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

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I'm very mixed on Mertesacker. I think he's still the best defender we have in terms of aerial supremacy, and he's very good at interceptions.

But there are times where he just looks totally ponderous, I remember going to the Emirates 2-3 seasons ago where injury meant he was paired with Monreal and it was Monreal who looked the more assertive, more committed and more assured even though he was playing out of position.

[Özim]

I've got time for Merts. Heard he was a leader behind the scenes early when he joined us and you can see it in the way he plays. Kos was shocking before Merts arrived and it looks like Kos missed Merts last season as well.

We need to retain players like Merts. Make use of his leadership skills and keep him at the club. We should have also kept Arteta. These guys may not been the best on the pitch but I remember both players being spoken of highly in terms of leadership and attitude in the dressing room.

I never really see him as a leader, if anything our team has lacked leadership and tha's despite Mertesacker being in the team. I never really rated him as a defender, for me he's never been top notch, not in the same class as the likes of Adams, Campbell, Keown, Bould, never as assured, nor as intelligent.

[Özim]

Obviously Merts is a brilliant defender, only a moran would dispute that. You don't get 100+ caps for Germany who have been one of the best international sides in the last 10 years unless you're any good.
He's not an all time great, but being an all time great player does not in any way guarantee to being a good coach or manager.
It's actually quite rare for a really top player to be a really top manager.
I think Merts could be quite good in this role but it remains to be seen.

Considering Low has been manager for most of that, the 100+ caps just suggest Low likes him, sometimes managers favour certain players (we see it with Wenger all the time), Deschamps favours Giroud for example despite him not being the best and for me the same applies to Mertersacker, never been overly impressed with his defending, like anyone he has good games but as a whole package he's not a great defender IMO.

You're right you never know if someone will become a good coach/manager but I'd personally be more inclined to bring in top class former players who have lead been standout players, especially when it comes to roles others than manager of the team as players are more likely to look up to them and listen to the them.

I've heard Mertesacker talk a lot in the press when we've taken a hammering only for us to not turn up again in the next match, isn't that what happened against Bayern, just don't rate his leadership at all.

For coaching roles, I'd have looked at bringing back players of our successful era, the likes of Henry, Vieira, Campbell etc the driving forces behind our successes.

[Letters]

I think his lack of leadership is a more valid criticism. He's clearly a good defender, I'm not going to debate that. He may have been favoured by a certain manager but in that time they have won a World Cup and been there or there abouts in every other major competition. I'd maybe agree that Adams was better and certainly better as a leader.
Campbell is a ridiculous suggestion - remember when he left the ground at half time? He's a fruitloop!
Henry, maybe. Vieira definitely.

[Marc Overmars]

Don't see why BFG can't become a decent coach. By all accounts he's very good behind the scenes and someone that everyone at the club respects. Maybe not as good as past defenders but I don't think being a top player equates to being a good coach.

[Power n Glory]

Considering Low has been manager for most of that, the 100+ caps just suggest Low likes him, sometimes managers favour certain players (we see it with Wenger all the time), Deschamps favours Giroud for example despite him not being the best and for me the same applies to Mertersacker, never been overly impressed with his defending, like anyone he has good games but as a whole package he's not a great defender IMO.

You're right you never know if someone will become a good coach/manager but I'd personally be more inclined to bring in top class former players who have lead been standout players, especially when it comes to roles others than manager of the team as players are more likely to look up to them and listen to the them.

I've heard Mertesacker talk a lot in the press when we've taken a hammering only for us to not turn up again in the next match, isn't that what happened against Bayern, just don't rate his leadership at all.

For coaching roles, I'd have looked at bringing back players of our successful era, the likes of Henry, Vieira, Campbell etc the driving forces behind our successes.

If Merts were snapped up by another top rival club like we saw with Arteta and Pep/City, wouldn’t that be a mistake on our part to let him go? I remember both Arteta and Merts were highlighted as the stronger dressing room characters when they signed them back in 2011. Considering we’ve lost one to Pep and another captain to Man City, I can’t fault the club for signing Merts. Can’t be over cynical and judge based on performances.

