Thought i'd comment on how our young English players did last night as i think it is fantastic we have such great English prospects. Walcott and Oxocube ran there socks off, they kept the ball well, they were direct and really turned up for the game. I am really pleased to see Oxocube doing well, especially given a chance in the middle of the pitch (and his corners where very good). And it was when Oxocube and Walcott picked up knocks that we lost the momentum we had created. They where both influential and looked hungry to impress. Gibbs is the player i really wanted to comment on though. I thought he was fantastic. That has to be one of, if not THE best performance i have seen him have for Arsenal. He was commited, energetic, strong in the tackle, clever with when to hold off and when to pressure the attacker, he was good going forward and kept play moving very quickly. I thought he was brilliant. I'm so glad we have a proper back 5 for the run in to the end of the season! (*fingers crossed*) So i think all 3 did really well and i'm really pleased we have them in the squad. Add Wilshere to the group and Arsenal and England have some great young players. And thats what people forget - these guys are only 18-22. For Arsenal we also have Sir Chesney in goal, Song and Ramsey who are young and looking like they will be very good players. Jenkinson's another one to watch. Ryodinho and Campbell still to make the step up as well. Even Vermaelen and Kosc are young for there positions. We have a team of young players who are actually makeing that step up to being very good players and they could be the spine of our team for the next 10 years. Looking at these players makes you optimistic about our chances over the next few seasons!
I didn't think Walcott was that good last night. Some bad first touches and poor decision making as always. However, Ox in the middle was superb. Protected the defence superbly and was also great going forwards. His passing was very good and if he had stayed on, I think we would have scored more. I personally cannot wait to see him and Wilshere in the centre (with Song?) and think they'll make a great partnership for years, for both Arsenal and England.
I was just thinking... should rather be playing Ox in the centre than out on the wing? Maybe we can look to invest in a top quality winger for next season (Hazard or similar).
Hazard's name is on the lips of many top clubs...just forget the guy. Seriously, why do we continually bring him up?
Yup. Sadly hazard and goetze are not attainable targets. We need to get people before they become so well known and respected.
I said it before, and I will say it again - dismiss technique at your peril OXO can play CM because he is fantastic technically, play him out of position and his technique means he will do the basics - and his running with the ball will commit players. I'd prefer to utilise him further forward, Wilshere can do the CM job. I still think we need someone who has an eye for the pass, a proper attacking mid/playmaker.
Technique = the key to football. This isnt the 80's anymore. Oxo has good technique (which wenger will improve). So he can play centre mid or wide. Walcott has horrible technique and I doubt will ever become decent. So he will never be anything more than a glorified sprinter.
Song Wilshere Oxo Theo RvP Gervinho/Ryo Imagine the pace. Just imagine it. Don't comment about it. Just imagine it!!
DON'T COMMENT ON IT!!! Shh...just imagine. Let your mind be free from final balls, and just imagine them running...running...running...in a field full of hay. They're skipping, but at break-neck speed They all look so happy. Ryo reaches down and plucks an ear full of corn from the tops of a random bit of corn that has invaded this field of hay. They're laughing, and they're running, running towards Arsene who has his arms open...then suddenly he moves, and behind him, the old joker!! He's been standing in front of a giant pile of trophies!! All the trophies Arsenal will win ALL THE TROPHIES!!!
I'm alot more confident in our current group of young players than with previous youth players (bar a few like Fabregas). I think we have the foundation for a very good team comming through who will be with us for the best part of 10 years i would imagine. We just need to sign the odd player along the way to help out!
Not sure I agree that the current crop deserve more confidence than the previous lot. JET, Merida, Vela, Bendtner, Denilson and Walcott I had massive hopes for, even up to a couple seasons ago in Bendtner's case.
the difference between these players, and the previous are they've actually shown the ability before their talked up The likes of yerrenis? jenkinson, miguel, oxo, wilshere etc have shown their ability against like united etc and you won't notice if their in the team, expect maybe someone asking "whose that" a little less so with Ryo, campbell etc (not heard much about ryo at bolton)
