Arsenal 2-0 Stoke - Match Reaction

[Niall_Quinn]

He pretty much always gets chances for himself, that's a testament to his movement and pace, but he needs 4-5 chances to score 1 and until he becomes more clinical and composed he won't convince many. It's frustrating because that take and finish yesterday was great but it came after we were banging our heads at wall because of his earlier missed chance, and that sums up the split opinion of him.

On a related note, the ball from Ozil was superb, Theo is an outlet he rarely has to aim for because we never have anyone playing off the shoulder of a defender.

Wrighty made a few good observations on MOTD last night. He showed how Walcott's movement in the centre is almost non-existent and how he only really sparks when he's coming from the wing and cutting in. Walcott is so obviously more effective out there, wonder why he's so determined to play centrally when he's not good at it? Theo wants a run of games so he can establish himself centrally - now many goals will it cost us to give him that run? He has to play wide and Bif has to play centrally. The real problem is Wenger's refusal to choose 2 from Ozil, Cazorla and Ramsey. He's determined to play all 3 all the time no matter the opponent.

[Marc Overmars]

He's determined to play all 3 all the time no matter the opponent.

Agreed. The problem is Ramsey had the season of his life 2 years ago, not just for the goals but his tackling stats were through the roof. He was pretty much the complete midfielder but unfortunately he hasn't come anywhere close to replicating that form. WUMger has always had a huge amount of trust in him, even before he really arrived in 13/14.

I would be interested to see how we'd function without Ramsey in the team, and in his place one of Theo or Oxlade out wide.

[GP]

Agreed. The problem is Ramsey had the season of his life 2 years ago, not just for the goals but his tackling stats were through the roof. He was pretty much the complete midfielder but unfortunately he hasn't come anywhere close to replicating that form. WUMger has always had a huge amount of trust in him, even before he really arrived in 13/14.

I would be interested to see how we'd function without Ramsey in the team, and in his place one of Theo or Oxlade out wide.

Ideally you play Theo on the right and Giroud up top. Wenger doesn't seem to trust Theo on the right any more, though.

[Kano]

Agreed. The problem is Ramsey had the season of his life 2 years ago, not just for the goals but his tackling stats were through the roof. He was pretty much the complete midfielder but unfortunately he hasn't come anywhere close to replicating that form. WUMger has always had a huge amount of trust in him, even before he really arrived in 13/14.

I would be interested to see how we'd function without Ramsey in the team, and in his place one of Theo or Oxlade out wide.

The problem is he doesn't know what to do with Ramsey at all. Play him centrally, out on the right, or up behind the strikers. His game needs reigning in a little to make the best of his talents but like everyone else, there is no control over where or what he does. I can imagine him flourishing in a more structured set up like Citeh, because Aaron has everything to become one of the best in the world as a CM. He is becoming a bit of a scapegoat because of that when really the bigger problem is lack of guidance from the manager and team mates. He has no one to learn off at all because he still hasn't settled into his right position.

[AFC Leveller]

Theo wide right and Bif through the middle is probably our best strike force because they both compliment eacthother well.However, Wenger doesnt play Theo on the right anymore, maybe because he doesnt think Theo's defensive work is good enough, but it was a decent partnership in Giroud's first season.

[Power n Glory]

The problem is he doesn't know what to do with Ramsey at all. Play him centrally, out on the right, or up behind the strikers. His game needs reigning in a little to make the best of his talents but like everyone else, there is no control over where or what he does. I can imagine him flourishing in a more structured set up like Citeh, because Aaron has everything to become on the best in the world as a CM. He is becoming a bit of a scapegoat because of that when really the bigger problem is lack of guidance from the manager and team mates. He has no one to learn off at all because he still hasn't settled into his right position.

Wenger uses that right wing as some sort of throw away experimental position. He always has. Ljunberg was an attacking midifleder. Played more like a number 10 for Sweden but we play him on that right wing. Wiltord was a striker, turns him into a right winger. Eboue got games there. Walcott gets played there. Ox gets played there. I don't understand what Ramsey will learn from playing there. If he's a central midfielder, what experience is that adding to his game?

