28 Nov 2016 05:26:00
It was good to see Wenger rotating the squad with the heavy December schedule ahead and achieving a win, leaving us only 3 points off top place, unbeaten in all competitions since the first day of the season when we lost with a weakened team. The injury to Giroud was bad news, hopefully it won't keep him out too long. Two tricky matches this week, which will require clever use of the squad. Against Bournemouth Sanchez was outstanding and I thought Xhaka had a decent match. Monreal redeemed himself with a quality ball for Walcott's goal, but he conceded a penalty and was lucky not to have given away a second. I would love us to sign Ake, but there is no way Chelsea would sell him to us.
28 Nov 2016 08:33:58
I think with the exceptions of Sanchez Belerin Caz Theo Cech Le Coq and Olly all our players need to up thier consistency levels from what they've shown so far this season.
Theo is having his best season ever obviously he's still a long way from top draw but he's doing much better than his usual hit and miss contribution.
Monreal has looked poor quite often but has also had very little in the way of cover from whoever has played in front of him while Kos is playing ok for me he is making a lot more silly errors than he usually does.
For me the majority of the squad need to up thier game if we are going to stay the course but the good news is I think most of them have much more in them than we have seen from them so far this season on a consistent basis.
28 Nov 2016 09:51:54
62 - I kinda agree with you, although I think Mustafi and others could be added to that list. But Bellerin and Cech and Theo and Sanchez have had poor games.
As a team we need to up the tempo - pressing, urgency and running off the ball more for the team. I don't want urgency in terms of giving the ball away but pressure on the opposition.
Players are only human and despite them wearing the best badge and earning my yearly wage in a month doesn't mean they won't have poor games on top of that - could they be playing with a slight injury or sickness that drops their level. I used to think Henry looked poor st times only to discover he was nursing an injury.
This is where the squad is key - I still think we are a striker, winger and fullback away from being a top side. This is exaggerated when injuries kick in.
I don't have the answer but I do have plenty opinions!
Someone said we miss Mozart - I agree, he was our perfect cover for Santi. I will say that Rambo should be able to play that role but looks like Wenger doesn't trust him in there. Granit showed some nice touches but against a poor side - let's give him time as he can defend and can turn defence into attack very quickly. That's what we miss.
Hopefully injuries clear up because we need options - Danny, Perez would be a wecolme addition plus competition for the front 3
With all that moaning - we are just 3 off the top spot and not really played super great yet. COYG! ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ†.
28 Nov 2016 17:08:53
What we need is our best eleven playing every week, whoever they are and have the rest fighting to get in and fit. Rotating should be because someone needs demoting or replacing through injury.
28 Nov 2016 18:58:27
Unfortunately Steve even if Caz and Belerin were fit our best 11 includes us having 2 Sanchez's 1 down the middle and the other on the left, a fully fit Danny would be very welcome right now but it's going to be February at the very earliest and even then that might be to soon for a player who only came back for a handful of games from a long lay off last season before he was long term injured again.
I think Danny is going to need lots of TLC to get 100% even if it has to next season before he plays again, little point in rushing him back after such a long lay off IMO.
28 Nov 2016 19:43:46
Steve, it doesn't happen often but we may actually be agreeing with each other. I want rotation because someone has shown they are better than the person originally in the first eleven, injuries ( wish we had none ) or dare I say it - a tactical change due to opposition which mean the best eleven is actually different. To not rotate means we must be more ruthless to finish small teams off and then make substitutions to rest players. It probably means playing a younger team in the league cup as we kinda half house this tournament where we are not always brave enough to put a full second selection out.
28 Nov 2016 21:18:36
I accept efl cup and some fa cup games, resting can be used. The rest is best for the job available.
28 Nov 2016 21:37:40
SY mate there's little doubt Mustafi is a big plus and the best partner Kos has had for a while but I still think in he is playing well within in his capabilities and isn't as the saying goes "leaving everything on the pitch "
28 Nov 2016 23:00:06
You're a tough man to please 62.
29 Nov 2016 08:46:57
:-) SY mate, I think it's about getting everyone to perform to the best of their individual capabilities, I don't expect Holding to perform at Kos level because there asking for more than the lad has to give but I really do think both Kos and Mustafi are capable of being more consistent and less sloppy than we have seen from them, 100% from everyone is all you can ask and in one way or another I don't think to many are at that level right now as our performance's show, just look at how many good goal scoring chances we concede in each and every game especially at the Emerirates, sooner or later some team is going to take those chances if we don't sort it out mate.