(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 1)

Keeper: Szczesny has improved this term. The option of Fabianski has been needed at times to give the younger Pole some space. Happy with Szczesny knowing his progress should continue but we will surely need a new back up option with Fabianski surely seeking first team football elsewhere. Verdict: Back-up keeper required. £5m

Full-backs: Much depends upon Bacary Sagna. If he stays and re-signs I don't see the need to add new personnel. There could be an argument that there are players, who would be in high demand, that could improve the stock but it's marginal and uncertain. Shaw and Coleman spring to mind, Chambers looks decent too. Coleman would be my first choice if Sagna left. Verdict: First choice Right back if Sagna leaves. £15m

Centre backs: There are times Koscielny and Mertesacker have looked unbeatable and other times pulled to shreds. I feel the latter has been more a consequence of what is in front of them and the AWOL full backs. A set-up issue I would conclude. If Vermaelen stays it's hard to see the need for another with the captain hardly featuring and Sagna a more than credible back-up. Again it comes down to Sagna and Vermaelen futures. Verdict: Third top centre back if Vermaelen leaves. £15m 

Deep lying midfield: Although the midfield is stacked with numbers and depth arguably we don't possess a natural sitting player with power and range. Arteta is tactically disciplined but lacks the coverage and is often targeted by the top teams whom look to win ball high up-field. At 32 Arsenal must be looking to the future and this is one of two positions we need a big upgrade. Power, stamina and physicality are the missing ingredients. Verdict: Major signing. £25m

Central midfield: One of our strongest departments when everyone is fit. Ramsey, Wilshere and Chamberlain in time. Arteta can play this role too especially if a deep lying midfielder is added. Verdict: No signings

Number 10 role: Ozil, Cazorla and Wilshere with Zelalem developing and CHmaberlain another option. I would say this is the strongest area of the team. Verdict: No signings

Wide attackers: Chamberlain, Gnabry offer depth and emerging talent on the right as back-up to Walcott. Cazorla is now first choice left sided player above Podolski. There is a mixture there and on paper it's not bad but with Walcott missing for large parts of the season it's not enough. I'd like more pace, added dynamism and goal threat. Greizmann would fit the bill. Verdict: Equal first choice player £20m 

Forward: Without question our biggest weakness. Giroud cannot be faulted too much as his goals and assists stats are good numbers. He is though our only senior forward with Sanogo extremely raw and Bendtner, well he's Bendtner. Podolski has not proven suitable in his outings there and there are doubts over Walcott in terms of size playing the loan role. Pace, dynamism are again the order of the day to add a real counter attacking threat and create space. It is also evident how much difference a world class striker makes, see Saurez at Liverpool. Verdict: Major signing: £40m.

In summary:

Back up keeper: £5m
Centre back: Fees recouped if Vermaelen sold £0m
Deep lying midfield: Major signing £25m
Wide attacker: First choice player: £20m
Forward: Major signing: £40m

Outlay of £90m with replacements in keeper / centre back positions and strengthening with 3 new top players DM, WA, CF positions.

* This is very much a wish list - there are some positions and purchases we know 100% will not be touched. But it's a good evaluation. There are some other views here.

Hah.

Yeah it certainly isn't a realistic list, but I feel a good evaluation of 'what-ifs', specifically in the scenario of Fabianksi and Vermaelen leaving.

Back up keeper: £5m
Centre back: Fees recouped if Vermaelen sold £0m
Forward: Major signing: £20 - 30m

That seems more likely. But I would certainly love a deep midfielder to come in! 

Interesting quotes from Wenger on what he thinks is a link between non authorised medication and injuries such as muscle strain.

An internal review is apparently going on

Shambles at Goodison, race for fourth well and truly on.

Rubbish yet again. ......lacking pride n lassion

Tottenham levels of implosion going on here.

That was a very flat performance. Their rebound goals were a little lucky but we had zero creativity, they deserved every bit of that 3 points. Giroud looks like he's running through mud right now. I was watching some highlights the other day from earlier in the season and Giroud looked a different player. No heavy touches, a spring in his step, there's no doubting this season has taken it out of him. Not having a decent second striking option was initially good for him, then it destroyed him. 

