Arsenal vs Bolton - Match Reaction

[Thierrymon]

Whilst i agree that it is unfair on Ramsey to be thrown into the deep end as he has this season, he has been really poor. Yeah he is contributing a few nice passes here and there, but time and time again he is giving the ball away (often in dangerous positions) and the opposition seem to have no problems in getting past him either. At least to his credit he does seem to be tracking back a fair bit but he is getting shrugged off easily.

He has shown previously he has what it takes to be a top midfielder which is why it is so frustrating at the moment.

[Xhosa_Gunner]

From Orbinho:

RVP: 100 goals 71 left foot, 23 right foot, 6 headers. 12 outside the box, 88 inside, 12 penalties

.

That is really nothing to write home about. After what ....8 years ? Ade got 30 in a season without penalty goals. Come to think of it, RVP has not scored from a free kick in over 3 years and is a regular taker. Give me a break.

[Flavs]

That is really nothing to write home about. After what ....8 years ? Ade got 30 in a season without penalty goals. Come to think of it, RVP has not scored from a free kick in over 3 years and is a regular taker. Give me a break.

Adebayor wasn't carrying a team of remedials with him at the time like RvP is though. Imagine how many he would of scored by now had he not been injured for 67% of his Arsenal career

[Flavs]

Lets ignore everything hes done since we got him and you'd be right

Like what exactly? He's inconsistent, technically poor, predictable and his only asset, pace, seems to be the one he struggles to use most of the time, his final ball is poor, he finishing is iffy and his GHEL powers(tm) are non-existent

He is a poor man's Aaron Lennon

[Marc Overmars]

I've always said with Theo that he's simply not a Wenger player. Or more specifically, not a Wengerball player. I don't think we suit him at all, either he uses his pace to devastating effect or he's literally useless in that, if he's not using his pace, he doesn't really have anything else in his locker. He doesn't spray 30-40 yard passes, he doesn't have any tricks and he's not really creative.

I reckon if he played for United he would be unstoppable, given how quickly they can seem to stretch teams. That style of play suits him down to a tee.

I certainly don't think he's as bad as people make out on here, but he does need to find a bit of consistency now, he's been around long enough.

[Flavs]

I have only seen highlights of this but did we change formation for this?

[LDG]

Good win.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Personally I'm frustrated his potential (or what seemed to be potential) has not been realised and we've ended up with another nearly player. How many of those have we had?

With Ramsey I don't blame the player, I blame Wenger and the board for leaving us so short we have to rely heavily on a kid who has just returned from a major injury. But Theo's had plenty of opportunities to make a mark and he's failed. He wouldn't get into any of the top sides, he's too inconsistent and unproductive. We're settling for second best again with this guy and I'm a bit fed up of it. I'd love to see some genuine quality on the pitch rather than players who are great one minute and then appalling the next. How can you build anything with that kind of inconsistency?

I disagree that all is lost for Theo. . . .(MOC medicine kicking in as we speak). . .but I do share NQs frustration based on Saturdays performance.
1) there was an ever so slight suggestion that he could have stayed on his feet but I sure as heck dont vlame him for going down
2) then there was his chance to go round the keeper but he chose to shoot
His decision making leaves a lot to be desired but I believe practice makes perfect and alrhough Walcot may never reach levels of perfection I do believe he has makings of a better player if we dispense from playing him wide.
He is no winger, crosses the ball well once a match udually when no one is in the box which also causes me to ask the question why do we play the winger formation when;

1) we never put players in the box
2) our attacks often come to a grinding halt when we reach the edge of the area and we try to pasd our way into the net
3) and in such cases when it does come wide we have the wrong kind of players, then we need Arshavin and someone with quick feet close control, Walcot is just a player who needs to run into spaces.

I think we may need to divert our attention to Wenger and his planning/formation. . .I dont claim to know more than Le Prof but I cant help thinking we could be more dangerous with a reshuffle.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

You can't compare a 22 year old player whose just come off from having his best season to a manager in his 60s that abides by a philosophy. Your acting as if we just lost that game. Even on a bad day, Theo had a positive effect on the outcome of the game. But there is no point in taking about this because the next time Theo pops up with a vital goal or plays a blinder all will be forgotten. And if you can't understand how a striker playing out on the wing effects there overall game and approach then I can't help you. The story about Theo playing down the centre didn't appear in the match programme for nothing. If you can't dribble, you shouldn't be playing out on the wing but our manager has decided to play him there for some reason even though he's played and trained as a striker before moving to Arsenal. Can you imagine Owen or Defoe being asked to play on the wings in their early years and the effect it would have on their careers and confidence? His pace should be used for getting behind defenders and on to through balls like what we saw yesterday when Bolton had a man sent off. You don't see Fergie starting Hernandez down the wings do you? Watch Theo's game look at his strengths and instead of just saying he's shit with no thought or analysis behind the post, think where he'd be best played. Something constructive for a change because we shouldn't be having such discussions about a player that has just come off a season with 13 goals and 8 assist. A player that scares defenders and changed the Barca tie around for us. If Wenger is getting it wrong with our tactics week in week out, then why comes you haven't stopped to think that he's messing up with certain players and where he plays them?

Goodpost
I can go with that. . . .current formation doesnt suit and if it doesnt suit Theo will it suit Oxo? because you can put your mortgage on him being stuck out wide any first team action he gets

[Ironing]

That is really nothing to write home about. After what ....8 years ? Ade got 30 in a season without penalty goals. Come to think of it, RVP has not scored from a free kick in over 3 years and is a regular taker. Give me a break.

Actually it WAS with plenty of penalty goals. WTF are you talking about.