Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2015/16 ( Mod Note linked in OP 29/12)

ronjo

Nemeses2050 wrote: »

Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Saturday's Premier League game against Sunderland:
on the team news...

We will make a decision on Saturday on Koscielny and Walcott, they could both make the squad. Gibbs is available again for the weekend.
on Alexis, Cazorla and Arteta...

At the moment on Alexis, Santi and Mikel, we don't know how long they will be out for.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20151203/team-news-koscielny-walcott-and-gibbs#yuKuBStIFlUoLYKo.99

Great to have Theo almost back. Hopefully he can start on the right in Greece.

Marty McFly

ronjo wrote: »

Great to have Theo almost back. Hopefully he can start on the right in Greece.

Given current form I'd rather start Walcott up top with Campbell on right. Or at least start that way with Giroud an option from the bench.

jonneymendoza

gosplan wrote: »

I agree with this.

No point in arguing about buying world class players when they can't be counted on.

I'd have our starting midfield and attack as

Coq
Santi
Rambo - Ozil - Sanchez
Walcott

1 fit player out of six and 1 just coming back.

Add to that Wilshire out, Welbeck out, Rosicky out, Kos out, Bellerin just coming back and out of form, Ox just coming back.

if we had signed Schneiderlin, he'd be like all the rest.

The only players we have that seem to be immmune to this are Mert, Giroud (apart from the broken leg), Cech.

LOL the reaosn why Girud doesnt get injured he because he does F all during a match

ronjo

Marty McFly wrote: »

Given current form I'd rather start Walcott up top with Campbell on right. Or at least start that way with Giroud an option from the bench.

Personally I wouldnt have Campbell anywhere near the first team if possible although if we had a few players back I wouldnt object to Giroud returning to the bench for a spell.

Marty McFly

ronjo wrote: »

Personally I wouldnt have Campbell anywhere near the first team if possible although if we had a few players back I wouldnt object to Giroud returning to the bench for a spell.

I think I'm one of the few who has been happy with Campbell.

Everyone fit would he mate my starting eleven no.

But Girouds form has dropped so I think Walcott has to play up top and given our options on the right even with Chamberlain coming back soon I'd stick with Campbell fir now personally.

Although thought Jeff would have been given a chance by now sincw he's been on the bench so much but Wenger mustn't really fancy him at all just yet.

gosplan

Herny 51
Vieira 45
Gilberto 44
Freddie 44
Bergkamp 38 (without flying)

That's the games by the invincibles in the 03/04 season.



Last year Rambo had 41, Ozil 38, Giroud 36, Walcott 20.

We have a fantastic squad who can't hit gear because they're never consistently together.

If we got 30 league games out of each of our first team, we'd win the league easily

ronjo

Marty McFly wrote: »

I think I'm one of the few who has been happy with Campbell.

Everyone fit would he mate my starting eleven no.

But Girouds form has dropped so I think Walcott has to play up top and given our options on the right even with Chamberlain coming back soon I'd stick with Campbell fir now personally.

Although thought Jeff would have been given a chance by now sincw he's been on the bench so much but Wenger mustn't really fancy him at all just yet.

He does tend to divide opinion but we need goals on Wednesday and I think Grioud/Walcott is more likely to provide them than Walcott/Campbell.

Of course, if Campbell has a stormer on Saturday I will change my opinion as I am very fickle like that :pac:

I've said it before, but I'd love to see Giroud up the middle and Walcott down the right. Seems Wenger has no plans to ever do this though.

Ken Shamrock

Basil3 wrote: »

I've said it before, but I'd love to see Giroud up the middle and Walcott down the right. Seems Wenger has no plans to ever do this though.

I don't think he wants to risk losing both of them to injury at the same time :pac:

I'd be a fan of this too TBH, It's amazing tho how sometimes things just don't work. When we signed Sanchez I was dreaming of a front 3 of:

Ox

---

Sanchez

---

Walcott

But as It turns out Ox still hasn't gotten where he needs to be and Sanchez doesn't look great as a lone striker, the 3 together probably wouldn't even work well.

