Arsènal FC - 09/10 Season Thread

@ Prof


Wide right in a front 3 is the only position Walcott can play - I assume you want the following:

Walcott---van Persie---Arshavin


RVP would obviously drop off because he isn't out and out CF and you don't want one of those in your lineup anyway - Fabregash will often get beyond him and run into space when RVP drops off and receives the ball.

Clichy would be Ashley Cole with footballing ability on the overlap whilst Arshavin cuts in like a more advanced Pires.

Where do Nasri and Rosicky fit in to all this ?

Re Bendtner - you really think he could ever play on the wings ?

He doesn't have the pace.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:@ Prof


Wide right in a front 3 is the only position Walcott can play - I assume you want the following:

Walcott---van Persie---Arshavin


RVP would obviously drop off because he isn't out and out CF and you don't want one of those in your lineup anyway - Fabregash will often get beyond him and run into space when RVP drops off and receives the ball.

Clichy would be Ashley Cole with footballing ability on the overlap whilst Arshavin cuts in like a more advanced Pires.

Where do Nasri and Rosicky fit in to all this ?

Re Bendtner - you really think he could ever play on the wings ?

He doesn't have the pace.

On the trainer's table

Pierre Littbarski wrote:@ Prof


Wide right in a front 3 is the only position Walcott can play - I assume you want the following:

Walcott---van Persie---Arshavin


RVP would obviously drop off because he isn't out and out CF and you don't want one of those in your lineup anyway - Fabregash will often get beyond him and run into space when RVP drops off and receives the ball.

Clichy would be Ashley Cole with footballing ability on the overlap whilst Arshavin cuts in like a more advanced Pires.

Where do Nasri and Rosicky fit in to all this ?

Re Bendtner - you really think he could ever play on the wings ?

He doesn't have the pace.

One of Rosicky or Nasri will partner Song and Cesc in a 3 man midfield. I'm hoping RVP will be on the right so Eduardo can play through the middle.

A bit of news on our front.

Eduardo had a goalscoring return for the national side this week.
Doesn't look like we've had any major casualties which is always a plus point.

The Sun reports that we have given up on the Chamakh race, leavinf Fulham and West Ham to battle it out.

Some reports have also been saying that the Hangeland deal is near completion. Whils this is good I still believe another CM is a priority because if Song gets injured we are fucked.

Ray Parlour wrote:One of Rosicky or Nasri will partner Song and Cesc in a 3 man midfield. I'm hoping RVP will be on the right so Eduardo can play through the middle.

So the plan is to drop Denilson, statistically your best player last season?

I've no problem with that, I've always liked Song in a DM role and this he deserves a chance to make the position his own, just wondering.

Apparently Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is going on loan to Sheffield Wednesday.

Ray Parlour wrote:

Some reports have also been saying that the Hangeland deal is near completion. Whils this is good I still believe another CM is a priority because if Song gets injured we are fucked.

Yep. Apparently it'll be completed before the weekend. Ie, the remain so f the day or tommorrow.

However, Bendtner's decision to change number has not got off to the best start as he faces a £10,000 bill from Arsenal after offering to reimburse fans who bought replica shirts bearing his old number.




How can Wenger complain about lack of funds - they're obviously selling replica shirts for about £2,000.00 each and I see loads of people wearing Arsenal shirts


Unless they are the usual £40 approx and Agooner's obsession is getting out of control.

Perhaps he never wanks on to the same shirt twice ?

Even at 40 a shirt, 10k only works out to be about 250 shirts. That's pretty pathetic for a supposedly highly rated member of the first team squad for one of the big clubs in Europe

That's only like 200 and something shirts, probably a little Danish community someone in North London.

Only 200 to 250 ?

We are talking about Bendtner.

Highly rated? Don't be silly. He's not exactly in the same league as Arshavin, Fabregas and van Persie!

He said he would only reimburse the shirts bought since June and only if bought from the official club store. Most supporters just pop down their local JJB to get their shirts anyways so it's hardly a representative figure of how many people have a Bendtner shirt.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:@ Prof


Wide right in a front 3 is the only position Walcott can play - I assume you want the following:

Walcott---van Persie---Arshavin


RVP would obviously drop off because he isn't out and out CF and you don't want one of those in your lineup anyway - Fabregas will often get beyond him and run into space when RVP drops off and receives the ball.

I think we'll be seeing a lot of that, see Cesc's goal vs Hannover .

