Bendtner; The Leg-end

[markyp]

I think everybody is forgetting we have Pod and wally to come back,our options up front aren't as dire as you think,ok wally isn't henry but he knows where the net is and pod is our best finisher,bendy may be a long way down the pecking order once our squad is back to full capacity

[northbank123]

I think everybody is forgetting we have Pod and wally to come back,our options up front aren't as dire as you think,ok wally isn't henry but he knows where the net is and pod is our best finisher,bendy may be a long way down the pecking order once our squad is back to full capacity

And I think you're forgetting that our 4-5-1 is non-negotiable and both those strikers have shown that they by and large aren't cut out for the lone striker role. Both useful options as second strikers but it'll never happen.

[officepest]

The only reason he's still here is because Chelsea put th kibosh on the loan deal for Ba, if/when Giroud gets crocked we're left with Podolski, Walcott and Mr Pink Boots.

Poldi is a great finisher but Wenger obviously doesn't trust him on his own up front, ditto Walcott in terms of trust and if Bendtner's heart is not in it i don't know why we've kept him.

[markyp]

everybody is still too harsh on Wallys credentials as a striker even though he was our top scorer last season and he missed a massive chunk of the early season too,i think with a run as striker wally would be decent,after all last season who'd have rated sturridge as a striker but look at him now having had a run in the Liverpool team and being shown some faith by Rodgers,i don't think theres many teams that wouldn't take sturridge now.look at giroud average last season but on fire now,it just takes a run,to say wally is plain shoite as a striker is ludicrous,same for pod afterall when he played up top last season he was actually carrying an injury

[Rosie_titters]

Unless Bentdner had a monkey on us to win, with he's great mate Paddy Power.. I think he actually gives a fuck, he was sat behind Wenger, and when we scored our two goals, he did a clench fist punch, some players who don't give a shit and sit on the bench, usually show no emotion

i do like to see our subs, show a bit of passion, when the team scores, instead of just sitting their, like stroppy bastards

[northbank123]

everybody is still too harsh on Wallys credentials as a striker even though he was our top scorer last season and he missed a massive chunk of the early season too,i think with a run as striker wally would be decent,after all last season who'd have rated sturridge as a striker but look at him now having had a run in the Liverpool team and being shown some faith by Rodgers,i don't think theres many teams that wouldn't take sturridge now.look at giroud average last season but on fire now,it just takes a run,to say wally is plain shoite as a striker is ludicrous,same for pod afterall when he played up top last season he was actually carrying an injury

The only real asset that Walcott has is his pace - his finishing has been improving but it's still far too inconsistent to consider him a good finisher, particularly when you stack him up against other strikers in the league. He's learning how to use his pace as a wing forward and is generally making the right sort of runs and choices hence why he's improved in terms of goalscoring return in the past season or two, but his skillset is just insufficient to play up top on his own. Looking for a ball in behind every time might bring some rewards against shit teams and/or those that play a recklessly high defensive line but up against any decent, organised defence Walcott is going to flounder up top and the rest of the team will suffer as moves break down.

[SteveO 35]

I think everybody is forgetting we have Pod and wally to come back,our options up front aren't as dire as you think,ok wally isn't henry but he knows where the net is and pod is our best finisher,bendy may be a long way down the pecking order once our squad is back to full capacity

And I think you're forgetting that our 4-5-1 is non-negotiable and both those strikers have shown that they by and large aren't cut out for the lone striker role. Both useful options as second strikers but it'll never happen.

And that is exactly the problem. Podolski is undoubtedly the best finisher at the club and Walcott showed some really encouraging signs when he was more central last year but neither of them are 'lone striker' material. The pair of them could be used alongside another forward in a 4-4-2 but he'll never change the system

The time we will most notice our lack of options is later in the season when teams come to our place and shut up the shop. There'll be a few frustrating draws where we don't have enough flexibility or the match winning striker to change a game

[QuartzGooner]

Podolski is undoubtedly the best finisher at the club and Walcott showed some really encouraging signs when he was more central last year but neither of them are 'lone striker' material. The pair of them could be used alongside another forward in a 4-4-2 but he'll never change the system

On what basis is Podolski best finisher at the club?
Does he have best goals to games ratio?

He is good at distance shots, but as you say, he is not lone striker material on what we have seen so far.

As for formation, just maybe what Liverpool are doing with the three centre backs might cause Wenger to change for the odd game if needed, go to a 3-5-2?

I can see how we could pair Podolski and Bendtner if Giroud was out.

Or am I crazily optimistic?

[markyp]

Podolski is undoubtedly the best finisher at the club and Walcott showed some really encouraging signs when he was more central last year but neither of them are 'lone striker' material. The pair of them could be used alongside another forward in a 4-4-2 but he'll never change the system

On what basis is Podolski best finisher at the club?
Does he have best goals to games ratio?

He is good at distance shots, but as you say, he is not lone striker material on what we have seen so far.

As for formation, just maybe what Liverpool are doing with the three centre backs might cause Wenger to change for the odd game if needed, go to a 3-5-2?

I can see how we could pair Podolski and Bendtner if Giroud was out.

Or am I crazily optimistic?

its because he scores when he wants!!

