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

[barryf1fan]

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

The thing is, that West Brom side is the kind of a side we'd normally struggle against. Big and tall defenders, fairly dangerous from set pieces and very well organized. Also, more than happy to sit back and hit us on the counter. However, we handled everything really well.

The return of Gibbs will be huge as Santos is still a defensive liability, but TV5 being back has already shown to be pretty huge. The fact that we now have three quality CB's is nice, even though Per isn't quite up to what we all hope he can be.

I don't want to say this team is better than last year, but they're definitely different and in a very good way. With the way Nasri handled business in the Summer, I think that speaks to his character a little and perhaps him out of this team isn't so bad. We now have a solid core of older players and younger players who are stepping up.

Any injury to RVP is still a massive worry, though. However, it's always been that way. I recall last year saying in the EPL thread that losing RVP would be the equivalent to Chelsea losing Drogba (this was before January). It was met with some ridiculous comments claiming that RVP doesn't have near the same impact on the team and that he's not as good of a player. What a joke. Nice to see him stay healthy and finally see people realize he's literally one of the best in the world.

Couldn't agree with you more Kreb... i think WB beat us 3-1 or something last season (too lazy to look it up), and drew us away. So while this is not a stellar team that our boys played on Saturday - the result is massive for us.

And never thought I would agree about Nasri, but having him out of the team has helped. I would dare say, too, that Arteta also has that game winning mentality that Cesc didn't seem to have.

I do think that there will be some more bumps in the road, so to say, as the season progresses, but this team seems to play with more of an attacking mindset than ever under Wenger. Not having Mertesacker back there tripping over his own feet also was a big plus, to me anyway.

I hope Wenger has Jenkinson locked up too, that kid is coming along in big strides.

[barryf1fan]

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

And yes, right now, RvP is player of the Planet!

[rsnomar05]

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

So who's the odd-man-out of the midfield when Wilshere returns? Ramsey, Arteta, and Song have made a tremendous trio these past few weeks, but one is going to lose his starting spot, unless they all just rotate.

[Krebstar]

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

So who's the odd-man-out of the midfield when Wilshere returns? Ramsey, Arteta, and Song have made a tremendous trio these past few weeks, but one is going to lose his starting spot, unless they all just rotate.

It'll be interesting and Jack will be brought along very slow I'm sure. As of now, it's honestly hard to say because he can play Ramsey's role and Arteta's.

If Jack came back right now, it's hard to say but I think it would depend on the opponent and the game. Arteta is also 29, so it's not like he'll be holding that midfield spot for years to come and he knows that. He came to the team to play in Europe and hopefully win a trophy.

Diaby is supposed to come back eventually as well, ha. He's so the new Rosicky. Sorry, Tomas.

[NaturalSelected]

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

It'll be interesting and Jack will be brought along very slow I'm sure. As of now, it's honestly hard to say because he can play Ramsey's role and Arteta's.

If Jack came back right now, it's hard to say but I think it would depend on the opponent and the game. Arteta is also 29, so it's not like he'll be holding that midfield spot for years to come and he knows that. He came to the team to play in Europe and hopefully win a trophy.

Diaby is supposed to come back eventually as well, ha. He's so the new Rosicky. Sorry, Tomas.

I really don't like the international break. 100% injury worry given how well we've been playing.

[Krebstar]

I really don't like the international break. 100% injury worry given how well we've been playing.

We'll have a few players resting. Arteta will be at home, woo. But really, I hate international football after what it's done to this team. RVP having his ankle ripped in half in a friendly, for example. Qualifiers are one thing, but friendlies...I loathe them and almost all of it.

[rsnomar05]

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

I'm crossing my fingers that RVP doesn't come back completely broken. Without him we are doomed. DOOMED.

[rsnomar05]

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

Well, the good news is RVP didn't get smashed into a thousand pieces like we'd feared. He actually played the full 90 minutes injury free, and he won't play in the next game on Tuesday, so we officially survived the interlull with our best and most injury-prone player unharmed.

[RoyceDa59]

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

Well, the good news is RVP didn't get smashed into a thousand pieces like we'd feared. He actually played the full 90 minutes injury free, and he won't play in the next game on Tuesday, so we officially survived the interlull with our best and most injury-prone player unharmed.

He really needs to be rested next league game IMO which I think Arsenal can afford it.

[ZM Punk]

He would have had a whole week off. I don't know why you would need to rest him and we sure can' afford to until another striker on this team proves they can get a shot on goal.

[Perceptor]

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

Agreed. We need him in the lineup as often as possible and while I do think he needs a rest, league games are not where that should happen. Unless Chamakh reverts to his form of the first couple of months when he came, RVP is our guy

[rsnomar05]

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

Agreed. We need him in the lineup as often as possible and while I do think he needs a rest, league games are not where that should happen. Unless Chamakh reverts to his form of the first couple of months when he came, RVP is our guy

Yeah, RVP is going to be playing a lot of football this year. His only rest will be Carling Cup/FA Cup matches, and even then only during the early stages.

[Krebstar]

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

I do think there will be league matches where it wouldn't hurt to give him a rest. There are very few of those, though. I'm at least hoping we can get some 2-0 and 3-0 leads and bring him out early in games. Then give Chamakh some playing time, cross him the ball and see if he can get some confidence back.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

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

I do think there will be league matches where it wouldn't hurt to give him a rest. There are very few of those, though. I'm at least hoping we can get some 2-0 and 3-0 leads and bring him out early in games. Then give Chamakh some playing time, cross him the ball and see if he can get some confidence back.

Yeah I agree. He'll probably be rested occasionally against the likes of Wigan or Blackburn.

[RoyceDa59]

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

Thought I'd post this for my fellow Arsenal fans, thought it was kinda funny.

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