... or is Arsenal's passing becoming more and more fluid with every game? Every game I watch seems to have better and better passing moves, leading us to actually keep hold of the ball more than at the start of the season. Is the team starting to gel together?
Slowly but surely - it's starting to come together. Even after the 8-2 we weren't as bad as the scoreline suggested. We had injuries, a new team that needed to gel and coming off the back off a tumultuous summer, it was a one off freak result. After that game, I said that we would still be good for a top 4 finish, whilst some around here were talking about relegation. I said then, that the margins in football are fine, and that we weren't that far off it coming together and working for us. Now, that is starting to happen.
It's because beautiful ramsey is blossoming, suddenly it is artetas place under threat when jacko comes back.
Ramsey has injected the final pass in the last few games. That is what we needed and he brought it. Ramsey at his best is a player that loves to get the game moving and that helps the passing as it becomes more slick and dangerous.
However good we have looked we've done it without Jack and TV, when they get fit there really will be reasons to be optimistic...
If we can get our defending right then we've got enough to challenge. We're still making mistakes, but it's not surprising, most of our back four weren't playing for us last season. It will take time to gel, right now we're improving bit by bit at the back, and really finding our stride going forward.
Ramsey was fantastic today, I think his recent poor performances were due to mental issues and getting used to the recent additions to the squad. Having said that does anyone else think heâs lost some of his pace since his injury against Stoke?
Yeah that’s true, however i don’t think he's quite as talented as Fabregas at holding the ball, also in regards to today’s match, Ramsey made a few excellent late runs to support Van Persie but was let down somewhat by his pace
If he can make more of those defence splitting passes - he'll do for me. I suddenly thought ' Dennis is alive and well - reborn as a Welshman'.
Great result and it looks like there is not only an understanding between the players (going forward at least) but also a team spirit seems to be there. I think this is due in no small part to RVP. As Theo said he makes everyone else's job much easier. Also, he seems to be a much more inspirational captain than Cesc. No direspect to Cesc but last season he did look like a miserable so and so. The passing and movement was a joy to behold at times yesterday and hopefully we can tighten up at the back now that TV is back! All of a sudden there seems to be a cloud lifting! The task now is to be humble, move on, forget this great victory and concentrate on the next game. Come on you Gunners!
Its about confidence... with Gervinho and Walcott frightening sides down the outside, Ramsey and others doing good down the middle, and I rarely use this word - RVP playing World class - we need TV to inspire and calm the defence. At the back they get better as games go on - they start as startled rabbits in headlights.
Ramsey was really good, must admit I was surprised by his progress. He has been creating good chances for two games in a row now. As for Arteta - he is a complete player I am afraid. Why afraid? Because his is an complete Everton player. He has played for too long there, and finds it difficult to step up a level at his age I am afraid. He is a good all-round player but he is always in his comfort zone - neat passes, good technique, no obvious mistakes etc, which is great by Everton standards, but not enough for Arsenal if he wants to be a cert starter. He needs to be quicker and more aggressive to start with. He is an excellent squad player though. Much better than Denilson. So he is kind of an indicator to me - if he finds himself on the bench in an important match - it means our midfield is back to its best. It may happen if Jack is back, Ramsey keeps improving, OX blossoms and IF we buy a top playmaker in January. I hope I am wrong and we will see a new Arteta soon. But somehow I doubt it.
I like Arteta but as you say and many others on this board have pointed out, he's been good without being great. I saw a report today (that probably isn't true) that we might be going for Goetze in January. If we got him, my goodness, we would have a good midfield!!
For the defence, it's also about familiarity. It was always going to be tough for Mertesacker, Santos, Jenkinson to settle into the team anyway and get used to playing with TV, Kos, Gibbs and Sagna. The fact that due to injuries, they have been thrown in at the deep end all together - right at the start of the season, it's no wonder they've struggled. Slowly but surely, they are finding their feet and becoming more assured with their own performances and working together with those around them. The return of TV, the improved form of Kos, and with Gibbs and Sagna to come back, it's an ever improving picture in defence.
Supposing we were lucky enough to get Goetze would we line up like this? Song-------------Ramsey ---------Wilshere-------- Gervinho---RvP---Goetze With Arteta and Walcott as subs that has the makings of a very strong squad.
All we need is stability at the back. Last season we never had a stable pair of CBs, never mind a full back four. Plus 4 different keepers. All due to injuries. What can you possibly expect from that defense? Yet by the end of March we conceded LESS than Man United in EPL (30 against 31). Nobody seems to want to hear it. Give Sagna-TV-Kos-Gibbs + Szcz time to gel and they will come good.
