It's clear what we had last season wasn't good enough and with all around us improving (including the Champions!!) the aim must be to start the season with an improvement from last year. GOALKEEPER 2010 - Almunia 2011 - Szczency IMPROVEMENT - Almunia was horrific last year and Szczency with full partial season of experience and a pre-season will be a big difference for us DEFENCE 2010 - Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy 2011 - Sagna, Vermaelen, ??, ?? IMPROVEMENT? With Vermaelen back fit we've improved one CB spot, another addition (Samba, Cahill, etc) and we're miles ahead of last year. Clichy was also poor just need to make sure he doesn't stick with Gibbs and does get someone new in (not tough to do a better job than he did last year) DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD 2010 - Song (back up Denilson) 2011 - Song (back up Frimpong?) IMPROVEMENT - Song can do much better this season (if he stays out of jail) and with Frimpong back we actually have a defensive back option ATTACKING MIDFIELD 2010 - Wilshere, Cesc, Nasri 2011 - Wilshere, Ramsey, ?? UNKNOWN - Cesc didn't play much and when he did he wasn't at his best last year, Nasri potential gone as well but we only got 6 months out of him and 1 assist all season long. Ramsey is back and Wilshere has a year of experience. All depends who we get in to replace Cesc/Nasri...we'll need to spend a decent amount though as we don't have years for the player to settle in KEY - Who do we sign and how quickly can they settle FORWARDS 2010 - Walcott, Arshavin, Van Persie, Bendtner, Chamakh 2011 - Walcott, Arshavin, Van Persie, ?? Chamakh UNKNOWN - Alot depends on Van Persie, can he give us more than 50% of a season? Walcott improved his finishing so he to needs to stay clear of injuries, if Arshavin does stay he can't play much worse than last season, Chamakh started well so who knows what he'll do now? Bendtner's going so depends who we sign. KEY - Who do we sign and how quickly can they settle + Injuries to Van Persie & Walcott SQUAD PLAYERS 2010 - Denilson, Diaby, Eboue, Vela 2011 - Frimpong, Lansbury, Jenkinson, Miyachi IMPROVEMENT - I have way more faith in the youngsters coming back and hope Wenger buts them ahead of the deadwood we have CAPTAIN 2010 - Cesc 2011 - Van Persie, Vermaelen ?? UNKNOWN - Cesc was ok as captain but not great, I prefer Van Persie but he's too injury prone, Vermaelen is good leader and we could finally have a natrual leader for the first time since Veira.
If Nasri & Fabregas join Clichy and leave we'll need to bring in 4 World Class players to improve on last year which is pretty damn unlikely. GK - Szezney will improve but i have aboslutely no faith in Flapianksi. Would be nice to see Wenger bring some experince in. LB - I would like to see Cissoko or Enrique CB - Good to have Vermaelen back. I want to see Wenger bring in some height/power. (Subotic/Cahill/Samba/Vertonghen) DM - Song is highly underrated. AM - Wenger needs to try and keep either Fabregas or Nasri otherwise we will struggle. Barcelona cant afford Fabregas and we should fight to keep him. Ship Nasri out and bring in either Mata, Vidal or Hazard. ST - I want Benzema or Higuain. Will probably just get Gervinho.
*sigh* Firstly, out of Fab and Nasri only Fabregas is world class and saying that, he certainly wasn't last season. Clichy was average at best and, imo, no real loss. Don't know how replacing one want-away world class player, an ok fullback and someone with potential means we should be getting 4 world class players is beyond me. On the other points though: Chesney Hawkes is much better than Almunia though like you I want to see an older, experienced 'keeper brought in, even if just for a couple of seasons. LB - I'd like to sign Baines but can't for the life of me see it happening. Don't see the fuss with Enrique but tbh I'm not that worried about finding someone as good/better than Clichy. Can't be that hard right? CB - Want us to get someone new in too. Not seen Subotic/Vertonghen enough to judge but think we can do better than Cahill and Samba. DM - Song was average last season. He needs a firework up his ass to recapture his previous season form when he was awesome. We know he has it in him and it's up to Wenger and co to get it back. AM - Happy to see Fab go. He's been here 8 years, been amazing and never badmouthed the club. If he wants to go then what is the point in keeping him. That said, I want the cash and not to get screwed by Barca who need a good paddling from Fifa (yeah right). Nasri is a funny one as nowhere has he said he really wants to go and is unhappy. TBH I wouldn't blame him if he was the way we've been going recently. I'd like to think being told he gets Fab's position, a bit more cash and the promise of new signings would be enough to keep him. If United fans can forgive Rooney after he held them to ransom then why can't we? Would love to see us get the likes of Hazard in but I'd be stunned. Stunned I tells thee. St - I too would love us to get Benzema or Higuain - moreso Benzema. Gonna happen? Pfffft.
