Steve Gleibers Arsenal Forum
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Supporters Forum
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Author:  Bernard1 [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Apparently Lacazette scored 11 out of 14 penalties last season. Without checking the stats I suspect that's a good enough proportion to justify making him our new regular penalty taker.

Author:  Bernard1 [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Gaz from Oz wrote:
Lots of stories surfacing of Man U signing Lukaku for 75 mil. If true then that is at least the cost to replace Alexis if not more. I rate Alexis higher than him.

With the way football inflation is going (Everton were apparently asking for £65m for Lukaku last summer), the cost of replacing Sanchez next year could well be even more. That's why I say sell him now. At least the £50m from City can be put towards somebody, or even two or three new players.

Author:  Wilts-Gooner [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Gaz from Oz wrote:
Lots of stories surfacing of Man U signing Lukaku for 75 mil. If true then that is at least the cost to replace Alexis if not more. I rate Alexis higher than him.


Sanchez is a better player obviously but his age and having only 1 year left on his contract means no club would spend that much on him, we might get £50M if we sell him to City or probably sub £40M if Bayern are still interested.

Unless we have a 'replacement' lined up he needs to stay for the final year so we can plan for replacing him next summer. We need to offload some of the many players who are deadwood in the squad rather than our best player.

Author:  AmericanGooner [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Point taken Soc, Zizou was a different kind of midfielder though. The Paddy to RM thing was a bit too much admittedly. But Paddy owned the center of the pitch in so many matches. Should we categorize him as a DCM? He was much more. If we really think about it, we kinda played with two DCMs with him and Petit if we look at it? With Paddy being more an end to end and Petit sweeping.

Good memories...good discussions about some great players. Although Scholes will always be the 'ginger pr*ck' to me. :icon_mrgreen:

I'm surprised Gilberto hasn't come up in the convo at some point...haha....I was never one of his biggest fans.

Author:  Wilts-Gooner [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Bernard wrote:
Gaz from Oz wrote:
Lots of stories surfacing of Man U signing Lukaku for 75 mil. If true then that is at least the cost to replace Alexis if not more. I rate Alexis higher than him.

With the way football inflation is going (Everton were apparently asking for £65m for Lukaku last summer), the cost of replacing Sanchez next year could well be even more. That's why I say sell him now. At least the £50m from City can be put towards somebody, or even two or three new players.


Might as well gift wrap the title for City next season then and also guarantee them a place above us?. If he wants to go we should be pushing for Bayern, perhaps accept £30M or so to sweeten the deal. We need to stop selling our best players to rivals and start behaving like a 'big club', it's not about money it's about the principle, the money would probably just sit in the bank anyway.

I have a feeling this might drag on most of the summer as we may be looking for a replacement but it's difficult to see who.. suspicious about where this £400K a week story is coming from... I don't trust you Ivan!.

Author:  Gunfire [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer ... -1.3145322

Everton laughing all the way to the bank. No way is this guy worth that.

Author:  Gaz from Oz [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Bernard wrote:
Apparently Lacazette scored 11 out of 14 penalties last season. Without checking the stats I suspect that's a good enough proportion to justify making him our new regular penalty taker.

Had not looked at his stats this closely but now I am not as sure of him being as good as his stats first appeared. I had wrongly thought he got 28 goals from open play. In the league he scored 28 goals but 10 were pens. We simply don't get many pens but I think he should be the pen taker. For the money paid he will need to score a lot more than 18 goals from open play next year. Even Theo gets those type of numbers.

Author:  Gaz from Oz [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Gunfire wrote:
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/manchester-united-agree-85-million-deal-for-romelu-lukaku-1.3145322

Everton laughing all the way to the bank. No way is this guy worth that.

If you don't make the CL for a couple of seasons you have to pay over the odds to even get players to look at you. But Man U did make it but not sure players think they will win something just by signing for them. Community Shield medals are not that prized by players.

