Originally Posted by fakeyank
Tea everywhere!
Just saw the goals.
Song with another assist and Walcott with a great first touch to set himself up for a goal. It was a well timed run and a very good first touch. Song is really showing his range this season. His passing skills and awareness often get overlooked when sitting deep, but he's put him self in the spotlight with these assists. Excellent player.
Good freekick from Arteta as well. We're on a roll. Feeling real confident about the squad and our chances. A complete reversal of what I was feeling at the start of the season.
Said it before and I'll say it again, Song is the best centre midfielder in the league.
He really is fantastic.
He's got this reputation for being a defensive midfielder. Probably because he's black.
Song and Arteta looks a good partnership for Wilshere to come in alongside. Balance in CM is very important. Arteta's lack of real quality is still likely to compromise him against very good teams, but it's noticeable that he is genuinely good at what he does (even if limited). You don't need to drag out desperate Denilson stats to justify his contribution. It's a nice midfield to have, with no passenger - Song has 10 league assists this season, and many of them were quality curved passes over the top. Can't understate Rosicky's contribution, but he is ageing and Wilshere on last year's form will make things even better and help us against better CMs. Let's hope he isn't dead eh.
The midfield is great ...as long as Ramsey isnt in it. I am struggling to find a reason for continuing with him in his present form. He is slow of mind and body. Is not strong in the tackle. His shooting is poor, so is his awareness and has limited ability to track back. He needs to go on loan. Maybe to Bolton, next season, they seem do do a good job polishing our young ones.
I would say he was overplayed - out of necessity - for much of the season. Loan spells wouldn't help him much IMO. But he'll need to improve with Wilshere supposedly returning. He has been a lot better than this in the past. You look at the Chelsea away game and see a very good midfielder there.
Ramsey has been poor this season. He needs to contribute more and I'm not just saying that because of his poor goal and assist record. Even before Song started to get loads of assists, you could see how important he was to our attacking play. He rarely loses possession of the ball, guards it well and makes the right pass. It's not just the final third pass, it's the build up play and he was a key reason why Cesc could roam so far forward. When he was sitting deep, he'd start off the attack with a meaningful pass or shielding the ball, turning his man and then playing the pass off while others are dashing into space. Ramsey can't do that and it's the same problem we had with Denilson. Under pressure, he'll play a dangerous panicked pass or on attacking moves, he picks out the wrong player or makes that needless extra pass.
A lot of people say Theo lacks a 'footballing brain' or intelligence because he can't cross or has the ability to consistently beat his man. I disagree with that and I think people should be looking closely at Ramsey and the sort of decisions he makes. Defence and on attack, he leaves a lot to be desired. As a central midfield player, you have to have to play with intelligence. Certain risks you can't take when passing, your off the ball movement and positioning is crucial and you have to be able to be able to see things faster than most of the other players around you and make quick decisions, weigh up risks...etc. Song doesn't get that much credit for that side of his game and people assume he's just an enforcer type player but he brings a lot more to the table.
Even Arteta, a guy that I don't rate that much, knows how to be efficient with his limitations. He's not the quickest or strongest player in the squad but he defends well. I don't rate his passing game but in most games he covers well and tracks his man, puts them under pressure and can spot the danger. Ramsey runs around like a headless chicken in most games. Luckily, he's still young and can learn. Rosicky should be ahead of him all day and when Wilshere is fit, he should be playing at the head of the triangle. Ramsey isn't suited to playing that role and would probably benefit from playing deeper. Time will tell. I don't want to write him off but I don't want to see him in the starting line up.
Aliaksandr Song is #decent
#leaveityeah
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