Loanees – Lansbury Signs Off At Watford With Goal

Welcome to this weekends special Loanees Watch – Young Guns’ analysis, reports and updates on the progress of the young starlets currently plying their trade away from the Emirates Stadium. You can read all the latest reports below including the updates from the final Championship games of the season.

In The Premier League…

Jack Wilshere completed another 90 minutes for Bolton Wanderers in a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Jack started at the spearhead of a midfield four, operating behind strikers Kevin Davies and Ivan Klasnic. He turned in a solid shift in a game Bolton were unlucky to lose. Wilshere created his side’s best chance of the game, rolling Huddlestone and Modric before setting up a chance for Taylor, who couldn’t find a way into the empty net with Gomes stranded.

In The Championship…

Henri Lansbury wrapped up another 90 minutes and scored for Watford as they ended their season in style with victory over Coventry. Lansbury got the second goal just 60 seconds after a Danny Graham penalty had put them ahead. He drilled the ball low and hard into the bottom corner from inside the box. It finished 4-0.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas started up front for Doncaster Rovers against Swansea City. He played 76 minutes before being withdrawn in favour of Paul Heffernan. Doncaster’s draw meant Jay’s former loan club Blackpool finished in the play offs.

Jay Simpson started up front and played the full 90 minutes for Queens Park Rangers as they lost 1-0 to Champions Newcastle United. Struggling Simpson has failed to make an impact in the closing stages of the season and continued his poor form today.

Kyle Bartley started at right back for Sheffield United in his final game for the Blades this season, but as Young Guns confirmed yesterday, the Yorkshire outfit are keen to bring Bartley back for next season. Kyle had a strong performance at full back in a comfortable 3-0 win.

Gilles Sunu returned to Arsenal in midweek after injury cut short his spell with Derby County.

In League One…

Wojciech Szczesny played the full game but had one of his most disappointing performances as Brentford hemorrhaged three goals against Swindon Town. The Polish stoppper did make some key saves to keep the Bees in the encounter but they still lost 3-2.

Sanchez Watt came off the bench to play the final 17 minutes for Leeds United against Charlton Athletic. Watt had started last week and made two assists and drew a red card but was dropped to the bench by Simon Grayson. Leeds knew a win would grant them promotion to the Championship but nerves got the better of them. Sanchez injected pace and energy but a late own goal saw Charlton win 1-0.

Mark Randall and Gavin Hoyte both started and played the full 90 minutes each as Milton Keynes Dons drew with Brighton. Randall was on the right of a front three while Hoyte was at right back. Neither really impressed in a scrappy 0-0 draw.

Luke Ayling was again on the bench for Yeovil Town but game on in stoppage time, dropping into midfield. Town beat Oldham 3-0.

Elsewhere…

Håvard Nordtveit played the full 90 minutes at centre back for Nuremberg as they were beaten 4-0 by Hamburg. Nordtveit had the task of marking both Mladen Petric and then Ruud van Nistelrooy in a tricky fixture. Håvard struggled to impress.

Pedro Botelho returned to the Celta Vigo team and started at left back against Cadiz. He played 61 minutes before looking rather tired and being replaced by Hugo Mallo.

92 thoughts on “Loanees – Lansbury Signs Off At Watford With Goal

  • May 2, 2010 at 3:16 pm
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    Good to hear that Lansbury scored. Kyle Bartley at right back I never knew he could play there. Wilshere looked bright vs tottenham as well I thought. But as are game vs Fulham next week has got players who have been on loan at a championship club are back at Arsenal. Do you think any will play some part vs fulham?

    Reply
    • May 2, 2010 at 3:41 pm
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      i think hes gonna use lansbury instead of craig eastmond next week. i think carlos vela need to get some games. i dont want wenger to lose him cause he’s very gifted player,he score goals out of nothing we need players like dat in the squad

    • May 3, 2010 at 3:37 am
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      Eastmond is a great player in the making. He’s s tough guy and knows how to defend he’s made for the PL in my view

  • May 2, 2010 at 3:45 pm
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    Try Lansbury and Bazarite they are both good.

    Reply
  • May 2, 2010 at 3:46 pm
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    Is Wellington Da Silva coming on the pre seaon tour?

    or is he coming after the next season?

    Reply
    • May 2, 2010 at 8:09 pm
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      I think he joins up when he turns 18 in January

    • May 3, 2010 at 3:34 am
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      but cant he play in a pre season

  • May 2, 2010 at 3:49 pm
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    Hopefully we will put a cup team out against Fulham and these youngsters can have a chance to impress on the big stage.

    Reply
  • May 2, 2010 at 3:59 pm
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    pls i want to know the latest development concerning Samuel Galindo.

    Reply
  • May 2, 2010 at 4:04 pm
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    You know, i wouldn’t write off Nordveit just yet. Nuremberg are a really poor team and there’s nothing tougher than being battered every week when you’re a defender. Some players are just much better when surrounded with quality.. We shall see

    Reply
    • May 2, 2010 at 4:49 pm
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      I actually think he will be recalled as a backup player next season, although maybe another loan to an english club would be beneficial. It’s true, you cant always tell how good someone will be by their loan performances, and nordtveit was meant to be a bit special. Im sure he learned a lot in germany.

    • May 2, 2010 at 5:17 pm
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      i completely agree. in fact i was already thinking of that before reading that piece. Nordveit is in a poor team and has had to do a lot in the central defence. and i’m sure he must have learnt a lot by his mistakes. he better knows that a mistake by him can cost the team. i think its now when he comes in the full squad (if he comes, i hope) that we will know how good he is.

    • May 3, 2010 at 3:26 am
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      Norvedit hasnt played in central defense most of the game its either been right back or DM player.
      He looked good in reserves but he hasn’t set any team alight so who knows how good is I guess we will find out next season.

  • May 2, 2010 at 4:09 pm
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    Liverpool are a disgrace.