Author:  Gaz from Oz [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

For all those in the UK looking at planning for games our website reports a number of our fixtures are rescheduled for TV

https://www.arsenal.com/news/ten-premie ... escheduled

Author:  Hazuki [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Gaz from Oz wrote:
Had not looked at his stats this closely but now I am not as sure of him being as good as his stats first appeared. I had wrongly thought he got 28 goals from open play. In the league he scored 28 goals but 10 were pens. We simply don't get many pens but I think he should be the pen taker. For the money paid he will need to score a lot more than 18 goals from open play next year. Even Theo gets those type of numbers.

He scored 37 goals in total last season, 11 of them were penalties. So that's a total of 26 goals from open play. Not a bad return at all.

Author:  Hazuki [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Lukaku is probably going to score 35 goals now just because of this post, but I can't believe anyone would spend that much on him. As things stand, I would be very surprised to see Man Utd break into the top five this season.

Author:  Bernard1 [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Wilts-Gooner wrote:
Bernard wrote:
With the way football inflation is going (Everton were apparently asking for £65m for Lukaku last summer), the cost of replacing Sanchez next year could well be even more. That's why I say sell him now. At least the £50m from City can be put towards somebody, or even two or three new players.

Might as well gift wrap the title for City next season then and also guarantee them a place above us?. If he wants to go we should be pushing for Bayern, perhaps accept £30M or so to sweeten the deal. We need to stop selling our best players to rivals and start behaving like a 'big club', it's not about money it's about the principle, the money would probably just sit in the bank anyway.

I have a feeling this might drag on most of the summer as we may be looking for a replacement but it's difficult to see who.. suspicious about where this £400K a week story is coming from... I don't trust you Ivan!.

But as dec said a while back, City are already so strong going forward and it's their defence that needed most work. So will it guarantee them the league? Even keeping Sanchez, do you seriously think we'd finish above City, because I don't? I'm quite sure Arsenal would love to sell him to Munich, but they won't even go to £300k let alone £400k. Losing £50m is an expensive way to show some principle. If you're right and Wenger would let it sit in the bank, nor is he going to spend what he would have to in order to win the title. As I've said, if we keep Sanchez this summer for him to be able to join City next summer for a transfer fee amounting to zilch, the only thing in my view that would stop losing the £50m from looking like a ridiculous decision is winning the title this forthcoming season. Under Wenger, even if we sign Sanchez, maybe Mahrez and the two new signings already in, I'm finding it hard to see that happening.

Personally, I don't think we'll be seen as a really big club again until Wenger does go. But turning our back on £50m to let Sanchez join the self-same club for nothing in a year will, in my view, make us look stupid.

Author:  Hazuki [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Bernard wrote:
Even keeping Sanchez, do you seriously think we'd finish above City, because I don't?

I don't see why we couldn't - and in any case we have a better shot of doing so if we don't sell them our best player. A lot can happen in a year. Perhaps we can persuade him to stay, or maybe a foreign club comes in for him. We don't even know who will be the manager of City next year. I say we take the chance, and maximise our chance of winning something this season.

Author:  Gaz from Oz [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Hazuki wrote:
Gaz from Oz wrote:
Had not looked at his stats this closely but now I am not as sure of him being as good as his stats first appeared. I had wrongly thought he got 28 goals from open play. In the league he scored 28 goals but 10 were pens. We simply don't get many pens but I think he should be the pen taker. For the money paid he will need to score a lot more than 18 goals from open play next year. Even Theo gets those type of numbers.

He scored 37 goals in total last season, 11 of them were penalties. So that's a total of 26 goals from open play. Not a bad return at all.

28 in the league, 1 in the CL and 6 in the UEFA Cup and the others maybe in french cups. I was talking about 18 open play/28 in the league.

Author:  Hazuki [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Gaz from Oz wrote:
28 in the league, 1 in the CL and 6 in the UEFA Cup and the others maybe in french cups. I was talking about 18 open play/28 in the league.

I realize that, but why not include all his goals in the analysis? He scored against some good teams in the Europa League.

Author:  Hazuki [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 03741.html

A good read on why our transfer dealings this summer are made a bit more complicated by our efforts to sign Özil and Sanchez to new contracts.

