Need to stay grounded

Cant the players try doing what Man Utd players did to SAF after playing against Ronaldo in a pre-season match all those years ago?!?!?

Cos i dont know what else we can do to force his hand!!!!

Thanks Batmanu.

Jeez, that is a bizarre couple of things to say.

Wenger: "I change my mind whether I need to go into the transfer market from game to game.”
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Thats slightly different so close to the market closing. It takes too much time to set up deals and then let them go over one good performance. Especially when the opposition could just have a bad game.

We have, Diaby, Rosicky, Arteta, Coquelin out. We were reduced yesterday to playing a wing/attacking midfielder to a holding role.

I cannot believe that Arsene will be so reckless with the team. We need a strong big presence in midfield. After all Arsene thought we needed Sahin in the summer. Its not like any of the problems have gone away. They have got worse because of injuries and inconsistent performances.

Jenius, if things are this bad injury wise, and given our record with injuries, this only tells us we really should have had the foresight to sign someone already. However, we haven't, and this does not bode well for our chances to actually complete any signings as the window draws nearer and nearer to the close.

I'd agree that Wenger's procrastination while potential signings are snatched from under our noses (M'Wila, Sissoko) makes even less sense, but I'll add that in this case, time works against us.
People might argue the players mentioned above are not that good, but they are better than the "DMs" we have now, i.e., no one.

Hopefully we manage to land someone, preferably Capoue, but I am reluctant to giving myself any false hopes.

Hopefully we manage to land someone, preferably Capoue, but I am reluctant to giving myself any false hopes.
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Neither am I.

However I don't equate not buying already to not buying at all. The fact we haven't bought already could be down to many reasons. For example Diame may not be the top target and his buy-out does not require negotiation. So Arsene can afford to wait for his primary target, maybe Capoue before he is forced to buy his backup option.

The fact is that a worldly striker should still be our top target. The summer is always too competitive and it is very difficult to sign top players if we are not in the Champions League.

So another scenario could be to see if are able to acquire our top striking target before gauging how much money is left to buy a midfielder (who would be a lot less).

Jenius, I disagree that striker should be our priority (not because I had ultimate faith in our existing options, but I'll explain).
What I think we need offensively is a player in the mould of ben Arfa, a good dribbler 1v1 who could both score and create something out of nothing.
A problem with our attacking setup has been a lack of movement against packed defences in certain games. Such was the case v Sunderland, Stoke, Soton and Norwich. We scored a whopping total of 1 goals against them. When our attacking players are static, it's job half done for the opposing defence. Our first teamers out wide, Theo and Pod, are not great 1v1, not renowned dribblers. A top striker would not solve this problem because we would not create enough shooting opportunities in these types of games.
With such a player in the team, ie. ben Arfa, or someone similar, we could still create opportunities even when the collective movement is lacking.

Of course, an imposing defensive mf is still required. We need to rest Cazorla a bit. I'd say a new MF in alongside of either of Ramsey/Arteta and push Jack forward as he is good with the ball in tight spaces - a quality required of an offensive mid.

Lastly, to build on a point you made recently, I'd agree that we should at least rotate Arteta a bit, too. The problem I have with him is that too often he seems afraid to lose possession and opts for the safe sideways pass even when there is a good opportunity to release a teammate on a counter (a trend especially evident against Norwich). He rarely even lifted his head to see if there was anyone in front of him making a run.

With such a player in the team, ie. ben Arfa, or someone similar, we could still create opportunities even when the collective movement is lacking.
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I understand where you are coming from but we have never played that way. Under Arsene we have always played with a mobile, clever striker who pulls centre backs out of position. That allows one direct runner onto goal and a creative figure on the other wing to play that player in. This is the scheme Arsene has always implemented at the clubs he has managed (Monaco as well with trez and Henry). In fact it was a scheme Barca copied with Ineista and David Villa, Iniesta and Alexis etc.

Think back to Arsene's teams, the direct players Overmars, then Wiltord, then Freddie, then Walcott. All ex-strikers when growing up playing on the wing.

