I do get the feeling that the media and fans alike are underestimating the quality of our two new signings. Last season they both managed to score a heap of goals in sides far inferior to Arsenal. I mean last season Podolski managed more than a goal every two games in a side that got relegated. Surely that is far more difficult than what van Persie achieved with Arsenal.
I am not belittling van Persie's achievements but realistically he is a scorer of great goals rather than a great goalscorer, any Arsenal fan who watched the team a lot last season knows he missed a great deal of chances. However he made up for this by converting chances no-one else could even dream of. This I think is why we are underestimating our new signings, neither of them are as able to take a game by the scruff of the neck and achieve the spectacular like RvP but they will both polish off the easier chances that we squandered last year. If we play a front 3 of Walcott-Giroud-Podolski then we will score a heap of goals, they will all compliment each other well and I have no doubt those 3 can match the goal tally of our front 3 from last year.
I honestly think next season all we need is Jack to be fit, a bit of luck with defensive injuries e.g. keeping 2 of Vermaelen, Koscielny and Mertesacker fit at all times and also keeping Sagna fit then all we need to add is an attacking midfielder to really start linking our midfield and attack with a bit more urgency. We are not tippy tappy Arsenal anymore, Walcott, Podolski and Giroud are not tippy tappy players and I think we will be a different machine next season. We will finish games we never have before and I welcome it.
Just to end I would also say that I can honestly see Gervinho having a really good up and coming season. He's had a summer to rest and should hopefully pick up some pre season confidence and come back all guns blazing.
Underestimating Giroud and Podolski
posted on 16/7/12
I think to look at Giroud's record before last season and say he's pants is short sighted, lots of strikers don't really hit any sort of form until their peak years, look at Drogba, or Diego Milito?
posted on 16/7/12
There is no way we are spending big on Lloris id rather we make a Shay Given type signing where he can push Szcz for a couple of seasons making him a better player and then move on. What happens if Wilshere gets another setback? As it stands it will be six months before he is back playing properly and we look short there!
posted on 16/7/12
Agreed, Lloris would be a terrible signing. Think we missed a trick with Jaaskelinen to be honest, would have served as good back up for a couple of years.
posted on 16/7/12
id rather have podolski and giroud than RVP.
posted on 16/7/12
I dont mind they are being underestimated. It takes the pressure off them allowing time to settle.
Look at Koscielny, took a bashing by a lot of fans and now they're the ones creaming themselves over him (quite rightly now).
I think we will see Arsenal become much more a team now.
posted on 16/7/12
Agreed Rhino, injuries are a worry for me. We seem to have the worst injury record in living memory. Every season we have at least one player out for a year (Eduardo, Diaby, Ramsey, Vermaelen, Wilshire). You may argue that they are unlucky as 3 were bad leg breaks but what about the likes of Gibbs, Rosicky, Van Persie (last season aside). Are we buying players that are injury prone? Do we need to look at the level of medicals our signings are put through? We seem to pick up lots of injuries in training too, far more than most other sides.
If Wilshire doesn't fit back in straight away then we will be short in the middle, lets hope we get someone as support and not just a squad player or a wonderkid 3 year old.
Did we not miss out on Given a couple of seasons ago? Wenger delayed and put his faith on Almunia and that didn't go to plan!
posted on 16/7/12
Given is massively over rated, he's very short so he makes simple saves look like wonder saves and that's why everyone goes mental over him.
posted on 16/7/12
We should of gone for Al Habsi
posted on 17/7/12
what annoys is me is how people assume giroud is basically another chamakh just because they both come from the french league. they are completely different players
posted on 17/7/12
"comment by Olivier Djourou (U8435)
posted 20 hours, 40 minutes ago
Given is massively over rated, he's very short so he makes simple saves look like wonder saves and that's why everyone goes mental over him. "
As an Irishman I have watched Given since his Celtic days and I have to say you are talking a load of rubbish. He saved Newcastle and Ireland countless times with world class performances. If anything he is underrated!