Author:  dec [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Hazuki wrote:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-transfer-news-summer-sell-out-tie-alexis-sanchez-mesut-ozil-new-contract-a7803741.html

A good read on why our transfer dealings this summer are made a bit more complicated by our efforts to sign Özil and Sanchez to new contracts.

I'm not so sure about that. Arsenal have the funds and it is self-generated. If the PL are going to go down this route in a serious way, going after one of the most financially sound clubs seems like a stupid place to start. Also, Liverpool's wages have rocketed in recent years. Why would they not be under the spotlight?

In any case, I'm sure the club could come up with some bonus/image rights fudge to pay the players if needs be. Barca have reportedly given Messi a £23m renewal fee.

Author:  Wilts-Gooner [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 3:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

dec wrote:
Hazuki wrote:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-transfer-news-summer-sell-out-tie-alexis-sanchez-mesut-ozil-new-contract-a7803741.html

A good read on why our transfer dealings this summer are made a bit more complicated by our efforts to sign Özil and Sanchez to new contracts.

I'm not so sure about that. Arsenal have the funds and it is self-generated. If the PL are going to go down this route in a serious way, going after one of the most financially sound clubs seems like a stupid place to start. Also, Liverpool's wages have rocketed in recent years. Why would they not be under the spotlight?

In any case, I'm sure the club could come up with some bonus/image rights fudge to pay the players if needs be. Barca have reportedly given Messi a £23m renewal fee.


We also have a lot of "dead money" tied up with players who contribute little or nothing to the squad, not always their own fault in many cases but business is business right?.

Walcott £120K
Wilshere £90K
Perez £70K
Campbell £70K
Debuchy £70K
Ospina £60K
Elneny or Gabriel £50K*
Gibbs £50K
Jenkinson £40K

A staggering £620,000 a week there in wages! (or just over £32M a year).

Not to mention Santi who has got to be on around £90K I would imagine and probably won't play at all next season.

I would put Elneny and Gabriel as one and the same and I think either could probably do a similar job, both somewhat limited defensive minded players, i.e. Elneny could probably play in a back 3 during an injury crisis, so little point having both of them.

Author:  Rich [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 6:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Lacazette for £50m or Lukaku for £75m?

In our team lacazette is a much better buy. Also I don't think lukaku will give Man U close to what Ibrahimovic gave them last year

Author:  lomekian [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Gaz from Oz wrote:
Bernard wrote:
Apparently Lacazette scored 11 out of 14 penalties last season. Without checking the stats I suspect that's a good enough proportion to justify making him our new regular penalty taker.

Had not looked at his stats this closely but now I am not as sure of him being as good as his stats first appeared. I had wrongly thought he got 28 goals from open play. In the league he scored 28 goals but 10 were pens. We simply don't get many pens but I think he should be the pen taker. For the money paid he will need to score a lot more than 18 goals from open play next year. Even Theo gets those type of numbers.


True but Arsenal's problem has largely been a lack of clinical finishing, particularly wasting Özil's best work. in 15-16, when Özil had about 15 assists by Xmas, he was still creating chances, but our strikers lost the ability to hit a cow's rear with a banjo. Lacazette isn't perfect, but his shots on target and shots to goals ratio is a lot better than anyone we've had since RVP.

Author:  lomekian [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Hazuki wrote:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-transfer-news-summer-sell-out-tie-alexis-sanchez-mesut-ozil-new-contract-a7803741.html

A good read on why our transfer dealings this summer are made a bit more complicated by our efforts to sign Özil and Sanchez to new contracts.


The info is accurate, but it fails to mention that the only sanction for not meeting this at this stage would be a fine. The sanctions get tougher in future years, but of course they would be based on % increases from each year, so this is a good time to break this rule!

Author:  lomekian [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Rich wrote:
Lacazette for £50m or Lukaku for £75m?

