The Arsenal Thread

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Well.. no. Nasri played there about 3 times. Wenger tried several other options before looking at him to fill that spot. Wilshere, Diaby, RvP were all picked to fill Cesc's position ahead of Nasri. Unfortunately, none of them worked to the same extent, just as Nasri didn't which emphasises our reliance on Fabregas or at least someone like him (Ramsey, who is clearly his long-term replacement).

He can drive from deep very well, but what I'm saying is that unlike Scholes, and every other player who has played the 'Scholes role' has had a significantly better passing range and vision than Nasri has.

He's a straightforward #10, or a wide-forward for me. I think he'd struggle if he had a more creative (assisting) role to fill. He picked up 3 assists all season and made only 0.3 through-balls/game (although 1.9 key passes/game). He also completed (on avg) only 1.2 long balls/game compared to Fabregas (3.1), Wilshere (3.1), Ramsey (3). **** - Even DENILSON made more long-balls per game (1.9)!

Compare those stats to Utd: Scholes made an avg of 8.4 long balls/game, Fletcher and Rooney made 4.6 and Carrick made 4.4. You can say that's just about the different philosophies of Wenger and SAF but there is more to it than that IMO. Rooney and Giggs also made more through balls/game (0.5/0.3) and both also made more KPpg (2.1/2.4 respectively).

Think those are some interesting stats ;)

Again if he were to play there he wouldnt be playing the scholes roles, well aware of those stats, thats why i just came to those conclusions, but still capable of the playing CM, driving from the midfield and playing short passes off Rooney.

Scholes played so many deadly long balls because he no longer had the legs to get forwards like him his prime. Nasri is an intelligent enough player to adapt to a different game
 
Not particularly keen on how Barca do their business, but that's not a particularly uncommon way to pay for a transfer. Do you desperately need the cash up front to pay cash up front for your own targets? That would normally reduce the fee paid for the player...

I understand that, desperately is not the issue, but I can just see what will happen. We will sell for that and then only invest the 8.5M into another player. It's typical Arsenal.
 
Again if he were to play there he wouldnt be playing the scholes roles, well aware of those stats, thats why i just came to those conclusions, but still capable of the playing CM, driving from the midfield and playing short passes off Rooney.

Scholes played so many deadly long balls because he no longer had the legs to get forwards like him his prime. Nasri is an intelligent enough player to adapt to a different game

Sure. He's perfectly capable of adapting his game, but I'm just saying that I think he'd be more comfortable STARTING in a #10 role, rather than driving from a deeper position where, invariably, he'd also be asked to create from. In any team, that sort of player almost always has to be able to create (both having the passing range and vision to do so) from his starting position; either because he's unable to get forward (whether you're on the back-foot, or the opposition is flooding the midfield or whatever) .

I genuinely can't think of many deep-lying players whose role is solely to drive from deep and isn't asked to also create from there. Maybe Diaby, but he epitomises the box-to-box midfielder in that he also tracks back - he has little to no creative brain when it comes to making through-balls etc. so he just makes short, simple passes and, in the current system, swaps with Fabregas so that there's always someone creating from deep. Admittedly, Rooney could do something similar to Fabregas with his wonderful passing range etc. but for me, he isn't someone who can control the tempo and is, again, more comfortable as a #10 than a CM.

Wilshere is a deep-lying player - people generally think of him as a player who drives from deep, and a lot of people see him as Cesc's replacement or at least as a future AMC (unlikely from what I've seen of him there) but he also creates from deep. How many times do we see him switching possession to the opposite flank, or playing long (ISH!) balls forward? Fairly often I'd say - 3.1 long-balls/game according to WhoScored (Opta) data.

Same with Barcelona - Xavi rarely bombs forward; he stays back a lot and controls the tempo, playing long-balls etc. while Messi creates in the same way as Rooney. I suppose you could say that Nasri could do a similar job to Iniesta but again, I think his creativity lets him down.
 
Sure. He's perfectly capable of adapting his game, but I'm just saying that I think he'd be more comfortable STARTING in a #10 role, rather than driving from a deeper position where, invariably, he'd also be asked to create from. In any team, that sort of player almost always has to be able to create (both having the passing range and vision to do so) from his starting position; either because he's unable to get forward (whether you're on the back-foot, or the opposition is flooding the midfield or whatever) .

