beat a team like this with tactics like this but clearly you want the best tactics and personnel for the given scenario. I was surprised because Wenger showed more faith than I knew he would with Gnabry recently but then held him back in a game in which he might have very well made the difference....even after he has been able to have a little rest after his 3 games in a week.

I do feel that People do forget that Ramsey playing wide has worked well before (on the odd occasion) as has playing others like Benayoun wide in the past, but it does not work all the time and certainly isn't ideal against most teams. I heard someone speculating that Cazorla is no longer first team the other day but if you ask me, he can't come back quick enough. He is still our best player as far as I'm concerned.

Nail on the head on every point there tbh.

I agree about Cazorla being our best player. Ozil is our best creator now but we're short on goalscorers, and Cazorla gives us another dimension with his range of shooting. The way he wriggles around on the ball and shoots with either foot in and around the area is fantastic to watch. We've missed him.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I'll happily admit to having a soft spot for him.... he's always smiling and he doesn't spend half the game time rolling around holding his knee like numerous other small technical players. That said, my liking of him is mainly because he doesn't really have any obvious limitation as an attacking threat other than the fact he's probably not going to out jump Englands brave John terry and nod it into the far corner....but I can live with that.

We have seldom seen a more genuinely two footed player over the Arsenal. Hleb was incredible at dribbling with both feet but he would refuse to shoot with either. Cazorla is never restricted in any position on the field. He always see's a way out and that is why even last year before we had Nemo, I accepted the manager playing him wide.

I would agree and despite how well we have done, we have most definitely missed Cazorla.