Encouraging performance today and we were unlucky not to win. Anyway, I really think Henry got it very wrong when he said we need 4 players. That's nearly 40% of the team. This Arsenal side are not almost half a team away from winning the PL.
Firstly, I seriously don't understand those who say we still need a defensive midfielder. I, like many fans, have been crying out for a proper one for years and finally we have him. Coquelin is arguably the best in the league. Probably 2nd only to Matic. He was immense again today. And he's only 23! Wenger also seems to have high hopes for Bielik and we have a number of other players who can cover, most notably Chambers, Arteta and Wilshere (assuming Flamini will leave).
Secondly, I don't think we need a goalkeeper. I would accept that we probably don't have any top class ones but we do have not 2, but 3 very good ones, all of whom can get better. Szczesny and Ospina in particular are both decent shot stoppers who do not disrupt our general play through an inability to command their area, which is what Mignolet does to Liverpool. They're both in their mid-20s and Martinez is in his early 20s, I don't think we should be wasting money upgrading from very good goalkeeper with potential to improve to a slightly better one.
That brings me to what we do need. A CB and a CF. I think we need a commanding physical presence, who isn't the slowest player in the league (no disrespect to Per) to play alongside Kos/Gabriel in years to come. They're not easy to come by but I think we are crying out for a Sol Campbell/Tony Adams type. And a fast CF. Giroud has been brilliant, but I think we need someone a bit more mobile who we can play more through balls to. Welbeck is a good squad player but he doesn't quite cut it for me and I suspect he will be deployed on the wings a fair bit as well.
2 players, that's what we need to win the title next season in my opinion.
Thierry is (half) wrong
posted on 26/4/15
That was after a free kick
posted on 26/4/15
Just watched Henry's analysis of the penalty shouts, simply awful. Brilliant player, but Henry has to rank as one of the worst pundits on tv alongside Scholes.
posted on 26/4/15
comment by Kings Road (U1762)
posted 3 minutes ago
https://mobile.twitter.com/Footballltrolls/status/592409807543521282
Ill leave you with this Arshavin, says it all
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Ha! You are genuinely hilarious. Look everyone, picture, red shirts, boring Arsenal, here's your proof. That's just the proper way to defend and I for one am glad we are finally doing it. The difference is our players didn't stay there when we had the ball.
posted on 26/4/15
comment by Kings Road (U1762)
posted 59 minutes ago
https://mobile.twitter.com/Footballltrolls/status/592409807543521282
Ill leave you with this Arshavin, says it all
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That pic proves what exactl?
posted on 26/4/15
Unlucky not to win
Chelsea created the best chances through the game and should've had two penalties.
posted on 26/4/15
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 26/4/15
The Cahill pen was as much as the Fab one, you see them given but harsh. Where as Oscar should've had two clear pens.
Ivanovic sent off? If he was very unlucky, he made his first foul early and you can't assume he'd get himself the yellow had he been on one and let's not forget your keeper could've easily walked.
You really belive you created more good chances? Despite us having serveral penaly appeals, two which should've been given, had a shot cleared off the line and Ramires' chance.
You found a good space a the end but no one was on to it and what else really? The Mert shot wide?
posted on 27/4/15
Wenger also seems to have high hopes for Bielik and we have a number of other players who can cover, most notably Chambers, Arteta and Wilshere (assuming Flamini will leave).
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None of the players "who can cover" can actually play there at all. You might as well list our DM cover as Giroud, Ospina and Wenger - they'd be about as capable.
posted on 27/4/15
comment by The Droog (U17596)
posted 23 hours, 59 minutes ago
The Cahill pen was as much as the Fab one, you see them given but harsh. Where as Oscar should've had two clear pens.
Ivanovic sent off? If he was very unlucky, he made his first foul early and you can't assume he'd get himself the yellow had he been on one and let's not forget your keeper could've easily walked.
You really belive you created more good chances? Despite us having serveral penaly appeals, two which should've been given, had a shot cleared off the line and Ramires' chance.
You found a good space a the end but no one was on to it and what else really? The Mert shot wide?
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I cannot believe people are even debating the Bellerin/Oscar incident. Seriously, I can't believe that's the stage football has got to in terms of diving. Oscar should have been booked. There was just nothing in it and Oscar threw himself to the ground.
Cahill's arms, no matter what anyone says, were in an unnatural position. Stopped the ball going towards goal. Can understand the debate, but I think it was a penalty.
Ivanovic's first foul was horrific. He could have been booked 4 times yesterday. There's no way Ospina should have been sent off. Bellerin had it.
You had 2 good chances, but the quality of our play and are attacking movement, not to mention the number of attacks we actually had were far superior. Cazorla and Sanchez both shot wide in good positions and there was a mis control from Sanchez in a brilliant position as well. You limited us to only a few sights of goal, but we did have them and we weren't ruthless enough. Unlike you, we knocked on the door throughout the game.
I feel like after a game like this the debate becomes so complicated and enters so many different realms of discussion, and breeds so many sub-debates, that those who want to (i.e. Chelsea fans) are capable of pretending to forget the overwhelming truth of yesterday's game which was that Chelsea sat back, came for a draw (see john Terry) and were pretty fooking dull as usual. That is an undeniable fact. Either way, congratulations on the title.
posted on 28/4/15
comment by ☂ (U19684)
posted 23 hours, 40 minutes ago
Wenger also seems to have high hopes for Bielik and we have a number of other players who can cover, most notably Chambers, Arteta and Wilshere (assuming Flamini will leave).
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None of the players "who can cover" can actually play there at all. You might as well list our DM cover as Giroud, Ospina and Wenger - they'd be about as capable.
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Wenger said Chambers' future is as a holding midfielder. Arteta has played there for us for the past 2 seasons, and Wilshere has played there before and plays a similar role for England. And this is all IF Coquelin were to get injured, but so far he seems to be made of steel.
I really feel quite strongly that we shouldn't be wasting money on a player in this position when Coquelin is one of the best in the league and only 23.