But who is he? At his best he wasn't anything special and he is past his best and was damn lucky to get into Arsenal at this stage of his career. A player should only come in if he can justify a selection, not because we couldn't get our targets or were desperate to plug in the gaps. Also you're being ridiculous by quoting players such as Henry, Campbell, Arteta etc. They were proven top quality, or were still operating at a top level. Being a bench warmer for Spartak Moscow isn't suitable quality for a top European team. Just in case you've forgotten, this is Arsenal, not some tin pot Premiership team struggling with relegation. We are competing for the damn league.
In the next 6 games we could be out of everything but the mathematical chance to the title, so I wouldn't downplay how clutch this period is. Like I said in the beginning of the season the League and FA Cup are our most realistic chance to win a trophy, and sadly the current injuries will probably mean FA Cup will be sacrificed, even though a trophy is what we most need. The league is still winnable, despite having pretty weak depth compared to Chelski and City, but this season could end up being more of the same despite leading the league for most of the season. After all the 2007/2008 season in the end wasn't much different compared to those before and after it, despite leading the league for much of it. At the end there were still talks from our best players wanting to leave and the comfort fallback to "stable mediocrity" kicked in.
To be fair to him at his best he was winning the double with Lyon, helping dump Madrid out of the CL on the way to the semi-finals and playing at a good level for his country. He has 45 CL appearances, over 100 international appearances, 4 league titles, 5 domestic cups and has played for teams at the top of their respective leagues in 3 different countries. He is very experienced and when he was at Lyon he was genuinely a top player. No idea what he has been like in Moscow but at 31 he shouldn't be over the hill just yet. (His number of apps would suggest he isnt a bench warmer though). His previous career would suggest he has the ability to play as a squad player for us for the second half of the season as cover. Like benayoon proved a player can get only minimum ga,me time but have a big impact on a seasons results. As for Henry and Campbell, when they returned to us neither where playing at a top level for top clubs. Henry had been in the US for a while and well into his 30's and Campbell had not even been playing football after bailing on League Two. I think they fit perfectly as examples of players who where not at the top of their game stepping in as a stop gap and having a big impact...
Yes and Fletcher won everything including the Champions League, that doesn't make him special either. Henry and Campbell were world class Premiership players that had close links with Arsenal, that's why they made an impact. As for his recent performances with Spartak Moscow, let me give you a quick low down: 13/14 - played 10, scored 1, assisted 1 and subbed 8 times 12/13 - played 20, scored 2, assisted 2 and subbed 13 times He seems to get subbed a lot. Looks like a bench warmer to me. Anyways, the ****er is injured so end of discussion really.
From what i've found he made 30 apps in 2012/13 not 20. Would have to double check. As for Campbell and Henry - so they only made an impact because they had previously been conencted with Arsenal? It doesnt in anyway prove that older players who are not playing at the top of their game can still do a good job as a stop gap? Really? There are tons of examples of aging players comming in and doing a decent cover job. Also him being injured for 2-3 weeks when he is with us for 4ish months would suggest it isn't the end of the discussion but rather a halt on it until we get to see him in action
I'm not of the opinion that Wenger or anyone else can do no wrong. Don't be so bloody stupid. But i won't be negative for the sake of it. People writing him off before he has kicked a ball are idiots. He has been a top professional and has been around a long time, he will be a steady head and could still turn out to be good business. We won't know until later in the season. I'm not trying to claim it is some wonderful piece of transfer business, or a super signing, or some massive positive for the club. Not in any way shape or form. I'm literally just saying it isn't a reason to be negative and slate the club or Wenger and that its worth giving him a fair chance to prove himself. I don't get why people who won't just aimlessless attack the club, or who say somethign to those who do are labelled as some sort of blinkered positive whatever it is you think people are.
Firstly he shouldn't be bloody injured in the first place and secondly, we are in the business end of the season. We have some very difficult fixtures coming and need players to play now. As for Henry and Campbell, I have no problem with having experienced players coming in, as they did make an impact for us. They did bring experience on the pitch but for me, it was their input in the dressing room that would have been invaluable to us. They should not be a viable solution to our on the pitch situation, they were when they were at their peak but not at the twilight of their careers.
But on the pitch both of those players did a great job for us as short term solutions. Henry was scoring goals and winning us games and Campbell was being touted for a WC spot in 2010 at one point due to hsi high level of performance for us. I agree about the off-field stuff as well but they both did the business on the field. Squad players can be VERY important in a title push. Also he can't help being injured and we didn't know abot it until he was with us yesterday having a medical, by that point the chocie is dont get him and dont have any cover after these 6 games or get him and have the cover after. I get people being irritated he is injured as we could really use him over the next couple of weeks but it isn't worth getting all annoyed and writing him off about.
What's up with Cazorla? http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php Club Injuries Player Condition Expected Return* Next Match** Arsenal 6 S Cazorla Illness no return date T Vermaelen Calf/Shin Injury 22nd Feb 14 K Kallstrom Back Injury no return date T Walcott ACL Knee Injury no return date A Ramsey Hip/Thigh Injury 1st Mar 14 V Diaby ACL Knee Injury no return date
Its called an illness. If you're going to copy and paste from Pysio room the least you could do is look at the cause of absence
The Kallstrom "no return date" gets me every time. A 3-month loan player with a no return date on his injury. What a ****ing joke.
This conversation has been done to death, stop being stupid on purpose. He's not costing us a thing until he is available, it makes no difference at all to the club and is nothing to get all negative about. Once again - we found out he was injured at 5 oclock on transfer deadline day, the choice was straight forward - get no-one or get him once he has recovered from injury. What is so hard to understand about that?
Cazorla is a big loss for Sunday. He's looked bright recently. SURELY Wenger has to play Podolski now?