We've lost our fear factor, we don't have teams thinking we might hurt them at any moment like we did August - January, the opposition can just throw numbers forward and throw caution to the wind. 

Man we've got to do it all again now. FA Cup needs winning in there as well... although we're playing easier sides we've basically got to win 7 games to finish off our season, tough task. 

As an aside I was happy to see Ramsey come straight on and look like he was back to business. He was feeling his way in but you could see the world class Ramsey is still all there. He got so damn good in such a short space of time I have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure he's real!

I watched Wigan v Leeds yesterday. Wigan are not going to be pushovers, especially the way we are playing at the moment. I actually wonder if we deserve to get 4th place after that loss to Everton. If we win our remaining games then maybe we will.

We certainly made that hard on ourselves. No need to play so poorly.

If Everton win their remaining games then they'll more than deserve fourth, they have a tough run-in.

We are really lacking a strong leader, Tiredness shouldnt really be used an excuse for the poor form so many games in a row. Ozil and Wilshere back anytime soon? Flamini is out for the FA cup game as well i think

Great for a laugh

https://storify.com/talksport/things-faster-than-giroud-arsenal-striker-lampoone?utm_source=embed_header

Lukaku was boss today, he is exactly the kind of signing I hope Wenger makes this summer.

Looking forward to seeing how the lads go against Wigan, hopefully a strong mentally prepared side head out there to take on Wigan.

Kos can't come back quickly enough, his injury has been a big hit with the Vermy/Mert partnership nowhere near as effective.

Based on injuries and suspensions I'd suspect we might see:

                  Szy

Sagna      Per    Vermy    Gibbs (not listed as injured on Arsenal.com...?)

          Arteta Rosicky

Ox           Cazorla        Podolski

                 Giroud

I don't think Rambo starting is possible, and Rosicky's tenacity and drive is crucial, Ox's pace can keep causing problems down the wing and the german enigma should keep starting.

yeah with the limited options we have i think that will be the team, i wouldnt be suprised to see rambo start thou. Really want to se gnabry get some more gametime time

Rambo must start, our midfield looks so stale at the moment

As much as I love Wenger and what he has done for the club, if we fail to win the FA Cup, I think he needs to go.

No but I thought we were punching above our weight and it wouldn't last with the squad we had and lack of striking options. We're just lucky that Giroud has remained injury free all season.

There's been a few leaks of next season's shirt floating about, but a lot of them have slight differences to eachother, so hard to tell which is for real. 

I do like the idea of this one, keeping it fairly traditional for puma's first time;

Paulm when you compare that with the Nike shirt below Poldi is wearing I'm not a fan. As much as a I am stoked on the extra revenue that's being provided, I am not convinced on Puma producing a strip as well as Nike have done. Fingers crossed I'm proved wrong.

I've been a big fan of the Nike kits over the last few years. I especially liked the 2011/12 one. I got gifted it for a birthday. My mother did really good. Except she bought it for me a month before RVP moved on, with his name on the back. I just can't bring myself to wear it. Anyone know any tricks for getting the letters off? I don't want to sound fickle or anything, I just got my heart broken is all. 

That Puma kit's alright. Better than some other ones I have seen floating around.

I have van Persie 2010/11 that I used to wear all the time, and now can't. Ever. 

I liked 11/12 as well Hawkwasp. I have it with Song on the back. Not happy about him leaving either but at least I can still wear that one!

Oh yeah, I understand that. Sad times. My RVP top is basically brand new. Nice gift, but terrible option on the naming! I bet the person at the shop was having a good laugh when he / sold it to my mother. The RVP to United rumours were pretty strong when she bought it. Haha. The only other named shirt is the 08/09 away kit with Fabregas. No regrets. 

