Supporters Forum

TOP GUN · **#314241**

Bernard wrote:

TOP GUN wrote:

My top ten arsenal midfielders of all time. (Doesn’t include players that could be considered wingers e.g merse or overmars)

In order

1) Patrick Vieira (the king)
2) Liam Brady
3) Cesc Fabregas (will anger some but it’s my list)
4) Emmanuel Petitt
5) David Rocastle
6) Steve Williams (why did George sell him, he seemed a very George player)
7) Paul Davis (criminally under rated I thought)
8) Mickey Thomas (I’m so tempted to put him higher but he could be such a lazy git sometimes but that was the conundrum about him as a player )
9) The invisible wall
10) Kevin Richardson (that was another odd transfer, wins a title and puff he’s gone to Spain,)

There will be plenty on honourable mentions potentially for Alan Ball (a favourite of my dads ) and others but this was aimed at players in my arsenal supporting era

Your list has a lot of merit. The first two are the same for me, but Petit comes third. He and Vieira is the best central midfield I've ever seen at Arsenal.

Are you counting Pires as a winger but Rocastle, who played mostly out wide, as a central player? I saw Alan Ball so he walks into my top ten. As does Stewart Robson who you don't mention at all. I agree with you putting Williams and Davis quite high.

I'm also going to get Charlie George in as a midfielder. After all, Radford and Kennedy were the front two he played behind in the first double season. The only reason I've excluded Alan Hudson is he didn't play enough games.

My own top ten: 1) Vieira 2) Brady 3) Petit 4) Ball 5) Rocastle 6) Fabregas 7) Williams 8) Robson 9) Davis 10) George

Great top ten ! Ball was supposed to be a cracking player.

i consider rocky a midfielder primarily a midfielder rather than winger and whilst he did often play on the right he also played in the centre and I saw him more of a workhorse midfield than a winger hence his inclusion. Actually and for that reason the notable omission from both our tens in ominous, what about the Romford pele! 3 titles 4 fa cups and a league cup! How did we miss him, I’m not sure who I would remove from my ten to include him.

DHD · **#314242**

This from Amy Lawrence in this morning’s Grauniad:

“It speaks volumes for the scale of change since Arsenal visited the Borisov Arena in last season’s Europa League that out of the 18-man squad who came during Arsène Wenger’s final campaign only four travelled this time. Most of last season’s headline players here - Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere - feel part of a different era.
The really complicated bit is that last year’s crop, who won 4-2 here, were unmistakably the B team, players who were struggling to get into Arsenal’s Premier League selection. This was Emery’s selection more or less at full strength, barring injuries and illness, and they found the going extremely heavy. Shaping a new Arsenal identity is not a particularly simple task in a squad who still have a transitional feel.”

DHD · **#314243**

Bernard wrote:

My own top ten: 1) Vieira 2) Brady 3) Petit 4) Ball 5) Rocastle 6) Fabregas 7) Williams 8) Robson 9) Davis 10) George

Understandable that you rate Petit so highly B - can't say I'd argue - but - he wouldn't be that high on my list because wasn't really with us that long. Looking at your list and their respective appearances:
1) Vieira 279
2) Brady 235
3) Petit 85
4) Ball 177
5) Rocastle 228
6) Fabregas 212
7) Williams 95
8) Robson 150
9) Davis 446
10) George 133

TOP GUN · **#314244**

Surely picking Rocky ahead of Fàbregas is pure sentimentality. Parlour has to be included

I think Manu was a great midfielder but not as good as Cesc especially in the legend stakes for legging it off to Barca

My adjusted one

1) Patrick Vieira (the king)
2) Liam Brady
3) Cesc Fabregas (will anger some but it’s my list)
4) Emmanuel Petitt
5) David Rocastle
6) Steve Williams (why did George sell him, he seemed a very George player)
7) Ray Parlour
8) Mickey Thomas (I’m so tempted to put him higher but he could be such a lazy git sometimes but that was the conundrum about him as a player )
9) The invisible wall
10) Paul Davis

dec · **#314245**

socrates wrote:

Last night was embarassing and humiliating.

