2 games i think.
Our Rivals Squad next year - Arsenal
- Thread starter Wumminator
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Arsenal seem to have a worse injury record than United.
Ramsey out for a month. So will probably miss, Galatasary, Chelsea and Hull city.
6 weeks is the latest and you can usually double those early estimates. Expect to see him in 2015.
Might be a pretty comedic match this weekend. Repeat of the 6-0 perhaps?
Can't see it, but I'd be astonished if Arsenal get anything from the game. Comfortable 2-0 I'd say.
You're most likely right.
Though, they didn't have Fabregas or Costa last season and still smashed them. The thought of Mertesacker having to deal with Costa must worry Arsenal fans. Not to mention their fullbacks trying to contain Hazard and Schürrle who slaughtered them in this fixture last season.
Ramsey being out might not be the worst thing. Ozil can play centrally behind Welbeck and they will give Cahill and Terry serious problems. Hard to trust the 8 fellows behind them to deal with Costa, Hazard and Cesc, though.
4-2.
Last edited:
Wenger is frustrating. I want to think he's a genius since he's as pretentious as I am, but for feck's sake Flamini/Arteta at DM when it isn't 2008 anymore and his refusal to buy a damn keeper (Lloris was 12 million pounds, just fecking do it) and not even bothering to sign a backup CB when they're going to play 50ish games this year and all his players are made of glass.
But they're getting closer and have signed a great player in each of the last 2 summers. Sanchez-Ozil-Chamberlain with whichever of Wilshere/Ramsey is healthy and the new DM they will surely sign this summer and Welbeck/Giroud platooning based on form or the opposing centreback weaknesses (Welbeck can beat slow players or a high line, Giroud can beat weaker players and is good against a deep defense with his aerial threat and back to goal play) and you can see how they'd actually challenge for the title.
These crimes are all significantly worse than our years of central midfield non-signings, I think, which is saying something. Wenger going with the young keepers hoping one would turn out to be great is comparable, but I have no idea why Schneiderlin or whoever isn't playing DM for this year.
But they're getting closer and have signed a great player in each of the last 2 summers. Sanchez-Ozil-Chamberlain with whichever of Wilshere/Ramsey is healthy and the new DM they will surely sign this summer and Welbeck/Giroud platooning based on form or the opposing centreback weaknesses (Welbeck can beat slow players or a high line, Giroud can beat weaker players and is good against a deep defense with his aerial threat and back to goal play) and you can see how they'd actually challenge for the title.
These crimes are all significantly worse than our years of central midfield non-signings, I think, which is saying something. Wenger going with the young keepers hoping one would turn out to be great is comparable, but I have no idea why Schneiderlin or whoever isn't playing DM for this year.
He did buy a keeper?
They've been great at shutting down the oppositions best players since Mourinho has returned so I'd expect Özil to be almost completely shut down. He'll have Matic, Oscar, and Willian/Schürrle harassing him all match.
You're probably going to be right about Welbeck, though. He may give that central defense problems.
Wonder if they'll finally introduce Filipe Luis in this one in order to put Azpilicueta on that right side to combat Sanchez seeing as he's their best 1v1 defender.
Expect Cesc to be well up for this one.
Ospina
Very very mediocre start to the season for us.
Unfortunately, we've not kicked on from the FA cup win, which is quite disappointing.
We are having more possession then we ever have in games but there's a real lack of imagination in what were doing, were like a shitter version of that quite boring Spain side that won Euro 2012. The worse thing is we've changed formation to 4-1-4-1 with imo the main reason behind it to fit Ramsey and Wilshere in together however I've yet to see a match where him and Ramsey have both played very well. Maybe they will in the future but at the minute none of them seem to take any defensive responsibility and we are leaving ourselves so open to the counter it's quite scary to think what Chelsea will do to us on the weekend. It's simply Ramsey(who has been garbage this season) or Wilshere, they are both injury prone and they will both get games as a centre midfielder in a 4-2-3-1. It's ridiculous that imo the best footballer at the club (Ozil) is playing in a position that he's not use and are most dangerous player going forward is having to try and make an impact off the bench (Sanchez). I like Jack and Aaron and think they will both become great players but they've not done enough in their careers yet to justify such a status in the squad.