    Reply
  • May 2, 2010 at 4:24 pm
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    Sell Gavin Hoyte, Mark Randall, Jay Simpsons. They arent going to make it at arsenal at all. They Sucks.

    If you cant even impress at the Championship level, do you think you can impress in the EPL and the CL? NO WAY!!

    Reply
    • May 2, 2010 at 11:44 pm
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      Why so negative. Yes they probally arent going to make it but saying they suck is wrong.

    • May 2, 2010 at 11:44 pm
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      Why so negative. Yes they probally arent going to make it but saying they suck is wrong.

    • May 2, 2010 at 11:45 pm
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      Why so negative. Yes they probally arent going to make it but saying they suck is wrong.

  • May 2, 2010 at 4:32 pm
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    Just watched highlights of the Nurnberg vs Hamburg game not, Nordtvteit wasnt at fault for any of the goals.

    He did get tricked quite easily by Mladedn petric though. He looks a bit short for me how tall his he?

    He did one great pass and had a great shot from 35 yards.

    Yh i agree its hard to judge him cause nurnberg have been poor. But maybe the experience of palying in a relegation battle could do the world of good for him just likeit could benefit henri lansbury.

    HENRI LANSBURY IS THE ONE FOR ME WHO COULD BREAK THROUGH

    Reply
  • May 2, 2010 at 4:40 pm
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    Bartley should be loaned to premier league side, maybe bolton in exchange for a permanent deal for Gary Cahill. He’s more than good to partner Vermaelan and could be the “number 6” we’ve been dreaming for many years. Plays in the same position as Gallas, defends high up the pitch and good in the air. England’s next big star is Cahill. Pls wenger sign him

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 3:20 am
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      I had a different idea I think Bolton need a striker to play off Davies and I thought if we loan Vela and Wilshere then we might get a discount on Chaill but who knows how transfers works.
      Bolton need a quality striker and Vela will work really well with them.

    • May 3, 2010 at 8:19 am
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      Don’t be fooled. Cahill isn’t that special. A decent defender, perhaps slightly too good for this Bolton team, but not Champions-League quality. I expect one of the Merseyside teams/Sp*rs will go for him if he’s not out of their price-range, but he probably will be – English players being priced at twice the cost of everyone else and all that.

    • May 3, 2010 at 11:22 am
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      This isnt a player who plays for a legue one or a championship teams. He plays for a PL team and does a great job in that team and if we can go for Hangeland then Cahill is surely in our radar. IF you saw how Bolton and especially Cahill played against CHelsea then you wouldnt say he wasn’t good enough

    • May 3, 2010 at 12:32 pm
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      I did see how he played against Chelsea. He did a good job overall, although he let Anelka escape him on his blind side a couple of times. Sure he’s a good defender, and he’d be good to have on the bench, but that’s not really an option given his price tag. There are plenty of decent defenders who look good in these kinds of teams but can’t handle the expectation that comes with a big club, and Cahill to me doesn’t look like he’s got the quality to do so. Not yet anyway, and, again, waiting with uncertainty is a gamble not worth taking for so much money.

  • May 2, 2010 at 4:42 pm
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    Bartley will also surely get matches if Cahill comes

    Reply
    • May 2, 2010 at 4:46 pm
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      Why would Bolton replace one of the most promising defenders in the world with a player who has only impressed in the Championship?

    • May 2, 2010 at 4:52 pm
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      @Norwegian gooner – most promising defenders in the world!? Really?!
      Not from what ive seen. He looks decent but prone to the odd error. I dont think hed be a massive success here. He’s probably headed towards upson-level quality imo. (Could be wrong though)

    • May 3, 2010 at 3:17 am
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      Cahill can be bought but Bartley wont take his place I think if he wants to get game then he should be loaned again to a championship side.

  • May 2, 2010 at 5:50 pm
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    I think that we will see lansbury and wilshere in the emirates next year and people like bartley JET barazite Nordtvteit will go on loan and I don’t think that we will sign pleyers like CAhill or Mexes because bolton and roma want a lot of money for pleyers that they are good but not at the level of pique or VIdic… wenger will sign another pleyer who nobody knows and he will be the perfect pleyer to pley with VErmaelen, then wi will sign Chamack and a goalkeper and I think that Frey is the answer…. Gallas silvestre and senderos will go.

    This arsenal only need that the arsenal pleyers give the 100% in all games because they are good enought and a good CB and good goalkeeper… We are not far far away of the glory!

    Reply
  • May 2, 2010 at 6:09 pm
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    Henri Lansbury has played alot and played well in most of the games.

    jay thomas has showed flashes he hasnt showed his form for 90mins thats his problem plus he needs to work off the ball more.

    Lansbury is starting to get back to the form of the under 17 euro championship when players like eden hazard and bojan krkic emerged. Maybe lansbury time has come now hes seems to have recovered from his illness and injuries

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 4:46 am
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      Sometimes the logic of the comments on his is hard to understand. Lansbury has 5 goals in an enting season in midfield with Watford. Jay Thomas has scored 6 and assisted 4 in two short loan spells this season. His time on loan barely equals half a season if that and he easily surpassed Lansbury’s output.

      JET has got to be ahead of Lansbury on the strength of his performances this year. It’s true that he must improve his off the ball movement, but that is yet another criticism that is somehow made out to be some big fault. The player has delivered far more than expected at Championship level and this, according to almost all Watford fans who watch him regularly, cannot be said of Lansbury.

      For those that watch ArsenalTVOnline, there is an interesting debate on the Friday show that touches on this issue of who will make it at Arsenal, JET or Lansbury. The French columnist that is asked about this subject actually doesn’t think either player is good enough to make it at the club. But he goes in depth about why he feels Lansbury’s road is harder.

      He makes the point that Lansbury has to surpass Ramsey to have any real shot at making at the club, as they are slotted into a similar position at the moment. Ramsey is a far superior player to Lansbury and he’s benefited from training day-in, day-out with the 1st team.

