Napoli at home

[1989]

Wenger got his tactics absolutely spot on tonight. Arteta and Flamini double pivot nullified the threat posed by Hamsik, Pandev and Insigne who are all at their best with space through the middle.

[QuartzGooner]

As good as Giroud has been this year, unfortunately, he's just not good enough. I like him, I really do, but, he's too slow, he's not technical enough and, with regret, he won't ever be that player to win us the game unless its served on a plate.

He may be scoring goals, but how many chances, half-chances and opportunities to put someone else through does he miss?!!

I'm happy with Giroud in the squad, but he's certainly shouldn't be our main striker.

He would be a very strong choice to bring off the bench if we had an elite level striker.

But Giroud would also be too good to want to sit on the bench for more than the odd game.

I would hope that we either bring in an experienced striker who will accept sitting on the bench at times, or a very good youngster who will feel the same way.

Perhaps Akpom will emerge to be that youngster?

[1989]

As good as Giroud has been this year, unfortunately, he's just not good enough. I like him, I really do, but, he's too slow, he's not technical enough and, with regret, he won't ever be that player to win us the game unless its served on a plate.

He may be scoring goals, but how many chances, half-chances and opportunities to put someone else through does he miss?!!

I'm happy with Giroud in the squad, but he's certainly shouldn't be our main striker.

He would be a very strong choice to bring off the bench if we had an elite level striker.

But Giroud would also be too good to want to sit on the bench for more than the odd game.

I would hope that we either bring in an experienced striker who will accept sitting on the bench at times, or a very good youngster who will feel the same way.

Perhaps Akpom will emerge to be that youngster?

Or maybe sign Suarez to play ALONGSIDE Ollie on occasion.

[northbank123]

As good as Giroud has been this year, unfortunately, he's just not good enough. I like him, I really do, but, he's too slow, he's not technical enough and, with regret, he won't ever be that player to win us the game unless its served on a plate.

He may be scoring goals, but how many chances, half-chances and opportunities to put someone else through does he miss?!!

I'm happy with Giroud in the squad, but he's certainly shouldn't be our main striker.

He would be a very strong choice to bring off the bench if we had an elite level striker.

But Giroud would also be too good to want to sit on the bench for more than the odd game.

I would hope that we either bring in an experienced striker who will accept sitting on the bench at times, or a very good youngster who will feel the same way.

Perhaps Akpom will emerge to be that youngster?

If Giroud manages to keep up the impressive improvement in his all-round play then he will certainly have proved much of my criticism of him wrong but I'm looking at two of Dzeko/Negredo/Jovetic, Ba, Defoe, Welbeck and Hernandez sitting on the bench every week as well as Lukaku being loaned out and thinking that Giroud is far from too good to sit on the bench for substantial periods over a season.

If he keeps up this form he's a good option to have but given the particular importance our 4-5-1 places on the striker there's no way we should be planning building our team around him.

[King Henry]

As good as Giroud has been this year, unfortunately, he's just not good enough. I like him, I really do, but, he's too slow, he's not technical enough and, with regret, he won't ever be that player to win us the game unless its served on a plate.

He may be scoring goals, but how many chances, half-chances and opportunities to put someone else through does he miss?!!

I'm happy with Giroud in the squad, but he's certainly shouldn't be our main striker.

Think that's very unfair on Giroud. I'd rather have him in the team than maybe another striker with more ability but doesn't work as hard. Giroud goes for every header, holds up the ball, creates and scores. He's not world class but I think with him in the team it allows the others such as Ozil, Ramsey and Cazorla to play better.

On top of that he's a great asset to have at corners and set pieces both offensively and defensively, as this is one area that has been a big weakness for us over the years. We do need another option though as I don't think any of the options we currently have are good enough for a sustained run in the team.

[LeftfootlegendGooner]

Fuck me fellas, great night, great game, great win and your still moaning about giroud

He was very good tonight and didn't put a foot wrong imo, EVERY player misses a pass, misses a chance or has the occasional bad first touch but tonight he controlled just about everything, stuck away his chance after great movement and had a big part in the first goal.

