I agree with sydcro - LB is arguably our most covered position. I love Gibbs, he's one of my favourite players, but Monreal is currently playing him out of a spot! That's how good we have that position covered.

I'll be interested to see what we do with Bellerin, Debuchy AND Jenks on our books.

I hate when I seemingly routinely come to this conclusion - but I really want to see Diaby back on the pitch, and think it will happen :lol: and think he'll be perfect as Coq cover if/when needed. But, as always, he won't last more than a few weeks and inevitably I feel like we need another CDM.

I don't see the intense need for a world class striker like others do - I like Welbz and Giroud, and feel like they'll get better with time for us.

Yes I was always aware of that, however in case you didn't know Wenger did intend to sell him to Hull City but in the last second the deal fell through and he went on loan to West Ham.
I think it's safe to say he'll be sold in the off season which I now don't have a problem with as I rate both Debuchy and Bellerin way ahead of him.
I guess everyone has different opinions but if I could choose where to strengthen I'd still go with one left back and a winger.
As for PV4 what position would you strengthen going into season?

We have two good left backs, but both have been plagued by consistency issues so I think LB, a long with DM and GK are the positions we could upgrade on the most.

Gaya, the young lad from Valencia would take our attacking play to the next level he's that good.

:lol: I have no idea, after saying all that.

I'll probably be content with a CDM, and an out-and-out winger that can supply crosses to Giroud better than we currently can.

I love Szez, and rate Ospina, so don't see GK as an issue.

With Bellerin, Debuchy and Chambers as cover, I don't see RB as an issue.

CB I never ever want to break up BFG and the Boss, and with Chambers as cover I love our options there. But I guess I wouldn't be super upset if we had a great option to either prove to be better than BFG/Boss and/or replace etiher if/when they drop in form.

LB I like Nacho&Gibbs.

CDM is probably the place I would consider we need to cover. Coq is great - Arteta and Flam are I think past it. I have high hopes Diaby can return and provide something there as a reformed man, but I'm not super confident.

Workhorse CMs I like both Ramsey, Wilshere, and the Ox if considered there. But they're always injured - maybe another one is needed?

STs I love both Giroud and Welbz, and genuinely think they can lead us into the future, but I understand how people want that RVP-esque topclass striker.

Alexis - what a beast.

Would we consider Theo and Ox to be our only "wingers" though? Maybe bringing in a set winger, aiming to get lots of crosses in, would change our setup too much but could be handy.

And I like Ozil and Santi as our creative outlets.They're both magicians and I love them both - except I admit to getting angry at Santi's inconsistency between seasons.

So I guess overall, I agree with Wenger in that we have a solid base, not a lot of need to sell, and only top-class players would be considered to be brought in. I trust Wenger to keep finding the next Chambers and co - the young guys that are brilliant. And I trust our young guys will continue to step up. So I don't see a gigantic need to spend a tonne of cash tbh.

As usual we have a chance to keep the chance at 2nd place in our own hands and we manage to find a way to fuck it up :lol:

Just watch us finish 4th :lol:

Fabs had a bloody blinder.

Easy to have a blinder when all you have to do is stand in the middle of the goal, we didn't really force him to make a save that wasn't regulation.

In the end, considering the run we've had it's hard to be that upset, it had to come to an end sometime.



I guess one other positive is that regardless of the result at United next week, even if we lose, a top 3 is still in our hands. Be nice to wrap it up next week though

Thanks you lot may have removed the burden of the Europa League for us :lol:

#wengerout

You and Southampton doing whatever you can to avoid it :lol:

I'm sure if you had a bad season you'd try to at least do the same too!

This isn't an attempted windup or anything, but I don't understand why either Southampton or Sp*rs would want to avoid Europe. If they don't make Europe, I'm led to believe their potential transfer target list just gets cut in half immediately. And I'm pretty sure you'd have to pay far higher wages for every player you brought in, just to convince them to come.

Sure, Europe is expensive. But the potential fallout from existing players, plus the lack of players keen to come to a non-Europe-competing club, is a big downside for me.