      The road to the 1st team will be very tough for both players but moreso for Lansbury because his development is behind JET and the others based on his performances this seasn.

    • May 3, 2010 at 11:19 am
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      The good thing for Lansbury is that Ramsey is injured and with these kind of injuries it take a year after full fitness to return to even close to your best.
      JET is probably as talented as Wilshere in my view but the problem for JET is that he doesnt have his position and that will surely be his downfall in the end

  • May 2, 2010 at 6:40 pm
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    I think the loan period for little Jack has been essential to develop his career.

    Next season I would much rather see more of our key young players in fellow premiership clubs, even if they are sometimes on the bench. We all know how many injuries there are these days, so squads are used. I would rather see that than them stay just for a handful of league cup games or spells in the championship. Plus it strengthens weaker premier clubs against our rivals!

    Lets hope Wilshire, Lansbury, JET, Nordviet, Barazite, Bartley, Szcsesny, can take season long loans at the likes of Newcastle, Bolton, WBA, Westham, Wolves, Wigan, and get themselves into the starting xi like Jack has at Bolton in recent months.

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 3:14 am
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      I was thinking the same thing we need players like JET, Wilshere, Szcsesny, lansbury playing in the PL team but sometimes it comes down to the hype.
      Barazite I hope can move into the first team he’s been brilliant in the reserves and deserves to move to the first team
      Bartley should stay at a championship side so he can get more epxerience.
      Norvedit future is still unclear to most

  • May 2, 2010 at 6:45 pm
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    It sounds like Lansbury is one to really watch. I’ve been keeping track of the loan reports and he has played most of Watfords games and been on the field for 70 minutes plus in the vast majority of them!! Don’t forget we have Ramsey coming back next year though:S Who is better J?? Lansbury or Ramsey??? I’ve been wondering about this for a while now. Could Lansbury become a defensive midfield player?? Cuz for me, Ramsey can fill the box to box role because he has a great engine and is good technically. In fact I see him being a more technical Steven Gerrard. Is Lansbury similar or a bit different to this?? He’s a Gooner through and through so hopefully he will make an impact next year. I saw Wilshere in the Bolton game against the Spuds and he was excellent….EXCEPT he picked up another yellow card. Why must he keep doing this??? He has to, has to tone it down. I’m probably overstatting and overeacting to the importance of this, but it shouldn’t be completely ignored. Wilshere has a tremendous long range shot, and I really can see him being our next Denis Bergkamp. He’s a lot smaller, but he doesn’t have to be big because of the space he finds and creates for himself. And he is by no means a waif!! He’s pretty squat, and he’ll keep adding muscle, and could possibly grow an inch or two more before he finishes growing. His passing while running at pace is impeccable. This is not an easy skill to master, but he can do it. It’s different than say a Xavi type player, or a Xabi Alonso, Pirlo etc. because he isn’t as stationary as they are. He runs more with the ball and passes more on the move. He’s very similar to Iniesta right now, but he plays more through the middle. He can fit into the 4-3-3 or he could possibly play at the tip of a diamond midfield if we alter our formation. I don’t think we will do that but, like Wenger has said, he will play through the middle eventually. I’m really excited about Wilshere, Lansbury, Ramsey and Barazite. I think, in my humble opinion, that they will all make it at Arsenal one day!!:D

    Reply
  • May 2, 2010 at 6:57 pm
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    Thats the thing henri lansbury and aaron ramsey are the future of our midfield.

    I can see lansbury and ramsey running our midfield. Theya re quite similar both can score goals, create chances, run with ball, tackle, passionate maybe lansbury more passionate and hes a gooner as well but both good engines and technically superb.

    I am really looking foward to seeing Henri lansbury coming through

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 3:10 am
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      who knows how Ramsey will come through? some come out better but look at Diaby or Eduardo even after two years after their injury they are still not how good they were after their injury

  • May 2, 2010 at 7:58 pm
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    JET is becoming more and more interesting as an attacking player up front, either central (he’s strong) or wide (more space) up front. I don’ mind keeping players that create and score goals week in week out.

    Bartley, Nordtveit and Wilshere all need to play. They’re in that age where they need to add confidence. Some coatches explain the psycological aspect to be as much as 80 % of becoming a star player.

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 3:06 am
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      JET biggest problem is that no one know where to play JET, he’s good in all position but he’s not great in any and players like these dont usually make it. But I think JET will make it he’s just pure class but he needs to finds his true position

      Norvedit has gained enough experiencein my view
      Bartley and Wilshere needs experience no doubt about that

  • May 2, 2010 at 8:00 pm
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    if we don’t sign cahill, I hope Wenger does a vermaelan signing again(maybe Savic?) what’s the news on Savic? Does anyone know? J? are we looking at any?

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 3:01 am
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      I think Vermaelen needs to play alongside a player like Sol (a player who uses strength to his advantage). gallas and Vermaelen are exactly the same kind of player and that’s why they have been found wanting against players like Drogba and Rooney.
      Cahill and Vermaelen will be a perfect combination of Strength, pace and intelligence.

    • May 3, 2010 at 5:47 pm
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      Andrew, I disagree completely with your analysis of Vermaelen and Gallas. They are far from the same player – must be based on the physical dimensions. Gallas’ game is about pace, positioning, and defensive nous. Vermaelen’s is about aggression, heading, and never-say-die attitude. When they play together, Vermaelen always goes forward to intercept the attacking move via a header, tackle or interception, while Gallas goes backward usually allowing the opponent to collect the ball, but keeping them from being able to get forward or complete a telling pass.

      While we’d all like big, physical CB’s, quality comes first and both Gallas and Vermaelen are certainly that. We’re a better squad with Gallas than without him. Cahill is a good defender and I wouldn’t be upset if he came to Arsenal, but I can’t say I’d be over the moon if he came.