I'm not saying he is the man to lead us to a major trophy but as it stands he is doing his job very well

[1989]

As good as Giroud has been this year, unfortunately, he's just not good enough. I like him, I really do, but, he's too slow, he's not technical enough and, with regret, he won't ever be that player to win us the game unless its served on a plate.

He may be scoring goals, but how many chances, half-chances and opportunities to put someone else through does he miss?!!

I'm happy with Giroud in the squad, but he's certainly shouldn't be our main striker.

Think that's very unfair on Giroud. I'd rather have him in the team than maybe another striker with more ability but doesn't work as hard. Giroud goes for every header, holds up the ball, creates and scores. He's not world class but I think with him in the team it allows the others such as Ozil, Ramsey and Cazorla to play better.

On top of that he's a great asset to have at corners and set pieces both offensively and defensively, as this is one area that has been a big weakness for us over the years. We do need another option though as I don't think any of the options we currently have are good enough for a sustained run in the team.

Suarez is the missing piece of the puzzle in this team. He'll be watching that game tonight and thinking "I want some of that".

[Theoperator]

WHat a goal by Ozil, great assist from Rambo too.

Looking foreward to the Dortmund games

[Midz]

Suarez is the missing piece of the puzzle in this team. He'll be watching that game tonight and thinking "I want some of that".

+1

Signing Suarez would be #1 on my list.

[Ryanswannell]

There was a fair amount of noise in the ground tonight, I loved the north bank/clock end rallies, they were fantastic.

[officepest]

There was a fair amount of noise in the ground tonight, I loved the north bank/clock end rallies, they were fantastic.

+ 1000

[officepest]

Suarez is the missing piece of the puzzle in this team. He'll be watching that game tonight and thinking "I want some of that".

+1

Signing Suarez would be #1 on my list.

Bin Dippers won't sell though, at least until the Season's end, and then probably not to us. We'll need somebody quality in January.

[rodders999]

Giroud's hold up play was immense tonight. No matter the quality of the ball up to him he killed it dead, held off the defenders and laid it off to a team mate EVERY time. Superb performance. If only we'd have bought a world class finisher in the summer to compliment him. Ah well.....

Ozil's goal made me do a sex piss in my undies, that hadn't happened since the days of Henry, Pires and Bergkamp

[1989]

Suarez is the missing piece of the puzzle in this team. He'll be watching that game tonight and thinking "I want some of that".

+1

Signing Suarez would be #1 on my list.

Bin Dippers won't sell though, at least until the Season's end, and then probably not to us. We'll need somebody quality in January.

If he kicks up another fuss who knows. They won't turn down a 50m bid.

[worthing_gooner]

Everyone talking about Napoli like they're world beaters They're an average team with a world class striker who have made a decent start to their season. Their defence is absolute dross and to be honest, if we can't beat Napoli at home then we shouldn't be in the Champions League.

You couldn't be more wrong. Apart from Higgy they've got the likes of Hamsik, Inler, Insigne, Zuniga, Mertens, Reina, Albiol and Pandev. They beat Dortmund in the first round and are top of their league. If you think they're a walkover you're in for a shock.

Completely agree with '89, Napoli are a very good side and if we beat them I will be extremely pleased. We have finally got a rock hard group and any two could qualify so I wouldn't dismiss Napoli as average until we've played all our group games.

I hear what you're saying, but Hamsik, Inler, Insigne? Come on. They're good players, but they're not great players. I'd rather have Ramsey, Ozil and Wilshere than those three. Pandev is average at best, certainly no better than Giroud. Reina and Albiol? Again, Reina was a quality keeper about five seasons ago. Albiol is nothing special either. They're decent players, no more than that.

Don't get me wrong, they're not a walkover or a load of dross but I just find it funny everyone is bigging them up and in some instances almost writing us off altogether. All I'm saying is personally I don't feel we have anything to fear and this is a game I'd be disappointed to lose at home.

Other than Higuain, there's no player in their starting XI which would make a massive difference to our team. You'd think they had Messi, Neymar, Xavi and Iniesta the way people are raving about them.

Uh huh

Great performance to be fair, I didn't see that coming. We look really confident and the atmosphere was first class. Fingers crossed we can keep this run going as long as possible