Arsenal Looking Good

[Papas1982]

That's not a lot different from other teams banking on their star players being fit/available 'all' season either!

Pretty sure most teams expect some sort of outage, if not from injury, then card accumulation!

Id suggest arsenal have a history with regular injures to certain players so if they don't over fill the squad a bit, surely it comes down to bad management?

obviosuly all team hope for a fully fit squad but players will be missing. The skill is to have a squad good eniugh. Which IMO arsenal still don't to mount a realistic assault on the title.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I like the Arsenal signings and think on paper they look a much stronger team but I do fear there is still a real lack of depth once you start getting injuries and suspensions and with so much football to play. It's well known how many of the Arsenal key players have missed huge chuks of campaigns through injuries whatever their cause and IF they can have a campaign that's as free from injury as any can be then I think they will have a chance to do well. I still can't see beyond Chelsea or City for the PL but Wenger always gets a decent CL performance and I think this could be a season where they do very well again

 

[JCW]

Wenger knows the score , thats why he has not got a new fitness coach , he is German , German Engineering now looks after the players , this guy is a top man and wenger has learned hence the change , buying 2 RB , the other one can play across the back 4 and all that is needed now is a tough midfield enforcer and maybe another striker but looking at the attacking options at the club its looks the best by far in the league and they have got 4th place before with a weaker squad , this year it will be a higher finish , only player i remain unconvinced about is BFG , his lack of pace worries me , still what do i know about the finer points of football management , in wenger we trust .........................EYG

 

[Papas1982]

Wenger knows the score , thats why he has not got a new fitness coach , he is German , German Engineering now looks after the players , this guy is a top man and wenger has learned hence the change , buying 2 RB , the other one can play across the back 4 and all that is needed now is a tough midfield enforcer and maybe another striker but looking at the attacking options at the club its looks the best by far in the league and they have got 4th place before with a weaker squad , this year it will be a higher finish , only player i remain unconvinced about is BFG , his lack of pace worries me , still what do i know about the finer points of football management , in wenger we trust .........................EYG

You genuinely think you've more attacking options than city? I probably know a fair more about chambers than yours
ef and for all the talk about him being a cb or cm. he's a teenage fb with 25 games. He looks a great prospect but I'd not be banking on him winning you the title. Get Vidal and I'd take you serious. But until then. Your squad is a country mile behind city's and IF Costa scores 25/30 goals (more than Chelsea's entire strike force last season). You'll finish behind them too.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No one has more attacking options than City and if they are struggling they'll just splash the cash anyway. Chelsea will get more goals this year and I really can't see beyond them for the title. After that, my money is on Arsenal 3rd based on no more than the squad they are assembling this season and the thought that Wenger knows how to get the most from a squad and is use to dealing with limited resources so I'm expecting the extra talent he has to be a key difference.

After that, it'll be a tight fight between Liverpool and United who I think have to be so much better this time around. If Liverpool can get their signings to gel and can recover from the big hole Suarez has left I think they'll nick 4th.

The problem is the big two will always go out and buy more resources and so the PL is becoming more and more a two horse race. I know United are allocating a war chest of funds to get players in, but they still don't realistically compare to City and Chelsea. Liverpool and Arsenal too have always been fiscally pragmatic and I can't see them ever really changing that.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

You genuinely think you've more attacking options than city? I probably know a fair more about chambers than yours
ef and for all the talk about him being a cb or cm. he's a teenage fb with 25 games. He looks a great prospect but I'd not be banking on him winning you the title. Get Vidal and I'd take you serious. But until then. Your squad is a country mile behind city's and IF Costa scores 25/30 goals (more than Chelsea's entire strike force last season). You'll finish behind them too.

A new fitness guy won't stop the players made of glass getting injured

Diaby - 39 injuries
Walcott - 16 injuries
Wilshire - 14 injuries
Rosciky - 9 injuries

The list is endless - Wenger likes small technical players who are great on the ball but struggle to handle the physical side of the game - a fitness regime won't stop the players getting clattered by others during the winter/spring months.

This season I suspect will be the same as every season - good start then tail off in Feb time

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Unlike Lallana who didn't even make it to the start of the season

The problem is these gifted players are smaller but are also targets because of their skills and take punishment as a result. It's not just Arsenal but look at the likes of Messi, Aguero etc. They are constantly being kicked and stopped in hteir tracks and picking up niggly injuries as a result.

