13 Days from Hell, Post Match Thoughts of Arsenal v That DAMN United
I am not liking this but, hats off to United they did exactly what they had to do and they advance in the FA Cup to Wembley. Meanwhile Arsenal, have spent the last 13 days with every thing to play for – for only the league to play and given the current mental and physical state of the club, some fans really wonder if that is a possibility.
When I looked over Fergie’s lineup, I thought we had this. Even with Diaby and Denilson on the pitch together, we had the right people overall on the pitch to lock this down. Fergie’s plan wasn’t completely evident to me at the time. It is now. Arsenal’s match against Barcelona was a tiring one. Along with travel back from Spain, the Arsenal squad were likely to still be not fully ready. The youth of United’s set up was less about experience and was more about using their week off to full advantage on the counter. Which they did. I think United wound up with 3 shots, 2 of them goals. All of them on the counter.
Look, I don’t like Fergie, because I think he gets preferential treatment way beyond what anyone should get, but you have to hand it to him he knew that with a week off, and with Wenger was likely to come in with his first team, regardless of what happened in the midweek he was going to have an advantage over Arsenal’s tired legs.
My biggest problem with the team he set up though was that Diaby and Denilson where both on the pitch TOGETHER. If there is anything that annoys me – it is this. If Wenger cannot see that when both are on the pitch we simply do not have enough forward movement to add anything to our build up of play. A lot of it comes from Denilson who spends more time, jogging on the pitch and passing sideways and back. He doesn’t even know how to close down a player for pete’s sake. He was the direct starting point for the second goal – Valencia racing down the wing of the pitch – with Denilson looking right at him. Instead of closing him down, he goes down to his intended path and Valencia goes deep for the cross without anyone challenging him. Fucking disgraceful from the Brazillian if you ask me. For Diaby, his biggest flaw to me, is what he does with the ball when he gets into the final third. Sure does a good job getting into the final third but never seems to be able to keep it or do anything when he gets there.
The only feel good moment of the match was the return of Aaron Ramsey
But something else is very wrong with this club. When everything seems to be going right, it all goes horribly wrong. The win over Barcelona was the apex in seeing what this club can do when healthy and has its core 11 available. Then slowly as injuries mounted (thank you Stoke) this runs occurs. All of that capped off with Szczesny’s freakish finger injury last week, and then the injury that sends Djourou, our defencive anchor, out for the the rest of the season. As one of my reader’s so aptly put it – Murphy’s Law should henceforth be called Arsenal’s Law. Seriously whatever can go wrong with this squad will go wrong with this squad.
The fundamental problem here is not the “crockiness” of our team. I think our style of play lends it self to getting injuries. We move the ball alot. How do teams take us on when that happens? They press and try to knock us off the game. This causes injuries – ad naseum. The real problem is that we don’t have suitable subs that can sufficiently fill in when those injured players go off the pitch.
Squillaci, Diaby, Denilson, Eboue, Rosicky and a few others just don’t inspire confidence on the pitch. It’s a shame about Rosicky really though because of the promise he showed before he showed up with a series of injuries that kept him out for nearly a full season. But nonetheless is part of the “b” team that just doesn’t have the ability to help us when we need it.
So what do we do? Well, according to Martin Keown – on two occassions, has said that if Arsenal go trophyless this season, Wenger will likely blow the team up as it is the end of his five year plan. Now I would take this would a grain of salt. You would think that Martin might be in the know about such things having been a coach with the team for a while. But he is no longer a coach because of his rather “opinionated” style, but it is likely just that an opinion.
But is Martin off the the mark? Is blowing the team up really what is going to improve things. Well, I want to go back and say that our starting XI when fit are able to compete with anyone. They are in my opinion (again caveated when healthy) the best team in the league. Yes, I believe that (I am not asking if you do). The problem is we are not always healthy. So that means its time to blow up the “B’ team. Seriously some dead weight has to go. We’ve talked about it endlessly. I’ve tweeted about it even more and gotten a lot of flak for vocally calling for Andrei Arshavin to be sold this year – AFTER he scored the winner against Barca.
