That would be a big risk considering how much of a liability he looked in the 7-8 games he played for us this season. It would mean dropping one of our form players, Bellerin, for one of our poorest performers, Debuchy, and hoping he rediscovered his form very, very quickly without costing us points.
I'm not saying Bellerin should have been dropped,I'm just saying it's unfair to say a player is **** when he has hardly played.I was reading somewhere last night that Debuchy's Arsenal career consists of 22 games.
I know what you mean, I thought he was excellent when he 1st came here - did so well that we didn't miss Sagna (which is some praise!), then got that cruel injury, managed to get to the end of the season doing quite well. But I don't think it's harsh to say he's been terrible this season when he has been terrible. People can give their own reasons, whether it's lack of game time, rustiness, he's still recovering from injury, or that he's never got over his last injury and he never got back to his previous standard ect. But you could see Wenger didn't trust him to deputise for Bellerin, and when he did he didn't perform so despite being a great professional with bags of experience and talent, and being potentially the ideal replacement for Sagna, it hasn't worked out because of injury and there was no way he was going to be allowed the time to play his was into form.
I feel for Debuchy. When he first came in he played very well. However Bellerin came into the team and played soo well it was impossible to drop him. At the end of the day we now have one of the best RB's in Europe and the kid is only going to get better.
I don't think our full backs are an issue, we have good first choice selections and their backups are good too (shame about Debuchy, but Jenks should come back better). Main areas that we have weaknesses are the DM and CF spots. If we manage to get those cracked, then we have a formidable team.
Walcott needs to go. Waste of 100K a week. Get in Fakir. Waaaay superior to Theo. If a big offer comes for Ramsey, I'd consider it and push the boat out for Isco.
We need a DM, a CM, a top quality winger and a striker. But more importantly than all is a new manager as anyone could come in under Wenger and we'd still do the same thing every season.
Disagree on the Winger issue. I think Walcott, Sanchez, Wellbeck and Campbell is a quality selection. But I do think we need THREE signings to complete the squad. Firstly I would sell/release: Arteta and Flamini. Then I would add: 1. CF: Last night for example we had 21 shots on goal. Giroud is just not clinical enough. Higuian, Cavani, Aubamayang, Benzema.. possibly Lacazette, Morata and Lukaku. 2. DM: I just think we need more power/physicality in the side: Grzegorz Krychowiak, Lars Bender, Carvalho would all be good additions. 3. CB: We have two ball playing CB's in Kos and Gabriel. I think we need a Top class tall, physically imposing CB to take over from Mertesacker. Neven Subotic, Daniele Rugani, Ezekeul Garay, Mats Hummels.
Pretty much agree on everything, but you missed Rosicky leaving too. All three are gettable but I can't see Wenger getting 3 additions, max 2 - CF and DM
Disagree on Walcott. He's not up to scratch. We can spend those wages on someone with more football intelligence. This team is crying out for Nabil Fekir, Aubameyang, Carvalho/Krychowiak and Hummels/Subotic
----------------------Cech--------------------- Bellerin--Hummels--Koscielny--Monreal ----------Krychowiak---Carzorla------------ ---------------------Ozil------------------------- ---Walcott-------Cavani-------Sanchez--- Bench: Campbell,Ramsey, Giroud, Wilshere, Mertesacker, Coquelin. You seem to hate every English player. I like Walcott a lot. He will always get you goals.
What makes you think that??? I am a big fan of Jack, Kane, and Sterling. These are the only top top quality English footballers as far as I am concerned. England have a way of hyping any player that has a flicker of talent without giving it a chance to develop. Pity Jack is blighted by injury. Matt Letiss, Tony Adams, John Terry and Ashley Cole are in my list of all time greats. So I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that I hate English players. Just because the ones we have at the moment are mediocre is on Wenger! Walcott is an average footballer. He gets goals, yes. He's a player that plays on instinct. He's not intelligent. Iwobi for me should be getting a look in before Theo. Even with Theo's limited ability, Wenger is not using him correctly. For me he can't prosper in our current system. He will do well in a Barca style 4-3-3 on the right, playing on the shoulder. Where he's not involved in stuff that involves brain power. Slide him in and hope for the best.
A bit harsh calling Walcott an average footballer, on his day he can be very destructive, but he's been struggling for the past few games. As an overall player, he isn't first choice CF and neither is Giroud. Wenger WILL get a new CF this summer, there is no doubt. We seem to be getting a marquee player every season and the CF spot has been on Wenger's mind for quite sometime. Both Walcott and Giroud will be benched next season.
Hmm some of the Walcott criticsm is justified. But I also think because he is English he gets over scrutinised. It wasn't too long ago that posters (on these boards) were calling for us to sign 1. Charles Nzogbia or 2. Hatem Ben Arfa as a replacement!! There ar'nt alot of WFs who can get you 20+ goals from a wide position. A fit Walcott can. I would say he doesn't have the all round ability of someone like Reus or Sanchez so I can understand the intelligence comment. But in actual terms he is smarter than 90% of footballers.
I am struggling to think of 'Walcott's day'. Can you help me? He's a decent finisher. Most of his goals are instinctive. Where he's left one on one with the keeper. There's the odd NC run and finish. AW system requires a lot of football brain power. Shocking that he's been selecting players short of it. The Ox has a chance for me. He just needs to work on his execution. He has power and pace to get him out of trouble. Simple things like passing and playing with his head up needs to be worked on.
It's why I say 'football intelligence'. He is a lovely bloke. Very intelligent. But he's not a natural footballer imo. Iwobi, Jack, Santi, Ozil, etc. These are natural footballer. Look at it this way. Strip a player of his pace, or imagine that over 30yrs. Are they adaptable to play in a variety of positions. Theo is not a 'footballer' in this sense.
You are right that Wenger's system requires a more cerebral mind, not that Walcott is dumb, but he isn't a complete CF that someone like Henry was. I think that's why Wenger is trying so hard to find a player that is versatile enough to play all three front positions. He'll have to bite the bullet and spend big if he wants a player that can do that, another Henry is what he wants but that costs A LOT.
It's a shame we never bought Edison Cavani. If we had bought him 3-4 years ago he could have been a phenomenal signing - he is just the kind of player Wenger would have got the most out of.
Jackson Martinez has gone to China, I know a lot of people wanted us to buy him as an upgrade to Giroud a few years ago. What's everyone's opinion on this? IMO it seems crazy that so many good players (not amazing, but still playing in the top leagues) are going to China when they've got a decent amount of their careers left.
Serge Aurier may soon become a free agent if anyone is still interested? Apparently he's gone from being a PSG regular to suspended indefintiely for using homophobic slurs aimed at Blanc and senior squad members. What a little c*nt.
