***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I've always thought he was going to be good for us. One of his first games after signing with us was Milan in the Emirates Cup and he played fantastic. I think he had just suffered last year from the increased intesity and rigor from jumping from League 2 in France to the Premier League coupled with not really partnering one CB for an extended period.

It would have been tough for anyone to play with Squillaci and look good. And with TVM5 out, it makes the Mertesacker signing all the more important. Imagine our defense last night with Djourou or Squillaci in there! We would have lost 4-1 easily.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

It would have been tough for anyone to play with Squillaci and look good. And with TVM5 out, it makes the Mertesacker signing all the more important. Imagine our defense last night with Djourou or Squillaci in there! We would have lost 4-1 easily.

Agreed. We're not where most of us would like to be, but we're playing pretty damn good defensively and I think the attack will slowly come around. Gervinho returning is a big help. I'm expecting us to pull out another hard fought victory at Blackburn on Saturday.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Agreed. We're not where most of us would like to be, but we're playing pretty damn good defensively and I think the attack will slowly come around. Gervinho returning is a big help. I'm expecting us to pull out another hard fought victory at Blackburn on Saturday.

Hard fought are the key words there. There seems to be an excitement among the players, and drive to get a result, that just wasn't present for much of last season and the early parts of this season. And though we've only seen limited action with this new squad, the effort is definitely there. I don't think last years squad, put under that much pressure by Dortmund, walks away with a draw. And it's great to see, because it's the kind of drive we've wanted for years.

[Bat]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Nice, never saw this thread before!

I was so frustrated last match! 1 point is all nice and good, but I think they could of had the 3. I don't like the philosophy of going full defensive and not attack at all.

AFC isn't exactly a defense team. Try and add on. Not bunker down.

[ZM Punk]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Nice, never saw this thread before!

I was so frustrated last match! 1 point is all nice and good, but I think they could of had the 3. I don't like the philosophy of going full defensive and not attack at all.

AFC isn't exactly a defense team. Try and add on. Not bunker down.

Easier said than done with Dortmund pressing the ball like they were. Just didn't give us much of chance. We just are going to have to get used to not having the possession we are accustomed to this year, at least until Jack gets back. We don't have Cesc around to pick out that key pass to give us the space we need and Nasri is as good at holding onto the ball as anyone around. Its going to be a much different looking team without those two guys around. We are going to have to be much more direct.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Nice, never saw this thread before!

I was so frustrated last match! 1 point is all nice and good, but I think they could of had the 3. I don't like the philosophy of going full defensive and not attack at all.

AFC isn't exactly a defense team. Try and add on. Not bunker down.

We may not have been defensive minded in years past, but it doesn't matter as this year we're resembling a football team. Focused in all aspects of the game.

Going to Dortmund and getting a draw is huge. Toughest game of the group stage and we got a point. I'm thrilled.

I think lots of people (outside of this thread) were either think we should win or that we didn't stand a chance, depending on what you know about Dortmund. A draw was definitely the right result, but anyone thinking it's bad that we didn't grab three points should watch some Bundesliga as the league as a whole is on the rise.

[RoyceDa59]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

We may not have been defensive minded in years past, but it doesn't matter as this year we're resembling a football team. Focused in all aspects of the game.

Going to Dortmund and getting a draw is huge. Toughest game of the group stage and we got a point. I'm thrilled.

I think lots of people (outside of this thread) were either think we should win or that we didn't stand a chance, depending on what you know about Dortmund. A draw was definitely the right result, but anyone thinking it's bad that we didn't grab three points should watch some Bundesliga as the league as a whole is on the rise.

I wish Arsenal would have grab 3 points in that game but it was really an unfortunate strike in that game. Nevertheless, Mertesacker looks good at back and him being back there I can breathe easily on corners and free kicks.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I wish Arsenal would have grab 3 points in that game but it was really an unfortunate strike in that game. Nevertheless, Mertesacker looks good at back and him being back there I can breathe easily on corners and free kicks.