I genuinely can't think of many deep-lying players whose role is solely to drive from deep and isn't asked to also create from there. Maybe Diaby, but he epitomises the box-to-box midfielder in that he also tracks back - he has little to no creative brain when it comes to making through-balls etc. so he just makes short, simple passes and, in the current system, swaps with Fabregas so that there's always someone creating from deep. Admittedly, Rooney could do something similar to Fabregas with his wonderful passing range etc. but for me, he isn't someone who can control the tempo and is, again, more comfortable as a #10 than a CM.

Wilshere is a deep-lying player - people generally think of him as a player who drives from deep, and a lot of people see him as Cesc's replacement or at least as a future AMC (unlikely from what I've seen of him there) but he also creates from deep. How many times do we see him switching possession to the opposite flank, or playing long (ISH!) balls forward? Fairly often I'd say - 3.1 long-balls/game according to WhoScored (Opta) data.

Same with Barcelona - Xavi rarely bombs forward; he stays back a lot and controls the tempo, playing long-balls etc. while Messi creates in the same way as Rooney. I suppose you could say that Nasri could do a similar job to Iniesta but again, I think his creativity lets him down.

But my point was never about his preferred position, but whether he can deliver, should he move to United. He can make the key passes, but he would also have to adapt, and he is intelligent enough to do so, didnt play a pure short game for France or Marseille.

You keep mentioning deep lying, but he wnt be playing that deep, think Fabio when we played him at MC, but a more intelligent, and technically better/superior player
 
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Arsenal Team for next Season (hopefully)

GK - Szczesny
RB - Sagna
CB - Vermaelen
CB - Samba
LB - Gibbs

CM - Song
CM - Wilshere/Ramsey

RAM - Gervinho
CAM - Nasri/Wilshere
LAM - Willian/Nasri

ST - Van Persie

whats your starting line-ups?

my prediction

GK - Szczesny
RB - Sagna
CB - Vermaelen
CB - Samba/Kos
LB - Gibbs/ Enrique?

CM (defensive) - Song/Couqllin(might be too early)
CM (support) - Wilshere

RAM - Walcott / Gervinho
CAM - Ramsey
LAM - Gervinho/Ashavin or Vela

ST - RVP

things could change in pre-season, but fingers crossed that we'll stil be using 4-2-3-1 without cese and nasri (IF........)

---------- Post added at 10:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 AM ----------

Bellerin has been speaking to Spanish TV Station Ball-Point (Punto Pelota) about his move to Arsenal - I translated the most interesting quotes here: Arsenal Report | Tactical analysis extraordinaire, since 1886 (See News Ticker)

why is ur site down ?
 
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why is ur site down ?

It shouldn't be completely "down". You can't access it if you're using Internet Explorer 8 or below - Is that the problem?

There's nothing on it at the moment because we're giving it a facelift. New layout, design, etc.
 
It shouldn't be completely "down". You can't access it if you're using Internet Explorer 8 or below - Is that the problem?

There's nothing on it at the moment because we're giving it a facelift. New layout, design, etc.

ahh okay. renovation it is. i have IE9. lol who uses IE8

but i use Chrome more, or Firefoxes
 
Interesting line coming out of France as L'Equipe claim Samir Nasri has rejected Arsenal's contract offer. Manchester United appear to be in pole position.

Further potential bad news for Arsenal fans is that a number of tomorrow's tabloids are going to report the fact Robin van Persie is weighing up his own future at the club.
 
Interesting line coming out of France as L'Equipe claim Samir Nasri has rejected Arsenal's contract offer. Manchester United appear to be in pole position.

Further potential bad news for Arsenal fans is that a number of tomorrow's tabloids are going to report the fact Robin van Persie is weighing up his own future at the club.

I heard the same thing about Nasri but I thought the reported meeting to discuss a new contract with Wenger was on Monday.
 
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I heard the same thing about Nasri but I thought the reported meeting to discuss a new contract with Wenger was on Monday.

This ^. Training starts on Monday, so that's when they'll talk about the contract.

