I don't know what more Walcott has to do to justify playing upfront. Yes... he still needs more composure and better decision making skills but he has been great these past few games. His hold up play is good... I'm still unsure how he'll play against teams who don't play a high-line... that will show whether he will be a truly world-class striker or not... but the ingredients are there.
A couple of years ago, I could have never imagined Walcott to score a goal like that third one. Never thought he would have the tight control and most importantly the upper body strength to hold players off like that.
Yup, his hold up play was good. Before, he used to get bullied off of the ball easily but he showed today he can definitely go toe to toe with tough defenders. But I'm not going to get ahead of myself... IF he does stay for the rest of this season, let's see how consistent he can be.
Actually, I thought that Cazorla had a fairly poor game today. His defense really is poor. I think having him and Ox in the team, and Podolski, is too much. While Sagna had a shocker and Kos wasn't good. I just wonder that it isn't time for us to try Cazorla on the right flank and let Jack have that AM spot, or even Ramsey.
No thanks. Ramsey is doing well in his role from the bench for the moment. If we are going to move Santi out wide, than I would play Rosicky in that AM role.
I kind of agree, despite Cazorla's one assist... he played pretty poorly. We definitely need Diaby back to compliment him. Also, it's strange how our defence was solid at the start of the season but now we seem to be leaking pretty badly. Mertesacker is our best CB and it's evident that without him we are much weaker. Gibbs had a shocker... he needs some competition for LB to make him step up his game and Santos isn't the man to do that. Ideally, I'd like our first eleven to be Scezney Sagna Mert Kos Gibbs Arteta Wilshere Diaby Carzola Pod Walcott (wrong order but im on my phone and can't be arsed to change it)
First one he got beat on the outside by Obertan. Other two he let his man back accross the middle. I can't remember exactly which ones they were, but if If that is the one you are talking about, then I agree that being beaten on the outside is the lesser of the two sins.
Santi is FAR too good to be moved outwide. Here's the team I would like to see. --------------------Sczezney-------------------- -Sagna-----Merts---------Vermaelen-----Gibbs --------------------Arteta------------------------ -------Wilshere-----------------Diaby----------- ------------------Carzorla------------------------ -----------Walcott--------Podolski-------------- Also would like to see Walcott and Giroud upfront together, there where good signs today that the two may link up well.
Can't play a 4-4-2 and try and pass the ball through the middle. Simply not going to work. How the **** is that team going to defend, with the 3 slowest players in the PL in the middle?
Its a Diamond but pods can drop back to the left and we can defend with 5 in the middle. Wilshere and Diaby slow??? Diaby is one of the quickest CM's in the league and Wilshere is pretty quick for a little guy. Also a bit of trivia we played a 442 diamond against Liverpool earlier in the Season (Diaby was in the team) and it was in fact arguably our best performance.
a ****ING BIG WELL DONE TODAY LADS, i would now like to be a honoury Gunner YOUR DEFEAT OF THE SKUNKS TODAY HAS LIFTED MY SPIRITS NO END. once again well done and there's not a team more worthy of a European place
Yes, some people on this board are blind to how he has improved over the past couple of seasons. He has better control, better crossing, better free-kicks and corners, better finishing, better range of skills. Some people just ignore all that and carry on hating. As for all my Ramsey hating, even I can see he's doing better now. Maybe he can turn a new leaf, but I doubt he'll ever become the player we thought he would.
No - we havent played a 4-4-2 for a few years now. You will see us defend in a 4-4-2 sometimes, after we have held the ball up in transition and can get set up, but as soon as we win possession we go back into a 4-3-3 to bring the ball forward. I was talking about Mertesacker, Arteta and Cazorla being slow. When we go into that 4-4-2 defense, you would have Arteta and Cazorla in the middle together which would be a disaster.
Sagna was cained for pace by Obertan. He's definitely lost a yard of pace this season, and I'm not talking about just this match.
Any evidence? Every site I visit has us down for a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 as usual. I saw the game and didn't see it that way. Why do you think it was a 4-4-2 diamond? What position was Cazorla playing exactly? Because Podolski and Ox were playing wide as usual.
