TBF Toure (after a poor start) was one of their best defenders last season - that may say something about their defence, but I don't think he was the problem so much as Sakho and Lourven. Especially as I doubt Toure envisaged playing as much as he did.
Adel Taarabt has signed a five-year deal with Benfica. Seems like a very peculiar signing to me. Given he barely played for QPR in his last two seasons there, and was often targeted for being lazy, I've got no idea how he's managed to join a much better side.
That is pretty crazy - I mean although Redknapp mis-managed him he was still a liability for QPR, so to go from that to Benfica says a lot for his agents skills!
I would pick such a different side to Hodgson.. I also think Barkley, Warde-Prowse and Reid should be given more chances. --------------------Hart/Forster------------------ Walker------Jagileka----Cahill-------Bertrand ------------Wilshere-------Carrick---------------- ----------------------Sterling------------------------ Walcott-----------Rooney-------------Wellbeck --------------------Hart/Forster------------------ Walker------Jagileka----Cahill-------Bertrand ------------Wilshere-------Carrick---------------- Walcott-----------Rooney-------------Wellbeck -----------------------Kane-------------------------
I still can't get my head around that if Ingerland had lost this game,God's Country would have overtaken them in the FIFA rankings.I still can't believe that were going to be in pot 1 of seeds for the qualifying games for Russia 2018
Should have stayed at Arsenal. His career plummeted after he left us. What did you make of Jack Wilshere's contribution to England earlier ?
The second goal was magnificent. Thought he was a bit quiet in the first half, but did well when he got forward more
Both goals were belters. He did really well in the second half and basically took that game by the scruff of the neck. I know a lot of Arsenal fans have been frustrated with Wilshere, but my personal opinion is that if he can stay injury free he will go on to be one of the best CM for Arsenal and England in a generation.
I agree, but he needs to be careful about his health habits and the company he keeps around him, as well. Wilshere has always had exceptional technique and, even from his youth days, he was capable of striking an outrageous shot, so it baffles me slightly that he's never taken more shots when he's played for us. But after the one he scored against West Brom and the two crackers he scored today, hopefully that will give him the confidence to do it regularly in an Arsenal shirt.
In his interview after the game he mentioned that Arsenal try to play the ball into the box more than England, maybe he felt he had more freedom to hit it. I thought he played really well today which is not something I expected.
I think you might be right. This is a cliche, but Arsenal do have a habit of sometimes wanting to walk the ball into the net. We've scored some really good, well-worked team goals and whilst we did score some belters last season, I still feel like there are games where we don't shoot enough from outside the box because we're trying to be too intricate with our play. Given that we have some players with superb technique e.g. Wilshere, Cazorla, Ox, Ramsey, it's a bit surprising Wenger doesn't encourage them to shoot more. The only player that seems to give it a go regularly is Sanchez. I hope it is something we work on for this upcoming season because we do have the players for it.
Thing is, we've probably scored more goals from outside the box this past season than for years. Sanchez, Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere off the top of my head have scored some blinders from outside the box. I know Wenger likes Arsenal to play the ball that will most likely unlock the defence, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't stop players from shooting from outside the box if they think the chance is on. Sanchez is testament to that. He has a rifle of a shot on him.
