Other games - 23/24th April

[Craig_H]

Warren Barton (who probably knows **** all to be fair) said on the stream I was watching that he knows for a fact Arsenal don't practice set-pieces in training. Did anyone else hear that or was I imagining it. Unbaleebable if true

They just cannot defend, their shape without the ball is horrible. Had they not let that 4-0 lead go down the ****ter though I reckon they'd be 1st now

On one hand, sounds utterly staggering. But when you watch them and the goals they concede, it suddenly looks believeable.

[Rudo]

Seriously, you need to stop dragging this up. It is unbelievably tedious and such an obvious attempt to get a rise out of Craig.

Yeah, he would never try to get a rise out of me like.

[wiw]

On one hand, sounds utterly staggering. But when you watch them and the goals they concede, it suddenly looks believeable.

Exactly. Crazy isn't it

He also then said, according to Mourinho, 65% of goals are scored from set-pieces

[dww]

Yeah, he would never try to get a rise out of me like.

This isn't a debate and it it were primary school logic would not be the way to win it. For all our sakes, please, just let it go.

[dww]

Exactly. Crazy isn't it

He also then said, according to Mourinho, 65% of goals are scored from set-pieces

The question is how different would training for set pieces be compared to training for dealing with other crosses?

Whatever the cause of the problem I think Arsenal need to invest in players and or/staff to improve that area of their game. I really can't believe they do no training related to set pieces, I can however imagine that a player might say something along those lines meaning compared to elsewhere they had played or heard about.

[Bender]

they have no quality in goal or defence............all well and good being great in midfield and up front............but it's in goal and defence where you build

[dww]

they have no quality in goal or defence............all well and good being great in midfield and up front............but it's in goal and defence where you build

I think Szczesny is going to be very good but he's young and it is hard to be commanding when you can't trust your centrebacks to deal with anything in the air.

Djourou has come on leaps and bounds this season in my opinion. I they could get him playing alongside a dominating aerial presence I think they would be sorted. Vermaelen is a very good player when fit but is a bit like Agger with injuries and in the fact that he isn't particularly imposing.

[Craig_H]

Exactly. Crazy isn't it

He also then said, according to Mourinho, 65% of goals are scored from set-pieces

Things like this would, if i were an Arsenal fan, and if it WAS true, make me want Wenger out.

[Rudo]

This isn't a debate and it it were primary school logic would not be the way to win it. For all our sakes, please, just let it go.

If you think i'm trying to get a rise out of him, fine, but one could say he attempts to do the same with with...calling me a WUM all over the place and such like.

I have no more comment to make on this topic.

[Rudo]

they have no quality in goal or defence............all well and good being great in midfield and up front............but it's in goal and defence where you build

They're not cutting it in midfield or up front either though. 0-0 at home against Sunderland and Blackburn...for all there defensive woes(and they've cost them once again)...IF they had just scored a goal in both them games, then they'd be 4 points better off.

Van Persie is in top form, but he's injury prone and can't do it all himself.
They need a new striker in the summer.

[Bender]

I think Szczesny is going to be very good but he's young and it is hard to be commanding when you can't trust your centrebacks to deal with anything in the air.

Djourou has come on leaps and bounds this season in my opinion. I they could get him playing alongside a dominating aerial presence I think they would be sorted. Vermaelen is a very good player when fit but is a bit like Agger with injuries and in the fact that he isn't particularly imposing.

See the goalie might have the potential but this is when he needs a back four like adams/bould and co but all that will happen to szczesny is it will break him the longer he has to play and rely on defence.Good point about Vermaelen though

[Bender]

They're not cutting it in midfield or up front either though. 0-0 at home against Sunderland and Blackburn...for all there defensive woes(and they've cost them once again)...IF they had just scored a goal in both them games, then they'd be 4 points better off.

Van Persie is in top form, but he's injury prone and can't do it all himself.
They need a new striker in the summer.

no but there normally good in midfield but yeah they do need another top striker to play ahead of van persie as his injury record is poor and he can't be counted on as a regular first teamer

[Bender]

It's very unsatisfactory because it's one of the easiest run-ins we've had for a long time and we didn't take our chances many times. That's frustrating because you feel the potential is there. We still lack maturity, experience and calm in important situations
Arsene Wenger after todays game BBC

[Rudo]

no but there normally good in midfield but yeah they do need another top striker to play ahead of van persie as his injury record is poor and he can't be counted on as a regular first teamer

Yep i agree 100%, it's just i think Arsenal have more problems than everyone thinks - everyone bleats on about their defensive weaknesses which is fair enough but it's more than that.

Their squad as a whole is a very weak, like even Arshavin and Rosicky...two players that had big reputations aren't getting a game because they've totally lost their way. Likes of Denilson, Squilaci, Eboue, Bentdner and so on just aren't Arsenal quality imo.

They need as much of an overhaul as Liverpool imo.

[Craig_H]

Do you still think we need the 'major overhaul' that you've previously mentioned, in light of the emergance (albeit early days yet) of the likes of Flanagan and Robinson, and the accomplished displays of Spearing?