Well because we've potentially lost THREE top players from a team that already needed strengthening. - At the end of the season i think most arsenal fans would agree that we needed to add a world Class defender. Also Fabregas was better than most people made out last year considering he was constantly plagued with an injury. In fact according to Opta... Francesc Fabregas, Arsenal Created more goalscoring chances per 90 mins than any other player (3.9) 107 touches per 90 mins is over 10 more than any other player Most assists in the league this season (13) Cesc Fabregas is the most creative player in Europe, according to those Opta stats. The Spaniard produces a chance from open play every 29 minutes – better than any other player in England, Spain, Germany, Italy or France. Clichy does make the odd 'high profile' error but he's still a quality left back and I have to say Man City got an absolute bargain for only £7 million. It'll cost us more than that to replace him. Aly Cissoko would be a quality replacement.
Nani had 18 assists and Drogba had 15 asissts so he didn't have most in the league. As our captain and "best player" he went missing alot last year, espcially when it counted. Other than last year he hasn't got more than about 3 league goals per season Don't get me wrong he's class player but his head and heart aren't with us anymore so time to move on. He's also not a great captain so I think that change will help us alot giving it to someone like Vermaelen And yes I know that they haven't gone yet but we'll lose at least one of Cesc and Nasri P.S. Clichy was very, very average last year, plenty of mistakes in all types of games and limited going forward. I wish for Bained but would be happy with Enrique
So your basically saying we've not got a team yet so we don't know how good were gonna be so it's abit pointless to compare yet......
He's 23 and in my opinion the best midfielder in the League. Wenger should fight tooth and nail to keep him. **** Nasri the guy is just interested in earning as much as possible. Fabregas on the other hand has been nothing but loyal - he gets far too much critiscm.
Think Nasri will go... Cesc will stay as Barca cannot meet our valuation. Papers are reporting that Gervinho is undergoing a medical now.
In my opinion, Fabianski is better than W.S.(can't spell!!). It seems that EVERYONE has FORGOTTEN his OUTSTANDING FORM during our great run of games around the turn of the year. Remember the 2-0 away Wolves game that he single handedly kept us in? Highlight of his season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6obvMywiHU (But a little competition will bring out the best in both of them.) And what do you mean cesc wasn't at his best when he played? The few games he played this season he was world class as usual. Wenger has to do his best and keep him.
Nope we all remember, its just that we still haven't forgotten the unmitigated disaster that came before it.
Fabianski looked cool, calm, and assured while he was playing. What stood out with Chesney was his shouting, ordering around, and command of his area. I think it's great that Arsenal are now in a position where they don't know who will be no1 next season because there is competition from 2 decent goalkeepers
Hahahaha + 1. Those horror shows still give me nightmares. Also, for everyone creaming themselves about his performances last season feel free to review the Brage away match. What a delight that was. Oh, and from my comments above don't think I don't rate Fab. I do, I think he's amazing but if the player hasn't got his heart in it then what can you do? Personally I'd say "Look Cesc, we understand you want to go and if that's the way you feel then fine. Due to your ability and contract length we are putting a valuation of 40m on you and will begrudgingly accept any offer of that or more. In the mean time, we expect you to play to your highest standard and ignore any gossip." What I'd like though is to let him go to Real in exchange for Benzema + a few million. Mainly as we'd get a great player, cash but more importantly p*ss of Barca. Actually, what I'd really like is for Cesc to stay, remain healthy, and play his heart out for us. AND sign Benzema... Could happen. Still don't get the Nasri hate either. If he resigned then I'd forgive him as long as he justified it with his football. Last thing of note. If we sign Gervinho today as is reported, is it going to placate any fellow Gooners as the papers are implying it will/ Arsenal are hoping it will? Certainly isn't with me. If anything, the insinuation it might is making me more angry.