I think it's unfair to pick specifically on the Arsenal injury list. A number of injuries have been bad ones (broken legs) and these take time. Other clubs have been luckier in that injuries have never been season ending like these. Look at United when RVP was out. Lacked a lot more firepower and whenever you take key personnel out a side will struggle. The difference is Chelsea and City have a full blown second XI waiting to come in whereas Arsenal and Liverpool have always been rather threadbare in terms of capable replacements

 

[Papas1982]

Unlike Lallana who didn't even make it to the start of the season

The problem is these gifted players are smaller but are also targets because of their skills and take punishment as a result. It's not just Arsenal but look at the likes of Messi, Aguero etc. They are constantly being kicked and stopped in hteir tracks and picking up niggly injuries as a result.

I think it's unfair to pick specifically on the Arsenal injury list. A number of injuries have been bad ones (broken legs) and these take time. Other clubs have been luckier in that injuries have never been season ending like these. Look at United when RVP was out. Lacked a lot more firepower and whenever you take key personnel out a side will struggle. The difference is Chelsea and City have a full blown second XI waiting to come in whereas Arsenal and Liverpool have always been rather threadbare in terms of capable replacements

Tbf homer. I think the four Lphil selected paint a pretty clear picture. Lallana isn't injury prone as the others appear to be. Surely squad management comes into it. If you know you have players that won't make a season. Sign more! Bad luck can come into it with a season ender. But Walcott for example was at arsenal 4 years before he had surgery on his shoulder which he'd had an issue with since birth.

 

[JCW]

You genuinely think you've more attacking options than city? I probably know a fair more about chambers than yours
ef and for all the talk about him being a cb or cm. he's a teenage fb with 25 games. He looks a great prospect but I'd not be banking on him winning you the title. Get Vidal and I'd take you serious. But until then. Your squad is a country mile behind city's and IF Costa scores 25/30 goals (more than Chelsea's entire strike force last season). You'll finish behind them too.

Why do you think these young players choose Arsenal over other clubs , its because of wenger and what he can do for them , Vidal is overrated and over priced and there are better and cheaper options and he will get them , now as for Costa , If he gets 25/30 goals , the big word is If , can he handle the PL , they may kick him out of it or they may not but it always takes a season for goal scorers to settle , anyway if Costa was that good RM or Barca would have bought him , he may well be a one season wonder as last season was his best by far , you never know till the fat lady sings .....................EYG

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Tbf homer. I think the four Lphil selected paint a pretty clear picture. Lallana isn't injury prone as the others appear to be. Surely squad management comes into it. If you know you have players that won't make a season. Sign more! Bad luck can come into it with a season ender. But Walcott for example was at arsenal 4 years before he had surgery on his shoulder which he'd had an issue with since birth.

Pretty much sums it up

Aguero is a perfect example - out injured a number of times - same with Jovetic - City have Negredo and Dzeko also there - no issue

Arsenal will continue to have injury problems due to the lack of cover and the type of player - been like that for a number of years and can't see it changing. The list of players who have competed a full season at Arsenal won't be a very long list.

They need to boost the squad and bring in physically strong players that can handle the stresses of the premier league

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Totally disagree. I think Arsenal are assmebling a much deepr squad and have had the players to compete. Many have had bad injuires and yet they still managet to finish top 4 and usually above Liverpool so Wenger and these players so ill equipped for the PL can't be doing too badly.

What about others. RVP was a long term injury. Has he not proved himself to cope in the PL. Long list from a host of clubs the same applies to. Think its wrong to single out the Arsenal injuries and then say they can't cope with the PL physicality

 

[MegaSteve]

A return to the good old days maybe worth considering... Only get paid when you play... Reckon a fair few of those 'niggles' would no longer appear...

 

[Papas1982]

Totally disagree. I think Arsenal are assmebling a much deepr squad and have had the players to compete. Many have had bad injuires and yet they still managet to finish top 4 and usually above Liverpool so Wenger and these players so ill equipped for the PL can't be doing too badly.

What about others. RVP was a long term injury. Has he not proved himself to cope in the PL. Long list from a host of clubs the same applies to. Think its wrong to single out the Arsenal injuries and then say they can't cope with the PL physicality

Homer this much deeper squad finished fourth last year yeah? They've since added Sanchez and two right backs. Last season the short comings were a ball winner and a second striker to help when giroud fell apart. They've nit addressed that yet IMO.

I think if they're squad was fully fit then on paper their starting 11 is very good. But injuries aside, let's recall their performances in the big games last year. Maybe that's the real reason. All well and good steam rolling the smaller clubs. But from 6th up, how many points did they accrue?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Totally disagree. I think Arsenal are assmebling a much deepr squad and have had the players to compete. Many have had bad injuires and yet they still managet to finish top 4 and usually above Liverpool so Wenger and these players so ill equipped for the PL can't be doing too badly.