In our team lacazette is a much better buy. Also I don't think lukaku will give Man U close to what Ibrahimovic gave them last year


Buying Lukaku shows that Jose wants to go back to counter-attacking football with a target man. Lacazette is a better fit for us. Not as powerful or strong in the air, but much more subtle

Author:  old man of hoy [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Bernard wrote:
Morning socrates. Without getting involved in the debate over the Premiership's best midfielder, what I would say is that in my view the biggest example of an Arsenal midfielder dominating a Manchester United midfield was Petit in the 0-1 win at Old Trafford when Overmars scored. It must have been the 1997/98 season. Think it was the game where that bloke in the away section was televised doing his famous 'yeeees' celebration when we scored, or was it at the end of the game? From memory Vieira didn't even play that day so he wasn't there to help Petit. But Petit was simply masterful without him and pretty well ran the show on his own. Or that's my memory of it anyway.
Vieira played. Starting line-ups that day:

Manninger; Dixon; Adams; Keown; Winterburn; Paddy; Petit; Parlour; Overmars; Dennis and Wreh.

Schmeichel; Irwin; Berg; Johnsen; Gary Neville; Curtis; Phil Neville; Scholes; Beckham; Sheringham and Cole.

Author:  AmericanGooner [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 7:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

lomekian wrote:
Rich wrote:
Lacazette for £50m or Lukaku for £75m?

In our team lacazette is a much better buy. Also I don't think lukaku will give Man U close to what Ibrahimovic gave them last year


Buying Lukaku shows that Jose wants to go back to counter-attacking football with a target man. Lacazette is a better fit for us. Not as powerful or strong in the air, but much more subtle


I'd take Lacazette in a heartbeat over Lukaku. I like Lukaku very much because of his physicality and raw power but the criticism about his touch is accurate.

I think Mourinho is looking for another 'bully' like Costa. I mean that in terms of power (and not his attitude). Both players 'bully' their way into the box at times, if that makes sense.

Now if the offer was Lacazette or Martial, I'd re-think that.

Author:  bubblechris [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 8:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

AmericanGooner wrote:
lomekian wrote:

Buying Lukaku shows that Jose wants to go back to counter-attacking football with a target man. Lacazette is a better fit for us. Not as powerful or strong in the air, but much more subtle


I'd take Lacazette in a heartbeat over Lukaku. I like Lukaku very much because of his physicality and raw power but the criticism about his touch is accurate.

I think Mourinho is looking for another 'bully' like Costa. I mean that in terms of power (and not his attitude). Both players 'bully' their way into the box at times, if that makes sense.

Now if the offer was Lacazette or Martial, I'd re-think that.


You were doing quite well till you mentioned Martial.

Lukaku is a lazy bugga compared to Costa and Ibrahimovic and I cannot understand why Mourinho or Conte would even consider him.

Lacazette will do wonders for us, just wait and see.

Author:  Hazuki [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 8:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

lomekian wrote:
The info is accurate, but it fails to mention that the only sanction for not meeting this at this stage would be a fine. The sanctions get tougher in future years, but of course they would be based on % increases from each year, so this is a good time to break this rule!


dec wrote:
I'm not so sure about that. Arsenal have the funds and it is self-generated. If the PL are going to go down this route in a serious way, going after one of the most financially sound clubs seems like a stupid place to start. Also, Liverpool's wages have rocketed in recent years. Why would they not be under the spotlight?

In any case, I'm sure the club could come up with some bonus/image rights fudge to pay the players if needs be. Barca have reportedly given Messi a £23m renewal fee.

Yeah, I don't expect this to be an actual problem for us, but since we probably have big offers extended to both Sanchez and Özil it does limit us temporarily, since a lot of what we need to do depends on whether they sign on or not.

Author:  Bernard1 [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

old man of hoy wrote:
Bernard wrote:
Morning socrates. Without getting involved in the debate over the Premiership's best midfielder, what I would say is that in my view the biggest example of an Arsenal midfielder dominating a Manchester United midfield was Petit in the 0-1 win at Old Trafford when Overmars scored. It must have been the 1997/98 season. Think it was the game where that bloke in the away section was televised doing his famous 'yeeees' celebration when we scored, or was it at the end of the game? From memory Vieira didn't even play that day so he wasn't there to help Petit. But Petit was simply masterful without him and pretty well ran the show on his own. Or that's my memory of it anyway.
Vieira played. Starting line-ups that day:

Manninger; Dixon; Adams; Keown; Winterburn; Paddy; Petit; Parlour; Overmars; Dennis and Wreh.

