You can in computer games......

Wenger's probably only made about three significant formation changes that don't really just reflect the available personnel since he came to Arsenal.

Has Wenger ever employed a three/five man defence at any club? And not for a lack of people telling him he should either, including incessantly during last season before Vermaelen got the boot.

Hope our not signing Suarez doesn't bite us in the arse in this game.

Damn, we'd so walk the league if we had him on our roster.

Patters wrote:

We need monster wingbacks to make it work. Which begs the question, why the fuck are we scared of Liverpool?

See, they've got this player upfront you know, who's scum, and racist and bites, and gives all the other premiership strikers a 6 game head start, and comes back and is already a goal ahead of our own top striker within 3 games of his return.

flobaba wrote:

Hope our not signing Suarez doesn't bite us in the arse in this game.

We just got played in the hope of attracting a monster bid for Suarez from Madrid. As soon as it became clear Madrid had opted for Bale, JW Henry shat all over us.

I think we could have got him for 40 to 50 mill regardless of Madrid's activities. The whole release clause drama didn't help, and Liverpool perhaps couldn't find an adequate replacement soon enough. Anyway, that ship has sailed now, I'm not interested in speculating over what might have gone wrong.

For those who didn't want him signed, quick question, do/would you still insist on your stance, even though having him would significantly increase our chances of winning the league, and other competitions?

When Higuain seemed to be available I was anti-Suarez.

By the time it had gotten to the end of the window and we hadn't signed anyone of note (yet) I'd come around to the idea he'd be far better than nothing, but also realised it wasn't going to happen.

I don't think we could've got him for £40-50m based on what happened. Well, maybe if we'd opened at £50m. But it seemed from the start that our negotiation was seriously impaired by bullshit we got sold about a watertight release clause (by Suarez's agents, presumably) which we fell for.

Right now it's obvious he'd be good, though equally we could simply have signed a different striker and that too would be good. The sharpness of our present need is also being dictated by injuries.

Have to say that amazing player as Ozil is, he has to do more to live up to his price tag.

Don't think Ozil will ever get to the level most people believe he should be able to reach. Brilliant player, wonderfully talented, and all that blah blah blah, but doesn't seem to have the ability to impose his will solidly on the game for long periods.

I don't know if I'm saying this right, something is just missing. y'know?

Think it's been six or seven games he's played and he looks brilliant and has already made decisive contributions. He has an aura of languor and lightness that doesn't feel "impactful" until he scores or gives an assist.

Not solely due to him, but in general this season our corners have been better and our ability to receive and retain the ball in forward areas has been better.

However at £42m he should arguably be doing what Suarez is doing - winning every second game off his own boot.

Hmm. Berbatovish?

Hmmm. Suarez didn't win every second game off his own boot for them last season.
He rescued some draws and he was present for plenty of losses too.

For me the idea that one player alone is going to consistently win games begins and ends with Messi and Ronaldo and could maybe be applied to Van Persie last season.

I do think that Özil has a fair amount of adaptation to get through before he truly delivers, I think he's physically off peak right now, even at that he's still influenced the result in several games.
It's really only since the International break that he's waned, similar to Cazorla last season I believe.

I think he will single handedly win games for us in future but not in a Ramsey style taking it on himself way.

In terms of ability level and how he looks as he moves about maybe. Gait and physique seem to have a huge influence on fan perceptions to me.

Seems like a very different personality though, I don't get any sense of arrogance or laziness do you?

Not at all. Think he's a very level headed, mild mannered and calm character.

y va marquer wrote:

Hmmm. Suarez didn't win every second game off his own boot for them last season.

Maybe, but he was still a monster last season, if you're being fair. Anyway I have no real reservations about the Ozil signing, just high expectations.

Burnwinter wrote:

Not solely due to him, but in general this season our corners have been better and our ability to receive and retain the ball in forward areas has been better.

I'm sure Lagos can tell you why this is.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this game. I think we can take them at home, easier than people are thinking. 3 - 1 Arsenal

Indeed, well that's obvious when it comes to corners. Walcott's corners aren't as bad as Lagos would tell you though.

As for the forward areas, when we've got Walcott making a few decent off the ball runs I hope he'll be "failing to retain" the ball by sticking it in the back of the net.

We don't need Ozil to single handedly win games like West Brom at home for us. Liverpool need Suarez for the same. We have a good team from back to front. We need a big game player. That's what I hoped Ozil would be. Ozil isn't like Fabregas, so play doesn't always go through him which in a way isn't bad. He will find more space for himself which he does. I want to see Ozil make a difference in the big games, which is why I am eagerly waiting to see how he does against Liverpool. There will be more space, they will come out more than say Palace did. Let's see if he can exploit it.

Don't forget Gerrard too. He's quietly having a fine season so far. His set piece delivery is probably the best in the league.

Burnwinter wrote:

Indeed, well that's obvious when it comes to corners. Walcott's corners aren't as bad as Lagos would tell you though.

As for the forward areas, when we've got Walcott making a few decent off the ball runs I hope he'll be "failing to retain" the ball by sticking it in the back of the net.

Theo takes better corners. Is probably why he's asked to take them.