Now that we have signed Oxlade-Chamberlain and Miyaichi has been given a work permit, we have a lot of wingers and AMs for the upcoming season. AM - Fabregas, Ramsey, Rosicky, Diaby RW - Walcott, Gervinho, Chamberlain? LW - Arshavin, Nasri, Miyaichi Even with the usual injuries, this seems like an awful lot of players for these positions, especially since most of them can play in all of these positions. Anyway, now we have huge depth for next season, it just needs to be seen if this is quality depth or squility depth... (not including reserve/youth squadm, based on arsenal.com first team squad) GK (3) - Szczesny, Fabianski, Mannone, youth RB (2) - Sagna, Jenkinson CB (4) - Vermaelen, Koscielny, Djourou, Squillaci, LB (2) - Gibbs, Traore DM (3) - Song, Frimpong, Eastmond CM/AM (6) - Fabregas, Wilshere, Ramsey, Rosicky, Diaby, Lansbury RW (3) - Walcott, Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain LW (3) - Arshavin, Nasri, Miyaichi ST (3) - van Persie, Chamakh, Vela Eboue, Almunia and Bendtner are not included as they are expected to leave. Other reserve players that might play are Henderson, Miquel, Coquelin and Botelho When van Persie gets injured, I expect Walcott to be moved to ST, but I would not be saddened if we bought a striker just in case. Also, if Frimpong chooses to play for Ghana, and puts in enough good performances before January, he may get selected for the ACON, in which case we would only have Eastmond as an established DM, so I would like to see Wenger buy someone who can play there, as well as at CB, as Squillaci is not good enough. Can we please only have serious comments and/or criticism. hint hint thebear
-----------------Eboue--------------------- Vela------Chamberlain-----Rosicky---Miyaiachi Walcott----Fabregas----Nasri------Ramsey ------------------Arshavin -----------------------Wilshere
Not really serious depth in defence... Why don't we just swap Nasri for a few defenders? Man City don't have any good available ones though...
I think a lot of the players you have listed won't play much or at all due to either injury (Diaby, Walcott, possibly RvP), leaving the club (Fabregas, Lansbury, Nasri?, Vela?) or just not being good enough yet (Rosicky, Miyachi, Vela, Chamberlin). There isn't what I would describe as strength in depth in my opinion.
imagine this for a future line up; --------Walcott-------- --Miyaichi----Chamberlain-- ------------Ramsey-------- ------Wilshere------------- ----------Song------------ And we have alot of British talent, we also have alot of pace, vision and power in that line up so it looks really good.
Seeing those positions laid down so clearly just highlights our frailties in some positions. LB/CB I took for granted as needing strengthening but I'm not happy with our DM/CF positions either. This isn't even taking into account what happens if/when Cesc and Nasri go as that understandably weakens our squad. As well as bringing in new players I'd also like to drop Squirrel, Rosicky and Vela. Don't dislike any of them but I don't think they can cut it at Arsenal's level. Obviously I'm assuming Almunia and Bendtner are off too. I firmly believe we'll bring in some new players but I fear we'll still be short this year
i actually think rosicky will have a decent season, playing slightly deeper (i.e. wilshere) and being used as back-up. vela will only work if we go to 442, as he cannot perform the lone striker role (not fast or strong enough) and he is not a winger.
I'm one of the few Diaby admirers out there if only because I have a soft spot for lanky b*stards trying to play football. Sure we look like ironing boards folding up when we run but we have dreams too dammit! I'd be intrigued to see how good he could be if he was able to string together a full season without injuries. Mind you, same goes for Theo and RVP too. Imagine a fully fit RVP for 45 games...
I admire him too, couldn't believe it on the old 606 when people were saying he is useless. Brilliant dribbler and very strong too. Just can't stay fit for more than 3 weeks at a time.
Yeah, his decision making is fecking dire mind and something I'd have hoped had been beaten out of him by now. I still have nightmares of the away game at Barca (two seasons ago) when he set up the first goal after a bit of skill to release Theo, gets the EXACT same chance 30" after Barca restart to put us two up and inexplicably chooses to try something different! Aaaargh, it worked once, it'd have worked again. Douche! Still like him though... not sure why. Re RVP though, I'd think in a full season he'd comfortably get 25-30 which I'd be delighted by.
Diaby divides arsenal supporters more than any other player, i can see both points of view, one of our most frustrating players, lots of ability but prone to indsicipline and and ocasionaly shocking errors. that said, on his day he can dominate midfield in a way no other Aesenal player can. hopefully if he can remain injury free his consistancy will improve, i think he can be a real asset.
