Arsenal 2015-2016: The One That Got Away

mikeford

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Arsenal will host Hull City in the 5th round of the FA Cup.

Decent draw, no travel, lower league team (even if they're almost assuredly coming up again next year). Bout the best you can hope for.
 

Luis Taint

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That was just plain awful, this team is going to get its ass handed to them by Barce, has no shot at winning the league. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Ozil and Alexis left.
 

JimBoSox9

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This team is bad
Overreaction.

Three points from the last 12 available. No goals in their last three league games.
Accurate.

That was just plain awful, this team is going to get its ass handed to them by Barce, has no shot at winning the league. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Ozil and Alexis left.
Overreaction.

It's not over yet...but Arsenal needs to find some form, and quickly.
Accurate.
 
Dec 21, 2015
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http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/03/arsene-wenger-ronald-koeman-arsenal-southampton

Does any manager piss off more opposing managers than Wenger? This act is so tiresome - show some class, Arsene, or at least some restraint.
Yeah, nobody who's among the best coaches in their profession would ever harangue or awkwardly touch the officials in their sport.

Wenger wouldn't be my very first choice to manage my team, but he'd be in my top 5. Maybe familiarity has just bred contempt among Gunner fans (to say nothing of rival fans).
 

mikeford

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Rosicky's injury is worse than initially feared and he's out for the year.

So that sucks. That's probably the end of his Arsenal career. Poor guy just never could stay healthy long enough to reach his full potential but at least he got us some big goals along the way.
 

sachmoney

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Encouraged by the performance today. Not super impressive, but I thought Ramsey and Ox showed signs of coming out of their funks. Once you get Coquelin back in the line up, I think a lot of the other problems, defensively, go away. Sanchez had some sparks, but not as present as Arsenal need him. Overall, a much needed win and hopefully, some confidence going into the match against the League leaders. That's a must win.
 
Dec 21, 2015
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Here's the starting lineup that beat Bayern 2-0 back in october:
Cech - Bellerin, Mertesacker, Kos, Monreal - Cazorla, Coq - Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis - Walcott

And the one that got its ass handed to it @Bayern two weeks later:
Cech - Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal - Coq, Cazorla - Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez - Giroud

And the one that a balls-to-the-wall Wenger put up at Olympiakos to keep the streak alive:
Cech - Bellerin, Mertesacker, Kos, Monreal - Flamini, Ramsey - Walcott, Ozil, Campbell - Giroud

And the one that just beat Bournemouth:
Cech - Bellerin, Gabriel, Kos, Monreal - Flamini, Ramsey - Ox, Ozil, Sanchez - Giroud

Assuming Coquelin and Walcott could start vs Barcelona, but that Cazorla is out, what's Arsenal's best starting XI right now? Does Walcott still have a role if Bellerin is making all his forward runs? Do you trust Campbell over Oz or Ramsey? Who's Coquelin's best pairing, or is he still a sub in 2 weeks? Very curious what the Gunner fans here think about it.
 

JimBoSox9

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Here's the starting lineup that beat Bayern 2-0 back in october:
Cech - Bellerin, Mertesacker, Kos, Monreal - Cazorla, Coq - Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis - Walcott

And the one that got its ass handed to it @Bayern two weeks later:
Cech - Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal - Coq, Cazorla - Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez - Giroud

And the one that a balls-to-the-wall Wenger put up at Olympiakos to keep the streak alive:
Cech - Bellerin, Mertesacker, Kos, Monreal - Flamini, Ramsey - Walcott, Ozil, Campbell - Giroud

And the one that just beat Bournemouth:
Cech - Bellerin, Gabriel, Kos, Monreal - Flamini, Ramsey - Ox, Ozil, Sanchez - Giroud

Assuming Coquelin and Walcott could start vs Barcelona, but that Cazorla is out, what's Arsenal's best starting XI right now? Does Walcott still have a role if Bellerin is making all his forward runs? Do you trust Campbell over Oz or Ramsey? Who's Coquelin's best pairing, or is he still a sub in 2 weeks? Very curious what the Gunner fans here think about it.
In terms of a generic first-run roster, I think it pretty clearly starts here:

Giroud
|
Sanchez - Ozil - X
|
X-X
|
Monreal - X - Kos - Bellerin
|
Cech

That leaves three basic questions to be answered:

1) Who out of (Ramsey, Walcott, Ox, Campbell) most deserves the other attacking slot opposite Sanchez?
- I still think Walcott's pace has a place with Bellerin on the squad, if only to make the latter's attacking a luxury instead of a necessity, when defense needs to be a priority.
2) Between his experience and his liabilities, do you trust Mertesacker more than Gabriel?
-No
3) What oh what is the best DM pairing between Conq, Flamini, Cazorla, and the leftovers from #1?
-Arsenal be Arsenal, so I like Ramsey in front of Conq here. If healthy Cazorla could push Ramsey to the bench, but personally I still prefer Santi as the offensive anywhere-sub off the bench.

