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

[cdawg44]

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

With Cesc the competition was a lot tougher. Barca, just like Spain, was already stacked in midfield. At CB, not so much. They have Pique (who has had injury concerns), Bartra (who's still a little raw) and Mascherano (who's playing out of position.) TV5 is pretty quick and a good distributor, something that Barca loves since Pique is not quick but also pretty decent for a CB with the ball. He gives them their first true ball-winner since a prime Puyol. Barca also acquired Matheiu from Valencia too.

Agreed, but he makes a LOT of reckless challenges to win the ball that gets him caught out of position. His positional discipline really hurts him an has been his issue since we signed the BFG. We gave up a lot of cheap goals in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 season because of him trying to be Superman and make driving runs in the midfield. Plus his goal output couldn't keep up with with what we gave up at the back. I think he scored 10 goals his first season and then naturally that output went down, but the mistakes still persisted and started to outweigh what he brought offensively. TV5 is a poor man's David Luiz in my mind. Maybe it works out at Barca like it did for Gervinho at Roma, but I wouldn't hold my breath...

I'm sad we won't have a proven back up at CB, but yeah we shouldn't bat an eye and we can and will press on.

[Krebstar]

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

David Ornstein: Arsenal continue search Vermaelen replacement & also in market for DMF, but may sign 1 player who can perform both roles

I want us to make s signing soon. I can't wait!

[RoyceDa59]

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

I want us to make s signing soon. I can't wait!

Bring in Mats Hummels..dare I dream?

[OneDrop]

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

I want us to make s signing soon. I can't wait!

I'm starting to lose faith now. If Wenger plays Arteta I'm going to lose it. Arsene should just sign Carvalho and get it done with. Then get another CB before the end of August and we're in business. Unless Wenger is working on some insane deal like Pogba... dare I dream?

[eyeamg0dly]

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

I'm starting to lose faith now. If Wenger plays Arteta I'm going to lose it. Arsene should just sign Carvalho and get it done with. Then get another CB before the end of August and we're in business. Unless Wenger is working on some insane deal like Pogba... dare I dream?

I would love to see Pogba, but he always wants to go foward. I wonder if he has the discipline to play as a DM. At this point I would take Vidal instead, especially if the price tag on Carvalho is as high as it seems to be.

[cdawg44]

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

I want us to make s signing soon. I can't wait!

Javi Martinez could do both, but yet a pipe dream in my world...

[KG]

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

I would love to see Pogba, but he always wants to go foward. I wonder if he has the discipline to play as a DM. At this point I would take Vidal instead, especially if the price tag on Carvalho is as high as it seems to be.

Vidal's price-tag is going to be 2 or 3x that of Carvalho and he's not really a CDM. United is so hard after him because he's a 3-5-2 middie for Juve and Chile. Even though Arteta isn't world-class he's a proven commodity in the league. Between him, Wilshire, and Flamini you guys are OK at CDM IMO.

[OneDrop]

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

Vidal's price-tag is going to be 2 or 3x that of Carvalho and he's not really a CDM. United is so hard after him because he's a 3-5-2 middie for Juve and Chile. Even though Arteta isn't world-class he's a proven commodity in the league. Between him, Wilshire, and Flamini you guys are OK at CDM IMO.

Wilshere doesn't have the defensive discipline to play as a holding DM, having him and Ramsey is suicide. It'd also be a waste of Wilshere's attacking ability to have him sitting deep. Arteta can't handle the pace and physicality of the EPL anymore, he's past it. He's not that big of a problem when we're playing against deeper sitting teams but versus top teams we simply get wrecked on the counter because he can't keep up. Flamini, sure, but the guy picks up a lot of suspensions and he's not even that good. The reason we lost 6-0 and 5-1 was mainly because our DMF's couldn't handle the quick transitions.

[rsnomar05]

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

I doubt it's true, but there are rumors Podolski might be leaving on loan to Galatasaray:

http://news.arseblog.com/2014/08/poldi-galatasaray-loan-speculation-report-aha/

[OneDrop]

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

We're looking very good!

[Watson]

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

It's about time we ended that trophy drought. Good to get that monkey off our back. Now we can focus on going 38-0-0

[TMuss]

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

A whole lot of excuses for City but FS1 is ignoring that Arsenal didn't trot out their top line up either. I guess we just ignore the United or City and just focus on the Manchester.

[RoyceDa59]

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

Yeah good win, can't wait to see Ozil back in the lineup.

[cdawg44]

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

A whole lot of excuses for City but FS1 is ignoring that Arsenal didn't trot out their top line up either. I guess we just ignore the United or City and just focus on the Manchester.

Exactly why I can't stand those clowns on fox soccer. Either they are bashing us or they are giving back handed complements. Regardless of who City had out there, they were very poor today. Sure City didn't bring all their big guns but we were missing 3 or 4 starters too if you throw in Walcott, plus Giroud didn't start. Either way, we played well and took our chances very well and got a great result to start off the year.

Let's get that CB and a strong ball winning DM and we are set for a good run this season..

[Krebstar]

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

It definitely seems, and it's unsurprising, that with the FA Cup win, we'll be playing with a bit more confidence this year.

If we fill the few holes we have left, we should be fighting for the title this year, no excuses.

Looking forward to next week.