We really are going to struggle with this issue this season. For all those who like to stress about Arsenal's soft spine and similar cliches and harping about a new Viera and the likes, I've maintained over the last couple of seasons that our biggest margin for improvement is upfront. If we didn't spend a penny on any of the signings we made and we just threw out 70m pounds for Higuain or Lewandowski or 80m+ for Griezmann, I'm still convinced that would have improved us far more than the "depth" we've improved with multiple players while spending over 90m pounds. Nothing I've seen so far convinced me this team has been significantly improved with our outlay.
It's not just about a striker, but there's not enough goals in the team. I remember when that glaring chance fell to Cazorla (who had a great game) in the 2nd half and I was absolutely facking sure that ball wasn't getting in the net. No ruthlessness. City have about half a dozen players who can easily give you 10+ goals. How many do we have? Giroud and Alexis? I was watching Liverpool absolutely shredding Leicester too. Mane, Firminho and Sturridge pack such a threat while we keep faffing around with jokers like Ox and Theo.
I really am disappointed with our business. We just haven't done enough and we'll be also-rans yet again this season. Too many games where we struggle to put teams away teams.
Firepower
posted on 10/9/16
Arsenal are at best looking at 5th place
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Do you know for how many years I have heard this old chestnut?
posted on 11/9/16
OP
We ain't going to improve untill we replace wenger with a better manager.
posted on 11/9/16
IMO we shouldn't persist with Walcott or the Ox, they can be left as bench players if need be. They are far to inconsistent in their performances and at times it's like playing with 10 players. The balance of the team is wrong.
posted on 11/9/16
We need this to work:
Sancez--Perez--Iwobi
Walcott, Ox and Giroud have all proved they aren't good enough, the others haven't yet.
posted on 11/9/16
When we signed Perez I said this, but would give him a few games before writing him off. I said that rather than spending money on Mustafi we would probably be better off sticking with Holing until the other senior defenders come back and spend all the money on a proven better striker than one who looks like a journeyman player.
I still feel this is true.
If Walcott can get back to his best following years of injuries he can be a valuable player, but of recent form is not good enough.
posted on 11/9/16
The thing with Giroud is that he can go on a 'hot streak' and score in 5 or 6 games in a row. Of course, he can also go 8 or 9 without getting anything.
The introduction of Perez now means we can comfortably drop Giroud when he goes off the boil instead of enduring a quarter of the season with a striker who can't score
posted on 11/9/16
Utter nonsense to making bold predictions regarding players.
The fact is this team has not settled. Its what you get when you buy players late in the day.
We are changing style and Wenger has to stick with it. Thats the only we will get fluidity. However if we go back to Giroud we will return to the same ponderous style. Nothing will change and we ill drop out of the top 4.
Look at City and Liverpool. No big target men. And making ball do the work. They are far more attractive to watch as a team and producing results to boot. We are just now going back to that. Late in the day.
posted on 11/9/16
comment by DiRtY Sanchez (U6360)
posted 13 hours, 15 minutes ago
Arsenal are at best looking at 5th place
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Do you know for how many years I have heard this old chestnut?
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Exactly 4th is in our DNA, we cannot finish below 4th, it's impossible. People might as well predict Barcelona to be relegated this season.
posted on 11/9/16
Wenger has become boring and its filtered down on his team.
posted on 12/9/16
Sadly, having read some of the apathetic comments on my conclusion that the Gunners are a 5th place team at best, I am now convinced that Arsenal fans are among the most naïve in football.
I'm afraid that your simple comments will return to haunt you later in the season when you don't have referees who will hand you soft penalties in "Fergie" time.
When that happens, no doubt, you will go into hiding. In the meantime enjoy your Wenger inspired lady's crochet pattern type of passing back and forth the field, while the opposition gets back to form their defensive wall.