If United are top of the league with the midfield they have, then we at the very least should be challenging for the top 3.
A midfield with Wilshere, Arteta, Cazorla, Diaby, Rosicky and even Arshavin (if he was played in his best position) to choose from should be up there. This demonstrates that Wenger is not getting the best out of his players, and is not driving the mentality into them. Even our defence - the players are good players - we're talking about experienced internationals, yet cannot seem to defend. My guess is that they aren't getting proper defensive coaching.
Wenger used to be fiercely competitive, and he has now completely lost that. That was typified by the fact that he actually merely discussed selling RVP to United with Fergie, let alone actually going through with it. To anyone who says that it wasn't Wenger's decision, do you seriously think that sale would have gone through without his approval? Like Cesc, Nasri and the rest?
The man is a legend, but once you lose your competitiveness you need to go. The performances of a group of players is reflective of the mentality flowing from the core of the club, and yes whilst our squad will never win the league, it should be in the top 4 at the very least.
Underachieving
posted on 21/1/13
Winning games doesn'y depend only on the midfield, but the entire team/squad!
We might have a better midfield than them on the paper but we don't have a proper striker!
I'm sure we would have been in better position if we kept RVP.
Same, I'm not sure United would have been leading the table without him!
We need to get our balance right, and at the moment, it seems like we can't do that.
posted on 21/1/13
not sure our midfield is really any better.
Carrick does a better job defending than anybody we have in midfield.
frankly you overrate us. maybe our midfield is better than tottenham's but we have other glaring weaknesses
posted on 21/1/13
and weve scored somegood build up play goals recently, good to see
posted on 21/1/13
Rosicky
Doesn't a player actually have to play to be considered part of our midfield?
posted on 21/1/13
Our midfield may be the most technically gifted around but when you stick theo on the right, Yao Kouassi on the right and kaba furking diawara up top all that skill/ composure goes out the window.
posted on 21/1/13
*Yao Kouassi on the left ffs
posted on 21/1/13
Does anyone know how reliable is Futbol Mercado?
posted on 21/1/13
Arsenal's midfield lacks balance and players who compliment each other. Whereas Utd's midfield is very practical.
Individually Arsenal's midfielders are very good. Cazorla and Wilshere (for example) are technically sound players who could play for any club at a top level.
But having Arteta as a holding midfielder (although for the best part he's played that role well) really is not getting the best out of him, or his other midfield comrades.
A holding, ball-winning midfielder, of genuine quality would (I think) make a world of difference to Arsenal. It would also give the midfield serious options and allow for rotation, especially at the business-end of the season.
posted on 21/1/13
I'm sorry, but anybody who thinks that Arsenal have a better team than United on paper is completely deluded. De Gea and Szceszny are on a similar level, De Gea is the superior shot stopper but Szceszny is much better at dealing with crosses. Defence is pretty even as well, the best combined back 4 of the two teams on current form is probably Rafael__Vidic__Vermaelen__Gibbs. Arsenal may have the slight edge in central midfield, but it's closer than some think, Carrick is a very underrated player and Cleverley, while nothing special, is a great deal better than say, Ramsey. It is up front and out wide where United blow Arsenal out of the water I'm afraid. Valencia, Nani and Young are all better crossers of the ball than anybody at Arsenal, while RVP and Rooney are much better than any Arsenal player, Hernandez and/or Welbeck would probably get in Arsenal's team too. It hurts to say these things, but it's about time us Arsenal fans faced facts.
posted on 21/1/13
<theHotHead> - Eboue's Publicist an...
If United are top of the league with the midfield they have, then we at the very least should be challenging for the top 3.
i put it more down to the Manager, fergie can get the best out of average players where as Arsene is clueless