But let’s sales aren’t the option. Let’s assume the return on the sale isn’t what we paid for them, then get rid of who you can and force the others to the reserves to make way for the very hungry set of youngsters that seem to be doing good things for their loan teams. People are saying give me 6 Jack Wilshere’s and we’ll win. Well, I contend that 6 Jack Wilshere’s are already signed at this team. The problem is they are all off on loan. Does anyone find it odd that Szczesny and Jack have the same attitude when they approach a game? No, I don’t. I think it is something born of their time on the youth side of Arsenal. A team that won, regularly. Our youngsters who are now plying their trade for other teams on loan, have won. They are hungry to win and they are likely to be hot commodites here soon enough. Even better that a lot them are English (For the English press perception). Sit the dead weight in the reserves and the young guns really take over. Keep the starting XI you have and let the young guys show what it means to be hungry.
Struggling to keep it together.
The other thing is the board needs to show its own leadership. Starting with Ivan Gazidis it needs to communicate the Wenger that the status quo is not the answer. However, I have my own thoughts about this. To me, the board is the biggest impediment to the status quo – not Arsene Wenger. When we moved to the Emirates we were told that it would free us up to make the big money moves that we would need to make to compete on the world stage. Simply put I believe that the board is restricting access to those funds and that board is hamstringing Wenger’s efforts to bring in players. Now, I believe Wenger does buy into the idea of being financially prudent so as to not wrack the club with debt – he does have an economics degree after all – however, I do believe he would’ve shelled out some dough for a CB had he really had access to the money he needed.
Why do I think the board is a big part of the problem? Well, I think they are completely disconnected from the supporters. How can you authorise a price increase of 6pc when we are on the verge of collapsing for the 6th straight season. The board just doesn’t get it. Honestly if we are going to hold Wenger accountable for tactics and team set up then the board has to be held accountable that sets up the best possible conditions for the manager to operate under. I expect more on the board’s role to come to the front this summer, especially in light of the price increase.
Finally, I think Wenger needs to win as much as the players. Not to save his job but from a purely mental perspective. I think like the players he needs to know what winning feels like. Sounds funny saying about a man who the only trophy missing from his cabinet is the European one he so craves. Wenger needs to know that winning begets winning. That it brings about a mentality that he has lost. When we moved to the Emirates his mindset had to change – from winning to maintaining a competitive edge while we get our feet under us at this new place. That shift in mindset has had a damning effect and frankly, Wenger lost his way. Not the plot. He lost his way.
Well, so there it is, in the span of two weeks we have gone from three trophies to play for to one. Wow. This does remind me of 03/04 when we lost out on the Champion’s League and FA Cup within the same week. Then it was Thierry Henry who placed the team on his back for the rest of the season. Will someone step up to carry the team the rest of the way this season?
Some Final Thoughts:
I really hope that the absence of Johan Djourou means the promotion of Ignassi Miquel. During the two matches he played in I was really impressed with his ability. He knows how to force players off the ball and that close control skill he learned at Barca (the incidently want him back – he came out and said emphatically no.). I would also be willing to let Song go back to the CB role and let Diaby play DM or Ramsey come on. But under no circumstances should Squillaci or Denilson be allowed near the pitch again.
My views on the board just that are my views. I could very well be wrong. I spent some time talking to people (AST members, season ticket holdes, a variety of fans) and they could very well have an axe to grind I have been reading some very interesting thoughts from a writer I really respect and he thinks it may be otherwise. Especially given the improvement in the back room team that is trying to line up commercial deals for the club. So take it for what you will it is an opinion.
One final thought – someone said I think on another blog they didn’t want us to win the league because it would only mask over the issues. This is so true but I want to say something – I’d take winning the league nonetheless.
Och well. Down from a game every three days to once a week. Actually not bad if I have to find a positive.
See you on the flip side.
[donate]
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I like today’s Arseblog’s point of us needing ONE player to be our Pires or Ljunberg of 2002. Or our Henry of 2004.
Just ONE player needs to STEP UP big time and save the day.
And by save the day, I am talking about scoring crucial goals – that is ofcourse hoping our defense can hold on anyway.
@Fred, Who is your pick to do the big step up? I say that unless the Capitan gets fit and gets on with it we will be hard pressed to find more than a very occasional goal or two….
And while I’m at it….We’ve got 10 matches to play: WBA (a), Blackburn (h), Blackpool (a), Liverpool (h), Tottenham (a), Bolton (a), ManU (h), Stoke(a), Aston Villa (h), Fulham(a). How many points will we claim from these?
If I were a gambler I would put more money on us getting 20, but that’s just me, and I (always) try to keep my expectations realistic…..
