Are we even in for him? If not then why bother...

Pedro links are getting stronger by the day as it appears.

And it also seems Bastia would be willing to take Flamini off our hands. Would be nothing short of a coup if we managed to offload him.

I'd say yes on principle but I don't know if we are looking for a CB.

I don't know if we are in for him. The question is should we be in for him. And Pedro can fack off, hope he goes to Liverpool, don't want him at all.

Gabriel played what, 300 minutes?

We've got him to bed in, Mert is nowhere near as bad as people try to make out (actually I think he's very good, perfect foil for Kos), we've got £15m man Chambers who needs games, I think it would be a bit foolish to try to get another CB added into the mix.

Kos, Mert, Gabriel and Chambers should be enough

Mertesacker was v good 2nd half of last season. Doesn't mean that if a younger, affordable upgrade on him becomes available we shouldn't consider it.

comment by Bats (U18355)
posted 2 minutes ago
I don't know if we are in for him. The question is should we be in for him.
And Pedro can fack off, hope he goes to Liverpool, don't want him at all.
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I'm thinking yes we should. We should be phasing out Mert because his lack of pace, as with Giroud, limits the whole team. Ppl have forgot how much he cost us last season. We should be improving in all areas if we expect to challenge and Per is one of the weaknesses unfortunately, as I quite like him.

And I agree on Pedro but a deal seems pretty likely.

He was pretty crap at Bayern, plus he comes off as a complete twàt. Don't think he is right for Arsenal.

"Mertesacker was v good 2nd half of last season. Doesn't mean that if a younger, affordable upgrade on him becomes available we shouldn't consider it."

This works on FIFA but the more you change in the summer, the more you struggle with gelling the team and getting off to a good start.

Can't have another transitional season with the excuse that we signed 5 players who had to bed in, at some point this squad actually has to achieve it's potential.

Already have Gabriel, let him fight with Mert for the 2nd spot at CB

We wouldn't be bedding in 5 players though, 1 or 2 outfield players at most. Chelsea made 4 huge changes to their starting XI last season and hit the ground running.

Arsenal are in dire need of another centre half. Haven't got a clue why anyone rates Chambers.

Total liability

comment by Chris H (U15205)




posted 17 minutes ago



Gabriel played what, 300 minutes?

We've got him to bed in, Mert is nowhere near as bad as people try to make out (actually I think he's very good, perfect foil for Kos), we've got £15m man Chambers who needs games, I think it would be a bit foolish to try to get another CB added into the mix.

Kos, Mert, Gabriel and Chambers should be enough
--------------------------
Spot on Chris!

Mert is a decent defender and very solid when paired with Kos. Poor bloke gets criticised because he is slow, but he makes up for that with positional awareness.

Just don't see the point of mixing it up.

Whenever we have proper protection for our defence, Mert has been quality pretty much all the time bar Monaco.

The only concerns we had around our defence was with the GKs and not enough CB's before January. We've addressed both now, no need to mess with things further.

We got Gabriel who will break into the team this season. Expect big things from him. We dont need another centre back. We have sorted GK position now we need to look at DM and forward positions. Think we will have to wait late in the transfer market to get our targets. Full back positions need upgrading next summer. Debuchy is average. Gibbs hasnt improved and Monreal will never be elite. We should be targeting the Porto left back.

Agree with all that. But like I said, if a younger, affordable upgrade on Per becomes available, should we not consider upgrading? Per has 1 maybe 2 seasons left at the top at best.

comment by Nicky Law's bald coot (U6025)
posted 5 minutes ago
Arsenal are in dire need of another centre half. Haven't got a clue why anyone rates Chambers.

Total liability
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Based on? As an actual Arsenal supporter (how often have you watched our games), I can say he's clearly not the finished product but he has a lot of potential. Bear in mind it's his first season at the club, there's bound to be a difference in playing level at Arsenal compared to Saints and he's only 21. With that, he did brilliantly. Yes he was totally owned by Montero at Swansea but that's as much Wenger's fault as it was Chamber's (AW should have made a change as soon as it was evident Montero was getting past CC so easily). But apart from that, he did well to hold down a position he likely isn't going to play as his first choice position.

So "total liability"? You might want to lay off whatever you're smoking mate.

Don't worry about Nicky Law, U12977. Look at his posting history, on the WUM today for some reason.

I don't think that, at 28, Benatia offers the long term solution. With a bad season where he barely played behind him, not too sure he is really a short term improvement either.
Basically, not worth the risk.

Chambers is dire.

No need to argue, Just sit back an watch.

3 years max he will be turning out in the Championship.

Carl Jeninson will be world class very soon. Unreal talent. Wenger is doubling his wages can see the talent.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 minutes ago
Don't worry about Nicky Law, U12977. Look at his posting history, on the WUM today for some reason.
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True. Probably wasn't worth the effort.

But onto Benatia, don't know much if anything about him but would prefer to stick with what we have for another season. Sure, our only experience pairing is Mertescielny but we still have Gabriel and Chambers and it doesn't make any sense to take on new players without seeing how these two do whether as a pairing or as back up for one of the BFG or Kos...

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 7 minutes ago
I don't think that, at 28, Benatia offers the long term solution. With a bad season where he barely played behind him, not too sure he is really a short term improvement either.
Basically, not worth the risk.
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Age is certainly against him.
But speaking in general terms, we will need to think about replacing our first 11 CB pairing sooner than it seems now.

comment by march_2k (U10336)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 7 minutes ago
I don't think that, at 28, Benatia offers the long term solution. With a bad season where he barely played behind him, not too sure he is really a short term improvement either.
Basically, not worth the risk.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Age is certainly against him.
But speaking in general terms, we will need to think about replacing our first 11 CB pairing sooner than it seems now.
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Thinking about it yes. But not doing it. And certainly not with someone only a year younger than Koscielny and 2 years younger than Mertersacker.

If we want a Bayern cb has to be Martinez. Could kill 2 birds in 1 stone as he'd also be an option at DM. However his injuries are almost Diaby level

Got a feeling we will sign Benzema

Thought Gabrial looks very good everytime i saw him play. We have 3 good CB Plus Chambers. We are good at CB.

I wouldnt mind trading Per for Hummels though.