Reason for Optimism

wengerama12 · Post by **wengerama12** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:03 am

Hi Guys, I'm new to the forum so I thought I would kick things off with a post. After watching Spurs this evening I think third place is definitely up for grabs. We were unlucky to lose at the drain and I believe we are a better side than Chelsea. It seems to me that we are gathering some really positive momentum at the moment even though we lost at Citeh. The character displayed in last nights win was commendable to say the least and with a player like Arteta we certainly have the nous and experience to grind out more results at tough venues.

1989 · Post by **1989** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:23 am

Lots of positives at the mo:

- Back 4 looks class with the German wall, the Pole in goal, the French beast and the Belgian hardman
- Best striker in the league
- A player like Benayoun to pop up and score crucial goals
- Arteta proving to be a cracking buy
- Wilshere, Sagna and Santos will soon return
- Young players with immense potential (Ox, Frimpong, Ryo, Coquelin, Jenkinson)

Now must sign a new striker to share the goals with RvP.

RioGooner · Post by **RioGooner** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:40 am

Santos is due to late feb/ early march, don't think we'll see much of him.

The team makes me happy because they give their best at all times - bar arshavin - and don't get that, oh no we're losing malaise we had for several seasons. The feeling that we could be great with the right 2 or 3 players still remain, though.

All and all I think this team can and will put up a fight for the Cl spot and that would, in some weird way save a season that was doomed from the summer window.Not enough, imo to keep wenger, but getting ahead of the scum and into CL is baseline pride.

olgitgooner · Post by **olgitgooner** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:34 am

Well-balanced view, Rio.

Peeman · Post by **Peeman** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:54 am

Dare I say we are starting to look like a team again - not a world beating team but still a team.

JakeN13 · Post by **JakeN13** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:48 am

I want to like Ramsey but truth is, we will be a different team when Wilshere comes back to replace him....

Boomer · Post by **Boomer** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:15 am

JakeN13 wrote:I want to like Ramsey but truth is, we will be a different team when Wilshere comes back to replace him....

He needs a rest IMO.
Remember he wasn't exactly getting games end of last year and now, to a degree, he's been thrust into first team action.
We have to remember the serious injury he sustained and losing Cesc and now Wilshire to injury may have made Wenger use him more then necessary. On the injury, it's good to see he hasn't had any muscular set backs.
Over the Christmas period I'd like to see a little (I MEAN A LITTLE WENGER!) rotation. Maybe Yossi for Rambo.

Back on topic. The other thing I'm expecting (hoping) for is for Terry to get a lengthy ban. He's past his best and they're certainly not a one-man team but Chelsea is never the same team with him out. Epic fall for the Chavs is on the cards.

terry henry · Post by **terry henry** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:30 am

Ramsay is too inconsistent. Has moments of brilliance mixed with moments of looking very average. Think he tries to do too many deft flicks as well.

highburyJD · Post by **highburyJD** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:43 am

JakeN13 wrote:I want to like Ramsey but truth is, we will be a different team when Wilshere comes back to replace him....

true - but thats a long way away

Boomer wrote:The other thing I'm expecting (hoping) for is for Terry to get a lengthy ban. He's past his best and they're certainly not a one-man team but Chelsea is never the same team with him out. Epic fall for the Chavs is on the cards.

longer they can delay it the better for them, court case helps. If it was just an instant ban they would suffer. After yesterday Ivanovic and Mikel are injured and Ramires suspended for the Fulham game. With Alex frozen out they are a bit short in defence - Bosingwa at CB?

RioGooner · Post by **RioGooner** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:51 am

olgitgooner wrote:Well-balanced view, Rio.

Percy Dalton · Post by **Percy Dalton** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:08 am

I just got myself a PS3 for Xmas!

I am very optimistic!

MadRich · Post by **MadRich** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:47 am

- At the game against Man City, whilst no one played brilliantly, we played as a team.

- Santos, Sagna and Wilshere will come back at around the same time into positions we are currently lacking.

- According to sammy Goetze is on his way

SteveO 35 · Post by **SteveO 35** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:20 pm

The season if very finely poised. I think we all realise that we're an RvP and Chesney injury away from scraping into the top six, or alternatively two decent signings away from being top three.

If the club decides in its collective wisdom that the "dizzying" prices in January (officially defined in the Arsenal dictionary as anyone over â‚¬15m) are to be ignored then personally I'll be sick to the back teeth hearing the usual shit tripped out in late April about how "close" we were, "unlucky with injuries" etc

I live in hope that the last time we were going into the Xmas period in danger in the top 4 we spent a bit of cash on Arshavin - which crazy as it sounds these days was the catalyst needed for a good kick-up the arse and the player that was needed at the time to get us all going again.

If we signed Goetze & a partner for RvP I would indeed start to feel optimistic again, especially if Jack, Sagna and Santos all recover fitness and form. But I still shudder every time RvP goes down under a challenge or someone whacks into Chesney......and that's the flip side. In two of the really vital positions are options are far too limited for a club of our stature.

clockender1 · Post by **clockender1** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:52 pm

yeah, i think Steve's about right - two good buys and we're 3rd or even second, otherwise we're 4th or 5th with some bad luck.

still, we've played 17 out of 38 games and we've been to manchester twice, the lane and the bridge, and our defence is looking pretty solid with four centre backs and we're even scoring goals from corners - so we will have a big say in the title race still.

The spuds are going down, Harry is already moaning that van der fart is out for next two games, and newcastle and liverpool are done.

so yeah, we're not the team of 98 or 02 or 04, but much to look forward to.

Merry Christmas lads

_James_ · Post by **_James_** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:59 pm

terry henry wrote:Ramsay is too inconsistent. Has moments of brilliance mixed with moments of looking very average. Think he tries to do too many deft flicks as well.

I wonder if Aaron if fully fit at the moment, he doesn't seem to be able to last 90mins at the moment he always starts well but during the 2nd half seems to fade. He would probably be better with Jack in the centre of midfield.