Alert: [R] Arsenal versus Newcastle Monday, March 12, 4 pm est

Off this game you're going to make a statement that Ox was better than Theo? Theo had both assists and a couple of other passes that could have been converted. In the long run Ox probably will be better than Theo, but in this game Theo was good to very good and when he plays like that, Arsenal usually win. With Theo its all about consistency. He plays very well in some games and disappears in others. Remember he's still only 22. Young players tend to be a little inconsistent.

 

Gibbs better than Baines? I don't see it, mate.

 

He's out of position? TV5 receives a pass, Gibbs is running into space to provide an outlet. IF he stayed in his natural position, even with TV5 there'd be no space for him to receive the ball as he'd be closed down. I don't need to be at the game to figure this out.

 

this was the most interesting thing to me. when he started playing left back, i got really excited because of how much he likes to go forward . . . then he played more stayed at home as a left-back and i got confused (somebody made an interesting observation that he played almost as left-sided defensive midfielder then).

 

i know that any minute now somebody is going to get irritated at the discussion of how far along gibbs is and whether he should be in the lineup, given that we won the game. but i have to tell you guys: i fucking love it. being able to discuss one player's progress/readiness after the game is so much better than some of the gloom and doom discussion we had after every game during that crappy streak of games we had.

i'll happily take winning the game and having this type of discussion for the rest of the season.

 

i wants this my desktop background. i wants it. i needs it!

 

Arteta played the peacekeeper well last night.

There was a discussion in the RVP thread I think about how good a captain/leader he is this year. I have to agree.

But Arteta, Rosicky have also been great leaders for us this year. Maybe Song. Wait for Jack in a few years. And Szcesney is really chomping at the bit, although he's too young/naiive.

Looks like we have quite a mature bunch of dudes coming along.

p.s. Sorry Aaron that I left you out, given you're the national captain and all, but for us you don't seem to jump into that role.

 

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/gary-neville-analysis-of-the-robin-van-persie-v-tim-krul-spat/

gary neville proving his worth as an analyst.

 

As much as i've always hated him, he really is a good announcer. Just keep him off camera please.

 

many apologies for the repetition (and i absolutely love sagna) but, gawd, i miss lauren.

 

great point, NB. i think this is where wenger missed for so many years but got it right at the deadline this year. arteta, mertesacker and benayoun may not be super quality but their show of leadership and maturity can help some of the young super quality players we have how to be more grown up and learn to become future leaders themselves.

 

This. I hope to be wrong about Theo, and yesterday's game is an opportunity for reevaluation. He can finish well and he can cross well, though horribly inconsistent. But yesterday was on the front end of good linkup play, which I'd never seen from him before. With that in mind, he might have a higher ceiling that I had given him credit for. If he could only beat a defender with deception on the dribble in tight space, he could be a truly outstanding player.

 

FWIW I don't think Ox sucked, most of the attacks were going on the right because Theo was having his way with Santon.

 

He's completely right. There's not much you can do to prevent the opposition's GK from timewasting. But the one thing you can do is taunt and embarrass him if you end up winning anyway.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...obe-racism-claim-fan-abused-Cheick-Tiote.html

"Arsenal probe racism claim"

find out who it was and punish him/her quickly.

unacceptable.

 

My new wallpaper

 

Please shut your fucking mouth, Jonas. As if he didn't spend most of the match on his ass either flopping for cheap fouls in midfield or from trying to clatter one of our players. God, I hope Newcastle get relegated again; I've always hated them.

 

Someone should make one of those floating head gifs that Prince likes to use with RVP

 

Really, what the hell is he talking about? He's proud of Krul for staying calm when van Persie went crazy? WTF?

Maybe all Nederlanders look the same to him.

 

I don't get the Gibbs love - he's decent, but he was torched by Ben Arfa for the goal.

I agree with Prince: Vermaelen isn't very good.

 

I like Gibbs - I'm just going to hold off on the love until he does it a while longer.

Vermaelen, on the other hand: . He's out of position a lot.

 

Arsenal gave up a lot of goals on set pieces last season. This season they seem to have improved, a lot. As strong as he is in the air, Vermaelen is a significant part of that.

You take the good (goals scored and set pieced defended) with the bad. Especially in this case when the bad appears to be a communication issue that can be corrected. Its clear that Wenger encourages his center halves to go forward at times, Koscielny does it too. So I'm sure there's a rotation in place when they do, i.e Song dropping back or the outside backs pinching in. When Arsenal get burned because Vermaelen or Koscielny have gone forward, its probably the communication and defensive discipline that have broken down.

 

this is almost entirely not true. Its almost laughable to say its true thats how wrong it is.

there was a change in tactic, RVP now sits in front of the near post and the team went to zonal marking. I think van Persie has over 100 headed clearances this year.


Not only that, but Vermaelen has made 19 appearances this year while the club has played 28 matches (in league stats).


I think Vermaelen is a very good defender on 1v1s and in the defensive 3rd. When teams are in transition, he struggles because he is usually caught high up the pitch. He also likes to ball watch too and isnt as good at anticipating danger as Kos and Per are.

I like Vermaelen a lot, but I cant believe folks on here refuse to be critical of his play. I mean people are bashing Gibbs on the Ben Arfa goal when it was Vermaelen who gave the ball away which lead to the chance.

Look, I get it. He scores goals and is a defender so that is cool. He looks like a bad ass and he looks passionate and all that, but the guy is prone to clown moments in defense. I will never get why people dont want to point it out.