  • May 2, 2010 at 8:04 pm
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    J said “Savić’s arrival could signal the end for defender Håvard Nordtveit, who is interesting a handful of German clubs.”…is this true? I would really like to see Nordtveit on Arsenal shirt after so many good things i have read

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 2:56 am
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      I think Wenger will judge Norvedit againt Savic and one of them will get a first team place.

  • May 2, 2010 at 10:10 pm
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    My mate has a ST at watford and hes said he’d be very surprised if lansbury made it arsenal. Didnt set many games alight and is championship quality was the summary.

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 2:50 am
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      your mate doesn have any knwolege of football then if Lansbury can’t make it then no one can he’s a perfect CM (can even play DM) player with a great shooting ability. If I was asked who has the potential to take over from gerrad then I will say him and I have seen most of the watfords game and he’s their most creative player by a mile and if there strikers knew how to a score goals then his assits count have been above 20.
      He has served them on a plate to their strikers and they still miss simple goals

  • May 2, 2010 at 11:39 pm
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    Please dont right these reports if you didnt watch the game at all. It is very misleading. Jack Wilshere played centermid in a 4-4-2. He did not play right behind the strikers.

    Reply
  • May 2, 2010 at 11:56 pm
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    Steady on there Shane lol. He defended quite well, but he was played in a more advanced postition to Muamba wasn’t he?? I mean Muamba isn’t there to attack, and Wilshere isn’t there to defend, so he was the attacking central midfield player in the 4-4-2 right?? You are right though in the sense that he didn’t stay right behind the strikers all the time. He defended pretty well I think and helped Muamba and the defense out when he could. I think he can be as good, or better than Iniesta, if he works hard enough. Even I can see his potential and I hope he makes it huge. Give him numero 10!!! haha.

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 1:41 am
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      In the artice they made it sound like he wasplaying in the hole behind the striker, like the “Bergkamp role”. He was actually playing CM alongside Muamba just like Fabregas played when we use to play a 4-4-2.

      Now aside from that, I have always said he reminds me of Iniesta. He also has a little Messi in him. He isnt as fast but you can see the resemblance. Wilshere will definetly be a huge player and I see him starting on the right side of the midfield next year.

    • May 3, 2010 at 1:43 am
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      Jack playing a whole game in a 2 man centermid verse a good team is huge for his developement and really shows that he will devenetly be able to play for Arsenal in the 3 man center midfield.

    • May 3, 2010 at 2:45 am
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      I would rather have him play another year at Bolton and get even more playing time than sit on the bench at arsenal

    • May 3, 2010 at 8:33 am
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      He will not be on the bench next year. He will be 18 going on 19 and will be ready to START next year. There is no need for another loan. He has proven he can play in the prem. The only time i see him have issues is when he gets caught on the ball or makes a bad pass and it is usually because the bolton players dont make runs and move like the Arsenal players do. He is ready,

    • May 3, 2010 at 11:15 am
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      why does every kid have to do what fabregas did?
      wilshere maybe more gifted than Diaby, Denilson and Song combined but RIGHT NOW they are more experinced and a better player than him that’s why other than the cup games he didnt play any games for us this year

  • May 3, 2010 at 12:44 am
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    just to clarify, the lansbury goal was from well outside the box, great strike from around 25yds i would think.

    think he needs another season on loan – ideally at a premiership club, or a top championship club.

    for me the big question from the youngsters is – barazite! what to do with him?? too good for the reserves, surely better than the championship now, but will any team take him in the premiership? a real conundrum..

    Reply
    • May 4, 2010 at 11:05 am
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      hahahaaha…. thats true… he’s too gud for the reserves. i just hope he makes it in the 1st squad

  • May 3, 2010 at 1:44 am
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    O yah and he will definetly get that number 10….to bad I already have his jersey with the number 19 lol.

    Reply
  • May 3, 2010 at 1:47 am
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    Steady on there Shane lol. He defended quite well, but he was played in a more advanced postition to Muamba wasn’t he?? I mean Muamba isn’t there to attack, and Wilshere isn’t there to defend, so he was the attacking central midfield player in the 4-4-2 right?? You are right though in the sense that he didn’t stay right behind the strikers all the time. He defended pretty well I think and helped Muamba and the defense out when he could. I think he can be as good, or better than Iniesta, if he works hard enough. Even I can see his potential and I hope he makes it huge. Give him numero 10!!! haha.

    ——

    In terms of balance between attack and defence then there is no such thing as attacking midfielder in the centre mid of a 442 formation hence Petit Vieira or Song Diaby partnerships. Although one of 2 in centre mid can go forward from time-to-time when opportunities arises NOT al the time.

    However in the 433 formation, role of Fabregas can be described an attacking midfielder bcuz he has 2 in centre mid behind him

    Reply
  • May 3, 2010 at 2:11 am
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    Where does our academy stand against all the other european academys ?
    We seem to have lots of talk about players with huge potential comming through but each season surely we should have atleast 1 player who can break through to the first team.

    Next season looks like wiltshire can bridge that gap and will possibly get games while ramsey eases back into competitive football.

    Is our academy that good though how do we compair to barcelona and many of the other good academys at present ? have they more players than us that look likely to make that leap ….Im just curious also would like to know if we have stats on the number players released versus those that have made the break through since Wenger has arrived at our club ?
    would make an interesting read to see how successful the academy is versus players we just kinda bought in that were nearly ready to make that leap.

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 2:34 am
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      Barcelona academy is a very good academy but in their academy a lot of youngsters leave early because they think they wont get much playing time. Its different with us Wenger has developed an image where youngsters think if they are good enough they will always get a chance that’s why most of our youngsters stay.