Yes but I originally said that if we don't win the FA Cup then I think he should go. Its very possible that we could miss out on fourth so the season could end with no CL football and no trophy. Don't get me wrong, I'm one of his biggest fans. He's the greatest manager in our history but I think we need fresh ideas. The style of play that he encourages is no longer working. Is it coincidental that our most successful period between 98 and '05 was when Patrick Viera was at the club? We've never replaced him. Our midfield doesn't have that mongrel about it that we need. I'd love us to win the FA Cup and for Wenger to stay on as long as there are strong signs that we will make some big signings next season. We supposedly now have the financial clout to compete with City and Chelsea and now is the time to show it.

I'm so very much in between on this. I want Wenger to admit to himself his tactical nous isn't what it used to be, the style of football he plays has been surpassed by a better model, and to adapt. Mainly, to adapt tactically to bigger games, not prepare the team the same way for Bayern Munich at home, as you would for Liverpool / Manchester City, as you would for a game against a team on the bottom of the table. 

Post match quotes from Chelsea vs PSG yesterday:

The rest is here.

That's what Arsenal misses. I want to see Wenger be the one to successfully implement it. But if he can't?..

Yes completely agree regarding never replacing Viera, i think we really need some size,pace,leader and mongrel in the middle of the park. As great as wenger has been he's tactics and subs havnt been great over the last couple of years. Offcourse injures have cost us dearly these season but not getting a top striker cost us dearly. Higuain would have been ideal.

Ozil,ramsey,wilshere,ox and theo will all be better again next season, just need to add some quality to the side. I have no idea what's happened this season but out mentality against the top 5 teams have been shocking

FA cup semi is going to be intense, Wigan will be pumped up and believe they can beat us........There will be a huge fallout if we lose

And the question remains... who can we get to replace Viera?

one of the bender brothers would be good....Gundogan has been injured but he would also be great. We did drop the ball/miss out on Gustavo, Wanyama and Matuidi.....any of these 3 would have gone down a treat

in the meantime... kallstrom might get a start in the next few games, be interesting to see what happens there

https://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/arsenal/id/3761?cc=3436

in the meantime... kallstrom might get a start in the next few games, be interesting to see what happens there

https://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/arsenal/id/3761?cc=3436

/quote]

yeah was just reading that before, i think he will go well. His experience will be very handy

I'd still take Song back. Or the big spanish ompfa at Bayern, Javi Martinez. Will be interesting to see how the off season plays out. Keeping the faith.

Injury doubts for Rosicky, Ox and Gibbs, all 50/50 apparently. Koscielny and Ozil still out. Flamini suspended.

Tough to say what the starting lineup will be, perhaps;

                         Fabianski

Sagna-Mertesacker-Vermaelen-Monreal

                    Arteta-Ramsey

            Gnabry-Cazorla-Podolski

                           Giroud

To be honest I wouldn't mind Ramsey at wide right and Kallstrom starting in the middle either. 

If Ox is fit I think we'll see him wide right, but is he worth risking when we need to win every game from here? Not so sure

Injuries are killing us. In that side Paulm's listed we're left with only Kallstrom and Sanogo on the bench for genuine attacking/midfield options...talk about getting a little light on our feet. There's always Myiachi but he seems to be the forgotten man of this campaign. Bendtner and Zelalem offer something too but match winners in an FA Cup Semi...unlikely.

Devils advocate - Arsenal do seem to have a lot of injuries year after year. 

Yes we do seem to every year thou to be honest but having ramsey,ozil,whilshere and Theo ALL out for long spells havnt helped our cause at all

OH and Diaby but that's just standard.....really hope he can make a comeback like rosicky has

It's amazing Wenger has stuck with him this long isn't it. I really do feel sorry for Diaby.

Brumbys - I'm pretty sure Myaichi has a hamstring injury and has actually been injured a while.

Just checked physioroom.com, and he sure does. Here's the current injury list:

blimmin nervous about tonight, biggest game for our club pretty much since that final vs birmingham

So much pressure on wenger and the team, can they handle it? Recent history suggests not unfortunately...

Cmon lads, throw us a freakin bone here, time to grow some nads and step the f*ck up.