Premiership games 28/29 Dec 2010

[Craig_H]

No I mean when the right manager is available. I don't want just anyone coming in Craig for the sake of change. I'd rather move Roy on now and get Kenny in short term until the owners can get the man they want.

As much as that would be stupid, it would still improve our chances of somehow making a top 4 place, than keeping roy does.

[SB]

As much as that would be stupid, it would still improve our chances of somehow making a top 4 place, than keeping roy does.

Yeah but I'm looking at the long term. We can't just hire and fire and make big severance payouts and remain in the market for players IMO. Patience is the key here.

Can't you sleep tonight after the great ashes victory Craig ?

[SB]

19:45 Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers Draw
19:45 Wigan Athletic v Arsenal Arse to win
20:00 Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers Us to win

[spanky]

Chelsea are desperate now so I woulnt be too sure they'd draw that one, but agree with the other two

[dww]

Arsenal play great football but bottle too many games

I still think one good signing could change that in January. Obviously Wenger is the sort to not buy anyone in order to concentrate on the development of his under 12 side but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

If they don't buy anyone I think they will fall short.

It's not so much their excellence as the mediocrity elsewhere that gives them a chance.

[Arn]

I still think one good signing could change that in January. Obviously Wenger is the sort to not buy anyone in order to concentrate on the development of his under 12 side but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

If they don't buy anyone I think they will fall short.

It's not so much their excellence as the mediocrity elsewhere that gives them a chance.

If they had an excellent keeper then they would probably win it IMO. If they had that then the rest of the defence would look a lot more solid and they would play knowing that the they have a keeper that will do his part of the job.

Now it looks dangerous everytime the ball is in the Arsenal box. If they had confidence in their keeper then they would be able to play even more attacking football. They would be able to get more counter attacking goals.

[dww]

If they had an excellent keeper then they would probably win it IMO. If they had that then the rest of the defence would look a lot more solid and they would play knowing that the they have a keeper that will do his part of the job.

Now it looks dangerous everytime the ball is in the Arsenal box. If they had confidence in their keeper then they would be able to play even more attacking football. They would be able to get more counter attacking goals.

It's one of the two areas that I think they need to fix - game management being the other.

Not sure it necessarily has to be the keeper - I think of the unit of two CBs + a keeper as the key. At the minute none of the three dominate in the air which makes it hard for those around them.

Too often I think they keep going for attacking moves when simply holding would be enough. They also tend to not commit cynical fouls until the opposition are too close to the area. Too often players run at the heart of their team when more ruthless teams would have hacked the player on the halfway line.

[spanky]

i'm amazed that arsenal never signed hugo lloris, he'd be perfect for them, even shay given would be an upgrade on what they have.

[Lee]

i'm amazed that arsenal never signed hugo lloris, he'd be perfect for them, even shay given would be an upgrade on what they have.

Yup, agree with that.

Although they should've signed Given three or four years ago - no way will City sell him to Arsenal now.

[Neil Young]

Given is hardly commanding in the air.

Plus he's past it as far as I can see.

[Lee]

Given is hardly commanding in the air.

Plus he's past it as far as I can see.

He's an improvement on their other 'keepers though.

And no, I'm not Irish

[Neil Young]

It's an essential disclaimer if you want a pro-Given post to be taken seriously.

Hmm, not so sure really. I suppose I haven't seen much of Given in recent years (who has?) or the Arsenal keepers really.

You could well be right but fundamentally neither Given nor any of the Arsenal keepers are good enough for a top 4 team. At least Fabianski and co might improve.

[Drago]

Wenger and everyone at Arsenal has very high hopes for the young Polish keeper, not Fabianski but the younger one. Knowing Wenger, I wouldn't expect him to be splashing the cash anytime soon in that area.

[dww]

It's an essential disclaimer if you want a pro-Given post to be taken seriously.

Hmm, not so sure really. I suppose I haven't seen much of Given in recent years (who has?) or the Arsenal keepers really.

You could well be right but fundamentally neither Given nor any of the Arsenal keepers are good enough for a top 4 team. At least Fabianski and co might improve.

I thought Given was pretty good last year actually but City gave other teams a lot of chances allowing him the chance to show his best attribute - shot stopping. Agree with you about him in the air and that both he and Fabianski not being good enough for the top four.

Arsenal showing a bit of fight against Wigan by all accounts coming back from one down for a 2-1 lead at half time.

[-V-]

Wigan 2-2 Arsenal

8 changes from Wenger from the team that smashed Chelsea. Sometimes I think he just doesn't want the title