Which leaves me with:

Giroud
|
Sanchez - Ozil - Walcott
|
Ramsey-Conq
|
Monreal - Gabriel - Kos - Bellerin
|
Cech
 
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sachmoney

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Arsenal have a couple of fixtures before then so I'd like to see how someone like Ox does the next couple of games before giving a definitive answer. I think that Joel is the most conservative option since he actually covers. Theo is the "go for it" option as he is a player that can get behind the D. Obviously, the main issue is actually finishing. Ox is the unpredictable option right now. I think that he combines better than Theo and offers more dynamism than Joel, but is he mentally ready? Can Arsenal deal with his passing errors? Does he have the confidence to finish his chances? These are all huge questions that I would answer no to right now.

I don't think there's a question that you go with Ramsey and Coquelin in midfield. The big question is Gabriel vs Mertesacker. I am big fan of Gabriel, but I'm not sure how his aggressiveness will play against Suarez and Neymar. Then again, I don't think Per could keep up with either (nor Messi). It's an insanely tough match up. It's hard to see Arsenal even getting a result in the home leg with Barca's attack.
 

mikeford

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Theo has done absolutely zero to earn a spot in the starting XI this season. Every opportunity he's had to seize his spot in the side, he's squandered. Joel has earned his spot by being tireless and defensively responsible.

Eff Theo Walcott.
 

sachmoney

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Why? They've played All Star teams in the Far East. Why not in America? They can charge ridiculous ticket prices to help fund Kroenke's 500 acre Texas ranch and people would still buy them at those prices.
 

sachmoney

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You misunderstand me...I just think having a club team in an American sports league's All-Star Game is unnatural. (it's great that Arsenal is touring America.)
While it's happened several years in a row now, I would agree with that sentiment that it's weird.

New York was fun. I'm sure San Jose and Los Angeles will be too, but I'm not sure I'm interested. I'd rather fly out to London again than see the kids in a scrimmage.
 
Dec 21, 2015
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Eh, I think as long as Wenger doesn't start the B team just so the hosts can go home with a win, it'll be an entertaining match. The real problem is the unlimited substitutions making a farce of the proceedings. But you usually get at least a half of playing their starters before they turn into the Washington Generals.

I mean, who didn't enjoy the rag-tag band of MLS players who'd never played together before taking down "Tottenham"? You got 77 mins of Harry Kane, 35 of Yedlin, 45 of Dele Alli, 64 of Dembele... and only 15 minutes of Jozy Altidore. And before them, Bayern (didn't Boateng get a yellow? Am I imagining that?), and also beating "Chelsea" in 2012.

I'll enjoy watching them play "Arsenal".
 

Mighty Joe Young

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You misunderstand me...I just think having a club team in an American sports league's All-Star Game is unnatural. (it's great that Arsenal is touring America.)
The NHL's all star format was, for decades (1947 to 1968 or thereabouts) the previous year's Stanley Cup winner vs the all stars .. it seemed a sensible thing to do at the time.
 

OCST

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The WHA played a 3-game series against a Russian team one year for its All Star game.
 

mikeford

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Eh, I think as long as Wenger doesn't start the B team just so the hosts can go home with a win, it'll be an entertaining match. The real problem is the unlimited substitutions making a farce of the proceedings. But you usually get at least a half of playing their starters before they turn into the Washington Generals.

I mean, who didn't enjoy the rag-tag band of MLS players who'd never played together before taking down "Tottenham"? You got 77 mins of Harry Kane, 35 of Yedlin, 45 of Dele Alli, 64 of Dembele... and only 15 minutes of Jozy Altidore. And before them, Bayern (didn't Boateng get a yellow? Am I imagining that?), and also beating "Chelsea" in 2012.

I'll enjoy watching them play "Arsenal".
You realize that most of Arsenal will either be coming off of being at Euro 2016 or Copa America right?

There will only be a B-side to choose from. Mertesacker, Arteta, Elneny, Flamini and Iwobi are the only senior team guys who aren't likely to go to one of those tournaments this summer. Pretty sure everyone else is still getting international call ups, though I guess its possible guys like Chambers or Gnabry wouldnt get a call. Not exactly high drawing power there anyway.
 

soxfan121

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Fair point. At least it won't be any more of a farce than previous iterations, I suppose.
It is MLS. Of course it is a farce.

The really good news for fans who attend is they will probably be able to boo Ashley Cole for a half or so. Get your tickets now.
 

SoxFanInCali

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California. Duh.
The setup is really a no-win scenario for MLS. If MLS wins, it means nothing because they beat a combo of the youth and reserve teams. If MLS loses, they couldn't even beat those kids/reserves. But because it guarantees that they will fill the stadium at premium-ticket prices, they will continue to do it.
 

sachmoney

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Atkinson is having a howler, but several Arsenal players are not playing well, including Ozil, Ramsey, Sanchez, and Giroud. Besides that heavy pass to Monreal, Ox looks pretty good. Can't let these decisions break them. Need to be strong and focused in the second half
 

Terras

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Anyone who expected Arsenal to win this doesn't know Martin Atkinson.
 

swiftaw

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Crazy stat, last time Arsenal won a Premier League match in which they were trailing at half time was October 2011.
 

JimBoSox9

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Crazy stat, last time Arsenal won a Premier League match in which they were trailing at half time was October 2011.
Well, Mr. Bean just gave them the opening to do so. No excuse not to break through for at least 1 now, barring fresh disasters
 

Terras

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This is the weirdest stretch of refereeing I've seen in a long time.