The creative player to balance them on the other wing - Pires, Nasri, Benayoun etc.

That leaves a mobile, quality striker with a no.10 behind. Initially that was Dennis, later RVP (when Adebayor was upfront), then Cesc, now Cazorla or Wilshere.

The mobile, clever striker up front, WWW, Anelka, Henry, Adebayor, RVP.

We have slightly changed the formation where now Podolski and Theo are equally taking on the responsibility of going direct or creating. Which can be very good but occasionally leaves us vulnerable to counter attacks, so Arsene sometimes plays Ramsey in the Pires position. The reason why it leaves us vulnerable because both the wide players, Pod and Theo end up in the box and unable to get back on a counter.

Now Giroud is a good striker. His best attributes seem to attacking the ball as it comes into the box. But he is neither clever, nor mobile, nor able to move centre backs out of position. In fact the goal that Diaby gave away against Chelsea came from when he had possession and was remonstrating with Giroud for zero movement up front, only to get robbed and counter attacked.

Now I don't think we have used the Afra type of player since Rocky. I don't see how he would fit into the scheme unless Arsene was to play him as striker or to play Theo as striker and then Afra wide? Thats a problem because Theo is not ready to take the striker role and Cazorla is more akin to Pires than Dennis!

Thats why I believe we are top top striker away from replicating the typical Arsene team formula.

I agree with you on Arteta. I had hoped he could do a Pirlo role but not only does he not lift his head, but he doesn't pass in the air to bypass a packed midfield. Nor does he cover for full backs when we get counter attacked.

Top post Jenius <clap>
I'll post a reply in a little while

I'll say it again, top post. Very clear and makes absolute sense.

It begs the question about why Arshavin was never even tried as an option for the No. 10, though. Would make sense to me. It's where his best performances for Zenit and Russia have come from.

I also see your point about Giroud's shortcomings. This would mean that it still would not suffice adding ben Arfa to the equation.

I'd still wager ben Arfa could perform the "creator's" role from the wing exactly because of this
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"We have slightly changed the formation where now Podolski and Theo are equally taking on the responsibility of going direct or creating. "
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to give us more variety, ie by starting over either of them or coming on to change the game. But that would be a luxury of course, we need to sort out that DM at first.
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"Theo is not ready to take the striker role and Cazorla is more akin to Pires than Dennis!"
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So ideally you think that we need a new striker to play with Cazorla on the one side and Theo/Poldi on the other, with Wilshere as the No. 10? That leaves a new mf signing alongside Arteta/Ramsey in the centre. I'd like to see that. Don't know if that's realistic. One can dream, though.

It begs the question about why Arshavin was never even tried as an option for the No. 10, though. Would make sense to me. It's where his best performances for Zenit and Russia have come from.
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I can think of only one reason. Dennis played infront of Vieira/Gilberto, before that Vieira/Petit. Those two covered the back 4. Essentially Pires/Freddie/Henry/Dennis were given free roles and never required to come back. Thats why we were so devastating in counter attacking. That changed with Cesc who was an awful defender for a midfield player but better than Dennis. That allowed Arsene to sign more skillful ball playing midfield players. Arshavin is even more lightweight than Dennis. There is no way our present midfield players could carry Arshavin in a central role.

So ideally you think that we need a new striker to play with Cazorla on the one side and Theo/Poldi on the other, with Wilshere as the No. 10?
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Ideally I would not drop Theo ever. Its like Real Madrid without C.Ronaldo. The threat of pace is very unique and very vital to make the formation tick.

I do think Cazorla is more like Pires, because he doesn't drive into the box enough. When he does, he has proved he can score. So its about not restricting him and encouraging more in his game.

At home: (more attacking)

Pod--------?????--------Theo
-----------Caz/wilshere-----------
-------Wilshere/Diaby---????---

Away: (more defensive)

Caz-------??????-------Theo
------------Wilshere-------------
-------Diaby-----------????-----


In a more attacking formation Pod and Theo both attacking the box is fine if you get Diaby/Wilshere to sit more after going ahead and protecting the full backs.