      Our training facilites rivals Barcelona not sure about the team because I have no idea how good their team is. Every players who cones out of an academy doesnt make the grade but if you can produce one quality player each year then that’s worth but if you looks at our last year team that 5-6 players will surely make it into the first team(I think)
      JET, Wilshere, Lansbury, Eastmond, Bartley – PLayer I am Sure About
      Coquelin, Sunu, Watt, Ayling – Maybe

      THis is a very good retun and is probably better than any other elite club will produce in a year

  • May 3, 2010 at 2:43 am
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    This year players like henderson, afobe , ozyakup, miguel and freeman have come through
    alhtough this years team is not as talented as last years team but these are all very good players who have every chance of making it in my view.

    I think Last years team can rival Barca’s 03-04 team in which Fabregas, Messi, Pique all came through

    In Conclusion Our Academy is one of the best in the world but not sure if it is the best in the world – Barca’s Academy, Evertons Academy, Ajax Academy are also great academy but the best one are probably South American Academies

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 6:54 am
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      I think South American academies are more successful simply because of their population. The bigger your population, the bigger the talent pool. More South Americans turn to football as a deterrence to crime, or as their occupation because of the harsh living conditions in most. Every now and then you will get a World Class player.

    • May 3, 2010 at 9:38 am
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      @ Andrew, that must be a joke to put Everton in that list, their best 2 products are Rooney & Rodwell, Rooney would have come thru almost any system structure anyway while Rodwell is just a player with physical gifts who hasnt shown that he has the technique & vision to play DM or the reading of the game to play CB. Roma and Sporting Lisbon should be included in that list.

  • May 3, 2010 at 5:56 am
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    Hey any idea on what formation we will play next year?
    I was listening to arsenal fan forum and they think we will play with 2 striker upfront but they couldn’t agree on what formation to go for.
    If we play a normal 4-4-2 then Fabrgeas lose his efficency and has to do a lot more defending than attacking which is what he had been doing this season
    If we play 4-3-3 then we will have 4 strikers sitting on the bench and to keep 4-3-3 just because it suits Fabrgeas is not viable
    I thought we could play a 4-4-2 diamond but then our midfield will get over run so I think the best formation will be a normal 4-4-2 yes Fabregas will not score so many goals and will have to work hard in the midfield but I think he can do it.

    Reply
    • May 3, 2010 at 6:06 am
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      After writing the post I thought that our best midfielders this season have been Cesc and SOng and if you play both of them in a normal 4-4-2 formation then both of them are not really workers are they ? and you need a worker in the midfield.
      I think we will play a 4-4-2 diamond that where’s Cesc and Song play at their best and if one of them gets injured then we can play Song and Diaby or Cesc and Diaby together

      This is so confusing

    • May 3, 2010 at 8:39 am
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      LOL….there is no need for this to even be a discussion. We will play the same formation we do now. A 4-3-3.

      It was our first year in it and we did pretty good. Song is getting better everyday along with Diaby. There is no reason to change. If we had Van Persie the whole year things would have been different but even if Bendtner didnt get hurt and we had to play with no true striker , we would have picked up a few more points. We really just lacked the proper wingers to play a 4-3-3 which i believe we will pick up a winger, keeper and centerback. Of course Chamahk.

    • May 3, 2010 at 11:08 am
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      if we play 4-3-3 then Eduardo and Vela become useless and fullbacks are more exposed I doubt we will play 4-3-3 unless we sell Eduardo and maybe even Vela
      I agree 4-3-3 is a very attacking lineup and it has served us really well against mid and low table teams but unless we improve our closing down we will always struggle with this formation against good teams as they have a lot more ways to score goals against us and they have strikers who can put the ball away

      Looks like Arshavin has alreayd decided to move to Barcelona (imscouting article)
      http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-article/Arsenal-forward-Arshavin-I-am-going-to-Barcelona-in-the-summer/7466/?sent=1#comments
      alhtough this might not be true

    • May 3, 2010 at 11:11 am
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      this formation is the primary reason why we have let so many goals in.

    • May 3, 2010 at 12:53 pm
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      No it isnt the reason we let more goals in. Plus it acutally is more defensive sense you take away a striker and add a midfielder. Use a little common sense. By the way is we play a 4-4-2 then Song and Diaby become useless. Diaby will have to play wing again and Song isnt the right type of player for a 2 man midfield. There will always be players left out when you change formation. Really Eduardo just hasnt recovered his confidence. Has nothing to do with the formation. He has had plenty of chance to score but just didnt finish. Vela was just injured alot so he never got going. He will be able to play up top or on the wing. The reason we got scored on alot is because we had no decent back up centerback and Almunia was really poor. Next year I am will bet you we will win the title.

  • May 3, 2010 at 10:09 am
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    @ Andrew, that must be a joke to put Everton in that list, their best 2 products are Rooney & Rodwell, Rooney would have come thru almost any system structure anyway while Rodwell is just a player with physical gifts who hasnt shown that he has the technique & vision to play DM or the reading of the game to play CB. Roma and Sporting Lisbon should be included in that list.

    ———————————-

    We haven’t produced a player of Rooney’s quality, add Rodwell who btw is going to be a class act only A.Cole and Wilshere are of similar standard. Add Osman, Hibbert, Baxter and Anichebe who are all first team players its not unfair to class Everton’s academy as world class if we count our own in the same bracket .

    Remember I’m not counting players Cesc and Clichy because we brought these at 16/17 which imo doesn’t count towards a product of your youth academy.

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    • May 3, 2010 at 2:51 pm
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      Look acedemies are often a reflection of the talent of a nation. If Barcelona’s youth coaches and setup were run in Greece, it would not be a great acedemy because it would not have the spanish talent. That is why Barcelona produce more top talent. There are more top quality spanish talent then English talent plus English talent seems to get spread around while Barce and real snatch up most young spaniards. Also them having several youth teams at every age group helps them keep more kids.

      Now you also have to take into consideration that before Wenger came, Arsenal was not known for the academy. The youth side is usually the part of the game that takes the longest to build and Wenger has done it in 13 years. Pretty impressive.