Robin is very dangerous in and around the box; he can play people in, can shoot from all angles with either foot etc getting players(cesc, theo, Arshavin) running beyond him would be deadly. I think we'll see something like 30 goals + 15 assists(don't laugh) from him in that position injuries permitting.

Yes that's how Walcott should be used in the team. My 1st choice front 3 is quite different though:

Arshavin-----Eduardo----RVP

but that's never going to happen, so I'd happily take the one u posted above too.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Clichy would be Ashley Cole with footballing ability on the overlap whilst Arshavin cuts in like a more advanced Pires.

Cashley was average on the ball but he had a partnership(with Pires and henry down the left) going on for him. To be fair to him he was good at running into space vacated by those two, so our attacks were deadly on the left despite his lack of ability on the ball. Clichy on the other hand, hasn't had any partnership yet on the left(maybe it is something he should work on, but again anyone that played infront of him was injury prone, so lets see how he does with Arshavin), but he's great on the ball, and can dribble like a winger. What he should avoid doing is putting in pointless crosses in everytime he reaches anywhere near the opposition box. He should be looking for a pass after going on one of his long mazy runs just like he did for the RVP goal in the amsterdam tournament 2 seasons ago or for the Cesc(was it Hleb?) goal in the CL qualifiers few weeks later.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Where do Nasri and Rosicky fit in to all this ?

Re Bendtner - you really think he could ever play on the wings ?

He doesn't have the pace.

Nasri or Rosicky can take up one of the CM position in the midfield 3. We may even use both in a 4-5-1 formation against the big sides. Rosicky in CM with Nasri moving in a wide forward role.

Bendtner can play on the wings Pierre. He was very good in that role vs Roma at home in the CL round of 16, and was our only decent outfield player apart from Diaby at the Olimpico playing the same role. He was also frequently used in that position(as part of a front 3) in pre season.

He's not pacey but he can beat his man(mostly on the inside), and has the vision and passing ability to pick out runners into the box. We saw vs West brom last season that he can be a goal threat when he cuts inside and run with the ball - see his goal at the hawthorns. He could also be used there for tactical reasons because of his strengths in the air, our players should just aim at the far post and he'll beat fullbacks in the air 9 out of 10 times. Far from his best position but he can be effective there IMO.


Zidane was also never pacey(I'm in no way comparing them before the usual suspects attack me), but he could beat his man and was creative with his passes - which is important to make it in that position at the highest level.

@ Parlour

What makes u think we'll be fucked without Song?

Fabregas was out for 4 months and we did fine, how could we do any worse with Song being out.

At this point we don't even know who might start in the holding role. Denilson was preferred to him for almost the whole of last season except when the Brazilian ran out of steam, and was restored back to the side as soon as he started playing well again with Song moved further back to CB.

With Wenger not going for Barry no one has that spot nailed on. Song and Denilson have both been tried there at different times during pre season with one of them taking up a more attacking role. Wenger might be closely looking at those pre season tapes and might rotate them in the holding role for the 1st few games. I think their form in those opening games + pre season performance will decide who Wenger sticks with for the majority of the season.

I'm 95% certain that Song has a place in the team before Denilson. They might both start this weekend though as Nasri is injured, although Diaby could play instead.

What makes u to be 95% sure Hlebagone?

The Professor wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:@ Prof


Wide right in a front 3 is the only position Walcott can play - I assume you want the following:

Walcott---van Persie---Arshavin


RVP would obviously drop off because he isn't out and out CF and you don't want one of those in your lineup anyway - Fabregas will often get beyond him and run into space when RVP drops off and receives the ball.

I think we'll be seeing a lot of that, see Cesc's goal vs Hannover .

Robin is very dangerous in and around the box; he can play people in, can shoot from all angles with either foot etc getting players(cesc, theo, Arshavin) running beyond him would be deadly. I think we'll see something like 30 goals + 15 assists(don't laugh) from him in that position injuries permitting.

Yes that's how Walcott should be used in the team. My 1st choice front 3 is quite different though:

Arshavin-----Eduardo----RVP

but that's never going to happen, so I'd happily take the one u posted above too.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Clichy would be Ashley Cole with footballing ability on the overlap whilst Arshavin cuts in like a more advanced Pires.