[northbank123]

Podolski is undoubtedly the best finisher at the club and Walcott showed some really encouraging signs when he was more central last year but neither of them are 'lone striker' material. The pair of them could be used alongside another forward in a 4-4-2 but he'll never change the system

On what basis is Podolski best finisher at the club?
Does he have best goals to games ratio?

He is good at distance shots, but as you say, he is not lone striker material on what we have seen so far.

As for formation, just maybe what Liverpool are doing with the three centre backs might cause Wenger to change for the odd game if needed, go to a 3-5-2?

I can see how we could pair Podolski and Bendtner if Giroud was out.

Or am I crazily optimistic?

I whole-heartedly agree with Podolski being comfortably the best finisher. It's not just shooting from range, his composure in front of goal is better than anybody else's. I can't see anybody else in our squad taking the goal at Fulham as he did. Although Giroud has put away a couple of good finishes this season he still regularly fluffs good shooting chances in the box, like the one he had on half-time at Swansea where he somehow managed to drag wide. Walcott shows composure sometimes but utter panic at others. If we're ever going to get the best out of Podolski we need to get him in and around the box and not hugging the left touchline.

[DB10GOONER]

Podolski is undoubtedly the best finisher at the club and Walcott showed some really encouraging signs when he was more central last year but neither of them are 'lone striker' material. The pair of them could be used alongside another forward in a 4-4-2 but he'll never change the system

On what basis is Podolski best finisher at the club?
Does he have best goals to games ratio?

He is good at distance shots, but as you say, he is not lone striker material on what we have seen so far.

As for formation, just maybe what Liverpool are doing with the three centre backs might cause Wenger to change for the odd game if needed, go to a 3-5-2?

I can see how we could pair Podolski and Bendtner if Giroud was out.

Or am I crazily optimistic?

I whole-heartedly agree with Podolski being comfortably the best finisher. It's not just shooting from range, his composure in front of goal is better than anybody else's. I can't see anybody else in our squad taking the goal at Fulham as he did. Although Giroud has put away a couple of good finishes this season he still regularly fluffs good shooting chances in the box, like the one he had on half-time at Swansea where he somehow managed to drag wide. Walcott shows composure sometimes but utter panic at others. If we're ever going to get the best out of Podolski we need to get him in and around the box and not hugging the left touchline.

Quartz - forget the fucking stats!!

Look at how Podolski strikes the ball. Always knee over, foot through. Clinical, never panics. Places the ball (with power when needed). He is by a long shot the best finisher at Arsenal. But as I and others have said, he is NOT a lone striker. No one at our club is. Wenger cannot see this for whatever reason. Podolski doesn't play that often because Arsene doesn't trust him as a lone striker, yet Arsene persists with this 4-5-1 formation and thus bench's our best finisher to accomodate the system! This is probably Wenger's greatest weakness; wedging players into his idea of the system, rather than formulating a system that works to the players' strengths.

Giroud, when you look at it clinically, has done brilliantly given that he is obviously not a lone striker either and yet has managed to bag goals with limited talent in a role that doesn't play to his strengths. If we played Giroud with either Feo or Podolski (Pod for me) in a 4-4-2 I think we'd get a higher goal return from our strikers.

[Herd]

If Nick the Wonderkid wants to know how to get his career going again he could do no worse than simply watch Giroud at work .
Giroud isnt the smartest ,isnt the best finisher,isnt a great footballer but has a massive work ethic that leaves not a single ounce of effort in the locker room.
If Nick could replicate such a desire to acheive ,he could yet still make it at the top,however I fear he will once again relapse into beer ,driving bans ,and polishing his scudetta medal !
With the shedding of the wage thiefs like arshavin, chamakh,denilson,santos and squiddly the atmosphere around the training pitch must be a more positive place to be .

[TurnipMasher]

With the shedding of the wage thiefs like arshavin, chamakh,denilson,santos and squiddly the atmosphere around the training pitch must be a more positive place to be .

I've wondered this myself. We've probably all worked with lazy fucks who bring an entire workplace down by being shit/lazy while still getting paid as everyone else does the work, and when they finally leave (or get sacked) the work environment seems much better. I can't imagine a professional football team is any different, and losing all of the dross has probably had a massive impact on them.

[OneBardGooner]

Unless Bentdner had a monkey on us to win, with he's great mate Paddy Power.. I think he actually gives a fuck, he was sat behind Wenger, and when we scored our two goals, he did a clench fist punch, some players who don't give a shit and sit on the bench, usually show no emotion

i do like to see our subs, show a bit of passion, when the team scores, instead of just sitting their, like stroppy bastards

No! That was because his take-away had arrived.

[OneBardGooner]

With the shedding of the wage thiefs like arshavin, santos,chamakh,denilson,santos and squiddly the atmosphere around the training pitch must be a more positive place to be .

I've wondered this myself. We've probably all worked with lazy fucks who bring an entire workplace down by being shit/lazy while still getting paid as everyone else does the work, and when they finally leave (or get sacked) the work environment seems much better. I can't imagine a professional football team is any different, and losing all of the dross has probably had a massive impact on them.

Also, they all get a look in when the trolley lady comes round with the Tea & cakes!