Squad Analysis 2013/14: Page 28 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Squad Analysis 2013/14

Xcdude24

How do you guys rate our defense this year? Even though it's early days, we do look a lot more assured in the back lately. Hard to make a definitive judgement until we play a couple teams that are decent going forward, though.

Burnwinter

Apart from Jenkinson and the midfield sitting in front it sans Arteta, it looks good at the moment.

I'm nearly completely sold on the Koscielny - Mertesacker partnership at the moment, I guess if you had to look for a weakness you'd say the former was sometimes a bit reckless, and the latter has been caught ball-watching a couple of times lately.

Gibbs is good. Not totally reliable in terms of position, but mature and good enough.

Jenkinson is a liability, not just because he's a bit average, but also because that's well known so he gets targeted. Hoping Sagna will play most of the time.

FantasticMrFox

I think Bould's influence is growing by the game. Our run towards the end of last season was aided largely due to our defensive stability. We defend as a unit now and everyone seems to be more accountable, we might just get away with not having a traditional dm and once Vermaelen gets back we have sufficient cover at CB imo. We also aren't as vulnerable from set pieces as we have been during the barren years.

As Burnsy mentioned Jenkinson is a weak link atm and I can see Flamini getting exposed for pace if he plays there.

MistaT

Surely Flamini isn't any slower than Arteta?!

Arteta makes up ground - rather doesn't have to - because his positioning is on point. That's something I'd hope Flamini will have too, and as he grows more comfortable with team members it will be that much easier.

Gazza M

flamini is 'keane quick'. if there's a ball to be won, he's the quickest man on the pitch.

Captain

Hard to judge Flamini as he hasn't had a pre-season so in essence hasn't played competitively in four months. I think it showed in his passing and touch against Tottenham even though he displayed the usual verve and tenacity without the ball.

Think signing him and Ozil (obviously) has lifted the level of our midfield significantly.

Burnwinter

MistaT wrote:
Surely Flamini isn't any slower than Arteta?!

Point taken. Flamini's a bit of an unknown quantity at the moment.

Arteta's all class and does everything well, as well as being a natural leader.

Timbob

Think Foxy meant Flamini would get exposed for pace if he had to play right back.

Burnwinter

True. Carry on.

Timbob

Tbh, I'm struggling to get a handle on this squad. Its not a squad that many managers (or fans) would have come up with, quite an unusual mix of players. No idea what a realistic expectation is at the moment.

Captain

Can still get Giroud top scorer for around 14 and I think it's worth a punt. Each way pays top four in some places.

FantasticMrFox

Timothy wrote:
Think Foxy meant Flamini would get exposed for pace if he had to play right back.

Yep.

Clrnc

Had a look at our new first team profiles and realised we basically replaced Arshavin, Gervinho, Chamakh with Ryo, Miyaichi and Bendtner as internal solutions. I think we are going in the right directions by a combination of youths and quality players rather than a bunch of average ones.

Qwiss

Captain wrote:
Can still get Giroud top scorer for around 14 and I think it's worth a punt. Each way pays top four in some places.

Thats not bad at all. As long as he stays fit he's bound to be up there.

Ivansen

Zelalem and Gnabry promoted to the the first team. Numbers? Or is Zelalem about to have a Cesc-like impact?

GooneriC

Flamini has more bite in the tackle but he doesnt have Arteta's calmness and skill on the ball. Pressing and tackling wise he is the better of the two but Arteta is class in every other department.

dreamlord

Na, he's there to learn from Ozil. Awesome how the latter is a textbook idol for Zelalem.

EDIT : Talking about Zelalem.

Rex

I the only one who is slightly worried that Cazorla will be less influential than now with Özil pulling the strings? He will defo see less of the ball.

Rohit

Cazorla is efficient and his movement into space is fantastic. I am not worried. He may see less of the ball, if at all, but he will also find space easier to find with Ozil attracting more attention. It can only make him more effective. Plus Ozil and Cazorla are class footballers with great vision and intelligence. They are going to love playing with each other. Last week, I was thinking Isco and Ozil will be incredible together and now I am discussing how Ozil and Cazorla can complement each other and be brilliant for Arsenal.

I can't believe still we have bought Mesut fucking Ozil.

Burnwinter

No, of course not Rex. It's not like with both of them in the side, you get as many chances created as the sum of what each would produce individually.

But we should see better quality build up, combination play, and a range of different threats dragging defences around and creating space. It's a big win.

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