It seems we can't reach a consensus here on the Arsenal board about whether or not we should sign a defensive midfielder. Those that think we should one can't agree whether it should be one of great quality that can possibly dislodge Coq or one that will be of sufficient quality but just to be Coq's understudy.
I strongly feel all this stems from a fear that Coq may not be the savior we all think he is, afterall he has only shone for 6 months in a long disappointing career! I for one believe he has earned the right to be our first choice outright but there is still a lingering doubt that it might just been a purple patch of a player playing out skin to save his career.
What if he turns out to be the real deal (I think he is) and we signed a DM of the Schneiderlin's class and one of them ends up being unhappy? Or what if it was really just a purple patch and we signed an understudy and we end up with two players not of the quality to be our first choice?
So I say, give him his dues and install him as our first choice and sign an understudy in January when he has effectively erased all doubts and we are in need of a DM due to injury or Arteta not being up for it. If things are fine, make a signing there at the end of the season when we lose Arteta at the end of his contract.
Sign a DM in January if needed
posted on 10/7/15
comment by Chris H (U15205)
posted 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
Where has this myth come from that your backup players need to be as good as your first choices?
Who do Chelsea replace Matic with if he gets injured?
Arteta has become massively underrated these days. We got more points with Arteta in there for a full season than we did with half a season of Arteta and half with Coq.
I think Arteta is an excellent option for backup/rotation. We need Coq for the big games but sometimes with him we've suffered against teams who sit deep because Coquelin can't distribute the ball or link up the defence and midfield half as good as Arteta can.
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posted on 10/7/15
I disagree with the more ruthless thing. Wenger would always have signed Cech. Cech is not just a better keeper he is one of the best in world football. Just like how Wenger went for Hazard even when we had no money
posted on 10/7/15
"I disagree with the more ruthless thing. Wenger would always have signed Cech. Cech is not just a better keeper he is one of the best in world football. Just like how Wenger went for Hazard even when we had no money"
Hmm, I'm not sure. I never got why he didn't go for the keepers I mentioned, Shay Given too, just such obvious, common sense targets but we stuck with younger guys in the hope they would come good.
posted on 10/7/15
You guys better pray that Coq doesn't get a long term injury then.
What I remember pre-coq was an Arsenal midfield that was far too open. Even when we put people behind the ball, Arteta/Song/Flamini never gave us the protection coq has.
We all know the drill by now, if Coq is injured then, fixture least dependent, we'll be conceding goals.
I just hope Arsene isn't thinking that Ramsey/Wilshere/Arteta can fill in for Coq when he is the only competent DM in the squad.
posted on 10/7/15
comment by Wumpatrol (U5046)
posted 4 hours, 30 minutes ago
Lacazette is obviously an interesting option I admit although a bit risky for the price they would ask for him.
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Lacazette is one of the most overrated flavors of the month I've seen in a while. That he had a high goal tally seems to have blinkered everyone to the fact that 10 of those goals were penalties. Heck a few more were tap-in.
Fekir is the real talent of the 2, and he's just signed a contract till 2020.
Lacazette would struggle to get ahead of Welbeck, nevermind Giroud or Theo.
posted on 10/7/15
IMO, we would be better playing a lot of games with 2 strong defensive midfielders, like the Petit & Vieira combination. Still to many games we get out fought in midfield. I think COQ is fine but he needs another technically strong partner beside him.
posted on 10/7/15
Vieira was more of a box to box midfielder.
Don't think we've ever played regularly with two out and out DM's like Coq & Schneiderlin together for example, and I wouldn't want us to
posted on 10/7/15
Yes Vieira was but he was also mighty strong doing defensive midfield duties we don't have another one like him in the team at the moment even if you count the more box to box midfielders we do have now!
posted on 10/7/15
comment by jonafc for real (U1385)
posted 3 hours, 21 minutes ago
IMO, we would be better playing a lot of games with 2 strong defensive midfielders, like the Petit & Vieira combination. Still to many games we get out fought in midfield. I think COQ is fine but he needs another technically strong partner beside him.
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very true, we don't need to have a coq clone, but we need a midfielder who has the energy and the discipline to protect the central areas, and provide cover. If Coq is on the pitch yes his partner needs to be able to play well with the ball.
posted on 10/7/15
comment by Viviano's Debut (U19138)
posted 7 hours ago
comment by Wumpatrol (U5046)
posted 4 hours, 30 minutes ago
Lacazette is obviously an interesting option I admit although a bit risky for the price they would ask for him.
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Lacazette is one of the most overrated flavors of the month I've seen in a while. That he had a high goal tally seems to have blinkered everyone to the fact that 10 of those goals were penalties. Heck a few more were tap-in.
Fekir is the real talent of the 2, and he's just signed a contract till 2020.
Lacazette would struggle to get ahead of Welbeck, nevermind Giroud or Theo.
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Fekir is just another tippy tappy midget. We need more incision. Lacazette would suit us well in that regard.