(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 2)

Attn AW: SSFM (please).

Not to mention we haven't scored a home goal in 5 of our last 6 home games. Needs sorting.

Striker. DM.

And a *little boy waits.

*increasingly grumpy middle aged man

Interesting ESPN article today in light of Gary Neville's comments. Anyone read? Not sure I completely agree with it, but it's an interesting thought. 

Article is here. 

That was a good article. 

The balance continues to be an issue. And the need to adapt against different opposition - the type of D/CM we need to compete with Chelsea, Citeh, or Scum, is not necessarily the type of player we need to win at Stoke on a grotty winter evening (as they say).

I love Le Coq, but at this early stage of his career he should be one of our midfield options, not the guy that plays 80/90% of games. We will not win a Premiership with him as our only holding midfielder. Not yet anyway.

There also needs to be an acknowledgment that the best players don't always make the best team, and that's the case for us at the moment, as highlighted in the above article.

It's the cart before the horse - trying to shoehorn quality players into a role that doesn't suit them will work some of the time. But won't work all of the time, particularly against quality, organised, disciplined opposition - as we face in the premier league. Almost every week.

I don't see an issue here at all.

Le Coq is the longer term replacement of Flamini, Arteta is building up his fitness and you still have Flamini in the squad as cover. 

I think this gives you more flexibility and cover in DM than most other teams in the League. I don't see a problem with the balance of the midfield for Arsenal.

I think Wenger is right not to tinker. It's just early days into the season. 

As much as I love Norwich being ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea after 3 games into the season, it's 3 fudgeing games into the season!

Drew the Cocks in the League Cup

Will throw this in the tipping comp as well.

For me i think Ox deserve a start or needs more gametime, he looks a threat everytime at the moment. Not sure if Theo will ever make it as a out and out striker. Newcastle away this weekend another tricky away game this weekend. 1145 kick off is excellent thou :)

How good was that Santi pass thou

You mean like the first half hattrick he got against West Brom back in May?

In that case we should also believe in Yaya Sanogo as he scored a hat trick against Benfica last year? I personally don't think Theo will ever make it as a number 9 either.

Can't believe we persist with no proper right winger, the Ox has been in great form whenever he has played, and we still need some power in our midfield. Good to see Cech show his class after the first two games where a few questions were asked.

Yids away in the League Cup, have to give that a proper go - what a game to get to if you're over there with the larger away allocation for these Cup games.

Citizens all the way since 81 cup final vs spurs

Best Group Stage draw: PSV, Galatasaray, Gent.

Worst Group Stage draw: Barca, Roma, Wolfsburg.

The thing that gets me is that the freaking line was there for the ass. ref to use!

Not sure i get your point here mate, personally i think he's better suited to the flanks and making runs in behind the line

He will never be a starting striker. If it was going to happen, it would've already. Only if he goes to a lesser team will he be that; but even at a lesser team he'd probably only be a starting striker if they have 2 up front.

Hahahahahahaashaha. Oh my god that would fudgeing kill me. Gold, absolute gold.

Got the feeling we will get  a super tough CL group

Wouldn't  be a bad thing.

While I wouldn't mind some big evening matches to attend I think I'd rather the easier route!

Arsenal

Bayern Munich

Olympiacos

Dinamo Zagreb 

Mix of the good and the bad. I can't see us topping group but we should make it out. 

fair to middling. Certainly could of been worse.

Bayern and Olympiacos again huh, deja vu. 

Manchester City got it easy. 

I am not sure Man City's group is that easy...there are definitely three teams that could make it out of the group.  

Oh yeah, that was sarcasm :)

The little Manchester club, on the other hand...

Certainly got a favourable draw. I think we should see all 4 English teams in the final 16, should City improve on their UCL past. 

At least we won't face Bayern in the Last 16!

Obviously that would be Barca that we draw in the Last 16...

Good group - big games against Bayern and then winnable ones against the other 2.

Winnable? Trip to St James better be. 

61 shots for 2 goals

So we must be creating plays. Just...end...product?

Wenger quotes about a week ago that defensive midfield is fine with Coquelin/Arteta and up front with Giroud/Welbeck/Walcott and Sanchez if needed.

Quote yesterday still working on transfers and could possibly add 1 or 2 more.

He is like rumours, hard to know what's true.

Ok i didn't know that. really 61 shots? fark, that is a terrible conversion rate. but saying that, I don't know the stats of other teams...

Or coming up against awesome goalkeepers?