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

[Krebstar]

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

Just got around to catching up on your game. Keep RVP healthy is all I can say. The guy is unreal.

I have to say, Per Mertesacker is half the player he was at Bremen. Slow as molasses and easily bullied off the ball by guys half his size. He really hasn't come to terms with the pace or physicality of the league. You need your fullbacks healthy so Koscielny can lineup alongside TV5.

While he's pissing me off, he still needs time. As Wenger pointed out, when he was "bullied" off the ball on Saturday, it's a foul pretty much anywhere else in the world. I'm continuously disappointed with the BFG, but I'm willing to give him time. Luckily, he's always calm and it's just the physicality he must adjust to. I think eventually he will.

[RoyceDa59]

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

While he's pissing me off, he still needs time. As Wenger pointed out, when he was "bullied" off the ball on Saturday, it's a foul pretty much anywhere else in the world. I'm continuously disappointed with the BFG, but I'm willing to give him time. Luckily, he's always calm and it's just the physicality he must adjust to. I think eventually he will.

While he does need time I feel like he wont reach the back to the form he had before the World Cup. He wasn't on the best form before coming to Arsenal and the lack of aerial duels he wins(or doesn't) is disappointing. The great thing is he is a smart player and I feel he will find some way to adapt in his own way. If he doesn't than it will just only make me wish Arsenal had picked up Cahill, who could be much more fitted to Arsenal's playing style.

[Krebstar]

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

While he does need time I feel like he wont reach the back to the form he had before the World Cup. He wasn't on the best form before coming to Arsenal and the lack of aerial duels he wins(or doesn't) is disappointing. The great thing is he is a smart player and I feel he will find some way to adapt in his own way. If he doesn't than it will just only make me wish Arsenal had picked up Cahill, who could be much more fitted to Arsenal's playing style.

I would've loved Cahill as well and I think if we made a slightly bigger bid on deadline day Bolton would've been forced to sell.

As for Per, he at least is comfortable with the ball at his feet. So he has that going for him.

[RoyceDa59]

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

Tough game ahead with visitors BVB. They are coming off of a win against Bayern and have been in fine form, however Arsenal are also in fine form. Should be interesting game and I am hoping Mertesacker can have a good game.

[Krebstar]

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

Tough game ahead with visitors BVB. They are coming off of a win against Bayern and have been in fine form, however Arsenal are also in fine form. Should be interesting game and I am hoping Mertesacker can have a good game.

The best thing they've been doing again recently is putting pressure on the ball. When they're on, they make Barcelona look lazy. There will be yellow around the ball at all times so we better be prepared to cope with them in our face all night. Bender won't stop moving side to side, so it'll be interesting to see the battle between him and Ramsey.

[Krebstar]

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

Group winners. Very well done, lads.

[RA30]

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

Wow, how many goals has Van Persie scored this season??
lol

[RoyceDa59]

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

Wow, how many goals has Van Persie scored this season??
lol

I lost count lol, but he cant stop scoring. Vermaelen had an excellent assist with that Steve Bould-esque near post header.

[rsnomar05]

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

I lost count lol, but he cant stop scoring. Vermaelen had an excellent assist with that Steve Bould-esque near post header.

And then the miraculous Alex Song play where he dribbled through like four Dortmund defenders and somehow wasn't stripped of the ball. That's the kind of play that Song does a little too often and annoys me because it's usually not successful, but for once it actually worked.

I was like, "No Song! Pass it! Song, pass it! No! Oh....wait. Yes! Great play Song!"

[Krebstar]

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

Wow, how many goals has Van Persie scored this season??
lol

So far in 2011 as a whole, out of 41 games played, he's scored 38. Which is just insane.

[ZM Punk]

While RVP will get all the pub, and much deserved, Alex Song was definitely MOTM. He reminded me so much of Claude Makelele today.

[Krebstar]

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

While RVP will get all the pub, and much deserved, Alex Song was definitely MOTM. He reminded me so much of Claude Makelele today.

Through the fantastic run we've been on, it's truly been a great team effort. RVP keeps scoring goals, but without the others that we currently have out there it wouldn't be happening. Which sucks because people see that RVP scored again and they think we're a one man team, when we're far from it. We need him out there to score those, but it's been a fantastic overall effort.

Also, I don't think Alex is going anywhere.

[ZM Punk]

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

Through the fantastic run we've been on, it's truly been a great team effort. RVP keeps scoring goals, but without the others that we currently have out there it wouldn't be happening. Which sucks because people see that RVP scored again and they think we're a one man team, when we're far from it. We need him out there to score those, but it's been a fantastic overall effort.

Also, I don't think Alex is going anywhere.

If he does indeed want to move on he is doing us a solid in driving the price up with his play. If he keeps playing like this we may be able to get 35 out of him.

With that said I hope we keep him as he is playing elite level DM for us right now. Our midfield may not be as talented as last years...but they sure make up for it with effort. Its also nice to see a winger tracking back to the goal line making plays. You would never see Arshavin back there doing the things Gervinho does.

This teams heart and work rate is really making me get over the mess that was this past Summer faster than I expected.

[rsnomar05]

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

If he does indeed want to move on he is doing us a solid in driving the price up with his play. If he keeps playing like this we may be able to get 35 out of him.

With that said I hope we keep him as he is playing elite level DM for us right now. Our midfield may not be as talented as last years...but they sure make up for it with effort. Its also nice to see a winger tracking back to the goal line making plays. You would never see Arshavin back there doing the things Gervinho does.

This teams heart and work rate is really making me get over the mess that was this past Summer faster than I expected.

I agree completely about the heart and work rate. It's something I haven't seen in a long time out of an Arsenal team, and I think it's a large part of why our defense is so much better (Vermaelen being healthy and the improved play from Kosc being another part).

I think if we show we are back to being an elite team and have a great foundation for next season and beyond, that will be instrumental in convincing guys like Song to stay. Whether that's winning a trophy or finishing in the Top 4, I'm not sure, but I think it's key for players with ambition to play for the best believe the best could be Arsenal.

[Krebstar]

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

Arsenal: Szczesny, Djourou, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Song, Ramsey, Arteta, Walcott, van Persie, Arshavin. Subs: Fabianski, Diaby, Koscielny, Frimpong, Gervinho, Chamakh, Benayoun

Koscielny and Gervinho are both rested. Really hoping Arshavin puts in some work today.