At least we’ll have (according to the latest news) Mad Jens back in the fold, inspiring Mooney and (maybe) screaming at Kos and Squillaci (no more head clanging please….) at set-piece practices……
@highburyterracesteve,
I am hoping Arshavin … though it seems highly unlikely.
Maybe Nasri or RvP then.
But we really need a player or two who can really consistently SCORE goals – none of that nonsense “playing well”. Playing well is irrelevant to us now, we just need points.
And please no one should talk about “shared responsibility” either. That is as nonsensical as “shared leadership” and “mental strength”.
@Fred, Yep, those are the three….Has Nasri scored since he hurt HIS hammy?….
And where was Bendtner?(!?!) on Saturday….
@highburyterracesteve, Oops….(edit function still not going, of course)…..
I meant to say I would bet on us getting less than 15 points, before I would bet on us getting more than 20…..
But I was using arrows and the like and they don’t seem to have shown up….
Mad Jens, however….
Add Petit to the chorus. Disagree with the conclusion, but he’s being wishful.
He told The Sun: “Since 2005, and the departures of (Patrick) Vieira, (Robert) Pires and company, you realise he’s (Wenger) banking above all on a young, malleable team where he can invest in a sporting project.
“Arsenal’s game is a trademark on the pitch but there aren’t really any players with a winning mentality.
“This pains me because I am an Arsenal and fan and, over the last few seasons, if there’s a team that’s deserved to win a title it’s them.”
Not much to argue with, and it has played out about as expected, plus a couple of injuries maybe, but there you go. Now the focus needs to be on the run-in, while we watch the cups from the sidelines….(I mean, I’ll watch: but will our players? Do they care that they’re missing out?…..)
One question nobody has asked (so I will….): Where was Bendtner on Saturday? Dropped for his late back-pass to Victor Valdes? Injured? I have a couple of spots I look for injury info (for my fantasy team, of course) and there is no mention. Hmmmmm…..
But back to the team….For me, the issue is leadership. Given that our (wantaway) Captain seemed most focused on his Nou Camp bow (which didn’t go so well) and that we have no adequate replacement for him, it is unsurprising that the United match played out as it did. We have built our (slow paced) attack around Cesc and without him we look horribly static and zero-dimensional. With Arshavin refusing to run, Nasri sticking to the touch line (as if to prove a point?) and Diaby unsure how to offer himself as a target (not to mention the lack of a final ball) all we had were the half-hearted movements of RVP and young Jack. (Denilson does even warrant mention, though he had a few amusing scuffles with even younger Brazillians during the match). United could just sit back and watch. In many respects, it was borderline pathetic…..(And don’t even ask me about Sicky’s right-footed whiff, when his left could have bounced it in….Didn’t the real Mozart conduct using both hands?….) Once the first goal went in (we should have been playing for a draw, of course, but tell that to the manager) it only got easier for United…..
The problem, as many have pointed out is that it doesn’t promise to resolve itself. Maybe Cesc, Theo and Alex Song will get healthy, as will Sneezy and Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen. Arsene misleads (lies?) about injuries (just as he does about mental strength?) so maybe he’s been resting his important players and this has been the “plan” all along. Sorry, but that’s about the best face I can put on it….
The project looks bad….Our best guys (maybe, who knows?) are crocks and/or wantaways or has-beens or just too young, the squad seems rounded out by players we can’t off-load (or even loan out) and all we can cling to is the notion that there is some promising youth in the pipeline. Again, for me, the leadership issue is massive, as unless somebody solid suggests that Arsenal is where he hopes to make his mark, those other few clubs out there (with money: Chelsea, City, Barca, Madrid, maybe the Milan clubs and Bayern?) look to have far greener pitches….
But, who knows, a win away at West Brom (not easy in the least….They beat us at home, remember, and the pitch will not be perfect….) and some recovery over the Int’l break (except for young Jack, England’s newest great hope….) some “unexpected” early returns from injury, etc., etc….