On top of that our holding midfield position (which is already underprotected) has two of our weakest players. I really appreciate what Arteta's done for the club - came here in probably one of the worse times to sign for Arsenal in our modern day history and has been a really calming influence however his physical qualities are almost non existent now and has never been good enough on the ball for us to compete against any of the top sides. Flamini is quite frankly a disaster, was a complete panic buy and his technical ability is lacking so bad that it really hurts our game when he players. That DMC is such an important part of how are style is yet Wenger doesn't want to sign a top class player that would make a difference.
Having said all that if we could somehow get a point at Chelsea, then we have 4 games that I'd at a minimum expect 10 points from. If we manage to do that, having not lost yet this season (in the league) then I'd expect us to be around 3-5 points off the top of the league entering the end of November which I'd be very pleased with.
Another plus is Callum Chambers looks like a real gem of a signing and I've seen enough of Welbeck to think he'll come good for us especially when we have Giroud back and then we'll have two different options that can contribute well in attack.
Unfortunately, we've not kicked on from the FA cup win, which is quite disappointing.
We are having more possession then we ever have in games but there's a real lack of imagination in what were doing, were like a shitter version of that quite boring Spain side that won Euro 2012. The worse thing is we've changed formation to 4-1-4-1 with imo the main reason behind it to fit Ramsey and Wilshere in together however I've yet to see a match where him and Ramsey have both played very well. Maybe they will in the future but at the minute none of them seem to take any defensive responsibility and we are leaving ourselves so open to the counter it's quite scary to think what Chelsea will do to us on the weekend. It's simply Ramsey(who has been garbage this season) or Wilshere, they are both injury prone and they will both get games as a centre midfielder in a 4-2-3-1. It's ridiculous that imo the best footballer at the club (Ozil) is playing in a position that he's not use and are most dangerous player going forward is having to try and make an impact off the bench (Sanchez). I like Jack and Aaron and think they will both become great players but they've not done enough in their careers yet to justify such a status in the squad.
On top of that our holding midfield position (which is already underprotected) has two of our weakest players. I really appreciate what Arteta's done for the club - came here in probably one of the worse times to sign for Arsenal in our modern day history and has been a really calming influence however his physical qualities are almost non existent now and has never been good enough on the ball for us to compete against any of the top sides. Flamini is quite frankly a disaster, was a complete panic buy and his technical ability is lacking so bad that it really hurts our game when he players. That DMC is such an important part of how are style is yet Wenger doesn't want to sign a top class player that would make a difference.
Having said all that if we could somehow get a point at Chelsea, then we have 4 games that I'd at a minimum expect 10 points from. If we manage to do that, having not lost yet this season (in the league) then I'd expect us to be around 3-5 points off the top of the league entering the end of November which I'd be very pleased with.
Another plus is Callum Chambers looks like a real gem of a signing and I've seen enough of Welbeck to think he'll come good for us especially when we have Giroud back and then we'll have two different options that can contribute well in attack.
Really, though, is anybody expecting Ozil to turn up against Chelsea? The same Ozil who has taken Wellsian inspiration to a new level in pretty much every big match for Arsenal, against the same Chelsea team who are experts in curtailing technical players. Not a chance.
Easy Chelsea win.
Easy Chelsea win.
Meant a starter, though maybe Ospina is good enough to be? Only saw him at the World Cup.
Not at all impressed by Wenger this year. I think Arsenal have one of the best sides in the country but they've just not put it together (yet). I actually think we have a decent chance of finishing ahead of them.
I always expect Ozil to play well when he's got a free, central-starting role and there are players interested in getting forward to capitalize from his playmaking and movement.
What's wrong with Szczesny? Kept 16 clean sheets last season, tied with Cech.
