Napoli at home

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.
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Ryanswannell
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by Ryanswannell »

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Mertesackers performance last night. I thought he was outstanding whenever Napoli got forward (which admittedly wasn't much). Pretty much every single pass he intercepted, and I don't recall a single one of Napoli's players getting past him all game. He certainly played his part in keeping a clean sheet 8) .

1989
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by 1989 »

Ryanswannell wrote:I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Mertesackers performance last night. I thought he was outstanding whenever Napoli got forward (which admittedly wasn't much). Pretty much every single pass he intercepted, and I don't recall a single one of Napoli's players getting past him all game. He certainly played his part in keeping a clean sheet 8) .
I see that as a good sign because people have come to expect solid performances from him game in game out due to his consistency. He has been immense since Bayern away and he should be our PERmanent captain.

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OneBardGooner
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by OneBardGooner »

1989 wrote:
clockender1 wrote:
King Henry wrote:
gavbacon wrote: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. .
spot on.

i think that Giroud if not on the way to being an elite striker is certainly proving he's a very very good one in the Alan Smith mode, smudger was a fantastic focal point for the team in tough games and a great strike partner for lineker, campbell and wrighty.

I'd rather have Giroud than that fat granny shagger up in Salford any day.

Merse and Freddy weren't elite strikers but still won us titles.
Giroud as Smudger and Suarez as Wrighty in January. :barscarf: :barscarf:
Yeah Wrighty was a right un for biting defenders wasn't he! :D :wink:

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OneBardGooner
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by OneBardGooner »

Ryanswannell wrote:I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Mertesackers performance last night. I thought he was outstanding whenever Napoli got forward (which admittedly wasn't much). Pretty much every single pass he intercepted, and I don't recall a single one of Napoli's players getting past him all game. He certainly played his part in keeping a clean sheet 8) .
Yeah he may be slower than a tug boat sinking, but he reads the game beautifully. :barscarf:

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StuartL
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by StuartL »

Bradywasking wrote:What a first thirty minutes, everything was perfect, passing , running, use of the ball to create chances rather than keep possession and the work rate. The work rate to break up any Napoli attacks and suck the life out of them was a joy to watch. The second half didn't live up to it's predecessor but in many ways that was as good as scoring a hat full.. would have loved more goals but not giving Napoli a sniff of hope showed a maturity that isn't always there. Favourite moment..a minute or so after Ozil's goal the camera went back to him and he was still smiling..
Four different German scorers in four consecutive games..and all done without Pod... :D

Fully agree - was the right decision to be cautious, not gung ho and let them back in the game - we didn't need another goal but still were closer to scoring again then they were.

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StuartL
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by StuartL »

double double double Sol Campbell has won the double........................

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SteveO 35
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by SteveO 35 »

gavbacon wrote: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.
Don't let Armchair hear you say that - he said he was the answer to Arsenal's prayers when he was being loaned out in the French 3rd division. Always said he was a world beater. Genius that fella - knows everything there is to know about world football

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Chippy
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by Chippy »

Don't bring the crap on to this thread too!!

beck
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by beck »

SteveO 35 wrote:Having been very optimistic about our recent PL games and Marseille, and correctly predicted the 2-1 and There's Only One chorus at Swansea........I'm afraid our tiredness is going to cost us and we're going to lose 1-2
i,m afraid of pessimism and going into games with excuses
1 of my great bugbears with wengers recent tenure
never go into a game believing we are not going to win it
this is not hindsight
it is a life mantra
we are the arsenal

beck
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Re: Napoli at home

Post by beck »

PR8AFC wrote:They haven't lost in Serie A yet...it will be difficult to us...but I presume 2-0 and we finally won't lose a goal 8)
good call sir

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