      On the we havent produced a player the level of Rooney. I believe Wilshere will surpass Rooney. He has qualities no other English player has. I will bet, he will be the next English player to win the FIFA World player of the year. I know thats a bold prediction but he is that good. Also you cant say that Ashley Cole isnt the level of Rooney. Cole has become one of if not the best leftback in the world. That is the same level as Rooney.

    • May 3, 2010 at 3:48 pm
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      O yah I also forgot…the guy that said our academy team was as good as the Barcelona team that had Messi, Fabregas, Pique, Pedro, Marc Crosas, etc. Are you out of your mind?

  • May 3, 2010 at 2:47 pm
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    Just regarding the 4-3-3 system it has contibuted to us letting in alot of goals this season but its not the system at fault but the players playing the key positions.

    The most important are the two wide forwards (Narsi and Arshivan) plus the the player partnering Song and Fabregas in the midfield (Diaby Denilson and Ramsey)..

    When Arsenal dont have the ball it should move to a 4-5-1… the key to this is that Arshivan and Narsi get back and help the team win the ball back and make Arsenal a more formidable unit. Wat happened well Arshivan lack of effort is a disgrace (Wenger please sell him) and. Narsi does try but when he wa caught out of posistion Diaby should have been moving across to cover which again didnt happen cos well Diaby doesnt seem bothered which is a shame..

    Long story short the team lack of effort in getting back and defending as a unit cause alot of the goals this season.. They should look at Fulham afew decent players but the whole TEAM gives 100% effort every game. And remember, they play good football, have played the same amount of matches, have a smaller squad than Arsenal. Yet none of there players act tired or lazy or worse again moan about being injury all the time.

    Another example was Br v us pedro and messi getting back getting stuck in making live every difficult for Arsenall to get tings started. .

    Man the f**k up men of Arsenal the woman side today will put more effort in!!!!

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    • May 3, 2010 at 4:21 pm
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      I am sorry but i cant stand fans like you. But the actual reason we give up more goals in that formation is simply down to not having the right kind of wide player. We often play 2 players in the wide positions that are naturally center attacking players which meens they tend to come into the center of the midfield which meens when we do lose the ball, we loose it in the worse place to lose it. The center of the field which starts counter attacks. You need attacking wingers that run at the wide backs because when they do lose the ball, it is usually in a position that allows the team to recover.

  • May 3, 2010 at 5:54 pm
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    Hey Shane what do you make of all the Arshavin rumours?? I’ve always been a big fan of his talent, but never a fan of his temperament. Without knowing him, from this distance, it seems horrible. I actually think he is a very sensitive and shy man though, even though he runs his mouth through the press at times. i just get the impression that he is a shy and sensitive person. I look at a lot of the Russian hockey players, and a lot in the past, and now do not really fit in well with their teams socially. I know he is friends with Nasri, but I wonder if he feels alone, or is lonely. I think he tries to be accessable with his blog and website, but he doesn’t know how to do it in a truly effective, yet harmless manner. What do you think is wrong with him?? I think you said you were a fan of his, so maybe you know a bit more about him than I do?? LOL I know it’s pretty hard to figure out from here, and no one knows for sure what is really happening. But i’d like to know other people’s opinion of the events that have happened in the past few weeks regarding him.

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    • May 3, 2010 at 7:10 pm
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      Milo- Yah , i have 2 arsenal jerseys and one is his. I dont think he is hard to understand at all. He always tell the truth. If you ask him a question, he will answer it. He has always said he is a Barcelona fan so just because he signs for Arsenal, people think that changes. I am a huge fan of his and to be honest, it is just unfortunent that we did not get a 25 year old Arshavin. People that also gripe about him and call him lazy need to understand that he wasnt a winger before he came here. He isnt lazy, just not all people have the same endurance. He would have been the perfect guy to play in the “bergkamp role” had we still played the 4-4-1-1/ 4-4-2.

  • May 3, 2010 at 6:36 pm
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    Shane fair point they are not naturally wide players but when you play a position you do the job end off….. are you trying to tell me that Arshivan and Nasri have performed well this season… I dont think so and they have left Clichy and Sagna terrible exposed at times especially when the other teams full backs push forward.in a attack.

    When you loose the ball you get back and help the team this has not happened and really I couldnt care if they are not wide players when they play for Arsenal they are being ask to play that position so just do the job and enough of the excuses.

    Personally I hope both are sold and proper wingers how can also get back and defend when needed are bought

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    • May 3, 2010 at 7:22 pm
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      Ok genius, I am trying to keep my temper under control but these “every players sucks” comments are getting old. Your first sentence is just dumb. If you ask sol campbell to play CAM, would you expect him to “just do the job”? Some players skills are made for different styles and positions. Nasri isn’t going to be able to run at players with pace just because he’s put at winger. He is still going to cut into the midfield and play to his strengths.

      Secondly, when you watch Barcelona and Barcelona lose the ball is it Messi or Pedro that track back and win the ball back? No.

      Lastly, Arshavin had to play out of postion at center forward and played most of the season with a messed up right foot. As for Nasri, yes I think he has started to play good. He is definetly going to be a top class player.

  • May 3, 2010 at 8:52 pm
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    Do you think Arsha should leave Shane?? My pricile is that you should want to play your hweart out for the club you are playing for, until you cannot play anymore. It seems on one hand he has, regarding his foot, but the way he went off against Barca, and the things he has been saying are pushing me towards thinking that maybe he should leave. Do you think he is happy at Arsenal?? It doesn’t really sound like it. But who really knows?? My gut says that he will stay. That in itself is proof that he likes the club! I just wish he would temper his interviews, because I HATE WHINERS!! By now, he should be able to distinguish whining from telling the truth. He also should be able to tell what people and fans want to hear, and what they don’t. If he doesn’t care, then he runs the risk of rubbing some fans, like me, the wrong way. I have no problem with someone telling the truth, but do it in a way that doesn’t affect the rest of the squad right?? If the rest of the team do not listen to him, then that is another problem in and of itself right?? I agree, it is infortunate that we did not get him when he was younger. To be honest I don’t know how, Barca, us Real, UNited and a few other clubs, did not notice him earlier. But scouting wasn’t what it is now I guess:S This is why I am so excited about Wilshere!! i don’t know if he will be nominated for world player of the year or European player of the year like you predicted, but I think he will be great. Was Bergkamp ever even nominated for world or European player of the year??? I’m not sure. In 1998 he was probably the best in the world. I mean that. Look at the goals he scored for us, and look at what he did in the world cup. He was every bit as good as Zidane I think. Ronaldo was a bit off that year at club level, but he had a very good world cup until the final. Bergkamp should have won it in 1998. Maybe Wilshere can exact some revenge???:D I hope so.