The worst thing was it wasn't due to lack of effort it was just an overall lack of quality, individually and collectively. How many teams have we seen park the bus against us in recent seasons and we just don't have the nous to overcome this tactic.

.

Hi Soc

The frustrating thing about last night is that these chumps weren't even good at parking the bus. We just did nothing. Persevering with 3 centre backs against a team with a feeble attacking threat. It was terrible stuff.

dec · **#314246**

TOP GUN wrote:

Surely picking Rocky ahead of Fàbregas is pure sentimentality. Parlour has to be included

I think Manu was a great midfielder but not as good as Cesc especially in the legend stakes for legging it off to Barca

My adjusted one

1) Patrick Vieira (the king)
2) Liam Brady
3) Cesc Fabregas (will anger some but it’s my list)
4) Emmanuel Petitt
5) David Rocastle
6) Steve Williams (why did George sell him, he seemed a very George player)
7) Ray Parlour
8) Mickey Thomas (I’m so tempted to put him higher but he could be such a lazy git sometimes but that was the conundrum about him as a player )
9) The invisible wall
10) Paul Davis

Freddie? More of a central midfielder than Rocky..

TOP GUN · **#314247**

dec wrote:

TOP GUN wrote:

Surely picking Rocky ahead of Fàbregas is pure sentimentality. Parlour has to be included

I think Manu was a great midfielder but not as good as Cesc especially in the legend stakes for legging it off to Barca

My adjusted one

1) Patrick Vieira (the king)
2) Liam Brady
3) Cesc Fabregas (will anger some but it’s my list)
4) Emmanuel Petitt
5) David Rocastle
6) Steve Williams (why did George sell him, he seemed a very George player)
7) Ray Parlour
8) Mickey Thomas (I’m so tempted to put him higher but he could be such a lazy git sometimes but that was the conundrum about him as a player )
9) The invisible wall
10) Paul Davis

Freddie? More of a central midfielder than Rocky..

I always thought of him as a wide attacker .

Bernard · **#314248**

dec wrote:

TOP GUN wrote:

Freddie? More of a central midfielder than Rocky..

I always thought of him as a wide attacker .

I certainly see Ljungberg as a wider player.

Bernard · **#314249**

TOP GUN wrote:

Surely picking Rocky ahead of Fàbregas is pure sentimentality. Parlour has to be included

I think Rocastle had a better all round game than Fabregas. Both were supremely gifted, but Rocastle consistently won the ball too. For me Parlour isn't quite gifted enough to get in my top ten.

Rich · **#314250**

Willock with two more goals for the U23s tonight. They lead spurs 3-0 at Ht. probably deserves some more first team chances

TOP GUN · **#314251**

Bernard wrote:

TOP GUN wrote:

Surely picking Rocky ahead of Fàbregas is pure sentimentality. Parlour has to be included

I think Rocastle had a better all round game than Fabregas. Both were supremely gifted, but Rocastle consistently won the ball too. For me Parlour isn't quite gifted enough to get in my top ten.

Was Stewart robson much better than parlour ? He was before my time.

Bernard · **#314252**

TOP GUN wrote:

Was Stewart robson much better than parlour ? He was before my time.

That explains it. Didn't realise Robson pre-dates you. But yes, he was.

old man of hoy · **#314253**

Bernard wrote:

TOP GUN wrote:

Was Stewart robson much better than parlour ? He was before my time.

That explains it. Didn't realise Robson pre-dates you. But yes, he was.

No he was not.

dec · **#314254**

Goonie wrote:

TOP GUN wrote:

Surely picking Rocky ahead of Fàbregas is pure sentimentality. Parlour has to be included

I think Manu was a great midfielder but not as good as Cesc especially in the legend stakes for legging it off to Barca

My adjusted one

1) Patrick Vieira (the king)
2) Liam Brady
3) Cesc Fabregas (will anger some but it’s my list)
4) Emmanuel Petitt
5) David Rocastle
6) Steve Williams (why did George sell him, he seemed a very George player)
7) Ray Parlour
8) Mickey Thomas (I’m so tempted to put him higher but he could be such a lazy git sometimes but that was the conundrum about him as a player )
9) The invisible wall
10) Paul Davis

Santi Cazorla is (almost) everyone's recent favourite... Guendouzi will be the next one.

