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

[misterbroom12]

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

Kreb, told you a Theo goal was the more likely haha. Although he should have had 2 assists right in the beginning on his balls to Gervinho and RvP.

I think the way we won this game should be startling for other teams. We conceded 3 goals to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, all of them with bad connotations and at horrific times. (Mert beat on a simple cross to put us down 1-0 early/Another conceded goal from a set piece on the stroke of halftime to put us down again/Finally a late goal against the run of play that gave away our hard earned lead) We let none of this get to us and came away with a great result at our bitter rivals whose home ground has been a fortress, and are title challengers. It seems as if we WANT to get better at defending, but understand that will come with time and health so if we do concede we will just get on with it and go outscore you. The past two years this team would have collapsed at either of those 3 goals we gave up and this would have been 0 points. I don't think we have another shock result like we did at United and I believe that we can beat both City and United as well as Chelsea again and Liverpool.

Let's just keep this confidence and never say die attitude going and I think our players and the fans will love where this team ends up.

Also, how GREAT is RvP? I can't seem to find words for it.

[Krebstar]

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

Kreb, told you a Theo goal was the more likely haha. Although he should have had 2 assists right in the beginning on his balls to Gervinho and RvP.

I think my prediction for him having a good game and owning the right side were overall spot on.

[barryf1fan]

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

I mentioned several posts back that I felt like Arsenal were going to do well...
Just had a feeling that we were going to get the result.

Can't agree more with almost everything said here about the game, especially about AVB being a short-timer if his defense continues to get exposed like it did Saturday. Way too much talent on the back line to get carved like that - and way too many "unforced errors" as well.

i can't believe this team won the 2nd half 4-1 (well, I can actually), and just goes to show that the defense [back 4] can get it done when they need to.

Clearly looking forward to the season now (always was anyway) as there seems to be excitement among the players!! Love it.

[Perceptor]

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

I think we're finally starting to understand that we can't play the same way we've been playing the last 4 years if we want to stay competitive. Once we figured out that we need a quicker and more direct style, we did better. It doesn't hurt that RVP has been spectacular and most of our team is playing better.

We will still need some reinforcements, but we are a definite improvement over August and September. Wenger does however need to re-sign RVP at all costs. Nailing him down on a long term deal will give the supporters confidence and attract better players.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

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

That's probably the best game I have seen Theo Walcott play in ages, if not ever.

[southernbelle]

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

Absolutely ecstatic at our performance at the Bridge today. I though everyone played well outside of Mertesacker, who just looked awful. And the worst part about that is that he looked the worst when going up for a header which is his strength. Its not looking like he is cut out for the EPL.

you have to give players time to adjust to the game. rarely does v5 come in and work perfectly. looks at koscelney (sp)... just now catching form

[~LiverpoolRed~]

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

you have to give players time to adjust to the game. rarely does v5 come in and work perfectly. looks at koscelney (sp)... just now catching form

Yeah just give him time to adjust to the league. Some take longer than others. Look at us with Skrtel, he's been with us for 3 and half years and he still hasn't adjusted.

[Krebstar]

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

First, I had no problem with how the players celebrated. After what they've been up against this year, this was most likely just a huge release for them. To win like that, where they did, was big for them. I don't think we'll see them do that after each win, but it had just been building for them. Plus, it was in front of the away fans which was symbolic. I feel in a way they were thanking the supporters for sticking with them and believing in them. Much more meaningful at an away match to single out those who were there. Plus, it was different than just going over to supporters at any away match. This match was huge for those players and I will not take anything away from them for the emotions they were feeling.

As for Mertesacker, part of his issue to me has nothing to do with the league, but maybe it does. He's always calm and plays good passes forward, but he gets beat far too often in the air by just misjudging the ball. I said it during the game and it's true, he reminds me too much of Peter Crouch. He's so damn tall that instead of trying to jump, sometimes he just leans and in doing so, someone else jumps and beats him to the ball. I think he'll improve overall with time and maybe that does have something to do with him still not being comfortable.

Koscielny has definitely become what Wenger was imagining, though. I'm in love with that guy right now.

[rsnomar05]

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

The great thing is we now have defensive options that have created an actual dilemma as to who we should start, and the defensive options are of great quality, whereas last season it was "who is going to play less terribly, Djourou or Squillaci?"

[Krebstar]

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

The great thing is we now have defensive options that have created an actual dilemma as to who we should start, and the defensive options are of great quality, whereas last season it was "who is going to play less terribly, Djourou or Squillaci?"

TV5 and Jenkinson are fully fit for tomorrow's game.

As for Djourou, I was really happy with how he played on Saturday. Lots of great tackles. Squillaci on the other hand...glad he's basically disappeared.

[ZM Punk]

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

Yeah just give him time to adjust to the league. Some take longer than others. Look at us with Skrtel, he's been with us for 3 and half years and he still hasn't adjusted.

Thing is I don't think Per will be able to be able to adjust the things he needs to be effective. I mean...I don't think you are able to adjust being slow and right now he can't even defend in the air that well. Which at his height is just perplexing to me. The league just looks like its too fast for him.

In regards to Skrtel...if you haven't adjusted to the league in 3 years you just aren't going to adjust imo.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

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

In regards to Skrtel...if you haven't adjusted to the league in 3 years you just aren't going to adjust imo.

That's where I was going with that comment. He's simply not good enough for our team.

[misterbroom12]

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

I think Per will be fine. There have been many successful CB in the Prem who did not have the greatest pace. He is just going to need a bit more time in learning the overall style of play so that he can start being in the right places more often than not. Hopefully he will start to catch on and become a wall toward the end of the season when we will need it most.

[rsnomar05]

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

I think Per will be fine. There have been many successful CB in the Prem who did not have the greatest pace. He is just going to need a bit more time in learning the overall style of play so that he can start being in the right places more often than not. Hopefully he will start to catch on and become a wall toward the end of the season when we will need it most.

I hope so. My problem isn't so much his lack of pace but rather the technique he's using. Simply leaning into a header when another player is outjumping you is not going to work. I don't know why he doesn't attempt to jump at all (even if he's woeful at it) as even a little bit of lift would probably be enough to beat out most players.

[misterbroom12]

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

I hope so. My problem isn't so much his lack of pace but rather the technique he's using. Simply leaning into a header when another player is outjumping you is not going to work. I don't know why he doesn't attempt to jump at all (even if he's woeful at it) as even a little bit of lift would probably be enough to beat out most players.

I hear you, but a lot of that is positioning and reading too. I know first hand exactly how it feels to absolutely SUCK at judging crosses (on either end of the field) and while Per is tall he may not be the best at it either. Combine that with a completely different league where he is fractions out of position more often than not and he finds himself having to stretch for balls that are just out of reach rather than jumping to meet them from a good position. With time I think we will see him become a force, he's too experienced at high levels (outside the EPL obviously) to not be able to adapt. Come mid-January or early February I think we should have a tough time judging which CB pairing we want to see out there, which isn't a bad thing.