Just read it. Good article Chris

Ramsey is getting better and better with the more games he's played. He's not a world class player, but his work ethic and effort is admirable. I've always considered him to be a vital player for the squad.

Wilshere shouldn't have started. He was awful. If Rozza is fit for the Everton game,he should start with Wilshere benched. Jack needs time to get into the groove.

I don't care what anyone says (GT....ehm ehm!!) but Pod should be played and starting as a striker. Giroud was awful. Even his 'goal' could have been an OG and was more due to Ox's persistence than anything Giroud had done. I'm not sure what the issue is with Pod, assuming there is one, but Pod should be a starter. His finishing is lethal.

I'd really like to see Podolski up top, but I guess it's too late and matches are too important now to start messing with team setup (I guess that is AW's opinion anyway)

My only doubt about him playing there is his link up/hold uphold up play aren't great, and he's not the quickest player. I think you need to have 1 of 2 of the above talents to be a lone striker, but for games when we are going to have 60% + of the possesion it matters not.

He's absolutely clinical in front of goal, I'd say alongside RVP/Aguero he's the best finisher in the league. If I would have freeze-framed before his strike this weekend I would have put £100 easy on him scoring, just looked so assured.

Moving on though, two crucial games in five days now, agree about Wilshere/Rosicky for them, I think 6 points would be great but in my heart of hearts I'd probably settle for 4, this run of form will end at some point.

I would agree with you about keeping it the same, but for me Giroud is not contributing enough to warrant a place in the starting line-up. Pod came on and his contribution included smashing the bar and smashing in the third. The formation and tactics need to be tinkered to allow another attacker to play alongside him.

I think the Everton home match is now crucial. We get three points from a good Everton team, we'll have the momentum and confidence to nick a win at Fulham. Hopefully the Spurs vs Chelsea match will be right after the Spurs vs City match. The $puds get back to back defeats, then it's pretty much over for them.

Well you could look at it either way, and say yes a win would keep the momentum going or dropping points would motivate us more to beat Fulham.

Either way, if we got 6 points I'd say that would be the biggest step yet to getting a top 4 place. Just need to be careful about fatigue, looked a bit jaded against Norwich until we scored the equaliser when we just went for it.

I'd play against Everton :

Fab

Sagna
Mert
Kos
Monreal

Arteta
Cazorla / Rosicky if fit
Ramsey

Podolski
Giroud
Walcott


Thought Verm was pretty decent but can't drop Kos and we need Mert's height against that beast Fellaini.

Fatigue will be a big issue. Infortunately, we cannot afford to rest our best players at this stage of the season. And that means Kosc, Cazorla, Arteta and Pod must all play. It's a tough ask, i agree, but we must keep pushing for the wins.

I expect the game against Everton to be a tough one, but Rozza, Pod and Theo should be available and should play. All three are fresh and fatigue shouldn't be an issue for them.

Wenger will need to manage Cazorla well. He must start, but if we're winning and look comfortable at about 60-70 mins, i would ship him off for Wilshere.

If Rosicky is fit, I wouldn't be too bothered about Cazorla being rested, they are very similar players in both style and ability. Cazorla scores more though.

We really should be beating Everton, they have had a good season but in terms of the first XI's, pound for pound we are superior. Fulham might be a bit trickier, but it looks to me as if they are starting to 'wind down' so again we really should be getting a win there.

Fatigue is the biggest worry for me.

I have to say, I was impressed with Wenger's coaching on Saturday. Ok, he started with Giroud and Wilshere, but when things went wrong he changed it well, bought on key players and shifted the tactics.

I hope he will start with Pod against Everton though. If we start fast and strong, and get a few early goals in, Everton will fade away, and it'll make the game less painful for us fans to watch. The last two Arsenal games have been a nightmare!

Morning chaps. Hope you all had good weekends.

http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/201430

Thoughts?

Thoughts?
--------------

Peterbaey creates better articles than you.

Morning Lex,

Personally thought Verm was decent, seemed to win his place back. I still think he's our best CB.

However with that being said, can't drop Kos and I think we need Mert purely to deal with Fellaini who is a nightmare in the air.

Sorry Lex!

Kosc and Mert for me. Counter the height of Everton (Felliani).

As I said on the article Chris, for me Mertesacker and Koscielny make a much better partnership than Kos does with Vermaelen.

Nice to see Thomas regain some form, but for me the team comes first.

Merte should come back in.

That's okay, Sezzer.

Hey, did the match shred your nerves?!

Wouldn't feel like the 'Arsenal experience' if it didn't, I guess.

Yeah the thing with Kos & Verm is they are both similar in that they are both not great positional wise, and while they may recover a situation better than Mert, he probably wouldn't have let it happen in the first place.

Morning All

Great results on Saturday!

Psst.....Mert isn't very good in the air.....Kos and Verm can reach almost the same height with their jumping

killed!!??

Ryan Smith:

Arsenal prodigy


Leicester loanee


Derby


Millwall


Southampton loanee


Crystal Palace


Music 'career'


Grimsby


Kansas City Wizards


Real Zaragoza trialist


Back to Kansas City


Exchanged for draft picks


Chivas USA


Skoda Xanthi reserves.





Wow.

WTF..........

I was at his debut vs Rotherham too.

Don't even remember him. Name vaguely rings a bell and that's it.

What is Fran Merida doing these days?

Or Cesc MK2 as he used to be known......

There was such a load of hype round him for AGES before he even made his debut. Not just "Arsenal hype' either. I remember Arsene used to get asked quite a bit about him in pre-match press conferences.

"Are we likely to see Ryan Smith tonight, Arsene"

"Yes, perhaps. He is a very talented boy..."

F/ck me, Fran is playing in Brazil for Atlético Paranaense.

And when I say 'playing' I of course mean, yet to make an appearance for them.

Go on his Wiki page... he's still in his Arsenal strip.