And with good cause. Cazorla was a lovely player. Better than Williams, Parlour, Stewart Robson, Paul Davis. Ramsey should be in there too.

Bernard · **#314255**

old man of hoy wrote:

Bernard wrote:

That explains it. Didn't realise Robson pre-dates you. But yes, he was.

No he was not.

Come off it. Of course he was!

Roastbeef · **#314256**

OK So Peter Storey and "Stanley" Simpson, the two midfield anchors that brought us our first "Double", don't get a mention...?? - Unbelievable!

TOP GUN · **#314257**

dec wrote:

Goonie wrote:

Santi Cazorla is (almost) everyone's recent favourite... Guendouzi will be the next one.

And with good cause. Cazorla was a lovely player. Better than Williams, Parlour, Stewart Robson, Paul Davis. Ramsey should be in there too.

Which player would you remove for Ramsey then ?cazorla maybe for Davis at best.

Bernard · **#314258**

Roastbeef wrote:

OK So Peter Storey and "Stanley" Simpson, the two midfield anchors that brought us our first "Double", don't get a mention...?? - Unbelievable!

Surely Peter Simpson is predominantly remembered as a central defender? McLintock's partner in the first double season.

Bernard · **#314259**

TOP GUN wrote:

dec wrote:

And with good cause. Cazorla was a lovely player. Better than Williams, Parlour, Stewart Robson, Paul Davis. Ramsey should be in there too.

Which player would you remove for Ramsey then ?cazorla maybe for Davis at best.

Personally I'd go for Davis instead of Cazorla. Think dec is grossly over-rating both him and Ramsey. It's not all about technical ability. If it was, Hudson and Özil would walk into everyone's top ten.

old man of hoy · **#314260**

Roastbeef wrote:

OK So Peter Storey and "Stanley" Simpson, the two midfield anchors that brought us our first "Double", don't get a mention...?? - Unbelievable!

Yes, though I think of Stan as a great defender a little further back than midfield. He was very adaptable and could play several roles. Another who I rated was Talbot - phenomenal strength and will-to-win. A personal favourite from an earlier time was Jimmy Bloomfield - a class act.

However, the best of the lot was the incomparable Paddy.

old man of hoy · **#314261**

Bernard wrote:

old man of hoy wrote:

No he was not.

Come off it. Of course he was!

Oh, no he wasn't!

old man of hoy · **#314262**

Jon Sammels was a very gifted player too - great passer, wonderful shot and a bit harder in the tackle than his critics believed.

dec · **#314263**

Bernard wrote:

TOP GUN wrote:

Which player would you remove for Ramsey then ?cazorla maybe for Davis at best.

Personally I'd go for Davis instead of Cazorla. Think dec is grossly over-rating both him and Ramsey. It's not all about technical ability. If it was, Hudson and Özil would walk into everyone's top ten.

I know it is not all about technical ability, but that is primarily what differentiates top players from the rest. Cazorla has played over 70 times for Spain, winning 2 Euro championships at a time when they never had a better selection of midfielders. I really liked Paul Davis and think that he was under-rated during his career but Santi was comfortably a better player.

Bernard · **#314264**

old man of hoy wrote:

Bernard wrote:

Come off it. Of course he was!

Oh, no he wasn't!

You must be on a wind up.

Bernard · **#314265**

dec wrote:

but Santi was comfortably a better player.

A bit more skillful perhaps, but sorry not even close to being 'comfortably a better player'. Davis won the ball back as well as being very talented.

Decaf · **#314266**

Kusal Perera 153 not out to beat SA by one wicket at Kingsmead. One for the ages that.

Lincoln gooner · **#314267**

With all the debate about our greatest midfielders I notice not even a mention for Xhaka. He'd struggle to make the top 30.

Decaf · **#314268**

Greeny wrote:

Bernard wrote:

I actually think winning the Europa League is more likely than a top four place. Why don't you?

Goonermen, lend me your ears!

With the top four place we are competing against Chelsea and Man U
For the Europa League we are competing with Chelsea, and also Inter, Napoli, Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal, Benfica
All teams that can beat us over two legs
The Premier League is easier for this side

Thank you for taking the time
Greeny

I'd be amazed if they achieved either. But I'd agree: 4th is the marginal less improbable of the two.