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    • May 4, 2010 at 10:56 am
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      Milo- I dont believe Arshavin wihines. I also dont like the fakeness that players show. I would rather be upset with how Arshavin answered a question than to be shocked when a player leaves and I had no clue cuz he was saying how he wanted to stay at Arsenal for ever. I would much rather hear the truth than be lied to. Fans are the ones tha dont need to be babied. Fans are never ones to shout out there opinion on players or “boo” players. Ask Eboue about that.

      Now yes I hope Arshavin stays. He is a top class player. When Arshavin, van Persie and Fabregas are in the same team, I always feel like we are going to score 3 or 4 goals. They are the 3 with that world class about them and think differently then other players. I belive Ramsey and Wilshere will bring that same quality. If Arshavin did leave than I would be upset unless Eden Hazard was the man brought in to replace him.

  • May 3, 2010 at 9:09 pm
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    Thanks for the reply Shane I sure hope you didnt lose your temper maybe get a life 1st…. this is a place were people can air there views just like you did and my differs somewhat …….its nothing to get angry about.

    Just a quick point I didnt say every player sucks I have questioned some/ alot of the players attidue and effort. I dont mind an player being average ablility eg Bendther cos even when he misses easy chances he is still trying and puts pressure on defenders trying to win the ball back for the team.

    Wat I do have a problem with is a player not trying and the person who has shown this time and time again is Arshivan and in my opinion, he has been a bad bought and should be shipped out with a team player more suited to that role being bought in.. Maybe he has been carrying an injury but all season? I doubt it I would say this is an excuse the fact is Russian didnt make the world cup, he is paying alot more tax in England not he originally thought and for both of those reasons he has be a sulking little b**ch and leaving his team mates swinging on alot of occassions during matches.

    If you play football this is one of the worse thing a team mate can do and is very bad for moral.

    As for Narsi he is not a bad player to be fair and his natural position would be Fabregas position he is not half as good as him and never will be… so again instead of playing him on the left wing or the left side of the 4-3-3 sell him and buy a player that fits into the system correctly ie can play the position. I will say this he does work alot harder than Arshivan.

    Its about pride shane and working your b**s off for the team regardless of the position your given another example was you didnt see Davies of Fulham moaning when he went back into righ back the other evening he just got on with it. Lastly when Arsenal played Barcelona messi and pedro didnt ahve to track back the pressure they and the other teammates put on Arsenal as soon as they got the ball in they our half resulted in Barca winning the ball back.

    Reply
    • May 4, 2010 at 10:44 am
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      John- First of i said lose my temper as in i am not going to try and not be insulting towards you cuz it gets old when people always say players suck, even if they are some of our better players.

      Now on to the discussion, Messi and Pedro are never involved in winning the ball back. Ronaldinho and Giuly were never involved in winning the ball back. How hard is that to understand for you? If every player is running around trying to win the ball back then who is open to pass it to once you win it back? Also do you except that different players have different levels of endurance? Not all players can run around playing defence and offense and still be effective in both areas. That is why they have different positions.

      The difference between Arsenal and Barcelona comes down to where they lose the ball, which is usually way up the field which gives them time to recover and the fact that they have been playing this formation for a while now. We will get better over time. This year we challenge for the title in our first season in this formation and I suspect could have on it if Fabregas doesnt get injured. Also without our top striker who was playing great at the beginning of the season. Also cosidering our goal keepers lost us about 10 points, I think we should have a lot of optemism going into next season.

      I feel we will sign a keeper, centerback and a winger along with chamahk. Wilshere I believe is plenty ready to play now.

      Last thing, Nasri is not the same as Fabregas. Nasri is more of the play maker Iniesta type. Fabregas is very much a do it all center mid. Really a combination of Xavi and Gerrard. Nasri is a player that must stay. Did you not witness the goal verse FC Porto? A bad player doesnt score like that.

  • May 3, 2010 at 9:41 pm
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    John, you can ACTUALLY say bitch and balls on this website. Just don’t swear in every sentence (you don’t) and it’s fine. We’re all adults on here. Or close enough.

    Reply
  • May 4, 2010 at 4:34 pm
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    I agree about player’s honesty Shane. I’d rather they say they want to leave, and have them leave, than for them to say they will not leave and then they end up leaving. I just hope what he says doesn’t affect the rest of the team in any way. Or that it has a positive influence upon them if he is an influence in any way. Sometimes I have my doubts about that. I have said all along that Nasri will be fine and will keep improving. I agree 100% on that. Don’t really understand all the criticism of him. He’ll find consistency.

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    • May 4, 2010 at 5:29 pm
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      I will say that is the one thing I dont like….players talking about other clubs tho. I feel that is the one thing that is disrespectful. I hate when players move to a midlevel club and in there first interview talk about how it is just a stepping stone to get to a big club. I also hate like what David Alaba the kid from Bayern Munich did. How he talks about wanting to join Arsenal. This is the only thing I wish players didnt do. They focuss so much of there energy on where they are going to play next year that the dont play in the current year. Then they realize when they retire that they didnt accomplish what they should have. Look at Ribery. His team is in the Champions league finals and he keeps talking about moving on. Stupid and annoying.

