Jung isn't going to sit on the bench for two years. Sagna, if we do extend his contract is not going to make it as first choice for another year. He isn't close to being the player he was 2 or 3 years ago. You very rarely see him getting round the back of the defense any more, and he is a lot slower coming out to the winger on his side. Still a good player, and a good back up CB, but by the end of next season, he will be a back up RB, if we are up there challenging where we want to be. He is in the same situation as Arteta was last year. Very experienced, he's had a good season, but you can tell that the years are catching up.
We're also linked with that young Ivory Coast RB Aurier (spl?). He's meant to be very good and also has the same agent as Koscielny. Ideally I'd like us to extend Sagna's contract and get one of these promising young lads as backup. Regarding Nacho though you don't become sh*te overnight. I think we're forgetting he's been injured and isn't first choice, so it's not easy to come into the side cold. Hopefully a long summer break will refresh him and he'll get back to the player we signed.
I don't think Monreal is as bad as people make out. Gibbs is supposed to be dreadful defensively as well, but the pair of them have Podolski and Cazorla in front of them, neither of whom are exactly wonderful at coming back to help.
I agree Monreal is good competition for Gibbs,also vermaelen can do a good job there as long as he's next to Los/merts I'm defence, but I think the problem is that Gibbs is v injury prone meaning our only sub cb (vermaelen) has to cover lb all the time leaving merts and kos with no cover. IMO our whole defence has looked tired recently and isn't covering runners/playing the offside trap/getting to 50 50 balls as smoothly and well as previously.
Sagna, Mert and Kos have played a shed load of games this season. I think our defence is okay number wise, Vermaelen is a decent back up CB and LB. Gibbs and Monreal are good players. But I'd like to see an addition who can play RB and across CB too. I like Jenkinson, but the gap between him and Sagna is huge. Bellerin is a good prospect but I still think our defence would benefit from another versatile defender being signed in the summer.
Yeah I def think a back up rb who can play cb is a must (as is keeping Sagna) but I also think we've had a large number of occasions where we've had NO centre backs on the bench or have been unable to rest merts, especially as kos and vermaelen don't complement each other. I just think it would be nice to have a young positionally aware cb to cover for merts. Just my opinion tho
The question is.. Is it time for Fabregas to come home?Im pretty sure he has 'Arsenal DNA' Not exactly the kind of player we need but he is soo good I would take him in a heartbeat. Seems like not everything is going so well at Barca at the moment. 102 assists for Arsenal - the man was a different class.
It's time to bring Fabulous Fab back bring him home if Wenger brings him back Wenger should stay for five more years!
No chance, where would we play him? He can't defend, so DM is out, if he plays at CM, then we have to drop Ramsey, which would be pretty stupid, Ozil is a better CAM than him, so that's out too. 20+ million for a squad player is insane, nostalgic or not.
what about rotating Fab with Santi and Rambo, that way we have 3 players in similar position and they could cover for injuries and get rest periods in season, a bit like other teams with so called bigger squads. we need to buy as many quality players as we can to boost the squad and the fact that he is AFC DNA even better. we could also bring back Song as replacement/cover for Arteta [or do we hope that Diaby will return one day]
Yep, there's no way you wouldn't play a player like Fabregas. We had to bring in Kallstrom to cover this season, so that speaks volumes. Even with a fully fit MF, there are still enough games in the season for all of those players to get games. But I have to admit, it would be a bit of a luxury and I'd rather see us sign somebody like Lars Bender and have a proper DM.
You really think Ozil better than Cesc at CAM? his one season at for us at CAM he scored 19 and got 23 assist!
I'd love to re-sign Fab. 'kin love him as a player and we always come up short with injuries. This season was another shining example of that but in all honesty the likes of Rosicky aren't going to last forever so being able to rotate between Cesc and Aaron makes more sense to me. Obviously there are other positions we need to strengthen first but we know he's an exceptional player in the EPL. Also, it'd break my heart to see him play for someone other than us/Barca too. I can only forgive him Barca because that's where he's from and even then I'm lying...
