The Arsenal Thread

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In think the defensive issues are ones that need to be addressed personally.

Also, if we sign Gervinho, I think he is more likely to cut in and have a shot rather than play it out wide for a cross into RVP.

Exactly my point. If Gervinho is cutting inside and there's nobody overlapping to provide the width like Clichy does, the opposition defence can play narrow and deny Arsenal space, safe in the knowledge that nobody will be offering left-sided threat as Gervinho runs into congestion in the centre of the pitch. Simple tactics, but makes a world of a difference. Regardless of how Arsenal play the ball in, the presence of Clichy (or not as the case may be) is vital.
 
This.

Sulsey - we're in for a CB because Squillaci is horrible and Bartley isn't ready. We need experienced back-up... My personal 1st choice CB pairing would be TV5 and Kos. w Samba (sorry GC!) and Djourou as back-up for respective positions (DCL and R)

Squillachi is terrible, yes.

Imo 2 back-up players are enough. Whether that be Kos, and Djourou or not.
Why spend more money on a CB that is not needed.
 
Read that Odemwinge has rejected move to Arsenal. Something to do with Wages..
 
Exactly my point. If Gervinho is cutting inside and there's nobody overlapping to provide the width like Clichy does, the opposition defence can play narrow and deny Arsenal space, safe in the knowledge that nobody will be offering left-sided threat as Gervinho runs into congestion in the centre of the pitch. Simple tactics, but makes a world of a difference. Regardless of how Arsenal play the ball in, the presence of Clichy (or not as the case may be) is vital.

Gervinho is more of a man that likes to beat players, his left foot isn't first class but it can still do a job. I can see him using his pace to beat the RB, going right of him and taking a shot or going left and putting in a cross rather than waiting for the overlap from the LB.
 
This.

Sulsey - we're in for a CB because Squillaci is horrible and Bartley isn't ready. We need experienced back-up... My personal 1st choice CB pairing would be TV5 and Kos. w Samba (sorry GC!) and Djourou as back-up for respective positions (DCL and R)

Mine too. I rate Kos and think he will do much better next season alongside a fit again Vermaelen and a first choice, settled Sczchezny. I'd still rather see a player like Sakho at Arsenal than Samba though. Arsenal's defence struggled a bit last season because of the incontinuity, not because of their inability. I would think they will work harder at defending set pieces too, but TV5 will help to improve that aspect.
 
Mine too. I rate Kos and think he will do much better next season alongside a fit again Vermaelen and a first choice, settled Sczchezny. I'd still rather see a player like Sakho at Arsenal than Samba though. Arsenal's defence struggled a bit last season because of the incontinuity, not because of their inability. I would think they will work harder at defending set pieces too, but TV5 will help to improve that aspect.

Experience gives Samba the upper hand as a back-up IMO.

Plus we can play him as super-sub striker if we're losing 1-0 with 10 mins to go.

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Gervinho is more of a man that likes to beat players, his left foot isn't first class but it can still do a job. I can see him using his pace to beat the RB, going right of him and taking a shot or going left and putting in a cross rather than waiting for the overlap from the LB.

He may be used on the RW btw - that's where he played for Lille most of the time.
 
Experience gives Samba the upper hand as a back-up IMO.

Plus we can play him as super-sub striker if we're losing 1-0 with 10 mins to go.

I'm looking forward to Samba as a ST. It's going to be insane.
 
Experience gives Samba the upper hand as a back-up IMO.

Plus we can play him as super-sub striker if we're losing 1-0 with 10 mins to go.

I'd say Sakho is better technically, on par physically, younger and more versatile. Probably more expensive though. I think Samba will be used against the more physical teams though, so in a way it does makes sense to go for him.
 
Experience gives Samba the upper hand as a back-up IMO.

Plus we can play him as super-sub striker if we're losing 1-0 with 10 mins to go.

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He may be used on the RW btw - that's where he played for Lille most of the time.

Ish. If you watch them, you'll notice that Hazard had a Free-flowing role, moving in behind Gervinho and Sow. So the 4-1-2-3 moved more too a 4-1-2-1-2.

When him and Hazard rarely swapped, he looked comfortable on the left also.

