re: Arsenal 2012/2013 Season Long Thread

Sounding like we have no option to buy Sahin at the end of the year, but rather if Real decide to sell we have the first option to buy. I'm sure I worded that terribly, but it's early.

A couple of videos here:

The first is a tactical analysis of the Sunderland game. LINK

I really think we need to change formations to take advantage of the new signings. Podolski is more of a second striker who doesn't enjoy being marked like a lone CF, Giroud is a player who wants to make runs beyond the CB's, and Walcott wants to play centrally. We also need a back up for Arteta. He has become our most important player.

This second video analyzes Steve Bould's influence on the team. LINK

This video shows why I think we will be alright without Song defensively. Look at his positioning in the Norwich game. He has to be smarter than that. That midfield featured Ramsey, Rosicky and Song. Obviously the one who should be deepest is Song, yet he's twenty yards from our CB's after having been turned by a midfield runner without the ball. Maybe Song's falling out with Bould had everything to do with Bould asking Song to stay deeper. Again, this highlights how important Arteta is to our team now.

Listened to the arsenal review USA podcast this morning. Young Guns was on there, and from what he said I doubt we sign a DM. Or scouts have scoured Europe for a DM and none of the options are desirable. He says that's why selling Song was interesting, because we didn't like any of the DMs on the market.

Arteta's mobility is still a big concern. A 4-4-2 would be interesting, especially since we have two (three if you count Walcott) viable strikers. And that would seem to take away Cazorla's influence.

Anyone else see the Jesus Navas rumors?

Interesting.. and would be amazing to have Navas, Cazorla, and Arteta on the pitch but I don't know if it's really what we need.

I'm not sure if Sahin and Arteta would work together in a 4-4-2. Not enough pace. Don't think they would be able to cover enough ground. It should be a good partnership in the 4-2-3-1 we usually run.

Yea apparently M'Vila's attitude has scared Wenger off. I dunno how much of that is true. It could be the price tag more than his attitude. We should be looking to sign a defensive mid. Everyone one who reports on Arsenal or just football in general says the same thing but you never know what Wenger has planned. It will get very interesting once the Sahin deal is done and dusted because I think we will move on to the Theo Walcott situation next. We need to speed things along. We haven't sold half of the deadweight we wanted to yet. Arshavin and Bendtner are still here.

Seems like you guys could use the 4-2-2-2 system that Villereal ran with Cazorla... Podolski = Rossi, AOC = Cani

Rumors are Wenger may try and sign Chiek Tiote.

I'd take Navas in a heartbeat. I don't necessarily think it'd require Walcott leaving, if we are serious about him as a striker. If Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh, and Park are getting cleared out...(I know, I know...seems unlikely at this point)

Not sure if Tiote would fit our system. Not a huge fan of his, but he's a fine player. Can't see NUFC selling him to us unless the fee was ridiculous.

I could see us making a couple more signings, but those two would shock me.