I saw some people talking about it being "a must not lose" which is true but we have to go there to win the game, we can't sit back, if we do we will get ripped apart. For their good run of form spurs are still heavily reliant on bale and can be got at defensively. I would definitely start with rosicky over ramsey and maybe drop wilshere in beside arteta. Diaby is apparently 50/50 to play but i'd start him ahead of arteta, he can give us some drive in there. Generally i've been dissappointed with arteta recently, he comes across as really static and safe in that holding role, safe in terms of his passing not really allowing the move to progress forward and going side to side or backwards. Now i've said that he'll probably have a stormer on sunday, also sagna is out so jenkinson to keep his place.
I'm just amazed at how many of you guys are leaving Sandro out. I can understand bias, or favourites in other positions, as there is some difficult ones to choose between.... but how are you leaving Sandro out?! You don't have a DM. Surely Sandro picks himself? as does Bale as you don't have a proper LW, as does Lloris, which just about everyone other than Piskie has agreed with. That's the problem with these "best XI" debates. - There's too many fans who can't take their "I support ______" hat off. Those suggesting Monreal already? come on lads, he's only played a few games. It's like us choosing Holtby. Both look like good players, but it's a bit soon.
I'd pick one of Dembele or Sandro to play next to Wilshere... not both. A pure DM isn't a prerequisite to success, look at United. And I'd pick Holtby if he looked good enough to be in a joint XI. But he doesn't. The fact that Gibbs is rubbish and that BAE is also average means Nacho walks into the joint XI as he looks very solid.
no, correct, you don't NEED an out and out DM. But a lot of your fans have pointed out in the past that you need one pretty badly, and you've been hoping you'd sign one? Therefore it surprises me that someone of Sandro's quality isn't walking into your "combined 11". Regardless of whether it's holtby or Monreal, I don't see how fans of either club have seen enough of either player to choose them just yet. To say Nacho looks solid and would go in over BAE, after just a few games in the premiership, is madness. Let's not forget how good Arshavin looked for you in his first few games. That worked out well...
But this is pointless anyway. Are you picking XI to perform in one game tomorrow? Are you picking an XI based on form over the last month? 6 months? year? Almost entirely pointless. And yeah, I'd have Sandro at Arsenal... but still only to play next to Wilshere. It's either him or Dembele. Both would improve us. But I wouldn't play Sandro AND Dembele. Wilshere, at the moment, should be playing centre mid with Cazorla central attacking mid.
Monreal looks like a good left-back, but he's faced Stoke (H), Sunderland (A), Blackburn (H) and Villa (H) so far, so it's a little early to put him in, in my opinion. A lot of non-Spurs fans seem to be hung up on Hansen's rant from several seasons ago though, so I'm not surprised by his inclusion.
well, It was just to pick a best 11 in general i thought? If I knew it was tailored specifically for tomorrows game, my team would have been a fair bit different. Sorry, I misunderstood you. yeah, for me, Cazorla was the weak link in those 4 names you mention. Don't get me wrong, good player, but I just feel the other 3 are stronger and have everything Cazorla has.
You think Sandro has what Cazorla has?! Dembele has scored 2 goals for you in 27 odd apps. Wilshere has 2 in 25 Sandro 1 in 27 Cazorla has 11 in 37 He also has more assists. He's the best attacking central mid in either team. Him, Bale and Walcott would be raw goal threatage! Shame none of us have a real powerhouse of a striker like RVP anymore. It's two from three from Wilshere, Dembele and Sandro. And Wilshere is top of those three.
Again, Cazorla and Sandro can't be compared. they are totally different players. yeah, I was close to putting him in instead of Podolski, like some others have, as part of a front 3. - just to get him in the team. But i thought with the midfield Sandro, Wilshere and Dembele, the goals would come from Walcott, Pod and Bale. Perhaps in hindsight, Cazorla would have been a better choice. But then some pedantic twat would have said "cazorla isn't left sided" or "cazorla can't play on the RW mate" LOL. But it's very difficult, which is what I said previously. - it's a real toss up between certain players.
"We don't plan for anybody. It is always the same - focus on our strengths and forget about your opponent." said Wenger. What an absolute plank. This is why Arsenal will win nothing else under Wenger. Do us all a favour and walk at the end of the season. Let someone who plays with actual tactics manage the Club. What a plank. The man is absolutely ridiculous.
Anyone wanna see what Piers Morgan thinks about the games this weekend? No? Well here it is anyway. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21621116
Yes. Essentially he's saying "We have no tactics. We never prepare for the opposition. We prepare to play the Arsenal way, and you have to beat us at that." That's great, but it means you're fighting a two-fronted battle on one front only. Neutralise your opponents greatest threat (ie Bale) and you have a far better chance of victory. The horrifically over-optimistic will say "he's just saying that to the Press," but really, he ALWAYS plays like that. There's NEVER a plan to neutralise the opposition, just "outscore them or die." I've tried to be positive since the Bayern defeat, but this just takes the biscuit. He needs to go.
