I think we all love the club and want it to do well but I believe most of us are rather disappointed at Wengers lack of achievement in the long transfer window.
It was yet another missed opportunity. Seriously, I don't expect us to achieve much this season, 4th place and maybe a decent cup run if we're up for it. Most likely not gonna win the PL and we'll finish 2nd in our CL group, get knocked out by Madrid/Barca and then it's back to square one. Has there ever been a more boring, predictable side in world football at the moment? Its so easy to foretell how our season is going to go because its been pretty much the same for the last 10 years, even after having money available.
To some extent you are right. We do have the strongest squad in years. GK- World Class with good cover LB/RB - excellent options here. CB's - A world Cup Winner and two Quality ball playing CB's. Could do with another 'destroyer' IMO. DM - Coquelin is proving to be top class. (would like a tall powerful player also) CM - TOP class options. RWF/LWF - Sanchez is almost good enough to make up for out lack of quality at CF. Walcott, Oxo are both great options also. CF - Giroud - Solid, great hold up game will get 20 goals a Season. Conversion rate is horrible though. Wellbeck - I personally like him more on the right. Does not score enough but probably our best option in the 'big games' when Giroud often goes missing. Sanogo - Not going to make it at Arsenal. CF is clearly the only position where we don't have a World Class player. The fact we play a high line and ann attack based game makes this even more baffling.
Wellll, I'd hesitate to disagree with the only person not to think I'm a total d*ck this morning but....I think we've a few more than just one position where we lack a world class option!
Wow! Who is your world class left back - Monreal? DM - Coquelin? No one in any defensive positions is world class apart from your keeper and let's see where his real level is over a few months - although definitions vary. I'd say Sanchez, Cech and Cazorla (many will include Ozil, which is debatable) are your only world class players.
Disagree. You've been listening to Gary Neville too much. Mertesacker is arguably World Class. World Cup Winner and 110 apps for Germany. Criminally underrated because he is slow - The same critiscms don't get thrown at English CB's like Terry. Koscielny - easily one of the best Ball playing CB's in the league. DM - I wouldn't call Coquelin WC yet but he has been superb for 8 months now and its about time he got some recognition. The outcry for a DM by the British press is somewhat misplaced considering.. Most Interceptions (EPL) - 1.Coquelin (37) Most Duels Won - (EPL) 1. Coquelin (97) Most tackles - (EPL) 1. Zabaleta (44) 2.Coquelin (39) In terms of defensive statistics he outperforms Matic, Terry, Kompany, Blind.. The thing about Arsenals defence is this. We conceded only 4 goals more than Chelsea last Season. Yet we play a far more attacking system with our fullbacks pushed way higher up the pitch. Some of the cliches thrown at Arsenal just don't ring true anymore.
Coquelin is turning out to be top quality. The problem is if he gets injured or suspended. Then we will struggle in the middle. As for Giroud, whilst I think we need a better striker overall. He'll still do well this season once he finds his scoring touch.
The problem with Giroud is he finds his scoring touch, and then loses it, he is not consistent enough, he will score in a couple of games, then go without scoring in 5-7 games. That's when we need another top quality striker to come in, which again, we don't have.
He's got cup player written all over him, closely followed by another loan unless things miraculously change. Ah, ooops. See Sanj started this yesterday on a separate thread. As you were...
I agree he's not consistent enough. We need to sign another striker. Looks like we tried to sign Benzema this window but seems he didn't want to come / Real didn't want to sell. People say we should have had a plan B, but I'm not sure who else was available. Man Utd spending up to £58m on a 19 year old tells you a lot about this window. What is frustrating is that we didn't go for somebody like Mandzukic or Higuan when they were available.
When we talk about spending BIG money on players like Benzema or Cavani (neither of whome are getting any younger) it makes me wonder how much it would take to prize away Harry Kane from the Spuds? He's only 22 and has massive potential. Rather than spending 40-50 million on a 28-29 year old Kane would actually be a good option and its only a matter of time before he leaves Tottenham.
Obviously You Spurs fans arnt gonna like it.. But we could afford to chuck £50 Million at him. That's a lot of money for you guys.