Schmeichel; Irwin; Berg; Johnsen; Gary Neville; Curtis; Phil Neville; Scholes; Beckham; Sheringham and Cole.

Fair enough. In that case it was still Petit who dominated.

Author:  Wilts-Gooner [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Apparently we are now at our maximum quota of non-homegrown players..

So we might have to keep Walcott :20hospitals:

Author:  Bernard1 [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 9:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Wilts-Gooner wrote:
Apparently we are now at our maximum quota of non-homegrown players..

So we might have to keep Walcott :20hospitals:

Keep Szczesny?

Author:  Wilts-Gooner [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Bernard wrote:
Wilts-Gooner wrote:
Apparently we are now at our maximum quota of non-homegrown players..

So we might have to keep Walcott :20hospitals:

Keep Szczesny?


I don't know why we are even considering selling him when it seems like Ospina is off as well, makes most sense to sell Ospina and keep him yes.

We do have several expendable non-hg players though - Perez or Giroud, Elneny or Gabriel and most obviously Debuchy.

Players U21 don't count so that possibly makes Mahrez less likely than someone younger.

Author:  Gaz from Oz [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Hazuki wrote:
Gaz from Oz wrote:
28 in the league, 1 in the CL and 6 in the UEFA Cup and the others maybe in french cups. I was talking about 18 open play/28 in the league.

I realize that, but why not include all his goals in the analysis? He scored against some good teams in the Europa League.

Well I couldn't drill down to that detail in the site I had. I take it you have confidence that he will go well in the EPL. If Alexis leaves and we don't replace him he will have a lot of pressure on him. The whole squad will have a lot of expectations placed on them this year.

Given we don't have CL we really can sideline a group of players to the UEFA Cup and then the others must put in a challenge for the EPL. There would be absolutely no excuses for not challenging.

Author:  grantyboy [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

TOP GUN wrote:
Everton must be off their rocker if they are going to pay fatboy his 250k a week. that chubby little *%^@ looks well past his best


Too right, his best was a long time ago now. How long has it been now since Moyes and then Van Gaal took over? because he's been largely shite for all of that period.

Author:  grantyboy [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Gaz from Oz wrote:
...Then I start getting offers of cheap tickets all over the place. Mind you airfares and accomodation it is costing a *%^@ load. I had better see some good players on the pitch.


Walcott is on his way. :blob9:

Author:  Gaz from Oz [ Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

grantyboy wrote:
Gaz from Oz wrote:
...Then I start getting offers of cheap tickets all over the place. Mind you airfares and accomodation it is costing a *%^@ load. I had better see some good players on the pitch.


Walcott is on his way. :blob9:

I hope to catch up with Theo personally and give him some feedback on his performances. Box of tissues on the desk and a glass of water for him.

Author:  kiwipete [ Fri Jul 07, 2017 12:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Looking at Lacazette's highlights package he seems to thrive on giving and receiving fast accurate passes .
Özil will be on the same wavelength for sure but Ramsay and Chamberlains overhit specials might cause the new guy some frustration .

I could see Alexandre and Walcott combining well if Theo had the wherewithal to apply himself . Perez also if given the chance .

He seems an angry little bee type player .... could be a key to unlocking park the bus defences that have frustrated us in the past

Author:  kiwipete [ Fri Jul 07, 2017 12:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Gaz from Oz wrote:
I hope to catch up with Theo personally and give him some feedback on his performances. Box of tissues on the desk and a glass of water for him.

yeah , yeah I can see it now ; Mr Hardarse Redneck Townsville Boy all primed for action ., waiting outside the ground , Arsenal team coach rolls in .

.... deep breath .. " Okay here we go , I'll tell this little pr*ck what I think of him .....useless t***ser "

. er ahhmmm yes ....... ahmmm . " Theo , Theo .... any chance of an autograph mate .....? "



" Glad you signed the new contract Arsene "

Author:  Gaz from Oz [ Fri Jul 07, 2017 4:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

kiwipete wrote:
Gaz from Oz wrote:
I hope to catch up with Theo personally and give him some feedback on his performances. Box of tissues on the desk and a glass of water for him.

yeah , yeah I can see it now ; Mr Hardarse Redneck Townsville Boy all primed for action ., waiting outside the ground , Arsenal team coach rolls in .

