re: The Arsenal 2017/18: Au revoir Arsene, et merci.

I actually think Ramsey and Wilshere can work as a midfield two. They have before, for a string of games at the end ofbthe 2012/2013 season, but since the disastrous start to the 2013/2014 season (that embarresing home loss to Aston Villa) they haven't played together.

What they would need is communication and they would need to work together as a unit. Given that neither of them are likely to do that until Wenger leaves, we will be stuck in some shitty hybrid system. Even some clear instruction on when to go upfield, when to make 3rd man runs, and when to stay back would do wonders for both of them.

If we go to the 4-2-3-1 with a pivot involving Xhaka, the most functional system would could have is having Ramsey play underneath the striker and have him be the 3rd CM in the defensive phase. Wilshere has the best close control, and should be the midfielder who drives with the ball and links play. Xhaka has to stop being so damn wayward. In order for any midfield to work he has to be the focal point. He has to improve his handling in deep situations, as his range on the ball is superb, but when teams cut the wide angle pass to the wings, they invite him upfield, an invitation he takes, and then teams crash down on him hard to force a turnover. He's isolated, yes, but can you imagine Fabregas, Nasri, Diaby, Cazorla, Rosicky, and Arteta dawdling on the ball like he does. The difference Xhaka doesn't have confidence to drive the ball into space like the other midfielders we've had, although he's a better passer than all but Cazorla and Fab. He's the most likely of our midfielders to be dispossessed in dangerous positions. If we are going to do anything the rest of the season Xhaka has to get it right.

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but since the disastrous start to the 2013/2014 season (that embarresing home loss to Aston Villa) they haven't played together.

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Wasn't that when we tried 4-1-4-1 with Mesut wide and it just took him out of the game?

LINK

Here's a good video of how good Walcott's off the ball movement was. In the right system he was so good.

Honestly fellas watching Theo's goodbye video made me tear up. fricking sucks that he wasn't used properly.
Man had double digit goals before Christmas last season, was flying high. Got a little injury but nothing big and it's like he never did anything before that.
Then the frickin Palace game and his TRUTHFUL comments led him to be outcast.

RIP to Gabs, THEOOOOOOO and Le Coq

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The Arsenal boss answered questions on the Gabon international, who has been tipped to replace Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates.

Wenger insisted the at times controversial Aubameyang would be suited to life at Arsenal, prompting an angry response from Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc.

“We think it is disrespectful to talk like this about a player from another team,” he said. “There’s no contact with Arsenal.

“We assume that Mr. Wenger has enough concerns with the performance of his own players.”

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Sounds like those two would have a rough negotiation.

Because he wants Arsenal to pay him some ridiculously high agent fee. He's well known for trying to bleed clubs dry financially.

Yea I don't agree with it either but it's where we are at with these super agents now and days.

DiMarzo and Bild reporting that Arsenal and Aubameyang have agreed to terms, waiting on price to Dortmund. DiMarzo and Bild are usually reliable sources. Ornstein also said on a BBC show that his Arsenal sources say they are very confident that both the Mhki deal and the Aubameyang deal will go through, just a matter of time at this point.

Another source says Dortmunds director is off to London on Saturday to finalize deal but that one comes from a less trusted source (German paper).







Long story short, get your hopes up, then don’t be surprised if we sign neither of them. It’s the Arsenal way.