Cashley was average on the ball but he had a partnership(with Pires and henry down the left) going on for him. To be fair to him he was good at running into space vacated by those two, so our attacks were deadly on the left despite his lack of ability on the ball. Clichy on the other hand, hasn't had any partnership yet on the left(maybe it is something he should work on, but again anyone that played infront of him was injury prone, so lets see how he does with Arshavin), but he's great on the ball, and can dribble like a winger. What he should avoid doing is putting in pointless crosses in everytime he reaches anywhere near the opposition box. He should be looking for a pass after going on one of his long mazy runs just like he did for the RVP goal in the amsterdam tournament 2 seasons ago or for the Cesc(was it Hleb?) goal in the CL qualifiers few weeks later.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Where do Nasri and Rosicky fit in to all this ?

Re Bendtner - you really think he could ever play on the wings ?

He doesn't have the pace.

Nasri or Rosicky can take up one of the CM position in the midfield 3. We may even use both in a 4-5-1 formation against the big sides. Rosicky in CM with Nasri moving in a wide forward role.

Bendtner can play on the wings Pierre. He was very good in that role vs Roma at home in the CL round of 16, and was our only decent outfield player apart from Diaby at the Olimpico playing the same role. He was also frequently used in that position(as part of a front 3) in pre season.

He's not pacey but he can beat his man(mostly on the inside), and has the vision and passing ability to pick out runners into the box. We saw vs West brom last season that he can be a goal threat when he cuts inside and run with the ball - see his goal at the hawthorns. He could also be used there for tactical reasons because of his strengths in the air, our players should just aim at the far post and he'll beat fullbacks in the air 9 out of 10 times. Far from his best position but he can be effective there IMO.


Zidane was also never pacey(I'm in no way comparing them before the usual suspects attack me), but he could beat his man and was creative with his passes - which is important to make it in that position at the highest level.

To quote your own words back at you:

The Professor wrote:What makes u to be 95% sure Hlebagone?

Is a better partner for Fabregas as he is more mobile and integrates into our shorrt passing game better. Hes very good at recieving the ball and playing a short forward pass which is exactly what we need. Denilson may have better long range passing but its nearly always sideways so he isnt as creative.

Hlebagone wrote:

The Professor wrote:What makes u to be 95% sure Hlebagone?

Is a better partner for Fabregas as he is more mobile and integrates into our shorrt passing game better. Hes very good at recieving the ball and playing a short forward pass which is exactly what we need. Denilson may have better long range passing but its nearly always sideways so he isnt as creative.

This doesn't answer my question Hlebagone.

You are merely giving your assessment of both players and choosing the one you think is better. I prefer Denilson and can give u reasons why I do(I disagree with your assessment btw, but that's another discussion), but Wenger is ultimately the one who chooses who to play.

So far though, there's absolutely no certainty over who his choice will be, so I'm not sure of how u are 95% certain of him going for Song.

Stimulus Package wrote:

The Professor wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:@ Prof


Wide right in a front 3 is the only position Walcott can play - I assume you want the following:

Walcott---van Persie---Arshavin


RVP would obviously drop off because he isn't out and out CF and you don't want one of those in your lineup anyway - Fabregas will often get beyond him and run into space when RVP drops off and receives the ball.

I think we'll be seeing a lot of that, see Cesc's goal vs Hannover .

Robin is very dangerous in and around the box; he can play people in, can shoot from all angles with either foot etc getting players(cesc, theo, Arshavin) running beyond him would be deadly. I think we'll see something like 30 goals + 15 assists(don't laugh) from him in that position injuries permitting.

Yes that's how Walcott should be used in the team. My 1st choice front 3 is quite different though:

Arshavin-----Eduardo----RVP

but that's never going to happen, so I'd happily take the one u posted above too.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Clichy would be Ashley Cole with footballing ability on the overlap whilst Arshavin cuts in like a more advanced Pires.

Cashley was average on the ball but he had a partnership(with Pires and henry down the left) going on for him. To be fair to him he was good at running into space vacated by those two, so our attacks were deadly on the left despite his lack of ability on the ball. Clichy on the other hand, hasn't had any partnership yet on the left(maybe it is something he should work on, but again anyone that played infront of him was injury prone, so lets see how he does with Arshavin), but he's great on the ball, and can dribble like a winger. What he should avoid doing is putting in pointless crosses in everytime he reaches anywhere near the opposition box. He should be looking for a pass after going on one of his long mazy runs just like he did for the RVP goal in the amsterdam tournament 2 seasons ago or for the Cesc(was it Hleb?) goal in the CL qualifiers few weeks later.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Where do Nasri and Rosicky fit in to all this ?

Re Bendtner - you really think he could ever play on the wings ?

He doesn't have the pace.

Nasri or Rosicky can take up one of the CM position in the midfield 3. We may even use both in a 4-5-1 formation against the big sides. Rosicky in CM with Nasri moving in a wide forward role.

Bendtner can play on the wings Pierre. He was very good in that role vs Roma at home in the CL round of 16, and was our only decent outfield player apart from Diaby at the Olimpico playing the same role. He was also frequently used in that position(as part of a front 3) in pre season.

He's not pacey but he can beat his man(mostly on the inside), and has the vision and passing ability to pick out runners into the box. We saw vs West brom last season that he can be a goal threat when he cuts inside and run with the ball - see his goal at the hawthorns. He could also be used there for tactical reasons because of his strengths in the air, our players should just aim at the far post and he'll beat fullbacks in the air 9 out of 10 times. Far from his best position but he can be effective there IMO.


Zidane was also never pacey(I'm in no way comparing them before the usual suspects attack me), but he could beat his man and was creative with his passes - which is important to make it in that position at the highest level.

To quote your own words back at you:

RVP has scored 39 league goals since 2004. The most league goals he has scored in a season is 11 in his entire career .

But yes, it is perfectly within reason that he will shatter this record and go on to score 30 goals with 15 assists this season

COTR #6 wrote:

Stimulus Package wrote:

The Professor wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:@ Prof


Wide right in a front 3 is the only position Walcott can play - I assume you want the following:

Walcott---van Persie---Arshavin


RVP would obviously drop off because he isn't out and out CF and you don't want one of those in your lineup anyway - Fabregas will often get beyond him and run into space when RVP drops off and receives the ball.

I think we'll be seeing a lot of that, see Cesc's goal vs Hannover .

Robin is very dangerous in and around the box; he can play people in, can shoot from all angles with either foot etc getting players(cesc, theo, Arshavin) running beyond him would be deadly. I think we'll see something like 30 goals + 15 assists(don't laugh) from him in that position injuries permitting.

Yes that's how Walcott should be used in the team. My 1st choice front 3 is quite different though:

Arshavin-----Eduardo----RVP

but that's never going to happen, so I'd happily take the one u posted above too.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Clichy would be Ashley Cole with footballing ability on the overlap whilst Arshavin cuts in like a more advanced Pires.

Cashley was average on the ball but he had a partnership(with Pires and henry down the left) going on for him. To be fair to him he was good at running into space vacated by those two, so our attacks were deadly on the left despite his lack of ability on the ball. Clichy on the other hand, hasn't had any partnership yet on the left(maybe it is something he should work on, but again anyone that played infront of him was injury prone, so lets see how he does with Arshavin), but he's great on the ball, and can dribble like a winger. What he should avoid doing is putting in pointless crosses in everytime he reaches anywhere near the opposition box. He should be looking for a pass after going on one of his long mazy runs just like he did for the RVP goal in the amsterdam tournament 2 seasons ago or for the Cesc(was it Hleb?) goal in the CL qualifiers few weeks later.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Where do Nasri and Rosicky fit in to all this ?

Re Bendtner - you really think he could ever play on the wings ?

He doesn't have the pace.

Nasri or Rosicky can take up one of the CM position in the midfield 3. We may even use both in a 4-5-1 formation against the big sides. Rosicky in CM with Nasri moving in a wide forward role.

Bendtner can play on the wings Pierre. He was very good in that role vs Roma at home in the CL round of 16, and was our only decent outfield player apart from Diaby at the Olimpico playing the same role. He was also frequently used in that position(as part of a front 3) in pre season.

He's not pacey but he can beat his man(mostly on the inside), and has the vision and passing ability to pick out runners into the box. We saw vs West brom last season that he can be a goal threat when he cuts inside and run with the ball - see his goal at the hawthorns. He could also be used there for tactical reasons because of his strengths in the air, our players should just aim at the far post and he'll beat fullbacks in the air 9 out of 10 times. Far from his best position but he can be effective there IMO.


Zidane was also never pacey(I'm in no way comparing them before the usual suspects attack me), but he could beat his man and was creative with his passes - which is important to make it in that position at the highest level.

To quote your own words back at you:

RVP has scored 39 league goals since 2004. The most he has scored in a season is 11.

