Play vermaelen in the reserves you mean

Play vermaelen in the reserves you mean
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Vermaelen just needs to be dropped tbh, he needs a shock to the system. It's not a bad idea but I think it would take time to implement properly, time which we clearly don't have.

We miss Diaby

Maybe le Coq should come in. Not great but something different.

We miss Diaby
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Yeah, we miss the good Diaby.

Honestly areta hasn't done bad in his new role, what I have noticed is opposition are stopping us from playing by man-marking arteta. When he is out of the game we can't play out of pressure, it is easy for opposition to push further up the pitch.

Vermaelen still needs to be disciplined if he's playing in midfield though and not sure he has the stamina because he didn't look like he did when he was playing LB. He just looks so gormless at times and gets done so easily, hopefully it's just bad form and he sorts it out.

That big hole in defensive midfield is exactly why Arsenal made a huge mistake not signing Fernando when they had the chance.

on the plus side Mert was brilliant as always

Mert

who is Fernando?

on the plus side Mert was brilliant as always
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The gentle giant was immense today.

Vermaelen would be awful as a defensive midfielder.

Stop overreacting please, Vermaelen is a centre back and a good one at that. He's not as good as some of our fans make out, but he's still quality. The mistakes he makes are not down to a lack of ability imo, just a lack of concentration and sometimes stupidity.

Vermaelen would be awful as a defensive midfielder.
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Let him make his mistakes in midfield, he will have the other 2 midfielders, the 2 centreback and GK to bail him out.

Pp1212 the question is who will Fernando be?



The answer is Arsenals saviour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQsjAbZDx-4

Check him out

I like the idea behind the formation but I don't think on current form verm can be trusted with such a pivotal role. Arteta albeit not a tough tackler is reliable and unselfish, not to mention calm. Vermaelen hasn't been any of those things lately.

I still have faith in Frimpong to claim that role and it would be nice to see our bench strengthened by having arteta as a sub who can come on to replace any of the midfield.

As it stands we are having to play many players out of position due to a combination of injuries and wenger's theory that Ramsey can be effective on the wing and Cazorla can be our sole creative outlet.

Check Out Those Chest Cannons! (U16001)
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We need Arteta upfield, we have gone through 90mins in some games without having a single shot on goal.

I agree completely, asos lid as Mikel has been he is wasted that deep.. He is one of the few players we have who can pick a pass Cesc style (arguably Cazorla can but all too often Santi suffers from Barcilitis I.e sideways passing which is tidy and accurate)

All i'm saying let Vermalen make his mistakes in the centre circle, but my concern at the moment is the final third. I have another formation for the one dimensional Wenger.

------------------Szcesny
Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs
-------------Arteta, Wilshere
--Walcott-------------------------Carzola
-----------------------Chamakh
-----------------Giroud

Chamakh and Giroud may have worked on Tuesday but it reminds me of Ade and Bendtner or Baptista... two big lumps just isnt as effective as you'd think it could be

Interesting formation.

My personal formation would be

---------- Szcesny
Sagna - Mert - Koscielny - Gibbs
--------- Fernando
------ Wilshere -- Arteta
Walcott ------------- Cazorla
------- Giroud/Potholes

As you can see that midfield is packed with defensive steel and capability. Ball playing midfielders who arent afraid to get stuck in with there defensive duties. A combination of 3 very different players, that would bring alot more than just cover for the back four, freeing up Walcott and Cazorla to roam in more attacking positions.

My only doubt about this formation is that Walcott may not be an Arsenal player for much longer.

Chamakh is very good link player, he should have come on for Wilshere...with Carzola dropping in CM position.

-------------Arteta, Carzola
--Walcott-------------------------Arshavin
-----------------------Chamakh
-----------------Giroud

Potholes
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