Sorry, but I’ll be holding onto my hat….(if that’s what I’m being asked to hang it upon….)
i’ve supported denilson since the ’08-’09 season. back in ’09, he was a young guy asked to fill a role that wenger couldn’t fill in the preceding summer’s transfer market. alone in the holding role, at 19, i think he gave a good account of himself. he was no where near as robust as flamini but he was smart, quick, a good passer, and found ways to be effective, defensively. the best part was, for a 19 year old, he showed untypical traits of intelligence and consistency. all he needed was to finish developing physically and a bit more experience and surely his best was yet to come, right?
that’s what i thought but i was as wrong as two boys screwing. instead of developing, his progress has completely stopped. in fact, his development has done a significant retrograde, ala benjamin button. he no longer makes forward passes, he makes silly challenges, he doesn’t pass the ball well, and, most importantly, he doesn’t work hard anymore. he seems to have become complacent and now that we’ve got ramsey and diaby back, wenger needs to send him packing. i was hoping he would turn it around. the fact is he hasn’t and it seems he’s not interested in being a winner. that’s unacceptable.
time always tells.
mazza, i agree. there are no 6 jack wilsheres. that boy is special; goes out on his shield every game.
i also agree that we need to move some of our players. not so eager to see diaby leave but just about everyone else you guys have suggested can kick rocks. diaby is good squad player who has moments of brilliance if he’s in form. maintaining the fitness required to discover top form is his biggest problem, along with his poor vision i’ve blasted him about since 2006.
people have screamed for clichy to leave but that boy gives his all on the pitch. sure, he has occasional brain farts but there simply aren’t many left backs in world football i rate higher (you can count them on one hand). gibbs certainly isn’t the answer. man united picked on him in a bad way. every successful united attack came directly through him. gibbs should be a lb only in emergencies and should be deployed as a winger. however, wenger prefers his cm’s in wide areas. i genuinely believe we could have won the 07-08 title had wenger abandoned this approach and played traore at lm when rosicky went down instead of insisting with diaby. whatever.
some are disappointed with our players on loan but they’re gaining valuable experience right now. as much as i’d feel secure with having kyle bartley back, he’s currently in the trenches with rangers right and that’s much more productive for him than sitting on the bench just in case something happens. but we’re getting to bare bones and may have to recall him.
oh well, bpl it is.
mazza, i agree. there are no 6 jack wilsheres. that boy is special; goes out on his shield every game.
i also agree that we need to move some of our players. not so eager to see diaby leave but just about everyone else you guys have suggested can kick rocks. diaby is good squad player who has moments of brilliance if he’s in form. maintaining the fitness required to discover top form is his biggest problem, along with his poor vision i’ve blasted him about since 2006.
people have screamed for clichy to leave but that boy gives his all on the pitch. sure, he has occasional brain farts but there simply aren’t many left backs in world football i rate higher (you can count them on one hand). gibbs certainly isn’t the answer. man united picked on him in a bad way. every successful united attack came directly through him. gibbs should be a lb only in emergencies and should be deployed as a winger. however, wenger prefers his cm’s in wide areas. i genuinely believe we could have won the 07-08 title had wenger abandoned this approach and played traore at lm when rosicky went down instead of insisting with diaby. whatever.
some are disappointed with our players on loan but they’re gaining valuable experience right now. as much as i’d feel secure with having kyle bartley back, he’s currently in the trenches with rangers right and that’s much more productive for him than sitting on the bench just in case something happens. but we’re getting to bare bones and may have to recall him.
oh well, bpl it is.
DAG, seems like you are saying we don’t have enough depth in the squad?! LOL
Yeah, no shit… the B team is not capable of playing with other teams in the League… there were a number of us who stated that the depth in the squad has NOT been addressed for YEARS, and once again it will be our undoing.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened.
Our better players get hacked down regularly… or are injury prone… or a combination of both. RVP and Cesc are by far our most important players in the last few seasons, and they can’t stay on the pitch…
We never addressed speed… speed on the wings… Theo at least gives us that… he torments certain opponents, and forces teams to cope with him…. but as we know, he can’t stay on the pitch.
Diaby? Denilson? Rosicky? Sorry, they are not good enough to be anything more than bit part players… should NOT be in the team, and if you have 2 or 3 of them playing… your chances of winning are nil.
Nothing changed from last year at all, except less experience at the back, and once Vermalaelen went down… (when was that, I thought it was a minor injury)… its been a crapshoot at CB.
You can blame the board… they are PART of the problem… but I blame Wenger far more… if he says, I will leave if we don’t address these issues, the board would give him funds.
He isn’t interested in anything but his ideals… and his fantasy/folly…
and
the FANS pay the price.
