Just saw the lineup, didn't see the match. How did the midfield lineup?

Was it like
---Xhaka
Caz---coq

Or our usual double pivot with a player behind the striker?

Watched a bit of it earlier and I'd say Cazorla and Coquelin were playing on a similar line just ahead of Xhaka.

Must say, Holding has been a revelation in the minutes I've seen of him so far. I'd read a lot of good things about him anyway, but his reading of the game and intelligence on the ball is a joy to watch. Hopefully he continues to impress as the opposition gets tougher.

Xhaka has looked outstanding as well, but we knew that already.

Yeah Coq has been playing quite high up the pitch so far, and he certainly has played a few great passes.

Holding looks the real deal. Had natural physical power to fall back on too

and to think with proper scouting you can find a talented young defender for 2.5m and not have to pay 16m for a chambers simply because he came through the overrated southampton academy.

People were pretty hyped up over Chamber's first few performances as well. Particularly against City in the Community Shield - let's not get too ahead of ourselves. It's always harder to maintain a level than come in as a 2.5m with minimal expectation on you.

Mirth wrote:

People were pretty hyped up over Chamber's first few performances as well. Particularly against City in the Community Shield - let's not get too ahead of ourselves. It's always harder to maintain a level than come in as a 2.5m with minimal expectation on you.

True. And we shoved Chambers in at the deep end because of lack of cover. His confidence was shot after a few games, he should go out on loan I think to build himself up again.

As good as Chambers looked physically and technically, he didn't read the game like Holding appears to. This kid has that effortless, kick about in the park vibe to him because he makes good decisions, Chambers was always all-action, and still is. Holding is a good deal bigger too, which helps. Early signs are very good.

Who was the Bolton 'fan' that had his views posted on here the other week saying 'as you know he's not the biggest'? Obviously going off the reports around of him being 5'10. Probably never even watched him.

I think it's obvious that Holding has more in his locker too, but it won't account for much in the end if he spends the next couple of years on the bench. We've screwed Chambers over a wee bit in the last two seasons, and I for one feel sorry for that because he could have been a really useful player by now if we had done right by him. If we think Holding is actually the real thing we need to either loan him out immediately, or we need to give him Gabriel's opportunities this season.

Wenger will never loan Holding out in his first season at least. The focus on him will be to learn the 'Arsenal' way in his first 12 months.

It's probably Chambers who now has an excellent chance to go out on loan.

I think Chambers lacks intelligence and maturity. And I think he hasn't progressed because he doesn't learn fast enough. I also think Wenger wouldn't hesitate to give him minutes if he was up to it but he hasn't been.

What's happening with Gabriel? The whole tonsillitis thing sounds a bit like a cover story.

There weren't enough games for Chambers last season, we have already added Holding to the mix, I'd be very surprised if we didn't sign another CB, and around the turn of the year Mertesacker is back too; we clearly have too many bodies for the CB positions, but other than Kos no one is of right now good enough. Mertesacker being out hopefully means we sign a class CB to partner Kos, but Wenger being Wenger it could also be Johnny fucking Evans.

Ricky1985 wrote:

What's happening with Gabriel? The whole tonsillitis thing sounds a bit like a cover story.

You reckon he's on the verge of being sold? I could have seen it happening a month or two ago, but it feels like a bit of a stretch since Per just tore up his knee. Even if we were to sign another starter at this point we would probably need Gabriel as cover somewhere.

With both Holding and Chambers here, I don't really see the point in giving Gabriel even more time to prove he isn't good enough.

Look at it from Wenger's perspective though. Chambers was not getting a look-in last season even when Gabriel was at his worst, so why would he now? What has changed, aside from Gabriel's only real competition for a starting place being ruled out for the rest of the year?

Chambers was mostly good though when he played at CB last season, whereas Gabriel was on an average of about one massive cock up per game. Not the first time Wenger has decided to go with a player despite many others thinking there are better alternatives, and from memory it is usually about age. Wenger will almost always go with the more experienced player in these situations until that guy totally loses Wenger's confidence. After that he is pretty much done at the club.

Ricky1985 wrote:

What's happening with Gabriel? The whole tonsillitis thing sounds a bit like a cover story.

Literally no mention of him anywhere officially. Feels like he will be sold back to Brazil or something.

Ricky1985 wrote:

As good as Chambers looked physically and technically, he didn't read the game like Holding appears to. This kid has that effortless, kick about in the park vibe to him because he makes good decisions, Chambers was always all-action, and still is. Holding is a good deal bigger too, which helps. Early signs are very good.

Who was the Bolton 'fan' that had his views posted on here the other week saying 'as you know he's not the biggest'? Obviously going off the reports around of him being 5'10. Probably never even watched him.

yup that bolton fan spouted bullshit about his height, i was expecting another chambers, vermaelen sized player.

xhaka is 6'1".

He's only 20 so it is possible that he put on an inch over summer. Most figures around the web seem to have him at a hair under six foot.