Why hasn't Wenger returned Pascal Cygan to the starting line-up? I think he's fully recovered from his calf injury, right? Am I the only one who is uncertain about Keown? Keown seems slow, unsteady, mouthy, gives up too much space, plus he seems to get tripped up too easily (he's made some awkward falls when he gets beat by an offensive player). Has anyone else noticed this? Is Keown that much better than Cygan? I don't think that Cygan is the speediest defender, but he seems pretty solid defensively and he distrubutes the ball well. --sc
Cygan hasn't been able to regain his spot simply because Keown's been playing well the last few matches. He and Campbell were practically impossible to get around against ManUre and has been solid ever since. Keown's not the most spectacular defender, but he's one of the most solid and most consistent. Cygan occassionally takes chances that result in really good chances for the opposition. I like the guy too, but they've been too open to equalisers over the last month and a half and needed a more consistent presence in the back. Considering the run Arsenal's been on lately, I wouldn't tinker with the lineup either.
Some of the "wisdom" I've seen says that Cygan's better against Continental opposition while Keown's the one to get "stuck in" (the English love that phrase) against the teams who have that "true fighting English spirit." So perhaps you can expect PC in the Champs League and Keown in the EPL. (Now, if anyone truly believes that Cygan couldn't have handled the drab Lisbie/Bartlett duo with two arms tied behind his back, then they're nuts. But I'm just passing along a theory I've read in several places.) Don't get me wrong - I love Martin's attitude, and he compensates for his lack of, you know, coordination, with the knowledge that comes from years of experience. When that little turd Parker scissored Razor in the second half, Keown walked right up to him, glared down from the 8-inch height advantage, and had a few words for the would-be wonderboy. And even though Parker laughed at the end of the exchange, I'm guessing it was a nervous laugh. I imagine the speech went something like: "If you do that again I'll break your <blanking> neck."
Cygan was "on the bench" for Sunday's game, and as I was sitting 2nd row from the front for this game, he was warming right up and standing in front of me! I think some of the above comments are correct. Martin is "on form" at present" and Cygans' performances are a little too "up and down" for my liking for a regular spot. He got beat for pace in the "one on one" when the Farnborough Town player scored in the F.A. Cup match. If you're getting outstripped by a "semi pro" then Premiership players will be from another planet! His passing has been in the same "ilk" also. I think he needs another season to "adjust" before commanding a regular place. He needs to get "stuck in" more!!!!!!!!!! (LOL). Jeff.
IMHO Wenger never had any serious plans for Cygan, he's just a stop-gap until the soon-to-be great and glorious Frankie Simek is ready for the big-time.
I agree Jeff, I also feel he's a little light weight for such a big bloke, I imagine if you polled premiership forwards, most of them would rather come up against Cygan any day.
The bald man had a fantastic game against Roma. Don't forget that off the line clearance...I wonder if AW has plans for him when Roma come to Highbury.
From what I've seen of Cygan so far, he won't be dislodging Keown or Campbell from their starting places any time soon. He's too slow and plays a bit too much. I mean sometimes you can play a nice pass and sometimes you need to just get rid of it. Maybe he hasn't quite adjusted to the pace of the game in England yet. decent cover for the first choice pair, but no more than that.
... There's something un-Arsenal about Cygan's style of defending. He's a great passer of the ball. We want hoofers, blood and guts, wayward passes, thumping of chests, blood stained shirts. That's just not Cygan.