The Arsenal FC thread

[Mathew81]

Some people thought losing RVP wouldn't be a big deal because we had Theo. Uh oh.

There actually were people who thought it was OK to lose Cesc because we had Ramsey......

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Some people thought losing RVP wouldn't be a big deal because we had Theo. Uh oh.

I dont think their scoring is as big as their defense. Their defense has not been good.

RVP turned into Cazorla and Giroud up front. Not horrible.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I do too. It just seems like a lot of Arsenal fans out there think it's no big deal to lose Theo because we have Ox.

But if internet chatter is to be believed, it looks more likely that Theo will sign a new deal.

I think he is replaceable if the right guy comes around. David Villa can't get off of the bench for Barca and would be a perfect fit IMO. Keep Theo and Ox on the wings with Villa up front if they can sign them both.

I'm dreaming.

 

[Mathew81]

I think he is replaceable if the right guy comes around. David Villa can't get off of the bench for Barca and would be a perfect fit IMO. Keep Theo and Ox on the wings with Villa up front if they can sign them both.

I'm dreaming.

Yeah, that one seemed to die today. Somebody at Barcelona came out and said they aren't selling Villa.

 

[Stout]

Arsenal seems to be working on a fixed budget the past few years.

And they are wise to do so.

Ya, it is ridiculous. They have tons of cash. I should have picked Man City instead. . Kidding.

I don't remember which season it's hitting (within the next 3, at least), but the financial fair play rules are going to crush big clubs that spend so much more than they make. I pray it somehow at least brings the Premiership within a few thousand light years of the parity you get in the NFL, although teams will still go down. I know real parity will never happen, but this stuff is getting way out of hand.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

And they are wise to do so.



I don't remember which season it's hitting (within the next 3, at least), but the financial fair play rules are going to crush big clubs that spend so much more than they make. I pray it somehow at least brings the Premiership within a few thousand light years of the parity you get in the NFL, although teams will still go down. I know real parity will never happen, but this stuff is getting way out of hand.

I was just thinking that I liked the amount of parity in the BPL, lol. Not at the top of the table, but the 3rd through 13th places or so. The lack of parity in La Liga is bad though.

 

[Stout]

I was just thinking that I liked the amount of parity in the BPL, lol. Not at the top of the table, but the 3rd through 13th places or so. The lack of parity in La Liga is bad though.

I would never follow La Liga, ever. I'm hoping the financial fair play rules gives teams a legit shot to get to the top of the table. As in, we would no longer say a team in the Premiership has zero chance to ever, ever win a title.

 

[Chaplin]

I would never follow La Liga, ever. I'm hoping the financial fair play rules gives teams a legit shot to get to the top of the table. As in, we would no longer say a team in the Premiership has zero chance to ever, ever win a title.

Well, La Liga doesn't want you anyway!

Such a snobby attitude! Yes, there is no parity, although technically, there is a lot of parity outside the top 2 (and this year, top 1). Atletico Madrid has a 7 point cushion ahead of Real Madrid, which is an exciting race. But nobody is going to catch Barcelona--and honestly, if Barca were in England, they'd be running away with that league too. Only ManU would pose any kind of threat and we'll see how they match up with Real Madrid in the Champions League.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I would love to see David Villa with the Gunners.

 

[Mathew81]

More boneheaded plays by Arsenal. Koscielny tackling a player in the box, literally wrapping his arm around him and dragging him down. Dumb. And they just seemed to fall asleep for the first goal. They were too busy arguing with the ref to keep an eye on what City was doing.

They played better in the 2nd half but still couldn't get many real chances on goal, even after Kompany was sent off (harsh call IMO anyway). They still need a striker. Theo is not a striker, I don't care what he says. And Giroud should be AN option, not THE option.

Arteta picked up an injury before the game and is out 3 weeks. He's played every minute of every premier league game so far. You can't have a midfielder in his 30's do that and expect him to stay healthy. Just goes to show that we should have already brought in someone but haven't. And we still have 5 games in the next 17 days. Should have had a deal or two ready to go as soon as January came. But they'll wait until the last minute trying to bargain down a price if they bring in anyone at all.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

More boneheaded plays by Arsenal. Koscielny tackling a player in the box, literally wrapping his arm around him and dragging him down. Dumb. And they just seemed to fall asleep for the first goal. They were too busy arguing with the ref to keep an eye on what City was doing.

They played better in the 2nd half but still couldn't get many real chances on goal, even after Kompany was sent off (harsh call IMO anyway). They still need a striker. Theo is not a striker, I don't care what he says. And Giroud should be AN option, not THE option.

Arteta picked up an injury before the game and is out 3 weeks. He's played every minute of every premier league game so far. You can't have a midfielder in his 30's do that and expect him to stay healthy. Just goes to show that we should have already brought in someone but haven't. And we still have 5 games in the next 17 days. Should have had a deal or two ready to go as soon as January came. But they'll wait until the last minute trying to bargain down a price if they bring in anyone at all.

