You guys are arguing over Flamini, Arteta or the inexperienced Chambers - none of which are of the required standard! Bayern, Madrid, PSG, Juve are all clubs who have gone through recent Seasons without playing an orthodox DM. It would make more sense for us to just play Two box to box players (Ramsey and Carzorla) and be a little more defensive in our shape. Sit a little deeper.
Ideally, yes. But is AW going to do that. Another worry is that these teams you mention are very good at keeping the ball. They have tidy MF who keep it simple and are rhythmic in their passing, and they either press well or are very discipline without the ball. I can't confidently say our players can do either consistently. Ramsey will give the ball away a lot in dangerous areas. This is my primary worry with the Ramsey + Carzola combo. I will be more confident with a Ramsey + Flamini or Flamini + Cazorla. Without Flamini Rambo will need to be very conservative in his game.
I agree with this. I would go for a Flamini + another player combo, but the other player needs to contribute too. Also, we are a little too inconsistent with the basics of closing down and need to be top draw from now on in.
We have also developed into a good counter attacking side, which you need a good dm for, especially if you are not playing possession football
Looks like it's going to be Flamini and Chambers then. Wenger isn't going to play Ramsey in the holding role. http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20151126/-i-don-t-want-to-kill-ramsey-s-strengths
I don't blame him, Ramsey hasn't got the positional discipline to play a holding role and one of his strengths is arriving late in/around the box in space. He loves his Hollywood runs as well. Theoretically he and Santi could share the holding role- one going forward while the other stays back, but you'd want a preseason for them to develop a perfect understanding. Plus it could leave you exposed to counters with just one back.
A left field option is wilshere. He is due back towards the start of December so he could do a job assuming 1. He does come back soon. 2. He regains fitness quickly and 3. He stays fit until coq is back
I still think Gibbs is an option as he is quicker than all the other options and a better tackler Your thoughts
Flamini is the best option. I have reservations about Chambers playing at DM, but I'm happy to be proved wrong.
Not sure what gibbs would be like in the centre of the pitch where hed need to use his weaker foot a lot more. Plus he isnt the most physical left back, let alone dm
I agree and have been thinking the same for a while. He is quick and a good tackler, can pass and will know how to defend.
I can see a scenario where Jan comes and Wenger doesn't sign anyone and then our Coq has a setback and requires surgery. And is out for the season. Jack returns and plays a few games then has a "small" problem after
Wenget isn't that stupid/stubborn is he to not buy in January this time - if he doesn't then he will lose all credibility
Not really, wouldn't be any different to any previous season when he hasn't done what's required in the transfer market
Sadly, this could very well come true. The last time Wenger really went in for quality in Jan was for Arshavin, and that was because we was in dire straits for 4th place. I'm really not sure Wenger would deem our current situation as dire. I really hope he doesn't blow it and wait for the summer transfer window.
I know it's not a popular thing to say, but Wenger will only buy somebody in January if the right player is (1) Available (2) Want to come to Arsenal (3) The right deal can be done. The fact that Wenger wants to sign a player in January might not equate to us actually signing a player. Or in other words if we don't sign anybody, it doesn't mean Wenger didn't want to.
He only buys when one of his transfer targets is available Yup, was gonna say the exact same thing. Wenger will only spend if he can land one of his 'targets'.
This might be an unpopular opinion too: But I'm glad this is how Wenger approaches transfers. Whilst I want us to sign a DM in January, I don't want us to sign any old player just for the sake of it to say we got somebody. It has to be a player who will improve the team. We've already been through the 'deadwood' clearing, I don't want us to end up having to go through that again.
Well you're right it isn't a popular opinion and you're definitely in the minority. So in your opinion, the main reason for him not buying anyone in the summer transfer window is the ones you've highlighted above? In my opinion he cocked up the summer window, got his squad strength all wrong and will probably stubbornly stick to his guns in the winter transfer window. Loads of players moved in the summer window yet we couldn't get anyone? Sorry but I'm not giving Wenger the benefit of doubt. He gets paid far too much to get sympathy from me. He makes all the decisions and he will get judged on them. Let's just hope his stubbornness hasn't led to our season unravelling early due to squad in adequacies.
