re: Arsenal Football Club 2011-2012 Season Thread

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A thrilling adventure where anything can go wrong.

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Sounds more like my experience with craigslist casual encounters, but I guess it's open to a lot of different similes.

Rumor out there that Nasri and Wenger had a big fight and that Nasri is back on the market...

Shinji Kagawa also rumored as a possible Cesc replacement.

Any specials/deals going on for Jerseys & Tee's? Looking to get some new gear and hopefully the player I choose this time around will stick with the team for a while

Saw we lost. Anybody watch it and want to recap it for me? Should I continue in my pessimism or were there positive signs from the match as well?

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Saw we lost. Anybody watch it and want to recap it for me? Should I continue in my pessimism or were there positive signs from the match as well?

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First half was good. We had a couple of bad passes, but the VP goal came on a nice move involving Arshavin, Gibbs, and Van Persie. Second half Benfica simply outplayed us. Gibbs lost his man, who pulled it back for Nolito who played in Aimar who shoved off Vermaelean for the goal. It was shite defending all around. The second goal was all Squillaci, who got turned at the 18, and the shot by Nolito snuck in near post, beating Fabianski. First half we looked good.

It's really obvious to me though that we need another DLP. Without Wilshere, we didn't have anyone to set the tempo, as Benfica pressed up high the whole match, and made it very difficult for us to play through them. When we did we often had opportunities, but with Wilshere there it would have been easier. We'll struggle if we play through Rosicky, as he spurned some chances. Ramsey didn't look that good, as he wasn't getting the ball deep, and his deft touches weren't really coming off. Song had some wayward passes, but played Van Persie in with a lovely reverse ball that VP chipped just past the post.
Arshavin and Gervinho were good in terms of tracking back, and Sagna and Gibbs were good attacking threats. Djourou and Vermalean were good with each other, as they seem to have differing styles which compliment one another.

Frimpong was great in terms of tackling, but often he's left on an island when we play the 4-1-4-1. It's far too easy to get past the line of 4 midfielders, leaving Frimpong and Song in 2v1 situations in that portion of the field. Invaribly one of the CB's has to step up, which creates further problems when the opposition makes forward runs.

If we don't get Wilshere back for the Newcastle game, we'll struggle with tempo. Wenger seems to have placed a renewed emphasis on width, so the central areas seem less cluttered. I don't think we should come out in the 4-1-4-1, but we don't really have anyone suited to the AM role in the 4-2-3-1, so I'm not sure what we are going to do.

Also Van Persie had an injury in the first half, but he played until half-time. I hope its not serious.

Sorry for the discursive post.

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Wilshere is going to have a big year.

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I'd say Arsene should keep him at the DLP. He's so good under pressure, rarely ever loses the ball, and his passing is solid. I don't want him playing further up the pitch because the team would lose a lot of fluidity moving from defense to attack.

Why Nasri shouldn't play in the No. 10 role

I really hope he's sold. If he insists on playing in Cesc's spot we are in trouble this season. I'd rather play Rosicky, Arshavin, or Ramsey in that spot. Nasri has all the characteristics of a wide forward, and could be a future great there. But his bad attitude and his desire to play centrally will probably stop that from ever happening.

well, at least he's honest

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE