As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
He did say he wanted a defensive midfielder, so it does look like it's Arshavin and a DCM are his targets and since he said that he was only interested in bringing 'special players' to the club it will be interesting to see just what he thinks a special DCM is, no doubt it'll be someone who isn't fit to lace the boots of the two we let go in the summer.
It still amazes me how blind he seems to be to the middle of our defence, i'm beginning to think he only watches the game when it's in the oppositions half.
TheOne2Smooth wrote:I Seriously think we need a right sided winger more than a DM
If we look at our squad last season which came so close and compare it to this one, you'll see that the only major difference is central midfield. Walcott and Rosicky were both missing for huge parts of the season and Hleb was largely ineffective - yet, we were still riding high in the league. It really would be naive to play down the importance of a world class defensive midfielder to this team.
After all, last season, we had Flamini, Gilberto, Denilson and Song. Our first and second choice to partner Cesc this season were third and fourth behind a player who was largely past it and one who was punching above his weight a little. What does that tell you?
Last edited by T.S on Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
TheOne2Smooth wrote:I Seriously think we need a right sided winger more than a DM
If we look at our squad last season which came so close and compare it to this one, you'll see that the only major difference is central midfield. Walcott and Rosicky were both missing for huge parts of the season and Hleb was largely ineffective - yet, we were still riding high in the league. It really would be naive to play down the importance of a world class defensive midfielder to this team.
After all, last season, we had Flamini, Gilberto, Denilson and Song. Our first and second choice to partner Cesc this season were third and fourth behind a player who was largely past it and one who was punching about his weight a little. What does that tell you?
Excellent post there Tony. Hits the nail on the head.
Our success with Vieira in the team was interesting. With Vieira in the team we won loads more games than when he was injured.
This current Arsenal team is so weak and easy to score against and thats a fault of the midfield.
Denilson, Ramsey, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri are all players who will lose more tackles than thay win.
Once we have lost the ball the opposition go on the attack and boom we conceed.
If we look at our squad last season which came so close and compare it to this one, you'll see that the only major difference is central midfield. Walcott and Rosicky were both missing for huge parts of the season and Hleb was largely ineffective - yet, we were still riding high in the league. It really would be naive to play down the importance of a world class defensive midfielder to this team.
After all, last season, we had Flamini, Gilberto, Denilson and Song. Our first and second choice to partner Cesc this season were third and fourth behind a player who was largely past it and one who was punching about his weight a little. What does that tell you?[/quote]
Your right DCM is a very important position to be strong in, but if you look at where we were most vulnerable particularly in the second half of last season it was to the high ball in and around the box, it doesn't matter who you have at DCM if you have no one to dominate aerially in the middle of your defence your going to have problems, especially playing in the prem. This season is different because we are so mediocre in midfield the weakness at the back doesn't stand out as much as last because we are misfiring all over the field but it's still there and no matter who we get at DCM until we sort out that CB area we are always going to have an obvious achilles heel.
Is he serious or playing games in the hope of throwing others off the scent of players we might be after??? We all know we need strengthening in defensive positions, both central defense and midfield and if Arsene seriously thinks we don't then I really think he's lost the plot completely and is on a par with the last season or two of the George Graham years when Mr Graham thought it'd be a great idea to sign Eddie Mckgoldrick from Palace after we'd just beaten them twice in the league and in both legs of the league cup semi. Wenger is sounding more and more unhinged as the weeks go by
When I read this at work this afternoon I was fuming. I have thought about it since and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in case it is simply to fuck off the journalists and agents.
However, if we haven't signed a top centre-back when the window closes then this will represent a serious deriliction of duty from Arsene Wenger. Given the season ticket price rise last Summer the failure of the Manager to address the obvious shortcomings of the team would be unacceptable and he should be sacked immediately.
When adding this to the comment last week "we are not looking for a goalkeeper" (one look at the present incumbent makes it obvious that Wenger does not look for a goalkeeper) you can see that the man may be heading down blind alleys.
Frankly this transfer window is last chance saloon time for the Manager in my opinion. His comments about only bringing "players that are better than we have", and players "not being available" are the exact same bullshit nonsense that George Graham spouted towards the end of his time - and nobody thought he would ever be sacked either.
Your right DCM is a very important position to be strong in, but if you look at where we were most vulnerable particularly in the second half of last season it was to the high ball in and around the box, it doesn't matter who you have at DCM if you have no one to dominate aerially in the middle of your defence your going to have problems, especially playing in the prem. This season is different because we are so mediocre in midfield the weakness at the back doesn't stand out as much as last because we are misfiring all over the field but it's still there and no matter who we get at DCM until we sort out that CB area we are always going to have an obvious achilles heel. 
seriously jim