re: Arsenal 2013/2014 Season Long Thread

I don't disagree. just had to throw that in because last year some people were trying to say he's better than Cesc, which simply isn't true. he's not better than our previous 3-5 stars, but he's more fun to watch.

Santi might be the best dribbler we've ever had. But he's more of a great role player rather than a star. If we would have had him, Cesc, Arshavin, Nasri, RvP, all in 2009, that team would have been amazing.

He reminds me of the Leroy Hoard quote, "If you need one yard, I'll get you three. If you need five yards, I'll get you three." I'll leave it to you to see how it applies.

Yep. That is so awesome on so many levels, not the least of them being that Hoard is a NOLA native.

That gif is fantastic.

Back to Suarez, apparently he's told Liverpool that he wants to move to Arsenal.

It's got to be only a matter of time now...

LINK /

It is time for us to pay whatever it takes. To prove we are a club to be reckoned with in the transfer market.

Pull the trigger Arsene. He is a difference maker.

We will fight... then kiss and buy each other beers.

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you clearly have no clue how much pain you've caused me by referring to me in relation to Randy. i've frequently admitted when i'm wrong (generally when i argue with beast hell even benteke i was wrong and admitted so recently!). for instance, I thought Romeu started more than he did two years ago! it was only 11 matches! that alone should give me some slack compared to Randy.

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Ok, admittedly the Randy comparison was a little unfair, all I was trying to do was state my opinion that Rooney does not make Arsenal a title contender and then later that your team is not quite where they were a few years ago. I didn't particularly want to get drawn into a discussion about Aaron Ramsey or Artetas value to the team, but I could have certainly shown a little more discourse.

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plus you were just dead wrong on a number of things. you'd do the same if i started spouting nonsense about villa.

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Of course you realize its impossible for somebody to be dead wrong in a discussion of Clichy/Gibbs and whether or not Ramsey is good, right? Primarily this is true because both of the above statements are opinions. I have no doubt you have followed Arsenal much more closely than I have, but I have always liked Arsenal and followed them somewhat closely since 2007. As a Villa fan, I tend to follow the league in general as my team hasn't been competing for much since MON left, Arsenal have always been my favorite of the big clubs.

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ps: bc i can't let things go Barry started more games in CM for MCFC than anyone not named Yaya Toure. If you don't think Arteta could've played over him or Javi Garcia, you're crazy. he's better than old-Scholes or Cleverley or Anderson too. also, we fundamentally disagree wrt the need for an enforcer at DM in today's game, but Arteta+Ramires would be a sick CM combo and better than Mikel+Ramires.

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Well, having watched Gareth Barry play for a number of years with Villa, I'd argue that he's very similar to Arteta and tends to be undervalued. He's also a better defender which is why he still had a place in the City team over the last several years. I did say that I thought that Arteta was a good signing, and clearly he has embraced his position in the team, but if Arsenals long term plans in the center of midfield are Arteta and Ramsey both playing holding positions you'll have to excuse me for being underwhelmed. I agree he is better than Javi, who isn't a regular starter. The only regular starter at CM for United over the past several years has been Carrick (Fletcher before the injury) and generally he has rotated in giggs, scholes, anderson, cleverly, jones. Arteta might get time in that team because CM is their biggest weakness, but he wouldn't be a regular starter IMO.

I don't believe there is a fundamental need for an enforcer in the game, I never said that, I merely said that I thought Arsenal needed a player who is a better defender if they want to insist on playing two holding mids. Notice that I'm not saying that Mikel Arteta has never adequately played the defensive midfield role (I said he has been a good signing and thats where he has played) or can't defend. You mentioned Ramires, I'd consider somebody like Ramires to be the ideal partner for a DLP like Arteta. Now obviously our views on Aaron Ramsey's value differ, but at the very least I'm sure you can admit that Ramires is much more mobile, does a better job of getting box to box, and is often tidy on the ball (wheres I feel like Ramsey often is too languid on it).

I don't necessarily think Arsenal needs an enforcer, Song played the defensive midfield role very well for a year or two up until his last season when he tried to be Yaya Toure and often let the team down. He was still a great player, I'd just argue that he no longer understood, or refused to play the role that he was deployed in. When you also consider that he wasn't the most mobile, it really created problems when he was out of position.

Anyways, sorry if I over-reacted a bit earlier, I'm hoping ya'll bring in a few more players before the window shuts, just hopefully Arsene waits til the wake up call thats coming for yall on August 17th

Are you going to Finns for the match? Hows London treating you?

You know I'm starting to turn the corner on Ramsey (in a very specific role) but this new poster is making it difficult so far..