The board can raise prices 6%… because every single week… 60,000 people fill the stadium, buy merchandise, buy hot dogs, buy buy buy… lemmings… sheep… following no matter what.
4th place or 2nd place… no titles… is OK for some.
But it should NOT be the goal of the Arsenal…
Not when we are making massive profits regularly… selling off stars for big money…
I agree 1000% that a number of players HAVE TO GO… their time has run out…
I’d be happier if they went and the club said…. we are going with the kids… it might be a bit bumpy, but that’s what we’re doing… they’ve go talent… they need to play, in an Arsenal kit.
The lack of effort… the lack of intensity and determination… that I’ve seen regularly on too many occasions, is UNACCEPTABLE…
We had NO CHANCE against Barcelona or United.
The players knew we’d lose….
Is that what we’re striving for? That we don’t even attempt to play football against Barcelona? What the FUCK was that about?
and United KNOW they will beat us like a drum. They have ZERO fear of Arsenal, regardless of who they put out on the pitch.
They lose to Chelsea, get buried by Liverpool…. and we have the chance to just tear the heart out of their season…
and they SHIT on us.
The AKBers… you can just enjoy what you see…
A big part of the problem is that no matter what, 60,000 show up.
Can’t say ANYTHING negative… heaven forbid the supporters question the Lord at an end of season meeting.
Wenger has been fantastic … but less face it, he’s been a FAILURE the past 6 years… the experiment is a failure… if he can’t or won’t change, he should step down or get sacked…
but the board are more interested in money and profits.
As long as the lemmings keep showing up… and drinking the $8 Kool-Aid at the stadium… and singing happy songs…. NOTHING WILL CHANGE.
I couldn’t face watching the game live, I just knew we’d lose — mental frailty and inadequate subs, the usual Wenger 2.0 team flaws when put under serious pressure.
It’s a pity that Arshavin has disappeared again; we have zero pace in the side now, so hilariously Almunia becomes one of our better performers.
As the Mail put it: “Arsenal controlled possession, United controlled the game.”
I can’t even face the Denilson factor — it’s so obvious he is not up to snuff, in terms of attack/defence and just plain character. He’s too anonymous. And Diaby is too erratic. And Rosicky’s potential will not be realized thanks to his injury. And without Song on his game, we invite too much pressure on the CBs etc, etc.
The chances of us giving our all to win the league are basically doomed without our first 11 all fit and in form.
The media and some Arsenal supporters tirade of BULLYING ARSENAL and Wenger is insensitive and heartless.
I aver, wholeheartedly, that ARSENAL are run, second to none. Superlative.
I FACT that AFC have NOT won silverware for 5 years and counting cannot be denied. But it is not like FC have been inthe doldrums in that period.
3 times runners up in finals, always in the top 4 is enough to to give creedance for that period in AFC’s history.
To be rational, the club are trying hard. They are not a Man U, Chelsea or MAn City. They are not trigger happy in the transfer market.
They will win silverware when they deserve to win silverware. All clubs have the same realistic approach i HOPE. But soem clubs tend to try and buy their silverware. Good luck to them.
Wenger needs to be admired and respected. Not ridiculed. Note well…..He will end up winning much more more. This is just the new begiining of silverware for AFC.
….dare I suggest.
@black jesus,
Ladies and gents, we have a live one!
At least thats what I would say if DAG wont get at me for being down on newbies! LOL!
1) Who is talking about bullying Arsenal?
2) Arsenal are run second to none allegedly yet over pay (wage-wise) for garbage players?
3) Top 4 and three times runners up is proof we havent been in the doldrums? Really?
— And no, Wenger will never win anything again at Arsenal. No Arsenal coach as gone more than 4 years without a trophy and kept his job. Wenger is heading into year SEVEN!
— Nope, Wenger does not deserve to be “admired” or “respected”.
He needs to sacked.
@Fred,
The sad part about AKBs is that they are the reason the status quo remains. Ah well.
Non-board related item.
Barca used midfielders as makeshift defenders and Man Utd used defenders as makeshift midfielders and both teams prevailed quite easily. Yes there was that red card in the Barca game but still some form of test should have been applied to an untried defensive combo. Other teams have no problems in adjusting to changes against Arsenal.
Also as others have pointed out before, who deems players as fit in Arsenal? The medical team or the players themselves? Cesc had declared himself fit against Barca but was he approved by the medical staff? He came out and said he felt his hamstring about 15 min:
“It was a shame because I felt really good to start with,” he told TVE. “But after 15 minutes I felt a pain and I knew it was over for me. The desire to play allowed me to continue and get through but then I had to change.”
