Mancini – Arsenal are a better team without Van Persie

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Bob

Arsenal Are Title Contenders According To Mancini by AH

Arsenal face Manchester City this Sunday at the Etihad stadium.

According to Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, Arsenal are title contenders despite the loss of last season’s key men – Robin Van Persie to City rivals Manchester United and Alex Song to Barcelona.

Mancini told SkySports: “Arsenal can compete for the title this season, they are better than last season, even if they lost some good players. Maybe, because of that, there is less pressure on them this season. They lost Van Persie and Song, but the players they have brought in have experience and quality.”

Arsenal’s summer signing Lukas Podolski has already become a fan favourite at the Emirates and with 3 goals in the last 5 games and the expeienced German international is helping the fans forget about the Dutchman.

Arsenal will be hoping to keep up their impressive run of form, with no losses in the last 9 games for the Gunners. Arsenal will face a Manchester City side that will be low on spirits, fitness and confidence after their 3-2 loss to Spanish Champions Real Madrid. The Manchester side were unlucky not to win in Spain and this will definitely be the toughest test for Arsenal so far this season.

Arsenal will have to play to their full strength to gain all 3 points but for the first time in a few years I am quietly confident of getting something at the Etihad. I think the final outcome will be a well fought draw for the new look Arsenal team.

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Category Arsenal News, Arsenal opinion, Arsenal previews
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Arsenal Analysis – Best midfield combinations without Alex Song?

Sahin at Arsenal without Song. by KJ

As it’s becoming ever more likely that Alex Song will leave Arsenal for Barcelona, Wenger must plan life without him. The player closest to signing for us this very moment is Nuri Sahin on loan from Madrid.

I want to look at possible line-ups next season without Song but with Sahin. I actually expect a proper defensive midfielder to come in regardless of Sahin joining us. This article will just be exploring our midfield combination There have been numerous reliable Arsenal tweeters whom are confident that we’ll get 2-3 players in before the window closes.

Here’s the first line-up:

Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelan Gibbs
Arteta Sahin
Walcott Cazorla Podolski
Giroud

This is probably our strongest line-up next season. The balance seems pretty strong with Arteta playing deep and spreading the ball and Sahin creating the chances. This will allow Cazorla the licence to roam and pop up in different places where he sees fit. The only problem is that we don’t have a strong “combative” midfielder that will overpower the opposition and “bully” them.

2nd line-up:

Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelan Gibbs
Arteta Wilshere
Walcott Cazorla Podolski
Giroud

This is probably a more likely line-up. Wilshere has just received the no.10 from Wenger and hence will have to be in the starting line-up. My only problem is that Arteta and Wilshere are very similar players (albeit the Englishman is slightly more adventurous).

3rd line-up:

Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelan Gibbs
Arteta Diaby
Walcott Cazorla Podolski
Giroud

Now this seems a bit more balanced than the previous two line-ups. Diaby is amazing at moving from box to box and his physical presence can really help us against teams like Stoke or QPR who always seem to outmuscle us. However, again, these players aren’t conventional defensive midfielders and we could be left exposed as we were last season.

4th line-up

Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelan Gibbs
Arteta Diaby
Walcott Wilshere Cazorla
Giroud

This seems another quite likely line-up. Wilshere as we know is a player too good to be benched. He is also playing the classic no.10 role in this line-up and hence would actually play the role the shirt was made for.

5th and final line-up:

Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelan Gibbs
Arteta Sahin
Walcott Wilshere Cazorla
Giroud

This is the MOST likely line-up personally. We get that solid deep midfield and get that creativity and drive from Wilshere. We also get the pace from Walcott and the creativity and passing from Cazorla. It seems a win-win to many.

However, there Is a clear problem with all the line-ups personally and that’s the fact that we don’t have a combative midfielder who’ll defend our CBs with their life, someone who will impose themselves on the opponent and will essentially dominate our midfield. It is always important to have a midfielder that will break things up. Man City have De Jong, Liverpool have Lucas, Madrid have Khedira, Barcelona have Busquets.

Since we’ve bought an attacking midfielder in Cazorla, it would be smart to invest good money into a defensive midfielder like M’Vila/Capoue. I really feel like it would balance the team and would solve a few problems both offensively and defensively. But, this shouldn’t spell the end to Sahin being a Gunner. After this loan move, I’m sure Wenger will buy out his clause as he’s a class midfielder. A rarity in today’s market. Not many deep-lying midfielders about and he could definitely be worth £30-£40m in a few years’ time if nurtured correctly.

I feel like Wenger still has a few tricks up his sleeve and don’t be surprised if you see two new midfielders join Arsenal in the next couple of weeks.

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Vermaelen – Arsenal can still win trophies without Van Persie

Posted on August 16, 2012 by admin

The new (surely?) Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen has admitted that he has is very disappointed that the Gunners (former) captain Robin Van Persie has left to join another title rival, but he still thinks that Arsene Wenger’s team still has the firepower to end Arsenal’s trophy drought.

“I am disappointed because I wanted him to stay at the club,” Vermaelen said. “He was fantastic for us in the last year, scored lots of goals and I am disappointed he is going, but we have to focus on the next season with Arsenal. We have to fight and I am confident we have a squad to win something.”

“We start Saturday and this is all clear now, Robin is leaving and we have to move on,”

Wenger has already admitted that he won’t be buying a replacement for Van Persie, but now Arsenal fans surely want the attention turned to Alexander Song and Theo Walcott. Wenger said that he had “no choice” but to sell RVP as he hadn’t signed a contract extension, well Theo is in exactly the same position so does that mean he will definitely be sold as well……

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Category Arsenal News, Arsenal Transfer News Check Out The Latest Arsenal WAG - Mrs SANTI CAZORLA...
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