I felt that although Walcott looked rusty (similar to Ozil) and occasionally his touch or decision making let him down, he created and scored a very good goal, created a goal for Ozil, looked a threat all over the park and his movement baffled the Villa defence - although I suppose that's for other people to decide how difficult that is...
The more people talk about our selection and the good points made about players, I'm thinking maybe Ramsey could be under threat if we play both Ozil and Cazorla. As much as I like Ramsey I don't think he's got the defensive discipline of Rosicky, which could be needed if we've got Ozil and Cazorla play making/drifting into space. Then again, if Ramsey hits top form we'll be unstoppable!
Hmmm...Interesting views about team selection. In my opinion, Ramsey and Walcott should be worried, and need to buckle down. Ozil as well. As far as I am concerned the defense against Villa, Santi, Coq, Sanchez and Giroud are the only shoe-ins to start. If Ozil doesn't improve his application and strength he won't be starting the big games especially. I actually won't be surprised if Walcott is no longer an Arsenal player in the next 2yrs. This is no knock on Theo, but the squad is going up a level in technical ability, and Theo is lacking. He's not very good and thinking. He's an instinctive type of player. He will need to be a lot cleverer in how he plays. If Marco Reus becomes available I can see Wenger going for him and letting Theo leave. Ox is a much better footballer. He just needs to improve his goal scoring, and that can be worked on. Jack should be worried. With the upgrades that appear to be happening in the first team, he could become surplus. ... Just my opinion. Good problem to have
Wenger is quite loyal to his players and out of all the top managers around, he gives his players the most chances to prove themselves. To be honest, Walcott hasn't done much wrong apart from being injured. Yes it's annoying but on his day he is one of our most destructive players. Talking of Reus, i just can't see it happening. With OXO showing good form and Wenger's need to play Ozil and Cazorla, it will cause him too many selections issues. In my opinion, playing Ramsey and Coq together is our most solid midfield (though Rosicky could play in Ramsey's spot), which gives us only one spot, the CAM spot. Also what happens when Welbeck comes back? You'll have Ozil, Cazorla, Welbeck and OXO vying for two positions.
Funny how people see games differently. I honestly thought we'd have done better in the first half with 10 men than 11 and Theo. Even in the second half I thought he was poor though, imo, he definitely improved. His goal (which was beautifully taken I'll admit) was after he took a pass meant for someone else and I was out of my seat yelling "TWAT" seconds before the net bulged... ooops. Ah well, I think he's a vital player for us but still see him as way off the pace. I'd keep the exact same line-up for the Spuds but with Alexis in his place and him on the bench. It's a funny old feeling this. On one hand I thought we looked superb but I want to know how much of that is us, or how much of that is Villa being f*cking awful. I'll be a much happier man if we can beat the Spuds and not just because they're a bunch of sh*tbags, but because it will give us a good indicator of where we are. City was one thing, now we need to maintain that level long term.
I do. I want us to be professional enough/good enough to beat any team, no matter what the circumstances.
In terms of how much of it was us playing well I think you have to look at the goals we scored. Other than the penalty they were all brilliant goals. All placed exactly where they needed to be. You can't take anything away from that finishing!
And the intelligent way we played - ie allowing them the ball, drawing them out, trusting our defensive and midfield to stop them and win the ball back, then hitting them on the break without over committing.
