That was a classic goal [video=youtube;u--2vzQP6KQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u--2vzQP6KQ[/video] But you can take your pick of goals in games where we've scored 5 against you
We have scored more goals without RVP this season. Once again, that crystal ball of yours doesn't really predict the future you know I know you love Spurs, whilst hiding behind being a glory hunting Utd fan, so I'm sure you'll be aware that Spurs have to play Everton, Liverpool, Chelsea and City in the run in. The fat lady hasn't even warmed up yet
Piskie, congratulations you have now convinced yourself you are a better team without RVP. Keep saying the same thing over and over and you can convince yourself about anything eventually however ridiculous it is.
But what point are you trying to make with that? That you haven't missed him? So taking yesterday's team as an example, you would rather have Giroud starting than Van Persie? I don't think you would have struggled to win with RVP playing yesterday.
When RVP left, the arsenal mods posted images of him wearing a arsenal top in his bedroom, when he was a kid, claiming how could he leave his beloved arsenal. They where devastated and are trying to convince themselves they don't miss him. Although him leaving for a big club allowed wenger to create a more balanced team, which is why they have scored more goals, yet RVP is a game changer, match winner and each goal scored for utd still grates on the goons and how he left them. Isn't that right Piskie
Your right, But the main problem has been defending. In tight games Arsenal have struggled to convert chances. If RVP plays in both games against Chelsea they probably win or at least draw both. If RVP is at Arsenal then they are 10 points better off If RDM is at Chelsea then we are 10 points better off If Spurs had another striker+ Modric replacement they are 10 points better off All have been architects of their own downfall and whichever of the 3 miss out only has themselves to blame.
I'd say if we had Adebayor, Dembele and Lloris deals done and dusted at the start of preseason we'd be a fair few points better off anyway. I was saying during the United game that if anyone else in the top 4 had Van Persie, they would be top of the league and I think that's still true. His goals regularly change games whether it's an opener against the run of play or a crucial goal later on when they were chasing games early on.
It's not strictly true to say that arsenal would be 2nd or 3rd. If he was playing, other players wouldn't have scored the goals they have as their play would have revolved around him scoring.
5-2 games like what Arsenal got v Reading and Spurs are not the games that matter, or even the 5-1 v West Ham. It's the tight games where the likes of RVP and top players come to the fore. I have no doubt that RVP's absence in both Arsenal's games against us this season was the difference between them winning and losing. Arsenal would have beaten City at the Etihad with RVP there and probably even Liverpool at home. What makes RVP different to any other striker apart from maybe Michu is that he doesn't dictate games like Suarez for instance, he drifts in and out of them but he is clinical, whereas Giroud will score once for every 4 he misses, RVP is the opposite. Clinical strikers are something we lack in this division. Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal are really not that far behind the Manchester clubs as the league tables suggests but they each like 2 or maybe 3 players. Chelsea score more goals than City, concede less than United Arsenal score more goals than City, concede less than United Spurs score only slightly less than City, concede less than United. Tells you all you need to know.
I just checked the table for this time last year, 25 games played and we had 53 points, 24 plus goal difference. This year we have 48 points, 26 games played, 14 plus goal difference. So in our case its more obvious we miss Modric & VDV. With Arsenal, taking away the banter, there isn't much difference in points but they have a better goal difference(22 ,compared to 13 last year), so if they had RVP as well as the current team then they would no doubt be top 3, as RVP is a match winner.
Arsenal wouldn't be significantly improved by RvP this season. He might have scored the odd decisive goal, but he wouldn't cure the weaknesses which become more apparent each season. They don't have anyone to bully teams in midfield, they don't close teams down well enough when they have the ball, they don't defend well as a team without the ball or they are prone to individual defensive lapses. There is no doubt Arsenal can thrash inferior teams when they have plenty of the ball and put some passes together, but they don't look capable of beating top sides and they don't get results consistently enough against the rest. Walcott, Wilshere and Cazorla look world beaters when there's no pressure- the opposite when there is. Arsenal are every bit as far from being the top of league as the 21 point gap suggests.
Man utd have a weak midfield and are prone to indivdual mistakes, especially in defence but they have match winners and RVP. Although having Fergie (who is superior to wenger) makes a difference. So while i agree Arsenal have issues in defence and midfield, if they had RVP they would be top 3.
To take a screen shot of our season at this point is (hopefully) unrepresentative. From this point on last year we accumulated only 16 points from 13 games - with both Modric and VDV in our ranks. We may well miss aspects of their game, but personally think there is more resolve in this years squad to keep things together. And with the likes of Kaboul coming back with the impetus of almost a new signing, Defoe back to strengthen the attacking options and Holtby further developing and linking play, I reckon we have a lot to be positive about.