EDIT: Similar to Barcelona in a way. TV5 is about as forward thinking as Abidal...
 
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I'd say Sakho is better technically, on par physically, younger and more versatile. Probably more expensive though. I think Samba will be used against the more physical teams though, so in a way it does makes sense to go for him.

Is Sakho really that good? I have watched few Europa games, he played well. But haven't watched him playing as LB. Is he good enough to run up and down the wing for 90 mins providing the width?

From what i have seen it would be waste of his talent to play his as LB and bit slow to be a full back..
 
big rumours going around that clichly has signed for PSG for £10 million good price if you ask me
 
Is Sakho really that good? I have watched few Europa games, he played well. But haven't watched him playing as LB. Is he good enough to run up and down the wing for 90 mins providing the width?

From what i have seen it would be waste of his talent to play his as LB and bit slow to be a full back..

Yeah, realistically he'd only be used as a back up left back. I'm not suggesting Arsenal should try and sign him to replace Clichy (should he go) by any means
 
Yeah, realistically he'd only be used as a back up left back. I'm not suggesting Arsenal should try and sign him to replace Clichy (should he go) by any means

This.

Although the same for Verm. Play him there until Gibbs is fit (fitter than he is). Then move him centrally. I'm not saying play him there all the time. Just at the beginning of the season or perhaps in the "rougher" games, or when there is a talented RW on the field.
 
Yeah, realistically he'd only be used as a back up left back. I'm not suggesting Arsenal should try and sign him to replace Clichy (should he go) by any means

Yeah I got it, Sakho would be brilliant addition to the team but now with Samba almost done deal I dont think they will go for him. Wonder why none of the big teams have gone for him as he looked quality player (Honestly I watched him for about 4-5 games)..
 
If Clichy goes, I'd love to replace him with Baines. Massively underrated player.
 
OK. To clear up the Odemwingie nonsense:

According to the reliable North Bank Lower, Arsenal made an official enquiry to WBA a few weeks ago. I don't know what they said, but for one reason or another, we pulled out and didn't make a bid at all. So actually, Odemwingie didn't "reject" us at all. That's either him trying to make himself look cool or someone else talking out of their proverbial **** (see what I did there?). Suggestion is Arsenal have different targets (Gervinho?)

More news is that Arsenal are still interested in Ricky Alvarez. Sandro Orandelli picked him up 3 years ago aged 20 when scouting S. America (Although SO is actually based in Brazil) and we've been tracking him ever since. There are several other European clubs interested at the moment; including Malaga and Roma. Asking price is (or was) apparently €12m, a fee which put Arsenal off immediately because he was considered to be back-up/impact sub rather than first choice anywhere. He has an Italian passport so there would be no WP issues (despite being Argentinian)... Anyway. That's pretty much a summary of this from Young Guns:

Arsenal remain in the hunt for Vélez Sársfield midfielder Ricardo Álvarez, but six other European clubs have also shown an interest in the Argentine play-maker.

South American executive Richard Law is said to have travelled to Argentina last month for talks over transfer, but the negotiations were quickly over, as Law was not willing to match the €12 million Euro’s president Fernando Raffaini demanded. However, scouting of the player has continued, and the Gunners are plotting their next move.

Reliable Argentine website Olé reports that Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma, Málaga, Sporting and a German club have all spoken to Vélez about Ricardo’s availability. A number of offers are on the table for the player, but Olé says Arsenal have the most ‘authentic’ interest.

Brazil based scout Sandro Orlandelli picked up on the left footed maestro three years ago, when he showed positive signs as a 20-year-old, and various scouts have since followed his progress.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal would match Vélez’s asking price, especially as Álvarez’s would not be first choice, but more an impact substitute.

The transfer is expected to rumble on for a few more weeks yet.

Arsenal Still On The Trail Of Alvarez « Young Guns || Unrivalled Coverage Of Arsenal's Young Players & Their Development

By the way - don't know anything about the Clichy rumours. Seem pretty random and unfounded. Comes from a site called 'Welcome to the Gunners Town' or 'WTTGT' which has 40 followers on twitter. They say it's an 'exclusive' which may well mean they're wrong.

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By the way.

@Sulsey - Godcubed says "You're wrong" re: Vermaelen. Kthanksbye.
 
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