Arsenal Centre-Back Per Mertesacker Set

Unfortunately thats the style we play. Barca break down just the same way and thats why they always have fast centre backs. Even converting midfield players to the role, who can spot danger and move to the ball faster.

Per would suit Stoke.

While Monreal is just as quick as Gibbs.
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No he isn't. You saying it doesn't make it so.

" No he isn't. You saying it doesn't make it so."

I guess you haven't seen much of Monreal. That or you think Gibbs is 'Walcott fast'. Which is a bit delusional.

Monreal is very quick. That is a fact.

I guess you haven't seen much of Monreal. That or you think Gibbs is 'Walcott fast'. Which is a bit delusional.
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Where did I say that Gibbs is Walcott fast? Don't build straw men arguments.

Gibbs is faster than Monreal. Lennon has done nothing against Gibbs when he has played against him whereas Monreal was so scared of his pace that he tried to play offside against him and was completely burned.

Monreal isn't even as fast as Baines. He is a tidy defender but pace is something he doesn't rely on! That takes away from his attacking.

"Where did I say that Gibbs is Walcott fast? Don't build straw men arguments."

You're a sharp dude Jenius. A lot of guys walk head first into that trap.

"Gibbs is faster than Monreal. Lennon has done nothing against Gibbs when he has played against him whereas Monreal was so scared of his pace that he tried to play offside against him and was completely burned."

Gibbs may be faster than him. But not by much. Tactics and what Monreal tried against Lennon is not really that relevant.

I don't think there's too much between them. He's certainly quicker than Sagna, who's lost plenty of pace.

Sagna and Gibbs are both quicker than Jenkinson and Nacho.

Gibbs is probably the fastest in our squad after Walcott.

Tactics and what Monreal tried against Lennon is not really that relevant.
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It is relevant because Wenger decided beforehand that there would be only one winner if he left Monreal with Lennon one on one. So to combat it we played the trap. Thats the issue with Mertsesacker as well.

Sagna has lost pace. Thats why I think Wenger will buy another right back. Jenko isn't ready and too often gets caught out deeper than his centre backs.

@Jenius: It is not only Jenkinson. It is also Vermaelen and others. And every time I see Djourou play for Hanover, he gets caught too deep invalidating the offside trap at least once. This seems to be a recurring theme with Arsenal players. Don't they practice offside traps/defensive positioning?

Monreal is not quick, Gibbs is rapid.

Thomas T.

We never even played the offside trap in recent years. I think the last time we played that was with Sol and Kolo. Now both players were fast so whenever anyone timed a run, we had Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure, Sol and even occasionally Lauren able to recover.

I think a lot of this offside stuff has come from Steve Bould and our present players are totally unsuited to it.