Bobby Baccala

Playing Giroud and Theo at the same time can't be risked atm. We've no other cover for CF until Alexis or Welbeck are back. Let's recall Sanogo he'll be like a new signing :pac:

tayto lover

I don't like the way Wenger keeps mentioning that Gibbs is back.
No faith in that chap at all. Hate to see him near the team with his ducking and his fear.

AdamD

Why would he not mention it? Gibbs is a grand player, you won't find a better back up left back in the league. Or a better left back than Monreal for that matter.

I think Ox is crucial now, if he kicks on he could make up for some of these injuries, if he doesn't we're gonna look really light in midfield and attack.

tayto lover

AdamD wrote: »

Why would he not mention it? Gibbs is a grand player, you won't find a better back up left back in the league. Or a better left back than Monreal for that matter.

I think Ox is crucial now, if he kicks on he could make up for some of these injuries, if he doesn't we're gonna look really light in midfield and attack.

Have to disagree. I find Gibbs very cowardly. He is nowhere near as good at defending as Monrael in my view. Neither are good crossers of the ball incidentally.

tayto lover

tayto lover wrote: »

Have to disagree. I find Gibbs very cowardly. He is nowhere near as good at defending as Monrael in my view. Neither are good crossers of the ball incidentally.

Monreal's delivery has been exceptional for a few months now.

tayto lover

Deleted User wrote: »

Monreal's delivery has been exceptional for a few months now.

Not last week. he has very few assists.

greendom

Deleted User wrote: »

Monreal's delivery has been exceptional for a few months now.

He was terrible against Norwich. I lost count of the number of awful crosses he delivered

tayto lover

tayto lover wrote: »

Not last week. he has very few assists.

Wasn't great last time but had little to aim for. He consistently gets great pace and dip on it, just a matter of having a target to aim for.

gosplan

gosplan wrote: »

Herny 51
Vieira 45
Gilberto 44
Freddie 44
Bergkamp 38 (without flying)

That's the games by the invincibles in the 03/04 season.



Last year Rambo had 41, Ozil 38, Giroud 36, Walcott 20.

We have a fantastic squad who can't hit gear because they're never consistently together.

If we got 30 league games out of each of our first team, we'd win the league easily

Just looked it up there and Pires made 36 league appearances that year.

So that's pretty much

Vieira - Gilberto
Freddie - Pires
Bergkamp
Henry

For every game. Bergkamp missed 10 league games which is the most. The rest missed 2/3.

I know there's a gulf in class but if we had

Coq - Caz
Rambo - Ozil - Sanchez
Walcott

All together for 35/36 games. They'd be playing amazingly.

Wenger only used 6 midfielders that season FFS.

The four above, Parlour and Edu who got about 15 starts each.

After Henry and Bergkamp up front were Reyes and Wiltord with 5 or 6 starts each.

That team played Wenger football brilliantly. It was automatic.

THAT's where the fcuking handbrake comes from. The football isn't automatic and fluid because the formation/personnel just changed.

I'm not saying we're at the invincibles level but we'd be really good if we just had consistency.

symbolic

gosplan wrote: »

Just looked it up there and Pires made 36 league appearances that year.

So that's pretty much

Vieira - Gilberto
Freddie - Pires
Bergkamp
Henry

For every game. Bergkamp missed 10 league games which is the most. The rest missed 2/3.

I know there's a gulf in class but if we had

Coq - Caz
Rambo - Ozil - Sanchez
Walcott

All together for 35/36 games. They'd be playing amazingly.

Wenger only used 6 midfielders that season FFS.

The four above, Parlour and Edu who got about 15 starts each.

So he didn't always injure all his players!? Hmmmmmm..

At what stage will people stop using the invincibles as an excuse for everything I wonder.

emmetlego

Deleted User wrote: »

At what stage will people stop using the invincibles as an excuse for everything I wonder.

At what stage will people stop remembering how frickin good this team were and that his ethos hasn't changed?

It's very much a periodic cycle... It will come good again!

** He said hopefully **

greendom

Deleted User wrote: »

Wasn't great last time but had little to aim for. He consistently gets great pace and dip on it, just a matter of having a target to aim for.