If Ox will play as a central midfielder in the future, what's the point of playing him on the wing? What's it adding? It's the same for Walcott. He was supposed to be developed into a striker and there is this huge question mark over Walcott's ability to play there so I don't know why Wenger does it other than just to fudge his best players on to the pitch all at once.

[Kano]

Wenger uses that right wing as some sort of throw away experimental position. He always has. Ljunberg was an attacking midifleder. Played more like a number 10 for Sweden but we play him on that right wing. Wiltord was a striker, turns him into a right winger. Eboue got games there. Walcott gets played there. Ox gets played there. I don't understand what Ramsey will learn from playing there. If he's a central midfielder, what experience is that adding to his game?
This is what I've been saying for the past few weeks and why we need to tear up this team once Wenger leaves along with this brand of frustrating football. Speed isn't enough to compensate for lack of understanding of a particular role, which is why shoving Ox, Theo and Wellbeck out onto the wing will only bring limited success. Especially when every single player we play wide wants to play centrally and when they are on the pitch that is exactly what they do. We got away with it when Wiltord and Freddie were put there because they were smart players, surrounded by others who were playing in their right position. They worked as a unit, together. This current lot - bar Alexis - are useless in comparison and just being pacey doesn't cut it, which is why we need at least one player who understands that wide role properly.
If Ox will play as a central midfielder in the future, what's the point of playing him on the wing? What's it adding? It's the same for Walcott. He was supposed to be developed into a striker and there is this huge question mark over Walcott's ability to play there so I don't know why Wenger does it other than just to fudge his best players on to the pitch all at once.

This is what I've been saying for the past few weeks and why we need to tear up this team once Wenger leaves along with this brand of frustrating football. Speed isn't enough to compensate for lack of understanding of a particular role, which is why shoving Ox, Theo and Wellbeck out onto the wing will only bring limited success. Especially when every single player we play wide wants to play centrally and when they are on the pitch that is exactly what they do. We got away with it when Wiltord and Freddie were put there because they were smart players, surrounded by others who were playing in their right position. They worked as a unit, together. This current lot - bar Alexis - are useless in comparison and just being pacey doesn't cut it, which is why we need at least one player who understands that wide role properly.

[Power n Glory]

Wrighty made a few good observations on MOTD last night. He showed how Walcott's movement in the centre is almost non-existent and how he only really sparks when he's coming from the wing and cutting in. Walcott is so obviously more effective out there, wonder why he's so determined to play centrally when he's not good at it? Theo wants a run of games so he can establish himself centrally - now many goals will it cost us to give him that run? He has to play wide and Bif has to play centrally. The real problem is Wenger's refusal to choose 2 from Ozil, Cazorla and Ramsey. He's determined to play all 3 all the time no matter the opponent.

Wright said no such thing about movement from wide positions being better. What were you watching? He showed an example of bad movement where he didn't run to the back post for Bellerin's cross and said he has to learn that. Next he said he made a fantastic run but blamed Ozil for passing to Ramsey. Showed another good run from the centre where he was in on goal but should have shot with his right foot.

Wright was critical and fair. Said he believes Walcott has the tools to play there but needs a run of games to get clinical. Praised his goal for the touch and finish.

We can try Bif up front but he doesn't get the chances on goal. It's rare to see Bif get chances where he can score a hat trick. Very rare and he'd have never scored that first goal.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wright said no such thing about movement from wide positions being better. What were you watching? He showed an example of bad movement where he didn't run to the back post for Bellerin's cross and said he has to learn that. Next he said he made a fantastic run but blamed Ozil for passing to Ramsey. Showed another good run from the centre where he was in on goal but should have shot with his right foot.

Wright was critical and fair. Said he believes Walcott has the tools to play there but needs a run of games to get clinical. Praised his goal for the touch and finish.

We can try Bif up front but he doesn't get the chances on goal. It's rare to see Bif get chances where he can score a hat trick. Very rare and he'd have never scored that first goal.

Fair enough, I may be mixing in some CBS coverage I watched earlier. Was pissed as a pissed newt. That said, I'm guessing everyone can see pretty clearly how Walcott can be used to better effect. Except yer man, who knows better.

[WMUG]

Also Walcott himself, who knows better.