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

[KG]

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

This is going to sound weird but bare with me, lol.

I was watching a little bit of a PSG-FC Lorient replay today and I was kind of shocked at how well FC Lorient could play at times. Some of the creativity going forward vs a top side like PSG was kind of startling. I kept thinking to myself "who do they remind you of" and finally said Arsenal. Lorient could counter, build-up, or hoof it forward. So I started googling and found this article from 2012

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1191561-arsenal-arsene-wenger-has-created-the-perfect-loan-relationship-with-fc-lorient

Obviously as a Chelsea fan I'm not familiar with your version of our Vitesse but it was cool to read into Lorient's philosophy and see Arsene's fingerprints sprinkled about.




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[Brahvocado]

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

Huh? The last several years we've actually had pretty good form in the second part of the season. The issue is we're usually further away from the top, or fighting to keep 3rd/4th, and that is what the good form gets us.

Here is our January-May form from the last four seasons. It could be better, but it's not too damn bad. The unexpected losses are always what hurts us.

2015
W13 D3 L3

2014
W10 D4 L4

2013
W12 D4 L3

2012
W10 D4 L4

As it's been said, this is an odd season, and we don't have to win the rest of our games to challenge for the title. We can't afford to lose many, though, and we need to turn 0-0 draws into 1-0 wins.

Those runs are definitely solid, but those are not title winning runs. 3-4 losses in the second half is very respectable, but the average number of losses for title winners is around 4 for the entire season, you guys average around 7-8.

[Krebstar]

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

Those runs are definitely solid, but those are not title winning runs. 3-4 losses in the second half is very respectable, but the average number of losses for title winners is around 4 for the entire season, you guys average around 7-8.

Very true, but this is of course an odd season. We'll have to improve upon those runs if we want to win the title, but my point was just to illustrate that in recent times we don't collapse in the second half of the season as I think is often the narrative. In fact, we do better in the second half, and our form in the first half is what set us up to be fighting for 4th and not for a title.

[Brahvocado]

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

It's not just your first half form. In fact, you guys are generally still mostly "in it" right up until February. I'd be curious to see actual stats, but if I had to guess I'd say that 90% of those second half losses/draws come between the beginning of February and the middle-ish of March. You guys have often ended your seasons on a win streak.

These next two months will tell us if Arsenal can actually win a title.

[Krebstar]

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

Now that's more like it.

Away from home, couple of goals, and a clean sheet to go with a good defensive performance.

[rsnomar05]

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

Ozil and Alexis playing together again is huge. It injects so much creativity into the squad. Our ball movement as a result was noticeably improved from recent matches. Now fingers crossed they both stay healthy.

[rsnomar05]

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

Arsenal just poached Leicester's top scout, the man largely responsible for the Mahrez and Kante signings.

http://www.espnfc.us/barclays-premier-league/story/2803439/arsenal-recruit-new-first-team-video-scout-from-leicester

[Bezzey]

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

Arsenal just poached Leicester's top scout, the man largely responsible for the Mahrez and Kante signings.

http://www.espnfc.us/barclays-premie...from-leicester

Report today saying they got the wrong guy.

http://www.espnfc.us/leicester-city/story/2804369/gary-lineker-arsenal-nicked-wrong-scout-from-leicester

[jb12780]

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

I wouldn't trust ESPN's article at all.

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[Krebstar]

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

To be far The Guardian ran a similar article: http://www.theguardian.com/football/...r-gary-lineker

To me it's not really a story. Whoever wanted him at Arsenal knows what he's responsible for and knew what they're getting. I'm sure they got exactly the scout that they wanted, and are now not sitting around cursing the fact that they were duped or that they hired "the wrong guy".

[jb12780]

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

Or the club just hired the scout version of Denilson.

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[fearwhatnow]

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

To be far The Guardian ran a similar article: http://www.theguardian.com/football/...r-gary-lineker

To me it's not really a story. Whoever wanted him at Arsenal knows what he's responsible for and knew what they're getting. I'm sure they got exactly the scout that they wanted, and are now not sitting around cursing the fact that they were duped or that they hired "the wrong guy".

Why don't you ask someone from Leicester?
Wrigglesworth is a good scout.
Walsh though was the one that found Vardy, Mahrez and Kante. Walsh generally has big influence in all departments regarding Leicester City.
Arsenal signed Wrigglesworth because he's a good scout. Nothing more/nothing less. We're talking about professionals.
Ofc the media grabbed the opportunity to make a headliner for a Leicester scout. This is pathetic.

[Krebstar]

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

Why don't you ask someone from Leicester?
Wrigglesworth is a good scout.
Walsh though was the one that found Vardy, Mahrez and Kante. Walsh generally has big influence in all departments regarding Leicester City.
Arsenal signed Wrigglesworth because he's a good scout. Nothing more/nothing less. We're talking about professionals.
Ofc the media grabbed the opportunity to make a headliner for a Leicester scout. This is pathetic.

I'm not even from Leicester and I came to this conclusion...

[cdawg44]

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

Well, as we close in on Sunday I'm curious how we'll set up. I hope we modify our approach and not just attack which plays into Leicester's hands. They thrive on the counter and I'd like us to use a very similar approach to what we did at City last year. Cede position and see if they can break us down in tight spaces. Villa funny enough gave an hour interesting blueprint on how to cope versus these guys. No you won't shut them down, but you can slow them down. This match is perfect for Alexis and the Ox if he's playing up to where we know he can.

The key to me will be Kante versus Rambo in midfield. If Ramsey can get beyond him and link with Ozil, then we'll have some success. If Kante shuts him down, then it's gonna be way tougher. Also this match wouldn't be a bad one to try Theo up top. Leicester's CB have been playing ridiculously well, but they aren't particularly quick and we can find some success with Theo and his diagonal runs.

[Krebstar]

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

Well, as we close in on Sunday I'm curious how we'll set up. I hope we modify our approach and not just attack which plays into Leicester's hands. They thrive on the counter and I'd like us to use a very similar approach to what we did at City last year. Cede position and see if they can break us down in tight spaces. Villa funny enough gave an hour interesting blueprint on how to cope versus these guys. No you won't shut them down, but you can slow them down. This match is perfect for Alexis and the Ox if he's playing up to where we know he can.

The key to me will be Kante versus Rambo in midfield. If Ramsey can get beyond him and link with Ozil, then we'll have some success. If Kante shuts him down, then it's gonna be way tougher. Also this match wouldn't be a bad one to try Theo up top. Leicester's CB have been playing ridiculously well, but they aren't particularly quick and we can find some success with Theo and his diagonal runs.

I'd be more inclined to see Theo up top if hadn't been playing so poorly lately. But maybe starting him would give him the boost of confidence that he needs?

I really do hope that Arsene doesn't have the team come out and try and play "our game" which Leicester will gladly allow us to do. Shuffle it around their area until we lose possession and they go on the break would be the worst thing we could do.

The only way that could work is that we have the talent to also play on the break, but with the way we've been finishing, I don't fancy us outscoring them if it turns into a game which goes up and down the field all game.

I'm really interested to see if we play Mertesacker. His experience would be great to have at the back, but Gabriel's pace would be nice, also. However, Gabriel has needed to show his pace due to possibly being out of position..hmmm.