Yep. I fully agree with Theo up the middle. Any of the runs where he can use his pace, he can do the same on the wings. I really think it hurts the team to have him up there. The Gunners are letting Theo have the world and it is hurting the team IMO.

 

[Chaplin]

Yep. I fully agree with Theo up the middle. Any of the runs where he can use his pace, he can do the same on the wings. I really think it hurts the team to have him up there. The Gunners are letting Theo have the world and it is hurting the team IMO.

Except most of our recent wins can be attributed to Theo up there. So what do you do? Put him on the wings, where we have a mediocre record? Regardless if you think he belongs there or not, the record speaks for itself.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Except most of our recent wins can be attributed to Theo up there. So what do you do? Put him on the wings, where we have a mediocre record? Regardless if you think he belongs there or not, the record speaks for itself.

I think that you take the fact that you are playing lesser teams. Yeah, he had a hatrick against Newcastle, but Giroud almost did as well in about 25 minutes.

Singling out one game wont win my argument, but I still think they aren't using their best front line on a consistent basis.

Theo should be on the left taking Podolski's place with Giroud up top and Ox on the other side IMO.

 

[Chaplin]

I think that you take the fact that you are playing lesser teams. Yeah, he had a hatrick against Newcastle, but Giroud almost did as well in about 25 minutes.

Singling out one game wont win my argument, but I still think they aren't using their best front line on a consistent basis.

Theo should be on the left taking Podolski's place with Giroud up top and Ox on the other side IMO.

Theo never plays on the left, curious why you think that would be his spot when Ox always plays on the left, when he plays, that is. I can see wanting an
Ox------Giroud-----Theo frontline, but Theo's played on the right for a long time, and by far his best performances this season have been when he plays in the center. It's where he's said he wants to play for years.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Theo never plays on the left, curious why you think that would be his spot when Ox always plays on the left, when he plays, that is. I can see wanting an
Ox------Giroud-----Theo frontline, but Theo's played on the right for a long time, and by far his best performances this season have been when he plays in the center. It's where he's said he wants to play for years.

Yeah. I got the wings backwards. We will just have to see. Theo is asking for the moon and Arsenal has no choice but to give in. I just dont think it will work long term.

 

[Mathew81]

Walcott officially signed a new deal.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/theo-walcott-signs-new-long-term-contract

Theo's had his ups and downs but this is a good move. They couldn't afford to lose another player first team player. Plus he would have left for free this summer and Arsenal would have nothing to show for it.

 

[Mathew81]

Why can't they put in a full 90 minutes? Yet another game where they didn't decide to play until the 2nd half.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I think Wenger needs to go this offseason. DiMatteo would be a great fit with Cazorla & Arteta. Then just go find someone more dynamic than Giroud. David Villa would be amazing.

 

[Chaplin]

Goodbye Champions League 2013-2014!

 

[slinslin]

I think Wenger needs to go this offseason. DiMatteo would be a great fit with Cazorla & Arteta. Then just go find someone more dynamic than Giroud. David Villa would be amazing.

DiMatteo? Based on what? Because their names sound fancy?

David Villa is 32.

 

[Dr. Jones]

DiMatteo? Based on what? Because their names sound fancy?

David Villa is 32.

Because they have some really talented players with high pass efficiency stats. Cazorla & Arteta can run an uptempo movement style similar to what Chelsea is trying to do with Hazard, Mata, & Oscar. DiMatteo was fired unjustly IMO and he could do some serious damage in the BPL if he is trusted and given a full chance.

Villa is 32 but still has plenty of magic left in him. And he can find the right lanes and finish with ruthlessness & high efficiency. His Copa goals against Cordoba (I think) were awesome. He is a high level murderer of goalies.

Unless...... Alexis is cast off this summer. Which could happen based on how poorly he has played the last few months. If his form doesn't improve I could see Barca go with Cuenca, Tello, Villa, & Pedro next year on the wings.

 

[Mathew81]

Hell of a performance today. 4 goals in about 10 minutes to start the 2nd half was unbelievable. Anyone know the extent of Vermaelen's injury?

 

[Chaplin]

Fool's Gold. Again.

 

[Mathew81]

Fool's Gold. Again.

Probably. We tend to beat up on a team every so often (Southampton early in the season, Newcastle in December) and then go back to looking completely clueless. We've scored 46 goals in the league so far, which is 3rd most in the EPL and actually more than we had at the same point last year. But exactly half have come in 4 games: 6 against Southampton, 5 vs. Spurs, 7 vs. Newcastle and 5 vs West Ham. So 23 goals in those 4 games and 23 in the other 19.

 

[Stout]

Ship some of that fools gold up to Newcastle