09 Jun 2016 06:35:46
I believe that the main weaknesses in our squad still lie in defence. In this summer's international tournament only two of our defenders have been selected; Bellerin and Koscielny. Probably, only Kocscielny will appear as a first choice.
We currently have no cover at RB, with Debuchy and Jenkinson both sent out on loan last season. Jenkinson has a long term injury, whilst I can't envisage Debuchy returning. At CB, we have Chambers who appeared for the U21's and can gain useful experience as cover. Mertesacker has retired from international football and has never settled into a defence that often plays a high line. Whilst Gabriel hasn't looked at all convincing. At LB, neither of our players were selected for the summer international tournaments and quite frankly neither are good enough to play at the very top of European football. Therefore, we need a RB, a CB and a LB. The other position we need a quality signing is up front, where we really only have Giroud, during Welbeck's absence. We now have 3 DM players, plenty of options for the attacking midfield trio. Going back to the CB position, I believe we need a tall commanding, pacy CB, not the barely 6ft ones that Wenger has recently signed, with the exception of Mertesacker, of course!
At LB, O would like to see us sign Rodriguez and Ben Chilwell. Up front, if we fail to sign Vardy, then Javier Hernandez who is decent finisher and used to the PL. CB is more problematic, we are apparently after Rob Holding from Bolton, he may be one for the future, but we need a quality player now, Varane would be a decent shout.
09 Jun 2016 07:46:52
Good post RG.
09 Jun 2016 10:27:29
I couldn't agree any less about your opinions regarding full backs. Our full backs are fine. You really need to watch more of Rodriquez. He simply isn't better than what we have. Varane won't be coming. Gabriel will be a very good 3rd choice cb. Mertrsacker is past it I think. So I agree we need a top quality cb. Partly because kos isn't getting any younger.
09 Jun 2016 11:24:54
We certainly need a Centre back, Per even opened the door to a Hannover 96 return the other day, so maybe he's planning to move on.
As for full backs though, We'll have to agree to disagree mate, I don't think we need a right back, we should just keep Jenko.
He's not a world beater, but he's fairly reliable and really gives it all for us.
What's the point in selling an average right back who's cover, to sign an average right back as cover?
As for left back, I'll get some stick maybe, but apart from maybe Fuchs, who had a stellar year, as did most of Leicesters squad, Nacho was the best left back in the league.
You don't need 11 skilful, world renowned players, you need a balance.
Nacho knows when to go forward and overlap or join the play, but he also knows when to sit back and let Alexis/ midfield do the work there, he's a calm and composed player and doesn't make many mistakes.
Like I said a few days ago, he's basically our Gary Neville.
As for him not being in the national team, we need to stop using that as a bar to judge players people.
Cazorla and Mata didn't make the Spanish team.
Hector only made the final team because Carvajal got injured.
Just because a player doesn't make their respective national side, doesn't mean they're not good enough for Arsenal.
As for Rodriguez, I agree with CS, even though I haven't watched much Bundesliga, I'm aware that Rodriguez is more a failed winger, good in the attack, good in transition but a poor defender, bad positioning.
Sorry to sound like I'm trying to rain on your parade mate, but I'm really a fan of Monreal, he easily made our top 3 players last season.
09 Jun 2016 12:02:08
It is sad when we are in tight games and concede - but most of those tight games against the bottom half of the table shouldn't be tight - its our lack of killer instinct on offence that troubles me the most.
We used to have so many options beyond our quality strikers the Lundberg, Pires etc - Hopefully Vardy can help with that especially with so much focus on Sanchez.
09 Jun 2016 14:51:20
Agree with D almost entirely. Monreal has been immense for us, he may not be flashy and we didn't spend big money to get him but an upgrade on LB really shouldn't be high in our priorities. He reads the game well, is consistent and offers something in both attack and defense. I've also noticed he has a good cross on him which has been important for us since Giroud's strengths are in the air.
09 Jun 2016 14:56:54
Agree with everything you said there D_.
09 Jun 2016 15:25:06
I tend to disagree with some of the comments;
RB - Jenkinson had been sent on loan because he simply wasn't good enough. We would have sold him, if we could. In any even he is out injured until mid-Nov at least.
