What do we need to do in the summer?
This season is far from over for us but I'm just wondering what our approach will be in the summer.
I don't think it will be an "overhaul" window for us, just need a few tweaks to the squad. Assuming Paulista settles in OK we are probably OK on the defenders front, and although many would be tempted to replace Mertesacker, I think he probably has another season in him.
In midfield, there will be many calls for a top DM but if Coquelin continues his fine form and signs a new deal we won't see this. Arteta has signed another year extension and unlikely we'll be able to ship out Flamini. Not too fussed about that, it's pointless to give a guy like Coq a chance and then not reward him when he more than takes it. Diaby obviously must leave.
I think up top we'll see our biggest change. Higuain, Suarez, Rooney, Benzema, Ba, Klose - all guys Wenger has tried to bring in over the past year or two, I think he definitely wants a top striker in there and hopefully this is the summer he'll get it.
It's a real shame our best pals Barca will have a transfer ban otherwise we might have convinced them to cash in on Suarez and maybe take another chump off our hands for £15m
Thoughts?
Summer
posted on 3/2/15
"Cavani and Pogba/Kongdobia - job done."
Yep - the dream. Pogba is not really a DM like you say but him and Ramsey sitting in there would just work brilliantly in my opinion, maybe bring in Coq behind them for the big games in the 4-1-4-1.
Cavani again would be incredible, he's like Giroud but with better technique, more stamina and faster.
posted on 3/2/15
"I was going to write an article when the summer window closed in regards to how I thought we might struggle at the start of the season due to having so many ins and outs over the summer."
Yeah, it is possible but the signings have to be so well thought out like Southamptons were.
"If we dont change too much, and somehow god forbid, we sort these injuries we will be one of the best teams in the country without a doubt."
Needs to be next season I think.
You look at the core of this squad and I'd probably expect all of the following to be out of the first team / club by the start of the season after :
Kos, Mert, Monreal, Debuchy, Arteta, Flamini, Cazorla, Rosicky, Podolski, Giroud
A lot of work to do over the next 18-24 months
posted on 3/2/15
I think it obvious that Wenger wants a more mobile attack up front. And he always tries to get two creative players in the attacking line eg Pires/Bergkamp, Cesc/Rosicky, Cesc/Nasri etc. so teams can't effectively bottle neck the attacks.
Attacks - Two creative players, One dribbler, One player who runs beyond the back line to stretch teams.
Ideally we have two creatives - Ozil, Santi
One player to stretch teams - Walcott
One player who likes the ball to feet (dribbler) - Alexis.
Who would you drop to fit Cavani?
posted on 3/2/15
comment by Chris H (U15205)
posted 33 minutes ago
Walcott is not in the strong position he was in last time, think he'll sign one no fuss
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If he's smart he will, but he has some greedy advisers I think (don't they all..)
Wouldn't be any shortage of interest in him I would think, so from that point of view they might feel his negotiating position is still strong. From Arsenal's point of view they aren't so desperate to keep him. This is why I wouldn't be surprised to see something happen, although I don't think it's very likely.
posted on 3/2/15
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 23 minutes ago
I think it obvious that Wenger wants a more mobile attack up front. And he always tries to get two creative players in the attacking line eg Pires/Bergkamp, Cesc/Rosicky, Cesc/Nasri etc. so teams can't effectively bottle neck the attacks.
Attacks - Two creative players, One dribbler, One player who runs beyond the back line to stretch teams.
Ideally we have two creatives - Ozil, Santi
One player to stretch teams - Walcott
One player who likes the ball to feet (dribbler) - Alexis.
Who would you drop to fit Cavani?
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You can't ignore Giroud's effectiveness (well you might be able to, but Wenger won't). I still think Wenger has Giroud (or, by extension, an upgraded version like Cavani) as part of his favoured lineup.
posted on 3/2/15
"From Arsenal's point of view they aren't so desperate to keep him. This is why I wouldn't be surprised to see something happen, although I don't think it's very likely."
Yeah maybe, just can't see him anywhere else though
" I still think Wenger has Giroud (or, by extension, an upgraded version like Cavani) as part of his favoured lineup."
Maybe, but then why was he trying Sanchez up front earlier in the season and then Welbeck after that?
I think he'd love a mobile front three all able to get beyond the opposition defence, wouldn't surprise me to see Sanchez get another try there in the next few weeks
posted on 3/2/15
Maybe, but then why was he trying Sanchez up front earlier in the season and then Welbeck after that?
I think he'd love a mobile front three all able to get beyond the opposition defence, wouldn't surprise me to see Sanchez get another try there in the next few weeks
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Well, he's gonna try things, especially as Giroud was out. I mean c'mon, Sanogo got game time such was Wenger's desire to have a "focal point" type of player!
I think you're both right: that Wenger and indeed the rest of us would like that mobile, pacey, fluid front three, but even Arsene has to let pragmatism take over and play someone up front with a bit of old fashioned presence a lot of the time. It's ironic that we were always accused of not having a Plan B, yet Plan B became Plan A in the last couple of seasons.
posted on 3/2/15
You can't ignore Giroud's effectiveness (well you might be able to, but Wenger won't). I still think Wenger has Giroud (or, by extension, an upgraded version like Cavani) as part of his favoured lineup.
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I am not so sure Wenger is that wedded to Giroud. We will see who sits out when Theo and Alexis are both fully fit.
Take the second goal against Villa as an example of why I believe Giroud is not as effective as the perception. Theo dribbled the ball from defence with his pace to pass to Giroud who put through Ozil with a super pass. But ideally the striker should follow the ball and been there for a return from Ozil or a rebound from Ozil's shot. Now Ozil finished superbly but it would have been more difficult against a better defence that was not pushing up at the time because Ozil doesn't have the pace to out run a recovering defender with pace.
Now if Wenger is true to the new counter attack direct tactics he has installed since Man City, and the fact that Villa had 52% possession at the Emirates suggests this is so, a faster striker with movement is vital to the formation.
posted on 3/2/15
"I think you're both right: that Wenger and indeed the rest of us would like that mobile, pacey, fluid front three, but even Arsene has to let pragmatism take over and play someone up front with a bit of old fashioned presence a lot of the time. It's ironic that we were always accused of not having a Plan B, yet Plan B became Plan A in the last couple of seasons."
Yes agreed.
To be honest though, always thought plan B was just another stick to beat Arsene with sometimes.
All the top teams in Europe recently never had a plan B - not Barca, Not Bayern and not Real Madrid.
It's more to be about subtle shifts in the setup, dynamic to the situation rather than a set plan B for me.
I think Giroud has a big part to play but honestly would surprise me if the long term plan is convert Alexis into an Aguero/Suarez type striker.
posted on 3/2/15
Well, he's gonna try things, especially as Giroud was out.
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Actually Wenger gave a very revealing interview long before Grioud was injured in the summer.
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/329183.html
Wenger wanted Saurez last season. This formation and a more counter attack style has been in his mind for a while!