Future Residents of Manchester... The Arsenal Transfer Thread

I agree that this is what it looked like in attack. But I want to reach agreement that we defended with two banks of four, Hleb to the right and Rosicky to the left. RvP played a different role than a CAM in a 4231. My point has been that Cazorla also stayed high up in defense while Poldi and Ox fell back (making it 4411 in defense). This would be different from the way we defended the last few seasons, which has been more of a classic 4231 with the CAM falling back more in defense.

Whatever. I am not arguing that Arshavin would be the perfect player in our version of 442/4411/42211 (i.e playing beind the striker, and staying high up the field in defense in order to position himself for the transition). I am not arguing that we are not benefitting hugely by Cazorlas pressing game. He is the man!!! What I am arguing is: If we are changing our defense into the old way of defending, then we might see Arshavin centrally rather than on a wing. I am also arguing that this might be his best position, as he has performed well there historically. Finally I am arguing that his faults might not be as visible there as they are on the wing.

 

Me too. Partnering Arteta yes. Partnering Diaby no. Partnering a fit Wilshere? Mmmmm... no. Arteta is pretty important! I still don't think that keeping Song would have changed that fact.

So, when Cazorla gets some rest, do you see Ramsey deputizing or Arshavin (if he stays)? Who would be third choice? Some even say that AW wants to mould Jack into that position.

 

and what I am telling is that his laziness WOULD BE EXPOSED. His careless passing WOULD BE EXPOSED. He would be EXPOSED. It would hurt the team tremendously. I would rather see Ramsey further up because at least the guy will run.

 

When does the Russian window close? Is it tomorrow?

 

Thursday

Turkish window also closes Thursday, French window closes tomorrow, iirc

one would hope. He has a very limited role, at best, on the team this year and he is getting old.

He wants to stay in London which is the problem.

 

Ox as a pivot? Wtf? Left inside forward or cazorla role maybe....but pivot?

 

I didn't read the story, but there was a link to a story about a week ago with Ox quoted as he can fill the Song role. Having seen any number of links that liberally interpreted what the player actually said, this may not have been what Ox meant, but it may be where the concept of Ox as a pivot came from.

 

Prince, your wish is Arsene's command. Dude, you are connected. Are you SK in disguise?

Arsenal are understood to have offered Andrei Arshavin a free transfer in the hope that he will finally find a new club before the Russian transfer window closes on Thursday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...n-hope-of-securing-move-to-Dynamo-Moscow.html

 

Why has he officially been named in the 25 man PL squad and CL 25 man 'A' squad then?

 

I honestly don't think he's going anywhere. Can we afford to shave more players off of our depth chart at this point?

 

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...son----and-spurs-wont-trouble-us-8104267.html

Didn't feel like starting a new thread, so i'll just dump this PHW interview here.

 

im skeptical of it being a complete free transfer tho, our club wants there money.

Have they? Weird to do it yet Russia, Turkey, and France still have their transfer windows open. Dont think it matters much tho since we have a lot of under 21 players.

As for PL, that doesnt really matter does it? Asamoah Gyan was named to last year's Sunderland squad and he never played for them again after that as he was loaned to that UAE club.

he is dead-weight and one of the club's big earners. He has no purpose on this club except to get his salary.

 

He is in his last year and will cost an additional 1 M pounds by just being in the books. I guess at this point, a free transfer will save us that money.

 

Nevermind...false rumor.

 

thats a good point

but I meant clauses that Arshavin could reach like games played, goals, etc. FM style free transfers.

 

Yeah, got it. May be a win win for AFC.

 

If Arshavin is at the end of the bench as an option then that isn't a terrible thing in my book. I was on vacation and missed the end of the transfer window... I'm quite disappointed that we didn't bring in one more player -- and it's silly to say that players weren't out there. Our club just doesn't seem to be good at negotiating deals, whether it's buying or selling.

That said, the lineup we put out there against Liverpool was pretty good (except the missing players from the defense, of course). With Wilshere and Rosicky we should have five guys vying for three midfield spots -- unless Cazorla moves up front and plays out wide. I could see this:

Podolski ----- Giroud ----- Cazorla
--------- Diaby ----- Wilshere
---------------- Arteta

Gervinho needs to step up his game and earn his spot, and I'd love it if we just used Walcott as a super sub when games open up and he can counter (about the only time he's good). Especially if he isn't signing a contract.

 

I agree except for Kagawa, besides the Southampton match I have been impressed with the guy, he has not adapted yet but I consider him as a better player than Hazard as of this moment.

 

Does Henry know football at all?

 

when they were both healthy last year, frimpong started as well as came in off the bench ahead of coquelin. now that frimpong is broken, yeah, he won't be in the discussion.

 

it is, unquestionably, his best position. offensively, i would also love to see him there. the problem, as prince, alluded to is that his flicks and tricks, if/when they don't come off becomes HUGE counterattacking opportunities. i do think he, lately, has run (back to defend) more than he did in the past but the fact remains that he does not possess much in the way of athleticism or speed so recovery isn't going to be forthcoming on those counterattacks.

he would have to partner arteta or somebody defense like coquelin. wilshere, in the future, i can see but he's not there yet.

i think rosicky is or should be the primary backup for cazorla. the end of last season saw him being ahead of ramsey at that position to the better of the club. i think ramsey is going to be terrific there eventually.

i think he does see/saw wilshere in that position (i vaguely recall wenger drawing the comparison to bergkamp once) and the number assignment reflects that. but, then, he also originally saw song as a centreback before changing his mind. i'm hoping that, with wilshere being so good at the pivot and aneke and others coming up, wenger will leave him there to mastermind from the back. the pass that wilshere made to release walcott last year was siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick.

 

i think he could do it. he did it quite well in the milan game last year. he receives and distributes well. he's definitely superior to ramsey there and, before this sunday, i would have preferred him there to diaby.

 

For a couple of games at the extreme beginning of last season?

As an aside, is Frimpong hurt again? If so, shit! What is the matter with him?