That is true. The downside is however that it has been difficult for the team to back up after flying all over Europe on a Thursday night. I think in this respect the statistics speak for themselves.

The issue with the premier league is that there are no free games which makes competing on every front difficult. The team has also burnt out over the last couple of seasons where we've either gone deep in Cup comps or in the UEL.

I also think we should stick to mid-level players. Paying top dollar for top players has never panned out for us :lol:

Does that seemingly lack of ambition worry you, though? How will you guys join "the top four" on a regular basis with that kind of mindset - is there a short or long term plan in place?

I think we've royally messed up chasing the Champions League by trying to buy access to it with throwing money at players like Paulinho, Capoue, Dembele, Soldado and Lamela and selling off the backbone of the team. We need to recruit the right players and stick by a manager rather than buying players that are a good deal. Look at Stambouli, decent player, not right for the club. Soldado doesn't fit the system (evidence is in his Champions league and La Liga stats).

We need to develop a spine and then from there we can make purchases for the big players.

One thing about Arsenal is consistency with the spine of a team. You guys never overhaul your squad (not like us anyway). The squad remains recognisable year to year. Ok you'd rather be winning trophies but you've made the top 4 20 years running.

I look at our Champions League quarter final team and no one from that team is still with the club. Lennon is out on loan and Kaboul is on the outer (Watford are chasing him).

Edited by benelsmore: 12/5/2015 11:06:04 AM

Very reliable usually, Kike <3

Don't think theres much in it though.

Edited by jlm8695: 12/5/2015 08:50:39 PM

Exactly my opinion. I was the game for the first time in my life. First Arsenal game I have been to and it was this loss. Hoping against Sunderland I get to celebrate a win.
While here in London Ospina has been copping some slack from ex players in the media which I think is extremely unfair on him. The whole team was pretty terrible in the first half and only slightly improved once we went a goal down, so it's hardly Ospina's fault. It's not like a 0-0 result would be something to be happy with.

Local press in Barcelona will owe us 4 million Euros if they win the UCL thanks to a clause in Vermaelans transfer :lol:

While a draw tonight obviously isn't a bad result in terms of the top 3, nothing but a win is acceptable imo.

Same starting XI 6 games in a row. What a time to be alive.

Ramsey :D

Talk about a game of two halves. On the balance of chances I'm kinda annoyed we didn't come home with 3 points.

One of those draws that feels like a win, even though we probably could and will feel we should have won.

Just have to win mid week and third is ours. But knowing us we fuck it up ..... again

Even a draw will get us 3rd spot. I just hope Wenger makes a change to the starting line up. It has taken us over 50 minutes in two games running to get a shot on goal and I think that is simply not good enough.
Against United we were fucking pathetic in the 1st half and as for the 2nd it was United that was pathetic so overall I'm happy with the point but in no way happy with the performance.
If we play like we did today I think we'll end up with a 0-0 draw against Sunderland.

2 signings.




Imagine the Wengerball.

Imagine adding 2 of the best players in their position to our squad after the massive improvements we've shown in big games this season.

I'm dreaming big.

Yeh but Cech will never be sold to us. We have been extremely stupid in the past selling some of our best talent to direct rivals and I highly doubt Chelsea would do the same. Besides that I'm pretty happy with Ospina and would keep him as number 1 going into next season.
My 2 signings I'd go for would be a top quality left back and a out and out left or right winger who takes players on and make Ozil attacking mid.
Going into next season I would also like to see Gabriel become a starter with Mertseker as cover.

Absolute garbage finish to the season. Very very very worried about the cup final.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 21/5/2015 06:39:44 AM

Don't worry I'll be back in Sydney for the FA Cup, clearly I'm the curse :lol:
First game I've been to we lose 1-0 at home to Swansea, second game we draw 0-0 at home to Sunderland, and now I've got the last game at home against West Bromwich. If we fail to win, let alone score then I am left with no other option then to think I was the curse and will be glad to come back to Sydney and watch us beat Villa in the FA Cup Final.
Overall I'm worried too. We are not doing anything upfront and really struggle when other teams park the bus.