Obviously they have one of the best sides in the country. That's nothing new. They've consistently had 'one of' the best sides in the country. Unfortunately, for Arsenal, Wenger's not good enough to make 'one of', 'the'. He won't win another title with Arsenal, and you can print that.
Also, if we don't finish above them I'll be genuinely disappointed.
He won't have a chance with Matic standing on his toes. He'll get frustrated and slip out to the wing in the hope nobody will notice him.
Sadly agree with your first paragraph. The second part I'd say most Arsenal fans would feel the same (that we will be very disappointed if we don't finish above you)
Personally think we'll be quite comfortably third this season and the battle for fourth will be between you and Liverpool. Very long way to go tho.
Aye, I just feel that the ol' Arsenal curse will strike again and there'll be a second-half stumble. To be honest, if Arsenal finish 3rd and we finish 4th I'll be fairly contented. CL is the aim this year.
As for Wenger, it's a shame really because he has his teams often playing great football, but he's just not been able to reinstall that grit that was present during the Invincibles era. And now, just as he is able to attain some WC class players, he is up against a very strong City team and a Chelsea team that has been fully Mourinhoed. It'd be a tough ask for any manager, to be fair.
Chezza and De Gea are the best keepers in the league.
If you completely ignore the last two seasons of Courtois then yes, sure. That is unless you are only judging them by what they have done in the premiership over the last few years, in which case Courtois obviously cannot be included.
Well played - we haven't seen Courtois in the league for a season yet.
Point stands, ol' Woj is underrated by opposition fans.
Good to see Shad Forsythe has ended our injury woes.
Good to see Shad Forsythe has ended our injury woes.
I agree with that, I think it's one of the successful Wenger 'experiments', sticking by him for ages when he didn't look great at all. He's developed into a very decent keeper, top 5 in the league for me. He looks like he has the occasional brainfart in him but overall he's a fine starter and I definitely wouldn't list him as one of Arsenal's weaknesses. I was actually surprised at Ospina's signing this summer because for me Ospina is around the same level as Szczesny (though I think I read his first games with you guys haven't been great?) and I didn't quite comprehend the strategy, if Ospina was brought in as back-up or to challenge Ospina. However, Chesnuts is probably more suited to the PL style so will keep the #1 role with Ospina as back up?
One criticism of Szczesny has been complacency. Ospinas presence will improve him. He's the third best keeper in the league for me, better than Mignolet, Hart, Lloris.
He is not better than Lloris.
Yes he is.
In a deluded Arsenal world where players are better than players they actually aren't better than, maybe.
It's not a slight on him or anything, Lloris is an excellent GK. I wouldn't rate DDG higher than him right now either.
If you say so.
I'd have De Gea, Lloris, Courtois, and Cech over Chesny.
No chance is he better than the first 3. Cech is arguable but I'd have him too becasue of his experience and pedigree. If I was in a big match with all on the line for one night Cech > Szszszsny.
No chance is he better than the first 3. Cech is arguable but I'd have him too becasue of his experience and pedigree. If I was in a big match with all on the line for one night Cech > Szszszsny.
Szczesny is better than Lloris and Cech. I want to see more of Courtois in the PL before calling him. People on here were telling us to buy Begovic a couple of years back.
Think the biggest weakness in this Arsenal side is a lack of character.
It's full of ability and talent, and player for player can match any side in the league. However, I expect Chelsea to slap them this weekend.
It's full of ability and talent, and player for player can match any side in the league. However, I expect Chelsea to slap them this weekend.
Arsenal are Arsenal. Dainty football club.
We've bought a new fitness coach in but he only started in like mid August so a lot of the pre-season work had been done by then. He did very well for the German national side so hopefully he can observe what the hell is going wrong and try to sort this fecking mess out. Some stuff like Giroud's injury can't be avoided but as a football club we always seem to have more injuries than others.
I agree with this.
Lloris was terrible last season, absolutely awful.