  • May 4, 2010 at 6:41 pm
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    Wow, Shane I haven’t agreed with you this much since, well, never more than now!!:D hahaha. I agree 100% this is why I just hope that what Arshavin has said, regarding Barca is a bunch of false rumours. I know he is a Barca fan and that is one thing, but pandering openly for a move to another club, while you are playing for a different club is disrespectful and I totally see where you are coming from. I find the Ribery transfer situation to be amusing if I`m honest. Bayern is one of the biggest names in the history of European football.

    Reply
  • May 4, 2010 at 7:54 pm
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    Can I interrupt and ask you guys what you think of nasri, song and fabregas starting in centre midfield next season? With diaby coming in in games against more physical opposition.

    This will give room for wilshere and arshavin to play on the flanks and I think fabregas and nasri could link up much like xavi and iniesta do at barca, as both players are extremely good on the ball and like short intricate passing. This allows song to be the dominating force in midfield and fabregas and nasri to play.

    For me Nasri is pure class, and playing him in his natural position will only allow him to prosper into possibly one of the best in the world. Much like arshavin he is much less effective playing out wide however he seems a lot more inclined to work for the team out there. Its a pity arshavin cant play just off the main striker in a bergkamp role, as whenever I’ve seen him there he’s been simply sensational

    Reply
    • May 4, 2010 at 10:42 pm
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      Here are a couple things mate. Everyone thinks of just a starting 11 and often forgets about injuries and squad rotation, so in some ways your are right. Here is the thing. I would not take Diaby out of that line up for the life of me. Have you seen Diaby’s ball control. He is turning into the 6’3 version of iniesta. Song, Fabregas and Diaby were the strength of our team when they all 3 played together and they will only get better. Nasri good in the wide position in the 4-3-3 just like Iniesta plays sometimes for Barca but the issue is you cant play another center attacking midfielder on the other side too. That meens you have 5 midfielder a occupying the same space and playing with similar skills. That comes back to that whole losing the ball in the role places.

      Some other things to consider is that we play in the most physical league which you simply cant cope week in and week out with Nasri and Fabregas battling in the center of the midfield and expect injuries not to happen. Barcelona could not play with their small squad if they were in the prem. By small I meen lack of depth in there team. Here is the perfect team though when Rambo gets fit. Wenger will have Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Ramsey, Nasri and Wilshere (the new iniesta) all to rotate and will all be top class players no doubt. That is depth in quality not just depth. Add a couple wingers and improve the quality and depth at center back and ofcourse a keeper. We are looking at a team that will no doubt win the prem very soon. Think about it. Even with all Man city’s money what central midfield players are even available out there that are going to be better than that bunch in the next 5 years. Gerrard is 29, Gourcuff, Modric, Toni Kroos, Ramires, Rodwell, and maybe a couple others and that it. You also have to consider Chelsea will be looking for new midfielders soon because most of their guys are 30+ years old. Other teams will be battling for those select few while Arsenal have already stacked up that elite 6. Good times ahead my friend.

  • May 4, 2010 at 10:09 pm
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    The argument against a midfield with Song Fabregas and Nasri is that Nasri is too lightweight and isn’t the size Diaby is. PLaying with two small attacking midfielders in the Premier League is a risk. It is one I MYSELF would be willing to take. I have thought about this before and it couldn’t hurt to try. I think this is why Arsene is taking Ramsey as well as JET and Lansbury into consideration for the 1st team. He likes to have two larger midfielders in the middle and then have one smaller attacking option like Fabregas. This is also why he kept playing Denilson. He isn’t huge but he’s taller and is supposedly more defensively responsible than Nasri. I don’t buy this at all, but that’s just me. I think, if asked, Nasri, Cesc and Ramsey would all be defensively responsible. People forget how well cesc defended when he was playing in the 4-4-2 just 2 years ago. And I have seen Nasri and Ramsey defend before. For me the best possible midfield would be Song, Cesc and Nasri, with Ramsey as backup, but that is only my opinion. I think highly enough of Ramsey, that if he gets back to full health, we wouldn’t miss a beat if Cesc or Nasri got injured. That is how highly I think of him. This is only my opinion remember!! lol

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    • May 5, 2010 at 12:28 am
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      In the premier league if you played Nasri and Fabregas then that meens you are asking Fabgregas to focus on more defensive resposibilities and that is not what you want. Of course he can play defence but why would you want to take him away from the offensive side. Diaby is a very effective defencive player along with being a quality attacker.

  • May 4, 2010 at 11:01 pm
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    I forgot about Diaby!!:S He’s gone missing a bit the last couple of games but so has everyone else, besides Robin. I think Diaby will be dynamite next year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the Premier League team of the year next year. I really hope Wilshere comes back from loan and impresses to such a degree that Wenger takes him back into the 1st team!! It can happen for sure. And i hope Ramsey gets back to full fitness. Besides a few trophies and a new goal keeper, those are my two main wishes for next year regarding team personnel.

    Reply
  • May 5, 2010 at 5:58 pm
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    I like nasri a lot more when he’s playing central as he’s a lot more effective, but the whole lightweight thing may be an issue. However playing him alongside fabregas in certain games where they park the team bus in front of the goal might help break teams down. the movement from nasri and fabregas would help draw teams out. Then in the more physical games you can replace nasri with diaby. After all rotation is essentail throughout long seasons.

    But as for making fabregas more defensive this wouldnt be an issue as wenger has said before he see’s nasri more as a deeper lying midfielder who creates play, starts attacks and arrives late in the box.

    Lets be honest the talent in the midfield is awesome, nobody can match the talent there, IMO, its just fitting people in and getting the best out of players thats the hard part. But I agree that wilshere and Ramsey will be absolute world class, ramsey was getting there before his injury, lets hope it doesnt put him too far off track.

    And as for song… Immense

    Reply

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