Henry wasn’t rated as a good captain on here. Vieira wasn’t rated as a good captain when he was playing for us either. He wasn’t really vocal on the pitch and he did a lot of flirting in the press to join Madrid. It’s only after he left we heard stories of what he was like as captain behind the scenes. I wouldn’t be so quick to judge Merts and especially not on how the team performed under him. If you take a look at Henry’s days as captain and the team performances, we were a shambles. He wasn’t an effective leader at the time but I’d definitely want him here as a coach if that were possible.

[Özim]

If Merts were snapped up by another top rival club like we saw with Arteta and Pep/City, wouldn’t that be a mistake on our part to let him go? I remember both Arteta and Merts were highlighted as the stronger dressing room characters when they signed them back in 2011. Considering we’ve lost one to Pep and another captain to Man City, I can’t fault the club for signing Merts. Can’t be over cynical and judge based on performances.

Henry wasn’t rated as a good captain on here. Vieira wasn’t rated as a good captain when he was playing for us either. He wasn’t really vocal on the pitch and he did a lot of flirting in the press to join Madrid. It’s only after he left we heard stories of what he was like as captain behind the scenes. I wouldn’t be so quick to judge Merts and especially not on how the team performed under him. If you take a look at Henry’s days as captain and the team performances, we were a shambles. He wasn’t an effective leader at the time but I’d definitely want him here as a coach if that were possible.

I wasn't too fussed about Arteta to be honest, never really thought he was all that or much of a leader either, so when he left I wasn't too disappointed, I personally feel the same about Mertesacker, throughout his spell with us we've had very little success and penty of collapses and he hasn't even been a standout player for us so if he'd left I wouldn't have been too bothered.

Henry perhaps not but he was an outstanding player, Vieria I disagree about, always thought he was a great captain that lead by example, he was the perfect choice to take over from Adams.

Time will tell, I just don't see anything standout about Mertesacker personally.

[Özim]

I think his lack of leadership is a more valid criticism. He's clearly a good defender, I'm not going to debate that. He may have been favoured by a certain manager but in that time they have won a World Cup and been there or there abouts in every other major competition. I'd maybe agree that Adams was better and certainly better as a leader.
Campbell is a ridiculous suggestion - remember when he left the ground at half time? He's a fruitloop!
Henry, maybe. Vieira definitely.

Let's be honest though, this role isn't really a manager like Wenger is a manager, it's working with young players and what's probably more effective with them is having someone who was one of the best around to look up to, Campbell I was suggesting as more in a coaching role because he was a great defender no doubt about that, much better than Mertesacker ever has been IMO.

[Power n Glory]

I wasn't too fussed about Arteta to be honest, never really thought he was all that or much of a leader either, so when he left I wasn't too disappointed, I personally feel the same about Mertesacker, throughout his spell with us we've had very little success and penty of collapses and he hasn't even been a standout player for us so if he'd left I wouldn't have been too bothered.

Henry perhaps not but he was an outstanding player, Vieria I disagree about, always thought he was a great captain that lead by example, he was the perfect choice to take over from Adams.

Time will tell, I just don't see anything standout about Mertesacker personally.

But surely it says something if Pep wants Arteta for his coaching staff? Football knowledge and intelligence isn’t something that easily noticeable on the pitch. Either way, this isn’t something I’d criticise the club for. I’ve been saying we should have been done this a long time ago. Henry should be here coaching. Pires and Ljunberg should be here. Sol Campbell shouldn’t be offering to coach a non league side for free! He should be coaching at Arsenal.

[mastermind84]

Per Mertesacker was a great leader and may become a great manager. He knew where to be on the pitch, while not being blessed with speed and agility.

Arteta was a good leader too.


The problem with leadership at the club goes to the manager.