Stones has a higher ceiling though. Knutson raves about Holding though - says he was blown away by what he saw on film after word broke that Arsenal were signing him.
********ing doubtful mate. I haven't seen Stones pocket Hazard and Costa. Price and value is subjective. Rob's the future Tony Adams, I'm also a bit drunk so fair play.
This higher ceiling is overrated.. I get that stones can play the ball out of back but his defensive positioning is atrocious as his decision making... holding is a smart lad ...very impressive showing in final... telling costa to get this head checked earned MOTM
Holding struggled with Costa at times, I recall he blew him away on one through ball and got a shot off. Still I like him - Holding/Merte/Kos would be a decent back 3
Holding has played well, and looks like he's going to be very, very good. He's not perfect though, and on another day Costa might have had 2-3. Stones has his positional issues, and it's certainly possible he's a bust. BUT: a CB who can pass around a press is currently the second most valuable type of player in football these days, behind an elite 9. If Stones gets better positionally, and he is still young so it's more than possible, he becomes incredibly valuable.
My only issue with Stones is that he has a weak danger sense. Positioning gets better with experience and training. But knowing when your FB or CM getting turned inside out is a goal and when knowing when to hold your position is in many ways an innate ability. And, its hasn't improved at all with game time imo.
Did anyone talk about the really impressive play of Xhaka in this match and in the past few? It took him a while to adjust to the Prem but he really started playing well and the FA final was perhaps his best game.
The pundits were always overstating how 'bad' Xhaka was playing; dude was always this good -- it was our tactics that were holding him back
Right now and since Arsenal's season is over I'm currently watching my old boys at VfL Wolfsburg in the second leg of their relegation/promotion playoff on FS1 and the good guys in Green and White are leading away to Eintracht Braunschweig 1:0 in the second half and leading 2:0 on aggregate as well as 1:0 on away goals. IMMER NUR DU VfL!!! .......and COYF'n'G!!!
The problem is that the leaving CBs to win 1v1s is a brutal proposition in that youre on an island for the world to see
FINAL SCORE in the Bundesliga Relegation/Promotion playoff Second Leg: Eintracht Braunschweig 0:1 VfL Wolfsburg (Wolfsburg win playoff 2:0 on aggregate and 1:0 on away goals) WE ARE STAYING UP!!!
The move to the back 3 allowed Xhaka to become the player Arsenal signed him for and giving Ramsey the freedom to go forward and make a difference. Now, get a good LWB and decent goal scorer and you might start to have something for next season
You didn't like Ox there? He dribbles too much and has a propensity to lose the ball, but he could work well there.
Just heard James on Arsecast say how Holding was caught on video telling Costa he's a nut job, while he was defending him.
I am happy. FWIW, Ramsey has won two cups for AFC. Xhaka has been splendid all season. And above all...great job to Sajid for bringing us home. But two more years of Wenger.
I haven't seen a really good clip of this yet, but here's the incident supposedly... I think this happened after that heavy tackle. When both of them were on the ground, Costa with his legs wrapped around Holding, and with his teeth clenched like he would like to actually murder our youngster, if it weren't for a referee, 90K fans in the stadium, and millions on TV watching him. I remember thinking to myself at the time "look at that lunatic, he's psychotic". Apparently young Rob said something similar to his face.
Just enjoyed watching Adrian Clarke's "Breakdown" of this match. If, on this "day of meh", with the club choosing status quo over change, if you need to inject a little positivity into your support, I suggest watching this! http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170530/why-winning-the-midfield-battle-was-key
I agree but holding has looked good Wenger was right.. if we would have spent 55 mil... people would have been more excited than getting kid for 2.5 Holding mustafi and koz with back three and granit in front 3 has looked good Granit was possibly Arsenal best player in last month