[Zyyz]

(Original post by Ora Thames)
Another Roumor from who has been quite reliable. ( Not me saying )

arsenal are in advanced talk with the magnificent nunain to replace arshavin.it is reported that arsenal are in advanced talks with atletico bilbao.manchester united were the favourites to sign the player according to his manager but that was refuted by the player himself who said,arsenal style will suit him better than any other club in the premier league

Seriously stop wasting your time researching / making crap up pretending you're some sort of Arsenal guru. It's cringe / embarrassing on your part and incredibly annoying having to maneuver my way past your troll ****.

[Zürich]

FFS just realised that the African CON is on again in 2013 with the Ivory Coast and Cameroon very likely to qualify.
Looks like well have to do without Song and Gervinho for a month.

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by rockrunride)
What are your views on the board cashing in on Walcott? Wise because Chamberlain is miles better or unwise because Walcott is fairly loyal and has had some decent flourishes this season (the derby comes to mind)?

Is it that hard for people to understand that Walcott is better than Chamberlain? No one can ever actually refute my argument and always dismiss Chamberlain's poor performances because "he's young".

Aside from my rant, it would be smart to keep Walcott. He's a very good winger imo. There really isn't much better Arsenal can do at this point.

[Zürich]

(Original post by Darth Vader 7)


Is it that hard for people to understand that Walcott is better than Chamberlain? No one can ever actually refute my argument and always dismiss Chamberlain's poor performances because "he's young".

Aside from my rant, it would be smart to keep Walcott. He's a very good winger imo. There really isn't much better Arsenal can do at this point.

Apart from hitting teams on the counter using his speed, what exactly are Walcott's strengths? Dribbling, crossing, decision making, ball control, vision, short passing, tracking back...Walcott can do none of these things very well.

I think alot of Arsenal fans got emotionally invested in Theo after he joined because he was English and the initial hype because of his age. But he just isn't delivering anywhere near often enough for me. Anyone who quotes his, admittedly good, stats doesn't know what they're talking about(for example he got 3 assists IIRC against a shocking Blackburn in the 7-1 and 2 goals against a Spurs team that was crushed and in disarray). When I think back to wingers like Pires, Ljungberg, Overmars it saddens me to think that TW is the best we can do in 2012.

[Normandy114]

(Original post by Zürich)
FFS just realised that the African CON is on again in 2013 with the Ivory Coast and Cameroon very likely to qualify.
Looks like well have to do without Song and Gervinho for a month.

Yeah it's quite frustrating, it's supposed to be every two years but for some reason there's one in both 2012 and 2013

[Loat]

(Original post by Normandy114)
Yeah it's quite frustrating, it's supposed to be every two years but for some reason there's one in both 2012 and 2013

I think its because they're moving the tournament so it doesn't take place in the middle of the European season after the 2013 one. I'm assuming that rather than have a three year gap to the next one, they decided to schedule an extra one before having a two year gap to 2015.

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by Zürich)
Apart from hitting teams on the counter using his speed, what exactly are Walcott's strengths? Dribbling, crossing, decision making, ball control, vision, short passing, tracking back...Walcott can do none of these things very well.

I think alot of Arsenal fans got emotionally invested in Theo after he joined because he was English and the initial hype because of his age. But he just isn't delivering anywhere near often enough for me. Anyone who quotes his, admittedly good, stats doesn't know what they're talking about(for example he got 3 assists IIRC against a shocking Blackburn in the 7-1 and 2 goals against a Spurs team that was crushed and in disarray). When I think back to wingers like Pires, Ljungberg, Overmars it saddens me to think that TW is the best we can do in 2012.

I think is dribbling is pretty good as well as his shooting. He tracks back pretty well imo. Much more defensive than Chamberlain.

So getting two goals against Spurs is now a meager achievement? Trust me, if he hadn't had scored those goals, Spurs would've pulled one back and our whole season would've been destroyed.

Players like Overmars, Ljungberg and Pires are wingers hard to come by. They were class players. But they all played with players much better than what Walcott has to deal with. I know the kid is frustrating but he is only 23. He's doing pretty well managing to get over 20 goals/assists a season.

[Birdman1234567]

(Original post by Darth Vader 7)


Is it that hard for people to understand that Walcott is better than Chamberlain? No one can ever actually refute my argument and always dismiss Chamberlain's poor performances because "he's young".

Aside from my rant, it would be smart to keep Walcott. He's a very good winger imo. There really isn't much better Arsenal can do at this point.

Thank you, I have been arguing this point for months, year even. Keeping Walcott for the long term is absolutely essential imo. I think he's quality and when he wants to he can be lethal, which just shows what he's capable of, he can also be unpredictable. He's an ace it would be ridiculous to sell the fastest player in the prem to a rival club. Walcott never get's enough credit, he was influential in all our iconic wins this season and has a good understanding with RVP.

[Birdman1234567]

Just out of interest, does Kaka still play for Real Madrid?

[Zürich]

(Original post by Birdman1234567)
Thank you, I have been arguing this point for months, year even. Keeping Walcott for the long term is absolutely essential imo. I think he's quality and when he wants to he can be lethal, which just shows what he's capable of, he can also be unpredictable. He's an ace it would be ridiculous to sell the fastest player in the prem to a rival club. Walcott never get's enough credit, he was influential in all our iconic wins this season and has a good understanding with RVP.

Yes but for 9/10 matches he is useless. Top players are consistent and reliable. I wouldn't be against using him on the bench as a supersub but the guy is looking for £100k FFS.

