Koscielney's been Arsenal's best defender this season, by a mile. Vermaelen's actually looked quite dodgy and I'm not a fan of Mertesacker, Djourou and the like, anyway.
Err sorry, but as far as I can see, Kaboul is really the only CB who's making an impact at Spurs at the moment. Dawson is injured and long term, King and Gallas are finished. I'm not sure which one of our CBs 'is no longer top quality' It certainly isn't Vermaelen or Koscielny as they are both pretty solid and still improving. Mertesacker has adjusted well to the Premier League and was playing well before his injury ruled him out for the season. I think we could do with a 4th decent CB, Vertonghen would definitely be useful, but to be honest I think our issues lie in a needing a DM to screen our back four, as that's where we've been exposed too often.
He has improved greatly, IMO. However, he's still very prone to one of his all too frequent howlers. Mertesacker is a donkey. I used to rate Vermaelen, but he hasn't been good recently - but then neither has any of The Goons defence.
Not accurate at all. Koscielny has been solid, he's been our best CB. Vermaelen has had a couple of dodgy moments, his form hasn't been the best, but he's still a very reliable CB, Mertesacker was playing really well before he got injured, the accusation of him being a Donkey is well wide of the mark really. As I said, our defence has leaked so many goals because our midfield has left them over exposed too many times. If we sign a DM, then I think our back four will get a lot more protection and our attacking MFs will not be left to try and get back and defend.
[video=youtube;3F9_pxezeiI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F9_pxezeiI[/video] Settled in my arse, he's utter ****e! Google mertesacker mistake...it'll take all day to get through them all ! His injury has only spared him from more pitch embarrassment.
Thanks for finding this Notso - saved me responding to Piskies comments on my assessment of Mertesacker. Actions - or in this case video - speak louder than words!!! Lol
I'll correct my view slightly. Mertesacker is a clapped out donkey. If he's played a single game for you without a cock- up of some varying degree, then I've yet to see it.
Dawson is out currently, but no suggestion that he won't be back next year. He has no history of being 'injury-prone'. Caulker has certainly 'made an impact' at Swansea and is ready to return. Gallas is still doing a decent job for us although ideally wouldn't be a first choice any more. Ledders was finally starting to show signs that his injuries were having too serious an impact, so will probably never be a first choice. But both G and K would provide valuable cover. And Nelson is a very experienced PL CB and has done ok as a back-up, although his role if any next year is unclear. It was quite clear that I was talking about Mertesacker as 'no longer top quality' and I appear not to be alone in that assessment. And if we are going to start talking about 'injury-prone' defenders, then you have more issues than us. But apart from that I entirely agree with your comments.......
King's having surgery again after the final game, so I think that should really be it for him. He's just going to do himself in for later life if he keeps this up. Despite not rating most of Arsenal's centre-backs, I do think that Song looks pretty good there as emergency cover. He's been gradually getting less useful as a holding player over the past couple of years, though. He focuses too much on attacking and leaves big gaps when he's caught out. Mertesacker's not suited to the English league, which is what I thought might happen before he signed for the Goons. He's extremely uncomfortable when he's turned towards his own goal and he gets done by pace too easily, plus he struggles with the physicality at times. He's sort of like a defensive Peter Crouch in that manner. He's big, but he doesn't impose himself on his opponent.
I know what you mean. But, Gallas cost us nothing, neither did Nelson. King has been one of the clubs' greatest servants. Unfortunately, I think it's time to call it a day, for him.
