So Kieran Gibbs will be back soon and, as a result, Arsene Wenger will be faced with a selection headache.
Does he continue to play Thomas ‘The Verminator’ Vermaelen at left-back or install Gibbo straight back in the line-up?
Should he pair Per Mertesacker with Vermaelen, or Per with Laurent Koscielny?
In my opinion, a player should be selected based on his current form. We’ve all seen how our captain has struggled ever since he was given the armband following Robin van Persie’s summer departure from the club, and I think it would be best for the team in whole if Gibbs reclaims his left-back spot and keep Kos and Per paired up in the centre of our defensive line.
But should this happen then a number of questions arise which will need answering:
1. Do we leave our captain on the bench?
2. Where should we play the Belgian?
3. Which team starts with their captain on the bench?
Vermaelen is a world-class performer. He impressed me from the first minute I saw him play, plus he was the highest goal-scoring defender, remember? Yes, he has suffered a dip in form ever since he was given the responsibility of captaining Arsenal. But his problem is more of a mental/psychological one, in my opinion. The same thing happened to me when I was in high school. I was made the captain and it became a burden (for a while). As a result, I lost my confidence, due to the fear of failing to perform and live up to the task. But, it’s only a temporary problem. It can be fixed.
My suggestion is to play Vermaelen as our anchorman in midfield, Jack Wilshere as our linchpin and Mikel Arteta as our advanced midfielder, and shift Santi Cazorla to the right wing.
There is no harm in trying something new. You never know, it might end up to be a great decision.
Why play Verm as our anchorman you say? Well, first of all he’s a defender; it means he’ll be able to destroy the oppositions play, thus protecting our back-line. He’s also very good on the ball, which means he can drive it forward. In addition, he has a powerful shot, and lord knows how much we need it at times. Plus, he’s got loads of stamina to burn, which means he’ll always be constantly on the move.
I think it makes sense and should be tested in the near future.
Should Wenger consider playing Vermaelen in the holding midfield role?
Give us your thoughts on the matter below
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I think we all need to stay calm, get off our teams back. We are obviously not going to win the premiership this year as our team was once again ripped apart by scum. We have a new team up front who need time together. Once they have all played a season together and we manage to hold on to our top boys next season magic will happen. I have been a supporter for 30years and my dad 63years and we both think that we as supporters need to be patient and really get behind our lads. There are good teams who haven’t won anything for much longer then us. We need to stand together and be supporters, not boo our own team. We need our team to stay together including us.
You are absolutely right except that the team should be getting better results. This is the team Wenger built, he didn’t inherit it, he went out and spent a lot of money to deliver these results. Not just today’s result, but the gradual slide that has taken place over the last 7 to 8 years.
We have one of the highest payrolls in the League, we have one of the best managers, same with fan support and quality of stadium and grounds. AFC is a first-class outfit, but the results on the pitch are poor when compared to other top sides.
I have no problem with the money thing, completely understand that if Chelsa or City really want a player, we will not compete. Note that AFC is owned by 2 Billionaires and we could spend the money if we so desired. I like the fiscally conservative, self sustaining model, but I believe Mr Wenger has lost focus and the Club is suffering for it.
Looking at today’s match, we don’t have a Holding Mid because we sold Song and gambled on the perpetually crocked Diaby going all season injury free. It’s not that we sold Song, it’s that we didn’t replace him. We don’t have a proven Left FB. Gibbs is a great young talent, but with his injury history and lack of experience picking up Santos as insurance was a huge risk. We haven’t replaced RVP even though we had plenty of time to find someone. And finally, the goalkeeping situation is unbelievable for a team striving for Premier League and CL glory.
I like Wenger and give him credit for all that Arsenal is, but what is he thinking? Is this what he wants? Why is he not spending his very substantial bankroll on impact players at the impact positions. Example is the Holding MF position: with Arteta playing HMF, he is out position, so it hurts us twice. There are several good players available, we have a shed-load of cash, but will Wenger get the player? Based on past seasons, the answer is “no”. Keeper is another area he has refused to address. We have three potentially great keepers who’s routine blunders have cost us, yet neither Lloris or Cesar were signed. WHY NOT?
Why not try Fabianski as a holding midfielder? He has had a dip in form for a bit…well since he joined the club actually. I have heard he has a good engine.
Cazorla on the right? Not so sure about that. Don’t change I’ll midfield around, Cazorla, Wilshere and Arteta are good where they are. Wenger needs to open his wallet for a decent left back and we are sorted. Simple
arsenal is just good side not great side but they are two super signings one super super strike and one super holding midfielder names cavni and m,villa then they will be great side we have few good players but they have to play with match winners witch we do not have if wenger don,t wake up he will loose wilshere as well i don,t blame the player who leave i blame wenger and the board they have let fans down every year he sell top players and replace them with hopefuls and in turn we are waiting and waiting its same rubbish every year
@daljit
Agree we need to sign quality at the positions you indicate, but that will not win a Prem. Trophy or CL. It will win an FA Cup at best. I’ll be happy with that though.
If we want to contend for 1st in the Prem. or winning CL, we need an International quality Keeper and a Premier League quality Left Back.
in fairness, we have a great goalkeeper who is young, confident and going to be one of the best…
as for midfield i think we need to get a holding mid asap as Arteta will be past it in season or two (at the moment he is top class)
Also we need to play Podolski as a CF he is not a winger and is not quick or skillful enough, he is a clinical finisher who plays behind the ST If we don’t play poldi as a CF then at least play Walcott as second striker so he can run off he defenders from Giroud’s knock ons. Oh yeah and back up for a LB because gibbs is never going to complete a full season.
BC STOP CONFUSING TINS FOR URSELF.U CANT TELL ME DAT ARSENE SHULD USE 3 DEFS.HOW CAN ARSENE ONLY USE PER KOS AND VERM AT THE BACK.WHERE IS GIBBS AND SAG.DIS IS WAT I THINK.DFS ARE SAG,MERTY/KOS,VERM,GIBBSDFMS ART,WIL AM SANTI,LWF POD CF GIR,RWF WAL
Plz wenger don’t play our captain as a midfieder if u re not stupid. why u don’t buy holding midfieder like fellani,yan.m.villa,holby nd then one striker like cavani,lorente. Fuckkkkkkkkkkk
why not he is good in the boll and he is strong shot may be it is good to solve current problem