I know a lot of people dont like him but I wanted to point something out about him that is the same as Dennis Bergkamp. Both of them need(ed) a run of about 3 competitive matches to get their match fitness and sharpness back. I remember times when some (imo idiot) fans called for Bergkamp to be dropped and claiming he had lost it after even fairly short injury lay offs. It was just a case of needing the time on the pitch to get his touch back. So I think Santos will surprise a few people over the next week. I will put my neck on the line and even say I expect him to have a good game against Man U if Gibbs isnt fit by then. The proof will be in the plain to see, one way or the other. Lets hope Im right.
I think the comparisons with Bergkamp are a bit tenuous, but I'll put my cards on the table - I like Santos. He does get caught out positionally, but that's because he's always bombing forward, where he offers a lot. That said, when he is defending 1-1, he usually gets the better of the attacking player, he's a decent defender in those scenarios. He's not a tight LB, he's more expansive as a player. I think we should try playing him on the left of MF when Gibbs is back - if Oxo and Gervinho are out.
His ability to tackle doesn't make up for his dreadful positioning, low defensive work rate, low concentration and general all round ****tyness.
Hate the idea of him play against Manchester United. Hope Gibbs is back if not then stick TV out there and bring Kos back into the heart of the defence.
I like Santos. He tackles well and is skillful. All Arsenal defenders get caught out of position because they play like Barcelona. They concede goals and space too.
What people need to realise is that while Santos does occasionally display poor positional awareness, is that he's often given no support by his left midfield winger, Podolski, who sometimes tracks back too slowly or doesn't at all, leaving Santos severely stretched and having to deal with 2 players rather than one. Having said that, his 1-1 tackles do impress me a lot, that's something he's very effective at. The fact is, to defend well, you need to defend properly as a team, from attack, to midfield, to the defence, if the midfield doesn't give the proper cover for the defence, especially at the wing backs position, any wing defender will struggle badly and will be made to look like an a$$, if we defend properly as a team against United, then I have no qualms about Santos, but if Podolski isn't going to track back properly and give that needed support, then Santos will struggle, and shouldn't be the only one to blame.
Exactly, Pod needs to be the striker against United, and Cazorla (or possibly Gerv) should take the left side. Although I agree with SJW that if Gibbs isn't back, TV should take LB.
TV at LB - No, No and NO He hates it there and the last time he played there he was WORSE than santos has ever been.
Vermaelen at LB is good. They only bad performance he had was against Antonio Valencia. It's funny think of Antonio Valencia destroying LB's. I'm just remembering Jose Enrique's good form last season up until he was violated by Valencia and never recovered.
We're only saying TV should play there if Gibbs isn't back by then. When we're about to play a team with very good wingers, are you sure you want Santos in there to defend against them?
We need to sign a LB, and play Santos as a LW. He's actually very good in that role. Plus it means we can move Podolski inside, no sense in keeping our best finisher on the wing.
Good point. I thiink Sagna would move to the left as hes played there before and did a good job. Jenkinson is inexperienced enough at RB let alone moving to the other side, but you never know, he could be grest there. And just to confirm, the comparison with Bergkamp was onlyy that from what Ive seen they both need 3 games to get their sharpness back.