Don't buy that - Giroud was in the box for most if not all of Monreal's attempts. Admittedly there were a lot of Norwich defenders too but you would have thought that 1 or 2 of the crosses would have got close to a blue shirt.

Don't get me wrong I think Monreal's great and his attacking play is very inventive at times but he was poor last Sunday.

emmetlego

emmetlego wrote: »

At what stage will people stop remembering how frickin good this team were and that his ethos hasn't changed?

It's very much a periodic cycle... It will come good again!

** He said hopefully **

12 years is quite a period.

greendom

greendom wrote: »

Don't buy that - Giroud was in the box for most if not all of Monreal's attempts. Admittedly there were a lot of Norwich defenders too but you would have thought that 1 or 2 of the crosses would have got close to a blue shirt.

Don't get me wrong I think Monreal's great and his attacking play is very inventive at times but he was poor last Sunday.

Giroud was ahead of the play a lot and he was the only one in the box a lot. Wind didn't help either. Overall he's been in a great vein of form though.

gosplan

Deleted User wrote: »

At what stage will people stop using the invincibles as an excuse for everything I wonder.

Probably around the same time people stop throwing Strawmen up in here all the time.

All I'm saying is we can't do well with all these injuries and when we last did well, we didn't have these injuries.

I'm beginning to think that's too moderate for this thread so people keep rephrasing my words as some of you are just gagging for a row.

Chill out people. We can have a conversation without everything coming down to the same old argument.

jonneymendoza

interesting list of injuries per club

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c1?utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=22278&affid=222

Why aint city and united getting slated for injuries and only us?

symbolic

gosplan wrote: »

I'm beginning to think that's too moderate for this thread so people keep rephrasing my words as some of you are just gagging for a row.
.

Not even a row, just to be able to say it's Wengers fault. The "one constant" thing was some great logic.

It might be easier if everyone agreed it is

ronjo

jonneymendoza wrote: »

interesting list of injuries per club

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c1?utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=22278&affid=222

Why aint city and united getting slated for injuries and only us?

They get sympathy and we get grief.

Actually United had a lot of injuries since Van Gaal came in..... Does he have same training methods as Wenger?

L'prof

jonneymendoza wrote: »

interesting list of injuries per club

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c1?utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=22278&affid=222

Why aint city and united getting slated for injuries and only us?

I always keep an eye on physioroom, good source. With City anyway, they're squad is big enough and talented enough to cope with that many injuries. When it comes to Arsenal, no so much.

symbolic

jonneymendoza wrote: »

interesting list of injuries per club

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c1?utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=22278&affid=222

Why aint city and united getting slated for injuries and only us?

In those threads they sometimes do.

"Why us? " - many a football fan. (often if results aren't going their way)

jonneymendoza

jonneymendoza wrote: »

interesting list of injuries per club

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c1?utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=22278&affid=222

Why aint city and united getting slated for injuries and only us?

Most of City's are really short term. We are missing 5 nailed on starters for our first team, often for months at a time.

Arteta needs to be cut loose. His squad place needs to be taken by someone else, whether he's club captain or not.

JustTheOne

jonneymendoza wrote: »

interesting list of injuries per club

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c1?utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=22278&affid=222

Why aint city and united getting slated for injuries and only us?

Season after season.

gosplan

JustTheOne wrote: »

Season after season.

Yes. We're always near the top. Other clubs may have slightly worse luck from time to time but I don't think it's luck with us.

greendom

Why can't Wenger say anything yet about Sanchez's injury. It's 5 days now, surely there is some indication.

Either the info is not being released just yet as it's more bad news, or Alexis turns up in the first 11 tomorrow afternoon

Soups123

jonneymendoza wrote: »

interesting list of injuries per club

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c1?utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=22278&affid=222

Why aint city and united getting slated for injuries and only us?

I think as other have mentioned is they have a bigger squad and more talent in depth.

I dont think you need to spend there millions to get close but what you have to do is realise that if you are limiting your numbers then you cant keep Arteta, Rosicky & Wilshire in the same squad, 2 need to be cut loose

farna_boy

Was thinking last night, I would like to see us play a 4-4-2 as an alternative sometimes. But then I was wondering could our team handle it (defensively) and even if they could, what would the team look like?