He knew it was over after 15 minutes but did any of the Arsenal medical staff or Wenger know that? I admire his desire to play but all that resulted in was an assist for Barca’s first goal. His admission is worrying because that meant he kept that injury to himself? Did Cesc look at the bench and think that he can do better than what else was available? That may be the case but is that really his call?
Right from the board all the way down to the players, people are not doing their job honestly. No accountability.
Well said DAG. I have always believed the board have needed to be held accountable as they were the ones to set the low target of 4th place for Wenger. Their 4th place target meant that instead of building on top of an invincible squad, the 5 year project became the #1 target. No one has ever blamed the board yet they are in charge of Wenger. If Wenger is allowed to have his way, the board should also be blamed.
The board started another mess by getting rid of Dein. David Dein’s departure meant that Henry made up his mind to leave, assisted by Dein’s son, and even Wenger was rumoured to want to leave. When Dein left, the one intelligent check on Wenger also went. This allowed Wenger to have a bigger role and no one was immediately brought into to replace Dein, meaning that Wenger became more of a Chief Operating Officer, as brilliantly stated by Kiwi in the last thread.
I think the board are very clever in wanting to raise the ticket prices. This will ensure disgruntled fans will not renew their tickets and those eager fans on the waiting list will take their place. So when new eager season ticket holders arrive in the stands, this will ensure some less boos and sighs from the crowd. Such a 6% increase might allow be a form of censorship for the fans — only the fans who are content to see a top 4 finish and do not want trophies better apply to see the mighty Arsenal and their bright future. I know that sounds far fetched but with this Arsenal club, you never know, especially since none of the existing board members have spent a single pound of their own money into the club. Only Dein did that and he was called crazy by PHW. What does that say about the board’s attitude? That Arsenal football club is only meant to generate personal profits?
Since I am a stats guy here is one stat that will surprise NOONE this seaosn –
In every match that Denilson has played – we have lost.
@DaAdminGooner, I believe in 2003, Arsenal lost all games that Cygan played in. So such liabilities have been part of Wenger’s team since the invincible days but back then, there were more good players than liabilities. Now, the liabilities rule the team because the A team (cue music) is always injured.
By the way – the signs are increasing that our emergency GK solution is – wait for it –
none other than Jens Lehmann.
@DaAdminGooner,
I shit you not.
Wouldn’t pay any attention to the AST members. They’re all raving AKB’s (I know childish term but true nevertheless) and they will go to all sorts of contortions to spare Wenger of any blame when we go through the annual collapse. Funny, a few weeks ago these same people were probably saying what a genius Wenger was and how he was being proven right in his masterplan etc.
Anyway, it’s clowns like Abou Diaby that are the problem and it was only a few weeks ago Wenger gave him gushing praise on Arse.com. Wenger would rather have a limb cut off than bring in a player to replace him and Denilson.
About having six Jack Wilshere’s – I’m not so sure. Think he’s the exception more than the rule. Ramsey has the same look about him, however the rest have attitude but not the ability(Lansbury) and the talent but not the attitude(JET). I don’t rate any home grown youngsters bar Wilshere.
@Mazza,
I would not discount AST members. They’ve been pretty vocal on certain issues like club ownership and the need to spend on talent. I wouldn’t classify them as AKBers. They are club first and foremost as I’ve come to know them
As for Diaby, I could stomach him more, if Wenger didn’t think he needed to be paired with Denilson. Diaby at least goes forward, can get into the final third, the problem is what he does when he gets there.
As for Lansbury, you’re not up on recent devleopments – the kid can’t stop scoring on his loan. JET’s attitude is, at least I would think down to age more than anything else.
But I am talking more about the likes of Connor Henderson, Miquel, Benik Afobe, Chuks Aneke to name a few.
By the way Gibbs who I have been high on, is turning into a large disappointment.
@DaAdminGooner,
Yep, Gibbs has been a disappointment. Had high hopes as well. Although that may have because he could actually attack – unlike Clichy. As a defender, he’s always been painfully average.
@Mazza,
True. He’s got pace can cross the ball and attacks the box well if given the opening. He needs to desperately work on the defence. Because next to Denilson he was the biggest disappointment yesterday.