So would I, but he doesn't have the steel we need. Maybe Coq can provide he legs we need in midfield in place of Rosicky in the event that he is not fit for the start of the season, but whoever we buy MUST provide some steel.
I do think flamini was quality but still maintain he left for money. He's not going to come out and say I left for the money. Coquelin has more steel than you think in fact tackling is one of his best assets. Just look at this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXCvrQcINBs At any rate I think we will get M'vila and coquelin might fill in for wilshere at times as he's more than capable of playing that role. The only things fear is that song may leave (ac Milan are apparently willing to pay £15mil and song wants guaranteed first team football....apparently) though I know it will make your day HotHead should he go and M'vila come in.
Cb - that video was bloody tasty !!!! He has more bite in his tackle than I remember. As for swapping Song with M'Vila ..... please log in to view this image
Does that mean Szczesny should look for another club because he was underplayed and and not appreciated leading up to the last season? C'mon, Flamini was an established No 1 DM when he left, Gilberto was history. I remember Gilberto having a fantastic season with us prior to that, was our vice-captain and best player that season, then won America Cup as Brasil captain, that is no mean feat, came back and was put on the bench permanently because of a small injury, that allowed Flamini to grab his place. And Flamster did grab it - he was running like mad for 7 months. Unfortunately he used it for his own career. As a result we lost Gilberto who was class above Flamini and still had a couple of year in him. (There was that captaincy story as well, of course...) And we lost Flamini, who left for Italians and relaxed immediately. He is a very average player when he does not maintain that dogged physical intensity. And it would be silly to expect it from him season after season. In the end he used Arsenal as a stepping stone and left because he thought he was a bigger player than he really was.
He's not injury prone and he's not past it. I would say a defensive midfielders best years are generally between 28- 32. However saying that I think he's an inferior player to Song, Arteta and Wilshere. He would be a useful squad member though but we already need to trim down the squad a bit.
When he left he wasnt the most complimentary, not as bad as Nasri, but not great. He basically said if you are prepared to leave my contract until theres only 1 year left I wil go and he did. There is no evidence he is over his knee injuries so I wouldnt waste one of the limited number of squad places on him, or Diaby for that matter.
I would be more concerned Wenger adds ANOTHER wing forward like Ben Arfa or Kalou. We have Walcott, Gervinho, The Ox, Podolski, Rosicky, Miyaichi and Campbell.. another WF would be a waist of money. We need more Defensive quality.
My point is Rosicky DOES sometimes play in this position. If we add Giroud (and it looks like we will) then that's another attacking option. I dont think Ben Arfa would get us as many goals or assists as either Walcott or Chamberlain would on the wing. He looks decent enough at Newcastle and has a fantastic shot from range but he's never been much of a goalscorer. I think he would be a complete waiste of money. A top class defensive signing should be Wengers priority. IMO (Hummels, Vertonghen, M'Villa)
I would'nt say he was'nt effective there. I think he does a good job wherever he gets played. His main problem is a lack of goals but he nearly always puts in a good shift. Also age is irrelevant as long as his performances are still good. Again we disagree, look at how Gervinho did in the French league. To me Ben Arfa has failed to live up to his potential. Walcott is superior to Ben Arfa and Gervinho is on a simular level to the Frenchman .(Oxo will surpass them both) But my main point is this is the position we have the MOST cover for! It would be stupidity to add another wide forward when its clear our main problems have been defensive. Djourou should be leaving us as should Squillaci. I agree Hummels would be 'uber' expensive but that's the calibre of defender we should be after. The fact remains we conceded a MASSIVE 49 goals last season, Something has to change. I do think with the acquisition of Podolski and Mertesacker we will now appear more attractive to fellow German players. M'vila could also be an excellent option. It would probably signal a slight tactical change in style (our defence would sit a little deeper and play on the counter with the pace of podolski/walcott/RVP upfront. I would be happy with that also.
Walcott isn't superior to Ben Arfa at all, no way no how. You are basing your view on stats rather than ability. when Walcott scores a goal of similar quality to this then I will accept he is of similar ability to Ben Arfa. [video=youtube;S5KafuOcyn4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5KafuOcyn4[/video]
It's an objective thing but yes i think Theo is the better player. More effective, more consistant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJeHT1U5Eio He's 2 years older than Walcott and has NEVER scored more than 8 goals in a Season. Ben Arfa only managed 9 goals in three seasons at Marseille and 7 goals in 4 seasons at Lyon. To compare them last season(which is Ben Arfas best season): Ben Arfa 7 goals and 7 assists. Walcott 11 goals and 13 assists. but its not just about stats. My problem with Ben Arfa is he will score a 30 yarder one week and be completely annoymous the next. He wont make it at the highest level, Newcastle is a pretty good fit for him. also he's injury prone, would be a terrible signing.
Ok so Gervinho did well in the French league because the defending is 'Poor'?. Think about it mate, this is flawed logic because Ben Arfa has VERY POOR goals and assist record in France. What's the excuse for that? you've just argued he's not injury prone so what's the reasoning? He's an attacking player perhaps his role is a little different to Walcott's. This is however a 'moot point' .The fact remains he's 25 years old and has only managed one reasonable season.(which was'nt in itself particularly impressive). Walcott scores more goals and gets more assists, he has a little less guile than the Frenchman but like I said earlier Chamberlain will be vastly superior to both of them. We have Van Persie, Podolski, Oxo, Walcott, Gervinho and probably Giroud in our squad.(with Campbell & Miyaichi on the fringes) With the 25 man rule there is just no room for him in our squad.
Firstly, I was'nt saying I think Gervinho is better than Ben Arfa. I was saying he had a more successful stint in the French league. I was however saying I think Walcott is. (and yes stats do back this assumption but thats not all i'm basing my opinion on) Secondly, Assuming we play a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 (which is most likley) where would Ben Arfa play in the team? 1. We have Podolski who will no doubt be played either left or down the middle. 2. Van Persie our first choice centreforward but can also play on either flank (or in the Bergkamp role.) The above two are pretty much certain starters. 3. Giroud (assuming the deal goes through) will also be fighting it out for a starting place alongside Walcott, Chamberlain and Gervinho. Most likley scenario would be this... Podolski---RVP---Walcott but if Giroud makes an impact it could well be.. Podolski---Giroud---RVP. Like i said earlier we dont have room for another mediocre attacking player, partricularly now that our forward line has been stregthened.
Can you see what I did there - you could just as easily have been describing Walcott. As for Ben Arfa not making it at the highest level, he is a regular international, I think that means he already HAS made it at the highest level. Remember Walcott isn't a starter for England either, you are also forgetting this was Ben Arfa's come back season from a leg break.
Surely he is being hyperopic if anything, myopic is the biological term for short sightedness, implying that he can only see what is in front of him, and what with you stating that it's bleeding obvious that ben arfa is a better player, suffering from myopia would imply that he would be the one stating that ben arfa is a much better player. In fact I would go far to say that you are the myopic one and he is hyperopic for believing that gervinho will come good in the future (which I also believe). Nasri was ****e in his first season, but came good the next season (albeit only for the first half), and I think we may see something similar with Gervinho, especially if IC win the ACON, as I think missing the penalty really took it out of him. Anyways, I don't think ben arfa would be a particularly good signing, Wenger obviously had his reasons for overlooking him, and we have too many players in that position
