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

[ZM Punk]

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

Everton got screwed out of a goal today. I consider us even after the Saha goal last year.

[rsnomar05]

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

Wasn't able to watch today, but early goal by TV5 and we hold on for the 1-0 win. Moved up into 3rd in the table. Pretty crazy.

Yeah, definitely crazy, but I'd be stoked if we finished ahead of Tottenham, and even more stoked if Chelsea took the 4 spot.

[Krebstar]

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

Arsene would not confirm if Podolski has passed a medical recently, which basically means that he indeed did and the deal is done.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/23/arsene-wenger-lukas-podolski

[Krebstar]

1-0. Gibbs. A win today puts us three ahead of Spurs after their draw.

[rsnomar05]

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

That was a great match. What a difference having two quality, healthy fullbacks makes. We're rolling right now, but we need to keep it up. We can't take our foot off the gas for the rest of the campaign, as a spell like the one we head in January would be disastrous.

[Krebstar]

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

If Koscielny started, it would've continued the streak of our "best back four" being unbeaten this season.

Having two actual full backs healthy has proven to be pretty massive. For some silly reason, I didn't think it would have too much of a defensive effect on us, but it did. As great of footballers TV5 and Koscielny are, they're natural instinct is to drift into the center, which they would. TV5 today showed how lethal his left foot can be when passing the ball as well.

I'm not getting carried away at all, but I'm incredibly happy with how this team has recovered from earlier this season. With the looming Podolski signing, it appears Wenger is serious about bring in some actual depth and quality and if we keep RVP, I see no reason why we can not mount a realistic title challenge next season.

Obviously, we must stay healthy and keep all the players who are worth keeping, but we've finally got a solid defensive base. Those years without an actual #1 keeper was a massive blow. As well as a frail back four.

We still have a long way to go, but it's nice to see the ship heading in the right direction. Something tells me this Summer it'll continue that way, with a few signings and a few departures such as Chamakh leaving. I know we're not where we should be, but things are starting to turn around, and for real this time as it looks like something we could finally sustain.

[rsnomar05]

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

If Koscielny started, it would've continued the streak of our "best back four" being unbeaten this season.

Having two actual full backs healthy has proven to be pretty massive. For some silly reason, I didn't think it would have too much of a defensive effect on us, but it did. As great of footballers TV5 and Koscielny are, they're natural instinct is to drift into the center, which they would. TV5 today showed how lethal his left foot can be when passing the ball as well.

I'm not getting carried away at all, but I'm incredibly happy with how this team has recovered from earlier this season. With the looming Podolski signing, it appears Wenger is serious about bring in some actual depth and quality and if we keep RVP, I see no reason why we can not mount a realistic title challenge next season.

Obviously, we must stay healthy and keep all the players who are worth keeping, but we've finally got a solid defensive base. Those years without an actual #1 keeper was a massive blow. As well as a frail back four.

We still have a long way to go, but it's nice to see the ship heading in the right direction. Something tells me this Summer it'll continue that way, with a few signings and a few departures such as Chamakh leaving. I know we're not where we should be, but things are starting to turn around, and for real this time as it looks like something we could finally sustain.

I think depth is the key word. Obviously both first and second choice fullbacks went out injured, but we should have known given the injury history of players like Gibbs that there was a strong possibility of an injury plagued season. Would any of us have been surprised if RVP had to miss significant time? We would have been left with Chamakh and Park (maybe some Arshavin, or maybe Walcott would have gotten his wish to play up front), and that would have put us in serious trouble. If Podolski comes in and we add some more top-notch reinforcements so we're not hung out to dry if a big injury occurs, I agree that a title-challenge would be a realistic expectation. So the ball is in Wenger's court to finally add that depth. We've all been burned before, but Podolski (if true) is an encouraging sign.

[ZM Punk]

I think were a quality attacking midfielder away from being able to compete for a title. We need a midfielder that provides some goals in the worst way.

[Krebstar]

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

I think were a quality attacking midfielder away from being able to compete for a title. We need a midfielder that provides some goals in the worst way.

I hear we have a kid name Jack who is going to be like a new signing next season.

[rsnomar05]

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

I hear we have a kid name Jack who is going to be like a new signing next season.

And I think our midfield has been playing great as of late. Walcott's been on fire as of late (though we know how inconsistent he can be), The Ox is only going to get better, a fully-fit/healthy Rosicky has been a revelation, etc. I too would like to see us sign an AM, but with Wilshere due back I think we have a lot of great depth at the position.

I think we need a striker (Podolski it seems may have already had a medical), a winger (I think we have more than enough depth in the middle with Wilshere, Ramsey, Arteta, Song, Rosicky), and a fullback (Gibbs and Jenkinson have both seemed injury prone and I don't want us to be in a situation like this season where TVM5, Kosc, and Djourou are playing out of position).

This is assuming of course, that RVP resigns and we don't have any significant departures.

[ZM Punk]

I hear we have a kid name Jack who is going to be like a new signing next season.

He doesn't score right now. He may be like Cesc and pick up some goal scoring acumen once he has been in the team a few years. We need a player that gives us that threat from the middle. That is something that is not currently on this team right now.

[jt45]

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

He doesn't score right now. He may be like Cesc and pick up some goal scoring acumen once he has been in the team a few years. We need a player that gives us that threat from the middle. That is something that is not currently on this team right now.

Who do you suggest? I always like hearing good ideas.

[Krebstar]

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

Mario Götze.

However, it'll never happen.

[ZM Punk]

Who do you suggest? I always like hearing good ideas.

Well Hazard or Goetze would be the idea candidates but like Kreb said it will probably never happen.

[jt45]

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

Well Hazard or Goetze would be the idea candidates but like Kreb said it will probably never happen.

I'd take Kaka.