DHD · **#314269**

Just as some weekends are chock full of high class sport, this week is the opposite. Couple of poxy cup ties in which I have no interest whatever, so I watched the cricket.

Wow!

South Africa v Sri Lanka - what a last session. Needing 304 in the final innings, Sri Lanka were well placed on 206-6, but SA took quick wickets and had it all but wrapped up at 226-9. Then Perera took control, farming the bowling to knock off the 78 runs needed. He finished on 153 not out and his partner Fernando faced 28 balls to score 6, 4 of which came from overthrows! Amazing game.

Were you watching, Decaf?

Bernard · **#314270**

Decaf wrote:

Greeny wrote:

Goonermen, lend me your ears!

With the top four place we are competing against Chelsea and Man U
For the Europa League we are competing with Chelsea, and also Inter, Napoli, Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal, Benfica
All teams that can beat us over two legs
The Premier League is easier for this side

Thank you for taking the time
Greeny

I'd be amazed if they achieved either. But I'd agree: 4th is the marginal less improbable of the two.

Although any of Inter, Napoli, Sevilla, Valencia, Villareal and Benfica could beat us over two legs, I'd make us the favourites against all of them. For me winning the Europa League still looks more likely than finishing above both Chelsea and Manchester United in the Premier League (assuming that overtaking Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham is beyond us).

john1 · **#314271**

bromley gooner wrote:

With all the debate about our greatest midfielders I notice not even a mention for Xhaka. He'd struggle to make the top 30.

top 30? Wouldn't make my top 100!

john1 · **#314272**

As well as those already mentioned, for a top 30 I'd include the following (in no particular order):
Kelly, Talbot, Gilberto, Edu, Petrovic, Rosicky

bubblechris · **#314273**

Bernard wrote:

Decaf wrote:

I'd be amazed if they achieved either. But I'd agree: 4th is the marginal less improbable of the two.

Although any of Inter, Napoli, Sevilla, Valencia, Villareal and Benfica could beat us over two legs, I'd make us the favourites against all of them. For me winning the Europa League still looks more likely than finishing above both Chelsea and Manchester United in the Premier League (assuming that overtaking Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham is beyond us).

What are you on. I'd love some if you've got any to spare................

Win the Europa when we can't even beat Bate away :42laughter:

TOP GUN · **#314274**

Worst ten arsenal midfielders ? :laughing7:

Where do you start

dec · **#314275**

TOP GUN wrote:

Worst ten arsenal midfielders ? :laughing7:

Where do you start

Xhaka?

Bernard · **#314276**

bubblechris wrote:

Bernard wrote:

Although any of Inter, Napoli, Sevilla, Valencia, Villareal and Benfica could beat us over two legs, I'd make us the favourites against all of them. For me winning the Europa League still looks more likely than finishing above both Chelsea and Manchester United in the Premier League (assuming that overtaking Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham is beyond us).

What are you on. I'd love some if you've got any to spare................

Win the Europa when we can't even beat Bate away :42laughter:

More chance of that in my view than finishing above both Manchester United AND Chelsea. Should we get through against BATE we won't have to meet all of the sides that were listed, and in two a legged round I'd fancy us to beat any of them.

long time gooner · **#314277**

Perhaps we should sign some Newport County players. They appear to be better than us at keeping Man City out (so far). :42laughter:

old man of hoy · **#314278**

Bernard wrote:

old man of hoy wrote:

Oh, no he wasn't!

You must be on a wind up.

Go look at their respective records - Parlour was by far the greater achiever. No question about it.

Lincoln gooner · **#314279**

dec wrote:

TOP GUN wrote:

Worst ten arsenal midfielders ? :laughing7:

Where do you start

Xhaka?

Yes, plus how about Frimpong, Hillier, McGoldrick?

dec · **#314280**

bromley gooner wrote:

dec wrote:

Xhaka?

Yes, plus how about Frimpong, Hillier, McGoldrick?

I was actually joking, although when you consider his transfer fee....jeez.

Hillier was the first one that came to mind for me. Jensen was bloody awful.

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