I have to admit that Merts pace worried me until this season but I was wrong. They have built up an almost telepathic understanding and are a perfect combination.

Closest player we've had to Adams

Still not as good as Cahill and Jagielka. England are really lucky. We should try to sign both respective players.

I love it when Spurs fans call him garbage and then he goes and plays a world class game.

Certainly wont be conceeding 6 goals with him and Kos in the team.

Thing I love most about Per is he knows exactly where to stand.

It sounds ridiculously simple, but its such a huge asset. He barely has to take 2 steps before clearing a cross.

City fans are hoping they'll put 6 past us too. We're not Tottenham, someone needs to tell em.

Mertesacker is the player Senderos was meant to become.

Raphael Honigstein (top journo), as saying he interviewed Mertesacker recently and that the player said whilst he really feels at home in English football now, the arrival of Flamini has really allowed him & the rest of the defence to perform the way that they are.

Yeah, Mertesacker is an excellent defender and reads the game like no other. He fills me with confidence!

Our entire defense, including Shezza have been solid this season so far, maybe it's the Bould effect?

Good point Moist, it is probably more to do with Flamini than Bould!

comment by Moistthighs (U3249)
posted 53 seconds ago
Raphael Honigstein (top journo), as saying he interviewed Mertesacker recently and that the player said whilst he really feels at home in English football now, the arrival of Flamini has really allowed him & the rest of the defence to perform the way that they are.
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Wow. Think how much they'll improve when Fernando signs for us then!

City fans hardly think they will hammer us do they?
Hopefully their players think similar....they will get a shock

And he feels home and intend to stay on. Read

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/it-is-a-little-reward-that-we-are-talking--arsenals-per-mertesacker-pleased-to-open-contract-discussions-8966134.html

Ive been saying this for ages now. When people were having a go at TV I said it was because Kos does NOT compliment him and it was down to Kos always attacking the ball. I still think TV is the better all round defender but the partnership of Kos and Mert is the best pairing at the club by far. It s simple really, Kos likes to attack the ball (always) and Mert likes to cover.

Raphael Honigstein (top journo), as saying he interviewed Mertesacker recently and that the player said whilst he really feels at home in English football now, the arrival of Flamini has really allowed him & the rest of the defence to perform the way that they are.

spot on. Since we have Flamini we look even more solid in defense.

Last season we only conceded 37 goals in the league, 2nd best defence overall, so we were hardly poor.
2011 / 2012 we conceded 49, so that was a drastic improvement.
It's nice to see genuine progress.

Where do we stand this season though?

comment by (Dubbed The New Wenger) (U18614)
posted 4 minutes ago
Where do we stand this season though?
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Joint second with 10 conceded isn't it? Us and Chelsea.
Southanpton have conceded 7. Which is a bit impressive after 12 games.

Southampton I think will come 5th this season. Very impressive stuff if they can pull it off

I actually think the reason for our strong start this season is mainly because of the form of both center backs and full backs. Flamini helps as he and Per seem to identify danger faster than most but the defence as a whole are the reson why we are top.

We have barely been that good up top, not creating as many chances as teams of the past but I think that will change with Theo,Podolski and the Ox contributing in the 2nd half of the season.

comment by b10 (U18580)
posted 4 minutes ago
I actually think the reason for our strong start this season is mainly because of the form of both center backs and full backs. Flamini helps as he and Per seem to identify danger faster than most but the defence as a whole are the reson why we are top.

We have barely been that good up top, not creating as many chances as teams of the past but I think that will change with Theo,Podolski and the Ox contributing in the 2nd half of the season.
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Speaking of up Top though, Giroud definitely contributes that way. We don't have many 6 footes in the team, so it's good to have him back helig out on corners and free kicks.

When people were having a go at TV I said it was because Kos does NOT compliment him

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Heh. Lovely image where fKos just stands there and doesn't tell him how nice he's looking today, or how that was a great clearance, so Vermaelen can't do his job.

Ron please dont say you mean fernando reges

Ron you are spouting garbage

Wouldnt have those two english cbs and replace kos and mert

Ron is clearly messing about Cape.