So since the Jan transfer window of Wenger’s final season (around 18 months ago) we’ve replaced the first teamers below with;
Cech (Leno)
Koscielny (Sokratis, Luiz) Monreal (Tierney)
Ramsey (Willock) Wilshere (Guendouzi) Elneny (Torreira)
Mkhi (Ceballos) Iwobi (Nelson)
Walcott (Pepe) Giroud (Lacazette) Sanchez (Aubameyang)
On paper a decent side. However, out of that little lot I’d probably only take back Ramsey as I think we’ve improved (arguably in the cases of Koscielny and perhaps Cech) all over the pitch. The likes of Giroud and Theo were good servants but our current front 3 are a big improvement. As we’ve effectively a new side, bar Bellerin and the awful Xhaka, Wenger and Gazidis have departed, Bould demoted and Ozil and Mustafi pushed on to the sidelines, there should be every reason to be optimistic about the future.
This is clearly a new Arsenal on the pitch and behind the scenes so if Raul, Emery & co have bought well and (after a full season and 2 pre-seasons) is implementing his style on to the team things should improve. If it doesn’t then Emery can’t blame anyone but himself and should leave if we don’t get top 4 at the end of the season - as he would have failed.
Can't blame Wenger, Emery's side now
posted on 3/9/19
Emery does believe in a defensive midfielder. Its obvious. But it seems that he doesn't rate Torreira in that position because of his size. We are playing the same 'defensive midfielder' now that Wenger was playing. Xhaka.
In fact we are now playing two sitting and in case of the Spurs game, 3 sitting players. But if one player continues to make mistakes it doesn't matter.
posted on 3/9/19
Torreira hasn't really pushed on for me. Looks good in spells but hasn't nailed down a spot in a frankly average part of the side. Moving forward I would like to see a settled lineup such as Guendouzi, Willock and Torriera.
It might not work straight away but Emery needs to decide what his favoured 3some is and stick to it. Xhaka clearly isn't the long-term answer so his position is up for grabs.
posted on 3/9/19
Emery is messing Torreira about. Play him in his best position in DM or don't bother
posted on 3/9/19
Torreira was being bullied by Spurs and he stood up to it. The number of times he was fouled was quite amazing. I suspect he was targeted because Spurs expected him to react and get sent off again. I don't understand how Xhaka gets in ahead of him. I think we have enough tall players now with Pepe addition to counter Torreira and Ceballos lack of height. And its not as if Xhaka is dominating the air. His positioning is poor. Would Sokratis have bothered for the first Spurs goals had he been confident of Xhaka winning the ball and not getting underneath it like he eventually did?
posted on 3/9/19
Agree fully, if Emery doesn't get Top4 this season, then its time for change.
We don't have time to put up with nonsense, Wenger was sacked 10 years too late!
posted on 3/9/19
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 5 hours, 24 minutes ago
Your front line has improved massively.
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Tbf both Laca and Auba were signed in Wenger's last season
Not sure how much control he had on transfers by that point
posted on 3/9/19
Even if he gets top 4 which is achievable with this team, I'm not sure he can take us further like winning the league
posted on 3/9/19
Let's see how the team looks when Tierney and Bellerin are fit and in the team. By then Pepe should be settled in as well, and the shape of the team should be more consistent.
posted on 4/9/19
I think it is this embarrassing song that has forced Xhaka to make lots of mistakes
https://youtu.be/Aqkf2DeMgnA
posted on 4/9/19
Yeah but unless we are given 400m to spend by the Yanks we could have Pep and Klopp as a dream team and we'd still fail to win the title. Emery can only work with what he's got and top 4 would be considered a success in my view. He can't expected to achieve any more with the team we've got and the relatively small amount that we spend in comparison to the other big teams.
Will need real investment to catch up imo