Assuming everyone was fit (big assumption, I know) do you think it could work and who would play where?

My team:

---

Cech

---

Bellerin

---

Kos----Mert/Gabriel

---

Monreal

---

Coquelin

---

Walcott

---

Cazorla/Ramsey(?)

---

Ozil

---

---

Sanchez

---

Grioud

---

Not sure about left midfield or about excluding either Cazorla or Ramsey from central midfield. One potential solution would be move Ozil to left midfield and put Ramsey/Caz behind the front two, but I don't know if that would suit Ozil and it would probably leave us vulnerable at the back.

Any thoughts?

ronjo

farna_boy wrote: »

Was thinking last night, I would like to see us play a 4-4-2 as an alternative sometimes. But then I was wondering could our team handle it (defensively) and even if they could, what would the team look like?

Assuming everyone was fit (big assumption, I know) do you think it could work and who would play where?

My team:

---

Cech

---

Bellerin

---

Kos----Mert/Gabriel

---

Monreal

---

Coquelin

---

Walcott

---

Cazorla/Ramsey(?)

---

Ozil

---

---

Sanchez

---

Grioud

---

Not sure about left midfield or about excluding either Cazorla or Ramsey from central midfield. One potential solution would be move Ozil to left midfield and put Ramsey/Caz behind the front two, but I don't know if that would suit Ozil and it would probably leave us vulnerable at the back.

Any thoughts?

Nice idea but the obvious answer is that Coquelin would be totally overrun in midfield.

gosplan

gosplan wrote: »

Probably around the same time people stop throwing Strawmen up in here all the time.

All I'm saying is we can't do well with all these injuries and when we last did well, we didn't have these injuries.

I'm beginning to think that's too moderate for this thread so people keep rephrasing my words as some of you are just gagging for a row.

Chill out people. We can have a conversation without everything coming down to the same old argument.

Where's the strawman exactly?

Also from before, the "ethos" to me seems different to the invincibles days, we used to counterattack. Funny enough we were doing that earlier in the season not seem to have lapsed back into possession stuff.

JustTheOne

Were top over the last 5 years for injuries.

Bobby Baccala

farna_boy wrote: »

Was thinking last night, I would like to see us play a 4-4-2 as an alternative sometimes. But then I was wondering could our team handle it (defensively) and even if they could, what would the team look like?

Assuming everyone was fit (big assumption, I know) do you think it could work and who would play where?

My team:

---

Cech

---

Bellerin

---

Kos----Mert/Gabriel

---

Monreal

---

Coquelin

---

Walcott

---

Cazorla/Ramsey(?)

---

Ozil

---

---

Sanchez

---

Grioud

---

Not sure about left midfield or about excluding either Cazorla or Ramsey from central midfield. One potential solution would be move Ozil to left midfield and put Ramsey/Caz behind the front two, but I don't know if that would suit Ozil and it would probably leave us vulnerable at the back.

Any thoughts?

I assume you mean 4-4-2 diamond? I think our midfield is a bit too lightweight for that but I'd love to see it. Also don't think you'll catch Wenger dead playing 2 strikers atm.

Marty McFly

JustTheOne wrote: »

Were top over the last 5 years for injuries.

Yea just seen that on sky not suprising really.

The frustrating thing from the club as always us the lack if transparency or trying to pretend there is no issue in public.

With Cazorla out until March you can count hus season as over and at his age it's not going to get any better.

I'd like to think the club would step up and sign some players in January but who knows.

Soups123

Marty McFly wrote: »

Yea just seen that on sky not suprising really.

The frustrating thing from the club as always us the lack if transparency or trying to pretend there is no issue in public.

With Cazorla out until March you can count hus season as over and at his age it's not going to get any better.

I'd like to think the club would step up and sign some players in January but who knows.

I know we have said it before but we really have to now. Coq and Caz out is our centre piece gone. Ramsey will go in there with Flamini but you can be sure Flamini will pick something up soon too.

