Just read this article on our CM pair and he says we have no classic holding midfielder
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15118/10061583/santi-cazorla-and-francis-coquelin-could-reliance-on-pair-cost-arsenal
Coquelin is the definition of a DM and brilliant at his job, for me the best in the league and he has no weaknesses for a DM. I usually rate G Nev's comments but he's going off cliches instead of watching us, Coquelin has to be one of the most underrated players in the league right now.
Santi's made the most passes in the league and 2nd most chances created, and he also wins the ball back a lot more than he gets credit for. He was ill and dizzy today so G Nev laying into him is pointless.
Both of these players are doing the jobs they're meant to do, where we're lacking imo is having Wilshere injured and Flamini/Arteta as back ups. Ideally we have another midfielder who can play with Coq and with Santi/Wilshere to give us more options against different opposition.
Coq-Wilshere would be our best two and Wilshere played that role brilliantly next to Song in his only full season when he was 18, but with his injury record we need another midfielder and then just deal with how to give them games if they all stay fit (which will most likely never happen anyway!)
Gary Neville WTF
posted on 8/11/15
To be fair if you read the article there's nothing in it.
It has hit quote from August about the pair and then his in-game commentary saying that we are playing as a 6 and 4, which was very true.
posted on 8/11/15
Unfortunately (I don't him as pundit) but Gary Neville has a point.
When he talks about a classic holding player, he is referring to the position of the player in front of center backs and behind the midfield two. At the moment, Coq is playing alongside Santi and not behind him. Coq has two weaknesses. He doesn't have the height of Gilbert Silva and neither does he have the vision of Gilberto/Petit to initiate attacks under pressure. That is the reason why Santi is playing deeper and not say Ramsey when he was fit. Wenger admitted as much after the West Ham game. Of course the problem with playing Santi in the middle is that he is too small to player there. This is why Ramsey playing wide helped Santi so much in covering, providing his legs when he was under pressure. And now that Ramsey is out we are suffering slightly in the middle. Though today was all about compressing space and depriving our midfield from getting on the ball because we have no threat behind the opposition anymore.
This is an issue and why we needed someone like Kondogbia last summer.
posted on 8/11/15
comment by Wumpatrol (U5046)
posted 3 minutes ago
We would have a bland midfield then. Coq and Carzola is fine and has been great all season. One game when the latter is ill doesn't change anything.
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Wouldn't be bland but effective.
Carzola cannot play CM against any teams that press him or you.
A more mobile player like schniderlin could easily deal with that.
Maybe Jack is your answer but he can't be relied on.
Any back to the actual article I think Coquelin has been great for you
posted on 8/11/15
No Chris
During the Liverpool game he clearly said Arsene "is too arrogant to see he needs to buy tough players to cover for our attackers" key word being buy not positioning or tactics. He was also ripping into Coq during that game saying he isn't good enough
posted on 8/11/15
Teams have pressed us all season and apart from today when he was ill he has wriggled his way through brilliantly and set up attacks from deep. Like I said one poor game won't change anything
posted on 8/11/15
Most teams play a 4231 now instead of 433 but I'm sure Coq's average position would be deeper than Santi's. Coq is also very good in the air and aggressive enough to win headers, it's all about height + leap. Gabriel and Kos both have better leaps and attack the ball better than Per for example. Someone who can both defend like Coq and control the game like Santi would be perfect but those players are rare, nothing wrong with having one purely defensive player in midfield imo especially if he is flawless defensively like Coq.
posted on 8/11/15
One of those Neville comments that really annoys me. He got some strange opinions recently.
posted on 8/11/15
Santi looks good when Ramsey does his running for him. Cant' stress how important Ramsey is for this team, guys the MVP. Wenger's found the perfect balance with Ramsey Santi Coq bellerin and Ozil, love it when they all start. Coq as the enforcer - Santi the deep-lying midfielder who keeps us ticking and controls the game - ramsey the box to box player who's brilliant at everything - ozil the guy in the middle pulling the strings - Bellerin bombing up and down the right flank using up the space Ramsey creates when he drifts in. so so good
posted on 9/11/15
That's the problem with you.lot.....you think most of your players are best in league.
Coquelin isn't close to being best Dm in PL. Most on form is perhaps a bit more realistic but even that's not a certainty. Jamie Vardy must be best ST then.
posted on 9/11/15
Ignoring that Coquelin has been in our side and playing well every game for the last year, rather than three months of Jamie Vardy scoring goals, there are no standout defensive midfielders in the league. Coq might not be the best but to claim he's not even close is just ridiculous - who is? Matic? Lucas? Matic has been garbage all season and his level dropped a bit second half of last season anyway.