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.
The thing that scares me the most about having Djourou as a regular starter is that, from what I've seen of him, his biggest weakness is Arsenal's biggest weakness.
He doesn't anticipate the long high balls very well, and when that ball takes one bounce as well as the whole defence beginning to panic his reaction to the uncertainty is worrying to say the least.
If we go into the season as we are all the Allardyce's, O'Neil's hell even Ancelotti's will need about 15 seconds to prepare their team talks.
The real price is £10m IF we win the Premier League or Champion's League or something like that.
Grimandi said on french radio "If he cost us £10m it means we had a great season" so It's something like £8m+2m depending of trophies.
If it's a choice between the two for who partners Verm..it's going to be a difficuilt one especially having not seen the new guy. I think it would be wise to let the him have a little reserve team football and a few substitute appearances in the first team in games that are already won first. Just to let him get used to english football without too much pressure on him while he is finding his feet, at least that would be the ideal.
The problem is Djourou has been out so long now that although he has prem experience and i rate him quite highly and think given time he will be an excellent centre half, he is also going to need time to find his feet.
They are both in the same boat so the only way to judge which one is more ready to start at the beginning of the season is by watching them in training and pre season.. although i would guess Wenger is more likely to go with the new guy regardless, after spending a few quid on him and probably promising him star billing when he bought him..
I don't think Djourou is good enough from the times I've seen him play, he makes a lot of basic errors particularly with positioning.
I’d be amazed if Wenger was willing to spend £8m or so on a CB he didn’t consider would be first choice
Interesting that several people think this......and I agree...............yet people also think we'll still sign someone like Mertesacker or Jagielka!! To do what, sit on the bench?
Usually I give everybody a chance before I judge them but I already hate the idea of Koscielny playing. You only need to look at him to see that he will be outmuscled time time again and Wenger will keep him in the side becuase he brings the ball out of defence well.
