I like the way..

[Lecter]

You really should learn to accept the fact that Pennant is a Liverpool player.

If you haven't noticed his improvement since joining us, then you haven't been watching.

That seems to be AFII's single biggest failing

He only sees what he wants to see

[AFII]

You really should learn to accept the fact that Pennant is a Liverpool player.

If you haven't noticed his improvement since joining us, then you haven't been watching.

He has improved but he is still a long way from being good enough for a title winning team on the right, no goals or assists, and I have accepted a long time ago that he is a Liverpool player.

I will be the first one to admit that I had wrong when he starts to deliver assists and goals but I doubt that he will do that.

[AFII]

That seems to be AFII's single biggest failing

He only sees what he wants to see

Well, there isn't much to see when Pennant plays, a few flicks and tricks and no end product.

[Guest]

He scored a lot of goals and Pennant can't even make an assist. That's why I can say that Cisse is better than Pennant but that isn't to difficult, our wing play isn't any good.

Pennant is very good technically mate and Cisse wasn't. And I don't think Cissé fitted tactically in Rafa's team anyway, so was rightly disposed of.

[friedk]

Wenger has refused to spend on garbage players just to appease the fans. he waited, Ok had a couple of poor seasons, but he refused to spend money on players that would not be around for years to come. He has now a masive transfer kitty, plus new backers coming in. Benitez has just tried to fill holes with the likes of crouch, pennant, Kuty, Voronin, (free), bellamy. And Wenger still has a better balanced team without spending big.........

Crouch and Pennant are probably worth more than we paid for them, we made a profit on Bellamy, Voronin on a free as a replacement for Fowler (ie 4th choice striker) is good business, and I personally rate Kuyt.

Since Rafa arrived we have lost in the final of the League Cup and European Cup; Won the FA Cup; Won the European Cup; and finished 3rd in the league in our last two seasons.

Wenger in that time has lost in the final of the League Cup and European Cup; won **** all; and finished 4th in the last two seasons.

So either you are judging Wenger's work based exclusively on 6 league games (which I will say have been very impressive) or you're completely misguided.

[Guest]

AFII has a point though. Pennant hasn't reached his potential yet and he's struggling at times. He sure is an improvement on Cisse though.

[AFII]

Selling Cisse was the right thing to do because he wasn't good enough.

Pennant should also be sold if he don't start to deliver. We can't afford to have an attacking player that delivers nothing.

Our wing play isn't good enough. That is why we now have problems to break down a packed defense. Our opponent can concentrate to take out our threat in the middle because they know that we don't have creative enough wingers.

If we get better wing play then it will also mean that we will get more space to work with in the middle, the defense can't play as compact as they do now against us because they would have to worry about our wingers too.

[Lecter]

Selling Cisse was the right thing to do because he wasn't good enough.

Pennant should also be sold if he don't start to deliver. We can't afford to have an attacking player that delivers nothing.

Our wing play isn't good enough. That is why we now have problems to break down a packed defense. Our opponent can concentrate to take out our threat in the middle because they know that we don't have creative enough wingers.

If we get better wing play then it will also mean that we will get more space to work with in the middle, the defense can't play as compact as they do now against us because they would have to worry about our wingers too.

Ahh how naive

One thing that was particularly noticeable against Birmingham was them sitting in their wide men almost as wingbacks to deny the wingers space. Reading & Sunderland also did this against Man United one succeeded the other team almost did

Secret then is to have a midfielder capable of switching the play and getting the ball out to wingers early so that they have time and space to get one on ones rather than being constantly doubled up on

That imo is why we missed Alonso so much against Birmingham we were far too slow and ponderous in our approach play and it allowed them to get men behind the ball

[Dhav]

I'm with Dhavlos. There is so much smugness at Arsenal and among Arsenal fans these days it's sickening.

Of course Wenger is a fine manager but he had a good solid base to start with, has been there a decade or so and is virtually unsackable right now (so has the time to go two seasons or more without a trophy), spent loads of money on young players and bought some real sh*te and yet has still to win the Champions League. I wonder if his current team will avoid the fatal flaw of being tactically inflexible that has so afflicted his previous teams in Europe.

Nothing more to add to that. Neil has got it spot on

[JPK]

£10M on Francis 'Jug Ears' Jeffers FFS?!

He's gone out & spent an absolute fortune by completely outbidding the opposition on the best 'kids' in the world... even if one or two of them make it then it'll be worth it - not really rocket science is it?!

Something that Rafa is trying to do at Anfield with signing Insua, Leiva etc

Still, I love the way his teams play - but lets see how they do against the top four & when the going gets tough in the winter...

He learned his lesson after Jeffers and rarely buys English players due to inflated prices and better players on the continent.Walcott is the exception but IMO he will be class in a year or two.He bought Clichy and Toure for peanuts and they are worth over 10m each now.
He places his trust in the kids and fills them with confidence and if they are good enough the will play.
Like all managers he has bought flops but he has also bought unbelievable players.If Insua was with them he would have played more by now.
Armand Traore is younger and has more games under his belt than Insua.

[Shaggy]

Armand Traore is younger and has more games under his belt than Insua.

Traore has been at Arsenal a lot longer than Insua's been with us, making your point redundant.

[Shaggy]

This Wenger arse-licking is cringeworthy.

[Lecter]

This Wenger arse-licking is cringeworthy.

Hes done a good job, however some are talking like they have already won the League

I tend to think they dont have enough depth in their squad and an injury to one of their key players (such as Fabregas) could cause their wheels to fall off

[JPK]

Traore has been at Arsenal a lot longer than Insua's been with us, making your point redundant.

How does it?Wenger would have given him games if he had the talent no matter how long he was there.I like Wenger a hell of a lot more than Mourinho and Fergie.

[sid]

This Wenger arse-licking is cringeworthy.