Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2015/16 ( Mod Note linked in OP 29/12)

Marty McFly wrote: »

On Wilshere I just want to see him fit and playing again I don't care what people say about I still think he can be a fantastic player if he can just stay injury free.

Agree with this completely, often the best midfielder on the pitch when he's fit.

Nemeses2050 wrote: »

I would like to see him re-model his playing style to that of Xabi Alonso/Pirlo (control the play), In that way he can stay injury free too I guess.

Not sure how I feel about telling him to curb his natural game, and I'm not sure Wenger would tell him to do it either. That said, some of the injuries he gets are by bombing at people, flicking it away from them at the last moment and getting creamed. Obvious fouls but he can't keep on doing this either.

It a difficult one, coaching one of his strengths out of him but the carrot of staying injury free.

If he wants to stay fit in a league like premier league, he has to re-model his game...Like you folks said he holds on to the ball too long and invites tackles/kicks...when your ankles are made of glass you can't do that. You have to change your game and many people do to prolong/have a decent career otherwise we'll be looking at LANS prospect every season.

I would love, love Jack to just copy Marco Verratti. I think he's a really great footballer, with a similar skillset to Jack: fantastic close control, great at finding pockets in between lines and getting out of trouble in tight spaces, but he plays much deeper and is obviously more defensive-minded.

To be honest, I was a bit soured on Jack last year when he was (nominally) playing on the right wing and kept roaming inside, with and without the ball, squeezing the space available to Ozil and Cazorla. I just thought it suggested he felt he was too good to stay out there and hold the shape, which is what the team needed - or else he just didn't see it. And the interview with the Mail where he talked about the rumours of a move to City (the first I had heard of them was the interview!) rang a few alarm bells for me too - it was a bit un-Arsenal! Having said that, if he works his way back into the first eleven, I'll be delighted.

More generally, Wenger has talked up the English/British core at the club for a few years, but it hasn't really happened, has it? Of the 6 (Gibbs, Jenks, Ramsey, Jack, Theo, Ox), only Ramsey is a nailed-on first-XI player and that's not even in his preferred position (he's important for balance though, with Sanchez on the opposite wing). I just can't see who gets dropped for Jack?

The player I'm most interested to see come back in is Danny Welbeck - only because the team still need something more than Theo or OG up front. Danny suits Alexis better than Giroud and long balls out from the back are more likely to stick than with Theo, but he can do the quick breaks too. *Could* be interesting!

tayto lover wrote: »

Anyone know if Dan Crowley has declared for England instead of us?
Saw on the Ireland v Bosnia thread that he did.

Glory hunter... Waits until we qualify!!!

Must say the tributes at the start of the Eng V Fra game were exceptionally well observed. Very touching. Also look like the Ger V Holl game was abandoned after a truck bomb was found outside the stadium in an ambulance. I wonder will this new ISIS surge have any effect on the BPL...

Could be wrong but i'm pretty sure i saw Kos limping around in the England/France game.

Mr Blobby wrote: »

Could be wrong but i'm pretty sure i saw Kos limping around in the England/France game.

Saw that, think he was just breaking through a tackle and just did a few jumps/limps but don't think it was anything at all.

When is theo due back?

Full 90 for Alexis again last night in a 3 - 0 defeat. 8 yellows, so the usual feisty affair.

Overall, physically it was probably a good international break for us. The mental effects of such a tragedy for the French players especially will be very hard to overcome. Weekend might be a good time for Gabriel to get a start? Alexis too I would think, but we are so short on numbers at the moment I don't see that happening. Giroud will have to start.

ronjo wrote: »

Interesting to see who, if anyone we have back.
Ramsey and Oy were both supposed to be back after the break, I think Bellerin too.
Lets hope so and not have the usual Arsenal injury delays.

Bellerin and Chamberlain due back according to Physioroom. Ramsey and Walcott 2 weeks after that and Wilshere a further week after that.

Ken Shamrock wrote: »

5 LANS In 3 weeks would be some achievement :pac:

Its like a mini transfer window.

Well, what I imagine a transfer window to be like if we actually signed players.

Now, I'm as happy as the next man that we qualified for the Euros...

But jesus, it feels like about a month since there's been any proper football. Can't bleedin wait till Saturday.