LB - I was brought up on the likes of Sansom, Wineterburm and Ashley Cole. So Gibbs who was converted into a LB from a midfield player, isn't good enough and Monreal's effort, energy and commitment are fantastic, but defensively he isn't great,
We need a top notch CB.
09 Jun 2016 15:42:31
My response was going to be almost exactly the same as D, nail on the head mate.
09 Jun 2016 16:23:18
JPSAGOONER, so you are both misguided,
Jenkinson was allowed to go on loan for a couple of seasons, because he simply wasn't good enough and he is out injured until at least Mid November, probably longer. You can't rely on a player as cover that will probably miss the first half of the season.
I wouldn't suggest signing an 'average' RB as cover, I suggest signing a decent one. We had Debuchy a regular French International at the time and Bellerin a young player with immense potential who is now a Spanish international. Why would I want us to sign an average player?
I reiterate neither of our current LB's is in their international squads and are not top LB's. The comment about Gary Neville is simply wrong, he was a regular international and a top class RB, who won titles and the CL with United, to compare him with Monreal is wrong and ridiculous.
Of course being in the Innternational team is a bar to judge players. I wouldn't imagine many of Real, Barca's or Bayern's starting eleven are not regular internationals. Cazorla wasn't selected as he has just returned from injury and Mata is a good player, but not one I would want at Arsenal. There are many better players in the Spain squad. The same goes for Monreal, who wouldn't get into any of Europe's top teams.
Rodriguez is an excellent player, with pace, good at dead balls and in the air. He is a great interceptor of the ball, playing on his feet. He, I believe he will be at the euros and is being looked by some of the top teams. I do like Monreal's attitude, but he simply isn't good enough.
If we want to take the next step up and join Europe's elite, we must make top signings, not just bit part players that do a job. When signing a player, we should ask, could he play for Barca, Real or Bayern? If not then we are signing second best and will remain a team that reaches the last 16 in the CL, but doesn't win it. When we reached the final against Barca, most of our players were of sufficient quality to play for the top teams, Workhorses such as Monreal will not be part of a team making a serious challenge for the CL.
09 Jun 2016 16:34:17
I believe its you that's misguided rg. If he wasn't good enough he'd have been sold. And what rubish about Gibbs being a converted midfielder. What does that matter? Cole was a converted striker. Bellerin was a converted midfielder. You simply have an obsession with the fullbacks and most people on here disagree with you. Its becoming a tax repetitive actually.
09 Jun 2016 16:49:43
CS - Gibbs was converted and hasn't been a success. I believe he would have been better off playing in his original position as a midfield player. I am enttitled to my opinion an having been dropped by Arsenal and England, I tend to think that I am correct. Some players can make a change of position successfully, whilst others can't. Cole wasn't. Striker he was a left winger. Bellerin was a right winger. I don't have an obsession with full backs, but I know a good one when I see them and Bellerin is a good one, whilst Monreal is an average one. Perhaps we haven't sold Monreal because none of the top teams want him and he isn't going to an inferior team unless he has no option.
What is a 'ttax' repetitive? I presume you mean a tad repetitive. Quite frankly there isn't a single correct comment in your last post, it's embarrassing and if you think Monreal is the standard of player we need in order to win the PL or CL, then I question your knowledge of football. Ask any fan of a top English club if they would like Monreal at their club and see their response. If you asked them if they would like Cech, Bellerin, Sanchez or Ozil and see the response. Game, set and match.
09 Jun 2016 17:32:15
You question my knowledge of football when you go on about an average defender from Germany?
Your point was he was converted. That is irrelevant and you know it. And yes you're entitled to your opinion, as was the other guy who you called misguided. And by the way, Ashley Cole as a youth player was a striker. Whether you believe that or not is your problem.
Face facts rg, the majority of people know you're obsessing over a problem that isn't there. Coming out with childish nonsense like 'game, set and match' when you make a statement that is probably wrong anyway just proves how ridiculous you are.
Carry on with your obsession, but for the sake of everyones sanity stop going on about it. Like I said, its repetitive and boring.