We really need something of substance in January otherwise we'll drop off yet again

jonneymendoza

Soups123 wrote: »

I think as other have mentioned is they have a bigger squad and more talent in depth.

I dont think you need to spend there millions to get close but what you have to do is realise that if you are limiting your numbers then you cant keep Arteta, Rosicky & Wilshire in the same squad, 2 need to be cut loose

united have a larger squad then us?

gosplan

Deleted User wrote: »

Where's the strawman exactly?

Also from before, the "ethos" to me seems different to the invincibles days, we used to counterattack. Funny enough we were doing that earlier in the season not seem to have lapsed back into possession stuff.

I didn't make any excuses.

DeclanRe

farna_boy wrote: »

Was thinking last night, I would like to see us play a 4-4-2 as an alternative sometimes. But then I was wondering could our team handle it (defensively) and even if they could, what would the team look like?

Assuming everyone was fit (big assumption, I know) do you think it could work and who would play where?

My team:

---

Cech

---

Bellerin

---

Kos----Mert/Gabriel

---

Monreal

---

Coquelin

---

Walcott

---

Cazorla/Ramsey(?)

---

Ozil

---

---

Sanchez

---

Grioud

---

Not sure about left midfield or about excluding either Cazorla or Ramsey from central midfield. One potential solution would be move Ozil to left midfield and put Ramsey/Caz behind the front two, but I don't know if that would suit Ozil and it would probably leave us vulnerable at the back.

Any thoughts?

Like the previous comments - i'd love to see it. I think we'd score lots. But it would leave Coq with an awful lot to do. Walcott and Ozil not the best for tracking back either!

Soups123

jonneymendoza wrote: »

united have a larger squad then us?

United are not doing much more than we are right now?

We've all the same size squads, thats the rule some have better quality in depth.

jonneymendoza

Soups123 wrote: »

United are not doing much more than we are right now?

We've all the same size squads, thats the rule some have better quality in depth.

WHich is my point.

someone said they had a larger squad then us when in reality we have a larger squad then them

Soups123

jonneymendoza wrote: »

WHich is my point.

someone said they had a larger squad then us when in reality we have a larger squad then them

Ah right I think the point being made may have been that City have a better squad of players for there 25, better quality in depth.

We have been so unlucky, I think the muscle issues are more a consequence of how we play and how we do things. What happened say Coq and Caz is just unfortunate. For Jack, Rosicky and Arteta its just there make up all are brittle.

It would be good to see both Arteta and Rosicky now move on, which i am sure they will and be replaced with more reliable.

Its a shame about Rosicky he had the ability to be one of our greats but just cant stay fit.

tayto lover

We now need major investment in the club.
We need to weed out the fragile and aging players and replace them.

Arteta, Flamini, Rosick and Cazorla are probably nearing their exits anyway.

Jack and Ox are fragile and cannot be relied on to compete in many games in succession. The club needs to look at the feasibility of retaining them too.

Walcott is much the same but a valuable player as he gives us something different in attack.

Campbell, Chambers and Gibbs have question marks about their ability. I don't think Gibbs is good enough.

We could do with at least 5 top-class players in the summer especially if we have a clear-out.

emmetlego

tayto lover wrote: »

We now need major investment in the club.
We need to weed out the fragile and aging players and replace them.

Arteta, Flamini, Rosick and Cazorla are probably nearing their exits anyway.

Jack and Ox are fragile and cannot be relied on to compete in many games in succession. The club needs to look at the feasibility of retaining them too.

Walcott is much the same but a valuable player as he gives us something different in attack.

Campbell, Chambers and Gibbs have question marks about their ability. I don't think Gibbs is good enough.

We could do with at least 5 top-class players in the summer especially if we have a clear-out.

RE: the bolded bits!
Don't think Santi is nearing an exit, I think he's generally been one of our best players regularly, and rarely gets injured.

I agree strongly about Gibbs, he never fulfilled his potential and went backwards a good bit, would like to see a replacement for him.

As for 5 top class players? We know Arsene won't do that sort of business, but I would really like to see replcements for Rosicky, Arteta/Flamini and Gibbs, and of course, a top class Centre Forward... Which defo won't happen!!!