I remember the Emirates was literally hissing at Walcott at times during that Spurs game. He was worse than terrible. Then after Sagna/V.Persie and Rosicky stepped their game up and dragged us back into the game, Walcott scores two straight-forward goals against a Spurs defense that was a complete and utter shambles by that stage. This is Walcott all over.

[419]

(Original post by Zürich)
x

(Original post by Normandy114)
Yeah it's quite frustrating, it's supposed to be every two years but for some reason there's one in both 2012 and 2013

(Original post by Loat)
I think its because they're moving the tournament so it doesn't take place in the middle of the European season after the 2013 one. I'm assuming that rather than have a three year gap to the next one, they decided to schedule an extra one before having a two year gap to 2015.

No it's been moved so that it takes place on odd number years as to not happen on a WC years. European teams and season wasn't taken into consideration. Rightly so.

It'll also continue to be every couple of years from then on. Mean reason for having every 2 years isn't primarily footballing reason but for 'economical' reason.

Ivory Coast have Senegal in their qualifying match so it's a tough tie for them and thus by no means guaranteed qualification. Although, they usually qualify with ease even if they're in a tough group so expect them to qualify.

As for Cameroon, they have Cape Verde and should therefore qualify with ease. But there's a trend in African football atm in which a lot of the 'smaller' nations are beating some of the 'bigger' nations. Cameroon are in the cohort of vulnerable 'bigger' nations.

[Stalin]

(Original post by Zürich)
FFS just realised that the African CON is on again in 2013 with the Ivory Coast and Cameroon very likely to qualify.
Looks like well have to do without Song and Gervinho for a month.

It's fine - we have/will have Podolski and M'Vila.

[419]

Wrt Walcott, if we lose him, not many will shed any tears. If we keep him, not many will be popping champagne.

I'd say keep him but the problem is that he seems to be asking for way too much (100k) if rumours are to be believed. He shouldn't be getting a penny more than 50k in reality. But in football reality, we should probably give him something around the 80k. I really doubt many club will pay him more than that.

[Loat]

(Original post by 419)
No it's been moved so that it takes place on odd number years as to not happen on a WC years. European teams and season wasn't taken into consideration. Rightly so.

It'll also continue to be every couple of years from then on. Mean reason for having every 2 years isn't primarily footballing reason but for 'economical' reason.

Ivory Coast have Senegal in their qualifying match so it's a tough tie for them and thus by no means guaranteed qualification. Although, they usually qualify with ease even if they're in a tough group so expect them to qualify.

As for Cameroon, they have Cape Verde and should therefore qualify with ease. But there's a trend in African football atm in which a lot of the 'smaller' nations are beating some of the 'bigger' nations. Cameroon are in the cohort of vulnerable 'bigger' nations.

Out of interest, why is it rightly so? Thanks for the correction though, I knew it was something to do with not clashing with the WC.

[419]

(Original post by Loat)
Out of interest, why is it rightly so? Thanks for the correction though, I knew it was something to do with not clashing with the WC.

Because it's an African tournament. It fits around the African season, weather etc. If they start doing it in the summer because it's convenient for European clubs, then they're just opening a whole can of worms.

[Loat]

(Original post by 419)
Because it's an African tournament. It fits around the African season, weather etc. If they start doing it in the summer because it's convenient for European clubs, then they're just opening a whole can of worms.

Fair enough, makes sense.

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by Zürich)
Apart from hitting teams on the counter using his speed, what exactly are Walcott's strengths? Dribbling, crossing, decision making, ball control, vision, short passing, tracking back...Walcott can do none of these things very well.

I think alot of Arsenal fans got emotionally invested in Theo after he joined because he was English and the initial hype because of his age. But he just isn't delivering anywhere near often enough for me. Anyone who quotes his, admittedly good, stats doesn't know what they're talking about(for example he got 3 assists IIRC against a shocking Blackburn in the 7-1 and 2 goals against a Spurs team that was crushed and in disarray). When I think back to wingers like Pires, Ljungberg, Overmars it saddens me to think that TW is the best we can do in 2012.

I think his off-the-ball movement and awareness tends to be really good as well. There was a really good article doggyfizzel posted in here that opined as much as well (I think it was by the guy behind ZonalMarking?). Consistency has thus far been the main issue, and I think it's still fair to hope that that can come.

(Original post by Birdman1234567)
Just out of interest, does Kaka still play for Real Madrid?

(Original post by Loat)
Out of interest, why is it rightly so? Thanks for the correction though, I knew it was something to do with not clashing with the WC.

I believe that the main reason is the weather. If I remember correctly, the time when European clubs are on season-breaks is when most African countries are being drenched by their rainy season.

Hopefully, with Podolski, Chamberlain, Miyaichi and Walcott(?), we won't miss Gervinho too much. Song will be a greater loss, but it could also be an opportunity for Coquelin to claim some gametime and reputation. If we don't get another DM, that is.

[alexsong]

Id take the money and run with Walcott. He isnt terrible or anything but he is so frustrating and inconsistent, the change of scenery might do him a world of good.

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by alexsong)
Id take the money and run with Walcott. He isnt terrible or anything but he is so frustrating and inconsistent, the change of scenery might do him a world of good.

But, who do we buy to replace him? Our board will probably just go on without him and not replace. If we were to get someone like Cazorla in as a replacement, then I'm all for it. But I doubt we'd actively replace him.

[alexsong]

(Original post by Darth Vader 7)
But, who do we buy to replace him? Our board will probably just go on without him and not replace. If we were to get someone like Cazorla in as a replacement, then I'm all for it. But I doubt we'd actively replace him.

Yeah it will be Gervinho on the right and Podolski on the left with Ox playing a decent amount too probably, cazorla would be ideal but i wont get my hopes up