RvP is one of the most loyal players in the squad - he's always talking about how he wants to win trophies with Arsenal, but I've seen the quotes I imagine they're going to use (about a week old, if not more) and he seems to just be letting out his frustration. Of course he wants to win trophies, but I think he wants to win them with Arsenal.

EDIT: Just seen the Daily Star's article on it. Just lol. Of course they have zero quotes and simply say that "he has told pals in Holland that..."

Either way - what a ******* awful window for us so far. The pessimism among a lot of supporters is really depressing!

---------- Post added at 06:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:44 PM ----------

FFS.

Barca are at it again - El Mundo Deportivo say they're knocking £7m off Fabregas' price because they feel entitled to that much compensation for the signings of Jon Toral Harper and Hector Bellerin.

W-A-N-K-E-R-S.
 
RVP is loyal but will be unhappy with recent events, but if Wenger demonstrates his ambition he will be placated, but the pressure is on Wenger

Joss take a chill pill, its constant media spin. Not as if Wenger will accept that
 
RVP is loyal but will be unhappy with recent events, but if Wenger demonstrates his ambition he will be placated, but the pressure is on Wenger

Joss take a chill pill, its constant media spin. Not as if Wenger will accept that

Obviously he won't accept that. Just shows their horrible arrogance, though.

Talking of Media Spin - Sky Sports with some particularly lazy journalism... They've used EXACTLY the same quote for both Wilshere and now Wenger:

"Obviously we want them to stay. They are part of Arsenal and big players for the club so we want them to stay, but we will see."

Wenger: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_7015558,00.html

Wilshere: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7013794,00.html

So either Wenger is incapable of thinking for himself, or SS are just recycling old quotes made by different people to make a news story.
 
im 100% sure RvP will stay, and retire at Arsena like his idol DB 10 l

---------- Post added at 04:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:57 PM ----------

And barca is just being plain stupid on their explanation for pay cese cheep since Wenger signed toral and Bellrin.

---------- Post added at 05:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:58 PM ----------

lol Liverpool target in Arsenal radar.

Arsenal transfer news: Stewart Downing a £20million target for Arsenal as Liverpool have not yet completed his signing - News - MirrorFootball.co.uk

This!!!!!!. Liverpool really got some unwanted players (alot) and needs to be offloaded.
 
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[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Inter ****** Alvarez from Arsenal

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[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Italian media are widely reporting Inter have snatched Ricky Alvarez out from under Arsenal’s noses for €12m.
[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]It was believed the Gunners had a deal in place for the Velez Sarsfield creative midfielder.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]However, the Nerazzurri stepped in with a counter-offer and a five-year contract worth €1.2m per season.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]According to the Corriere dello Sport, Inter met with his agent yesterday and the move could be completed as early as next week.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Alvarez had also been tracked by Roma and Palermo, but the Giallorossi pulled out of a pre-contract agreement because of the €15m asking price.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]The player has an Italian passport, so does not take up an EU slot in the transfer budget.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]He’s not the only Argentine talent on Inter’s wish-list, as they are also looking at River Plate’s Erik Lamela and Valencia midfielder Eder Banega[/FONT]
 
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Inter ****** Alvarez from Arsenal

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Cool. Said a while ago (when Zampirini quotes were latched onto by tabloids making their own stories) that I wasn't convinced our interest was genuine enough to pay €12m for an untested squad player. He may well still sign for us, though - meant to be a replacement for Rosicky if he does come.

Although - what's the source for that article? They spelt Ever Banega wrong, and wrote that he does not take up an EU spot when they meant a NON-EU spot.
 
Cool. Said a while ago (when Zampirini quotes were latched onto by tabloids making their own stories) that I wasn't convinced our interest was genuine enough to pay €12m for an untested squad player. He may well still sign for us, though - meant to be a replacement for Rosicky if he does come.

Although - what's the source for that article? They spelt Ever Banega wrong, and wrote that he does not take up an EU spot when they meant a NON-EU spot.

Football Italia - the Italian football website for English-speaking football fans

Understandable as they are not English based, so spell mistakes are understandable. I think it was translated from Italian source..

One more source..

http://www.fcinternews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=51391
 
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