Recently, he's been playing off the shoulder of his defender a lot and playing that far up means he's not getting involved in carrying the ball forward and Sagna has to push up high to try and support him but it's a dangerous tactic. If we lose the ball in that area, Sagna is exposed and Theo is way too far forward to cover. It looks like a strategy from Wenger because when Sagna was out injured, Theo would play deeper and get involved in carrying the ball forward.
I see what Wenger is trying to do but it won't work. He's trying to get Theo playing like Ljunberg, who was great at making good runs behind defenders and not really a typical pace dribbler winger. But we don't have the players for Theo to play a game where we can only depend on his off the ball movement, pace and finishing from the wings. We'd need more playmakers on the field or a really good attacking wingback that is comfortable on the ball and creating chances. That is unlikely to happen.
We should either play a system where an off the shoulder striker can florish or drop Theo. We really can't afford to carry him in tight games. He doesn't do much from the wings when playing so far forward and he didn't do much against Spurs until he was fed two really good passes. Playing deep, he doesn't do much either cause he can't beat his man on a consistent rate. Theo should actually move on for the sake of his own rep and confidence if Wenger keeps playing him there. Doesn't benefit us or him.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...-he-s-a-great-Robin van Persie's ability to reinvent himself as a striker shows what a great player he is, according to Dennis Bergkamp.
Arsenal's original Dutch master has been watching his compatriot from afar while fulfilling his duties as a first-team coach at Ajax. And he admits it's been impossible to ignore Van Persie in the wake of his incredible scoring run.
Bergkamp's successor as Arsenal's No 10 scored a club record 35 top-flight goals in 2011 and has plundered 29 in all competitions this season. It's easy to forget that Van Persie has completed just two campaigns as a centre forward and Bergkamp has been hugely impressed by his ability to adapt.
"He has been playing in a role which is very difficult," Bergkamp told the Official Arsenal Magazine.
"I think it’s easier for a guy like Robin or me to play behind the striker, and feed the main striker and sometimes get the space to do your own thing. But basically he is the one up front who has to make a difference, which puts a lot of pressure on him, but it seems like he can deal with it.
"It seems he can make the difference time after time and in my opinion that describes a great player. It’s fantastic how he has developed himself, and players like that deserve trophies. So I honestly hope that comes soon, because his character and style of play is fantastic."
Bergkamp was something of a mentor for Van Persie while the younger Dutchman was finding his feet at Highbury following his move to London in 2004. And he always expected the 28-year-old to become a major player - because he took advice on board.
"As soon as he trained with us you could see his potential," recalled Bergkamp. "He seemed free, he played with a lot of freedom. You could see immediately he was a very talented player.
"I got to know him a bit, obviously with us both being Dutch, so I tried to help him with a few things. You could really tell that he’s a good person, a good lad, and totally the opposite to the stories that were coming out of Holland at the time about him.
"They said he was a difficult character, wouldn’t listen to experienced players and so on, but he was a great example of a player making the right move at the right time. He joined a settled team with a lot of big players, and from day one he respected those players and listened to them, and I think that helped him a lot."
Could have put this in the RVP thread but its a former player plus i remember there was a post or 2 about Bergkamp and RVP on here from last night
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...l-follow-theirSevilla's Jose Antonio Reyes has revealed the "happy memories" he holds of Arsenal, insisting that he still follows the club’s results.
The 28-year-old was signed by Arsene Wenger in 2004 and went on to score 16 Premier League goals in his 3 years with the north London outfit.
Going on to have spells with, among others, Real Madrid and Sevilla, the midfielder hailed his time with the Gunners, admitting that, while it was a big step-up in his career, the experience was one to remember.
“I have nothing but positive and happy memories of that time,” Reyes told the official Arsenal Magazine.
“I follow their matches whenever I have time and I always hope the best for them.
“At the time I joined it was really exciting, one of those experiences where you pinch yourself to make sure it’s actually happening to you.
"It was a big step to take at that time but my family and girlfriend supported me a lot.
“I have to say that everybody was very, very helpful, and not just the players and the staff at the Club. I found the people in England to be very kind.”
The former Atletico Madrid man also reflected on his involvement in the 'Invincibles' season, where Arsenal finished the 2003-04 Premier League campaign unbeaten, admitting that at the time he didn't acknowledge the achievement.
He added: “I did not realise it so much at the time but after the job was done I started to realise that I, we, were part of football history and that we had written ourselves into the history books.
“I think all of us who were part of it treasure that particular season. The intensity of the emotions was incredible.
“At times like that, you feel proud and self-confident. You feel you are doing a good job. You feel happy, you feel strong. And you feel you took the right step in your career.”
Reyes
Should have kept him
Reyes was so fucking class when we bought him. if Wengeritis is true (which it isnt) then he suffered the worst (which he didnt).
Talented player, shame he was a pussy.
Reyes had the ability of Ronaldo/Pires/Henry.
Shame he had the balls of Marouane Walcott.