But yes, it is perfectly within reason that he will shatter this record and go on to score 30 goals with 15 assists this season

What has happened with this version of COTR. You use to be one of my favourite posters but now all u do is do a poor imitation of Saints and the likes

Im sure he means in all competitions

L r dd wrote:Im sure he means in all competitions

COTR has gone loco

The Professor wrote:

Hlebagone wrote:

The Professor wrote:What makes u to be 95% sure Hlebagone?

Is a better partner for Fabregas as he is more mobile and integrates into our shorrt passing game better. Hes very good at recieving the ball and playing a short forward pass which is exactly what we need. Denilson may have better long range passing but its nearly always sideways so he isnt as creative.

This doesn't answer my question Hlebagone.

You are merely giving your assessment of both players and choosing the one you think is better. I prefer Denilson and can give u reasons why I do(I disagree with your assessment btw, but that's another discussion), but Wenger is ultimately the one who chooses who to play.

So far though, there's absolutely no certainty over who his choice will be, so I'm not sure of how u are 95% certain of him going for Song.

As i think Wenger probably thinks this as well and Song has featured more in our pre-season and was a more key player towards the end of last season.

RVP's goalscoring instinct is perhaps a bit underrated, im pretty sure he would easily break the 15/20 goals if Arsene plays him as central striker for the whole season.

L r dd wrote:Im sure he means in all competitions

Ok in all comps

Since 2001 RVP has scored a grand total of 63 goals with 29 assists.

Again, perfectly reasonable to expect him to score 30 goals in a season.

How can u know what Wenger thinks Hleb? I can just also just say Wenger thinks Denilson is better, thus will start, but There's absolutely no certainty that is the case.

Er.. I doubt Song playing any more minutes than Denilson did in pre season. If he did then it is surely because of Denilson's non involvement in the Valencia match, and it possible he was carrying a little knock. I'm sure he'll have featured if he was fit and travelled with the team to Spain.

The Professor wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:@ Prof


Wide right in a front 3 is the only position Walcott can play - I assume you want the following:

Walcott---van Persie---Arshavin


RVP would obviously drop off because he isn't out and out CF and you don't want one of those in your lineup anyway - Fabregas will often get beyond him and run into space when RVP drops off and receives the ball.

I think we'll be seeing a lot of that, see Cesc's goal vs Hannover .

Robin is very dangerous in and around the box; he can play people in, can shoot from all angles with either foot etc getting players(cesc, theo, Arshavin) running beyond him would be deadly. I think we'll see something like 30 goals + 15 assists(don't laugh) from him in that position injuries permitting.

Yes that's how Walcott should be used in the team. My 1st choice front 3 is quite different though:

Arshavin-----Eduardo----RVP

but that's never going to happen, so I'd happily take the one u posted above too.

I take it that is Arshavin on the left and RVP on the right ?

Song should play because he is one of your best long passers so gives you a plan B if all the short passing isn't working.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

The Professor wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:@ Prof


Wide right in a front 3 is the only position Walcott can play - I assume you want the following:

Walcott---van Persie---Arshavin


RVP would obviously drop off because he isn't out and out CF and you don't want one of those in your lineup anyway - Fabregas will often get beyond him and run into space when RVP drops off and receives the ball.

I think we'll be seeing a lot of that, see Cesc's goal vs Hannover .

Robin is very dangerous in and around the box; he can play people in, can shoot from all angles with either foot etc getting players(cesc, theo, Arshavin) running beyond him would be deadly. I think we'll see something like 30 goals + 15 assists(don't laugh) from him in that position injuries permitting.

Yes that's how Walcott should be used in the team. My 1st choice front 3 is quite different though:

Arshavin-----Eduardo----RVP

but that's never going to happen, so I'd happily take the one u posted above too.

I take it that is Arshavin on the left and RVP on the right ?

Song should play because he is one of your best long passers so gives you a plan B if all the short passing isn't working.

Correct.

I have no problem with Song playing but I don't think he's a better long passer than Deni.

I'm yet to see Song play a 30-40 yards through ball and I have seen Deni do them.

COTR #6 wrote:

L r dd wrote:Im sure he means in all competitions

Ok in all comps

Since 2001 RVP has scored a grand total of 63 goals with 29 assists.

Again, perfectly reasonable to expect him to score 30 goals in a season.

He got 20 last year is it really insane to think he could get 30 this season