What about others. RVP was a long term injury. Has he not proved himself to cope in the PL. Long list from a host of clubs the same applies to. Think its wrong to single out the Arsenal injuries and then say they can't cope with the PL physicality

They have bought two RB's and another small technical forward ? That's it - nothing else.

RvP has proved himself. - when fit which is a rarity !

When Arsenal last won the league they had a strong back four , strong players in the middle and players up front with pace and power - they don't have them anymore and that's why they haven't won the league - players like - Henry , Viera , Adams , Keown , Gilberto , Pires etc haven't been replaced by like for like in terms of physical attributes - they brought Flamini back. - looked a lot more solid ( then he got injured )

Disagree all you want - but the facts are there to be seen by all.

 

[JCW]

some of you guys on here talk like you are experts on football injuries and tactics ,the past history is what it is history wenger has been there with all kinds of teams , big strong players like in the unbeaten season and the faster and more mobile players , he will find the right balance now he can go out and buy , Arsenal have not had to sell to buy unlike chelsea , man c have already breached the FFP and have to watch it , Man u has a new manager and need lots of players and may do well but if they dont start well things will go like how Moyes found it , Sir Alex is a huge act to follow , Liverpool I am not too sure about , it depends on how the new players settle but LS is a massive miss , I expect Arsenal ,chelsea , Man c & Utd plus liverpool to be thereabouts , dark horses will be Spurs with Everton not too far behind , of the top mangers if anyone is too get the sack it will be Jose as his boss is a sacker of managers .........................EYG

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Finished 4th with a whole list of injuries so the remainder can't have been too bad. last season against the top sides they were poor. However in the previous seasons they have been more competitive against these teams. I don't think their transfer business is finished either so that squad will be enhanced.

At the end of the day I don't really give too much of a damn being a Fulham fan but do think there has been some intersting posts blaming injuries, Wenger and the moon being out of alignment for their perceived poor showings in recent years despite regular top 4 finishes and solid CL performances. With the top two being so far ahead in terms of cash available and quality of their squads, that would seem as no more than an interested and passionate football fan as a decent return

 

[JCW]

Finished 4th with a whole list of injuries so the remainder can't have been too bad. last season against the top sides they were poor. However in the previous seasons they have been more competitive against these teams. I don't think their transfer business is finished either so that squad will be enhanced.

At the end of the day I don't really give too much of a damn being a Fulham fan but do think there has been some intersting posts blaming injuries, Wenger and the moon being out of alignment for their perceived poor showings in recent years despite regular top 4 finishes and solid CL performances. With the top two being so far ahead in terms of cash available and quality of their squads, that would seem as no more than an interested and passionate football fan as a decent return

Well said , leave the experts too it , they go on about Arsenal injuries and losing to the top teams but Forget Arsenal hit the smaller teams for 6 and that these same teams beat the top teams , wenger wont make the same mistakes again and will be closer this year and may even tip them .....................EYG

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Well said , leave the experts too it , they go on about Arsenal injuries and losing to the top teams but Forget Arsenal hit the smaller teams for 6 and that these same teams beat the top teams , wenger wont make the same mistakes again and will be closer this year and may even tip them .....................EYG

Been making the same mistakes for over a decade now and still hasn't addressed the issues so the season will be the same

To win the leagues you need to beat both the top teams and the small teams - Arsenal got smashed by the big teams last season. Nothing has happened this summer to suggest that won't happen again

 

[Papas1982]

Well said , leave the experts too it , they go on about Arsenal injuries and losing to the top teams but Forget Arsenal hit the smaller teams for 6 and that these same teams beat the top teams , wenger wont make the same mistakes again and will be closer this year and may even tip them .....................EYG

Hiw is it we're experts if we disagree with you? You're a fan and therefor blinkered I get that. But explain to me how you see arsenals first team, or squad as stronger than city n Chelsea? Wenger had a brilliant team a decade ago. Since then his teams have played beautiful football. But I'd suggest without the use of google that in that decade. Albeit you've had a strangle hold on fourth. Your record againt the big teams will be inferior to all your competition. You don't win the league without taking points of your competition.

 

[JCW]

Been making the same mistakes for over a decade now and still hasn't addressed the issues so the season will be the same

To win the leagues you need to beat both the top teams and the small teams - Arsenal got smashed by the big teams last season. Nothing has happened this summer to suggest that won't happen again

The most points over 38 games wins the league , like a round of golf is over 18 holes , no use making birdie on stoke 1 hole and triple bogie on stoke 16,17 & 18 holes which is what Chelsea and Liverpool did last year and what they win .................ZERO because of that , Ramsey and Walcott`s long term injuries cost Arsenal lots last year so you also need luck and that is something you cannot plan for or buy ........................EYG