Come on guys, you lot really seem to be running scared of the yid filth lately, you will go there and beat them im sure of it. We gave them a real run for their money last week and it was only because of Bale they got anything at all...
Thats a bit of an exageration dont you think bonstar? Do you remember the games against Barca a couple of seasons ago? Kosc was basically tasked with neutralising Messi. And did it. In general we play our brand of football and rely on being good enough at it to dominate the opponent. I understand the point you are getting at, but to suggest we never consider our opposition or there players is silly.
It was because of an amazing performance by Jaaskelainen that you weren't embarrassed! Had it not been for him, you'd have been absolutely annihilated. The scoreline looked credible for you purely because of him, we dominated the play - 62% to 38% possession, 16 to 6 shots on target, 12 to 6 corners. Don't give all the bullshit that you gave us a run, you just got lucky that your keeper had a blinder.
@Roo Us Arsenal fans (or me at least) want a DM to add depth to the squad for use in certain situations - not to be an integral piece of our first 11. A midfield 3 made of Spurs and Arsenal players would have to include Cazorla and Wilshere as they are easily better than any other midfielder from either team. Depending on the opposition i'd use one of Dembele or Sandro, but if we had a fully fit Diaby (LOL) i'd pick him over both. So 1 spurs midfield man and 2 Arsenal ones. It'd be the same up top. Bale and Walcott pick themselves (are there still any ******ed spurs fans who think lennon is better?), and through the middle it's probably Podolski with the most lethal finish, Giroud who is the most physical and Adebarndoor who is capable of the most on his day (but it comes around far too infrequently to be relied on). So Podolski is probably the third man up top - him walcott and bale could interchange beautifully! At the back it is a little harder to pick the team. Both have defensive frailties yet both have some quality players in these positions. In Goal i don't think it's as clear cut as you think. Our young pole has VERY similar stats to Lloris this season. Lloris has one more clean sheet in one less appearance, but has faced around 40 shots at his goal less than Szsc, so the % of shots going past him is higher. Both have saved 1 penalty (all EPL stats as couldnt find cup stats). I think they are both similar in skill level, with a slightly different emphasis on where there key attributes lay. Overall Arsenal have conceded less and have more clean sheets that Tottenham this season, so i wouldn't dismiss our GK area as too weak. In fact i think both teams have a GK worthy of playing for a top 4 team. Sagna is the obvious choice at RB. At LB i'd rather Monreal/Gibbs than Ekotto who blows hot and cold for me. He is good in situations where he just needs to get rid of it and do the simple defensive things, but seems far too inconsistent. I can see why Spurs fans would argue for his incusion though, especially due to Monreal being so new to the league - so i'd be happy for any of the 3 players to occupy that spot in a best 11. CB's is the hardest area to make a decision for me. Most Arsenal fans can't even agree who our best 2 CB's are, let alone throwing in your lot as well! It would depend on the opposition. Far too many different options that i can think of which could work out equally well.
Also in relation to the comment about Arshavin being good for a few games and then "look how that turned out" - it turned out pretty well. He got us into the top 4 the season we signed him and has been one of the most effective players at the club ever since. Every season he has maintained a goal/assist per game or per 2 games - i posted his stats in another thread somewhere. They are VERY impressive. Despite poor form at times he has constantly scored and created goals. Even last season where he barely got a look in he set up Henry's winner at Sunderland and had other key moments like this and always has done. Without his moments unlocking defenses we wouldnt have made top 4 last season! He was a good buy and has been good for us. Unfortunately his style of play doesn't suit us as he is too attacking minded with no defensive side to his game. Which lead to a lack of game time, a lack of fitness and eventually a lack of interest. He will move on and continue hsi career at the end of the season but i'm very happy we have had him and for the large contribution he has made for us (i'll never forget his winner against Barca!). He was truely World Class in his first couple of seasons for us and then despite poor form continued his VERY impressive goal and assist stats. I think people forget that he is 30+ and an attacking player as well - not many play along the front line past 30 in top teams.
Wenger's comments about Bale http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21628341 I think you need to read between the lines, rather than take it at face value. Of course we will be aware of Bale and work to neutralise him, but what Wenger is saying is that we can't base our game on trying to stop the opposition, because that would detract from the game we want to play. I'd hate to see us turn into a team who park the bus and try to play for a O-O, much rather that we go out and concede two and score five . . . again