Definitely a presence we've been missing. Also, Wenger said today that TV5 is doing well and will return to action after the next international break.

Lastly, Ramsey looks doubtful to play at Blackburn on Saturday.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Fabregas has confirmed that one of the things Wenger insisted on when selling him to Barcelona was a return clause, so if Barca ever decides to sell him, Arsenal will have the first shot a resigning him.

I wonder how long that goes, though, as if it's not too long then we'll never see him. But I'll continue to dream that perhaps in 8-10 years a much older Fabregas makes a return to The Grove for a year or two and finally gets himself a trophy with the club.

Hey, I can dream.

[southernbelle]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Fabregas has confirmed that one of the things Wenger insisted on when selling him to Barcelona was a return clause, so if Barca ever decides to sell him, Arsenal will have the first shot a resigning him.

I wonder how long that goes, though, as if it's not too long then we'll never see him. But I'll continue to dream that perhaps in 8-10 years a much older Fabregas makes a return to The Grove for a year or two and finally gets himself a trophy with the club.

Hey, I can dream.

csec in the paper today critical of arsenal saying drought will continue

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

csec in the paper today critical of arsenal saying drought will continue

He's said that he feels the club will continue to fall behind those who spend like crazy, which is definitely true. It's been said before, our wage structure is what needs addressed. Not what we spend to bring players in, but we we spend to keep them here.

[Ozil]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Your wage structure really needs to be fixed. It's not like Arsenal can't afford to pay players. I understand no one is competing with City, but Arsenal is not a small market club either.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Your wage structure really needs to be fixed. It's not like Arsenal can't afford to pay players. I understand no one is competing with City, but Arsenal is not a small market club either.

Hey, don't think I won't smack you just because you're German!

I kid, I kid.

We definitely have to step up in the wage department. Like you said, not to the point of City or even the other Manchester club, but we have to be willing to pay players a bit more. I'm all for not paying £35 million for Andy Carroll, but we have to pay the players that we have for starters.

*cough*RVP*cough*

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Hey, don't think I won't smack you just because you're German!

I kid, I kid.

We definitely have to step up in the wage department. Like you said, not to the point of City or even the other Manchester club, but we have to be willing to pay players a bit more. I'm all for not paying £35 million for Andy Carroll, but we have to pay the players that we have for starters.

*cough*RVP*cough*

Agree completely. And I understand not paying Nasri as much as he wanted given he disappeared at times during the second half of last season, but RVP is one of the best strikers in the world, and you can't keep world class talent in today's game unless you pay them. As has been said, it doesn't have to be City money, but we can't be low-balling our stars.

[j_tinkler21]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Your wage structure really needs to be fixed. It's not like Arsenal can't afford to pay players. I understand no one is competing with City, but Arsenal is not a small market club either.

This is our real problem, and it needs fixed, soon. For all the people that complained about how AW wasn't signing any big names, look no further than our wage structure. Yeah, we had the money to sign a big name player this offseason, and maybe Gotze or Hazard could be signed and fit under the wage structure since they are still young. However, any proven talent would have demanded wages that would break our wage structure, and the club just isn't willing to do that. Meanwhile Chelsea, Man City, and Man U (and even Liverpool to an extent) can not only pay for a transfer, but work out wages that appease the player and ward off interest from other clubs at the same time.

Until the board decides that maybe trying to be cheap on wages isn't the best thing, AW and this team will be handicapped by it.

So far this season is an absolute roller coaster. I was overjoyed by beating Udinese to get into the Champion's league, then decimated by the loss at Old Trafford. Again at midweek, I was pleased with the result at Dortmund (Though a bit disappointed at a late equalizer, but that goal was outstanding.), but at the weekend we imploded and took a 1 goal loss to Blackburn in which we gave up 2 own goals.

I'm not going to be calling for AW to be out, I'll be calling for the board to make changes in order for the club to succeed. Yes, AW has been stubborn in his choices, but this whole club is being hamstrung by the wage structure and the decisions of its board.