.... deep breath .. " Okay here we go , I'll tell this little pr*ck what I think of him .....useless t***ser "

. er ahhmmm yes ....... ahmmm . " Theo , Theo .... any chance of an autograph mate .....? "



" Glad you signed the new contract Arsene "

*%^@ you nailed me straight away. Am I that transparent. In all seriousness do you believe Theo has a place in the team if we play 3 at the back?

Just spent a couple of hours at the V8's practice sessions. Only about 27 degress outside but jeez the humidity is about 70-80% which for winter is not the usual.

Author:  Gaz from Oz [ Fri Jul 07, 2017 7:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

There are some sobering figures in this report regarding Santi's contribution compared to others at the club who might fill his position. None of the others have the same overall abilities. Simply I think we have to replace Santi and this will cost a mint.

http://eplindex.com/80317/arsenals-opti ... njury.html

Author:  Bernard1 [ Fri Jul 07, 2017 7:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Gaz from Oz wrote:
There are some sobering figures in this report regarding Santi's contribution compared to others at the club who might fill his position. None of the others have the same overall abilities. Simply I think we have to replace Santi and this will cost a mint.

http://eplindex.com/80317/arsenals-opti ... njury.html

But do we want a like for like player to replace him? Let's be brutally frank, we didn't look like winning the title even when he used to play, however fine a player he was. So might it be better to replace him with a different type of player? I know Xhaka is a big bloke, but I wouldn't mind someone with more physical presence than Cazorla being brought in to replace him and that's why I wasn't upset when I saw Carvalho being rumoured as a target. He's okay with the ball, but I'd describe him as efficient in possession rather than brilliant and I wouldn't lose any sleep with the idea of Xhaka and Carvalho (or someone like him) playing alongside each other. He certainly doesn't have the skill of Cazorla. But there again with Özil, and if we do sign Mahrez, isn't that all the creativity we'll be likely to need rather than someone who might just do the same, even if it's to the same standard, as Cazorla?

We saw a difference when the three at the back was introduced. Perhaps what Arsenal need most is another change further up the pitch, rather than trying to find someone with "the same overall abilities" which, as you suggest, may "cost a mint."

Author:  Gaz from Oz [ Fri Jul 07, 2017 10:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Supporters Forum

Bernard wrote:
Gaz from Oz wrote:
There are some sobering figures in this report regarding Santi's contribution compared to others at the club who might fill his position. None of the others have the same overall abilities. Simply I think we have to replace Santi and this will cost a mint.

http://eplindex.com/80317/arsenals-opti ... njury.html

But do we want a like for like player to replace him? Let's be brutally frank, we didn't look like winning the title even when he used to play, however fine a player he was. So might it be better to replace him with a different type of player? I know Xhaka is a big bloke, but I wouldn't mind someone with more physical presence than Cazorla being brought in to replace him and that's why I wasn't upset when I saw Carvalho being rumoured as a target. He's okay with the ball, but I'd describe him as efficient in possession rather than brilliant and I wouldn't lose any sleep with the idea of Xhaka and Carvalho (or someone like him) playing alongside each other. He certainly doesn't have the skill of Cazorla. But there again with Özil, and if we do sign Mahrez, isn't that all the creativity we'll be likely to need rather than someone who might just do the same, even if it's to the same standard, as Cazorla?

We saw a difference when the three at the back was introduced. Perhaps what Arsenal need most is another change further up the pitch, rather than trying to find someone with "the same overall abilities" which, as you suggest, may "cost a mint."

I have trouble identifying someone currently at the club who can play near the Santi position and give the forward passes and the killer ball that opens up defences. I had hopes of Campbell but obviously Wenger did not see the same positives. Too many current players who spend most of the game with safe sideways or backward passes and often whilst they do this the opposing defence pours back. Maybe as you speculate playing with the back 3 may change a few things. Players will need to perform this year because I think all goodwill has been used up with a large number of the supporter base.

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