Liverpool v/s Arsenal; Sunday; September 2nd; 13:30: Page 39 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Liverpool v/s Arsenal; Sunday; September 2nd; 13:30

Coombs

Which is exactly why I voted for Arteta is the captain thread. It's an annoying situation. :gah:

FEBravo

They never really got a good run together, and when they did Vermaelen was just coming back and not at his best.

I think Kos will also help our offensive game, as he's much more comfortable on the ball and has a much better passing range. Mert at least twice today gave the ball away trying to play it from the back. So unless it's a huge stepdown defensively, which I don't think it will be, Kos has to start.

ludovicvanzis

Vermaelen is not the weakest defensively of the three. He's actually the only complete defender we have, both kos and mert are flawed.

Mello

...did you watch Kos play last season?

Rex

Stop trolling Ludo.

Coombs

Funny jokes Ludo.

ludovicvanzis

i didnt say that kos isnt brilliant, just not complete. i suspect that's the reason he wasnt first choice for france even tho the guys in front of him were clowns.

Rex

Still hate it that the Liverpool home kit is sooo stunning. Like our away kit a lot though. Getting one of them. With 'Diaby 2' on the back. 🙂

Mello

What's missing Ludo?

YounGunner

Fans are fickle. Koscielny is still our best center back no doubt about it. Arsenal defensively have done a solid job but we played 2 teams who didn't test us in attack and another team who have no real striker.

On merit Vermaelen and Mertasacker need to start the next set of games because you don't want to disrupt what looks to be a working formula but i have no doubt Koscielny will find his way back into the team.

Mirth

Koscielny and Vermaelen will establish themselves as one of the best partnerships in the league by April. The two of them have barely played together and, when they have, Koscielny was fresh out of France or Vermaelen was struggling with his form.

Rex

OR, because of the similarities in their approach, they won't compliment one another.

Mirth

They've been signed because they are different enough and yet fundamentally similar. It's not going to be a repeat of Toure/Gallas from four years ago.

Pepe LeFrits

I think statistically Kos/Verm was our best CB pairing last year.

ludovicvanzis

@ General Mirth, they're too short to play together. height is vital.

as for what's wrong with kos... i guess it's difficult to put into words. Just doesnt strike me as a natural centre back, looks more like a right back or DM playing out of position. CB is a very rigid postion and it involves having certain characteristics that prevent dangerous situations from ever happening but in a way that doesnt involve risk. Kos' way of preventing things is risky, but he has no choice because he cant do it the normal way.
But even that description doesnt completely satisfy me. Anyway, let's just drop it, he's an excellent player and this is just a gut feeling i have.

Rohit

That description actually fits Vermaelen very well too in my opinion.

Mirth

ludovic van zis wrote:
@ General Mirth, they're too short to play together. height is vital.

as for what's wrong with kos... i guess it's difficult to put into words. Just doesnt strike me as a natural centre back, looks more like a right back or DM playing out of position. CB is a very rigid postion and it involves having certain characteristics that prevent dangerous situations from ever happening but in a way that doesnt involve risk. Kos' way of preventing things is risky, but he has no choice because he cant do it the normal way.
But even that description doesnt completely satisfy me. Anyway, let's just drop it, he's an excellent player and this is just a gut feeling i have.

You've just described Vermaelen.

edit: beaten to it!

Clrnc

I like Vermaelen and Kos together too. They ain't horrible together by any stretch of imagination definitely. That said, Mertesacker always keep everyone wondering. On paper, he isn't a good defender. Slow and defensively suspect. Then again, whenever he plays our defence look more organised and solid, he doesn't do badly either. Crucial interceptions and intelligent positioning. Helps his partners around him defence better too. Weird case. Lets just say we are happy we have many good options in central defence, just like in central mid.

Anyway, seeing alot of people praise Gibbs for lashing out on Giroud's miss. I hate it. What does it do? Spoils team morale and doesn't give Giroud more confidence does it? Who is he to lash out at him like this? Win as a team lose as a team. Much preferred Podolski reaction to Cazorla's miss against Sunderland.

ludovicvanzis

in my opinion verm is at his best when he's more conservative. he can play both roles which is what i meant by complete.

Mirth

But when has Vermaelen ever played a more conservative role?

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