Daily Bits and Bobs

Step Up Semi Ajayi? Arsene Wenger May Not Need To Sign A Defender, IF He’d Give Youth A Chance….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Nacho Monreal. Does he really deserve all the stick he’s getting? I read a headline on Newsnow suggesting many fans want him gone and I find that hard to believe.

Apart from giving away a penalty against Anderlecht on Tuesday, he’s not been that bad but height is not on his side and as we head off to play Swansea City, the thought of him trying to keep out Bony worries me greatly.

I don’t think any manager would dream of playing a 5′ 10″ defender at centre back other than Arsene Wenger.

Charlie Nicholas alluded to that issue on Tuesday evening after our collapse saying that surely, there must be a natural centre back somewhere within the club and there is.

Isaac Hayden – sadly injured right now but we also have Semi Ajayi, a proper tall central defender who turns 21 years old tomorrow. Ajayi is just under 6′ 4″ and he’s described as being ‘calm and composed in possession and adept in the aerial duels’. We could do with a bit of that at the back couldn’t we?

Perhaps it’s asking a lot of a reserve player who has had little/no first team experience but at some stage these younger players have to be given a chance to see if they have what it takes to make the step-up. He’s made it onto the bench a few times this season so clearly someone thinks he’s reliable. Perhaps it’s time for him to take one step further.

It’s not ideal I know, but right now it’s about getting the best out of what and who is available and who knows, both Hayden once fit and Ajayi might just mean that Arsene Wenger doesn’t need to sign a centre back in January…. And he’d like that!

Laurent Koscielny is reportedly out for at least another month, Per Mertesacker is struggling like never before, Calum Chambers is playing at right-back instead of centrally where he looks more at home and because of that, young Hector Bellerin isn’t getting a chance.

What’s to lose by trying something different? It might just work……

Oh, and Big Sam believes Carl Jenkinson deserves an England call up…….

On that note, have a good Saturday folks……..

 

rico

128 thoughts on “Step Up Semi Ajayi? Arsene Wenger May Not Need To Sign A Defender, IF He’d Give Youth A Chance….”

  1. Wath says:

    Morning Rico,

    Good call, Why is Bellerin not being played at right back so Chambers can play centrally with the BFG…. Why does Wenger spout utter shit about a quality squad when he fails to utilise what he has…. Seems to me he doesn’t trust what he has as being good enough and we’ve seen that for the last 4/5 years, he never uses players to come in and do a job so how can he then say we have a great squad…! Man speak with forked tongue then again most already know that…!

    Why do players not give their all…. Cos they know he doesn’t trust them to do a job for the team as he only sticks to the ones he has blind faith in who he wants to run into the ground.

  2. rico says:

    Morning Wath.

    Well said!

    I really don’t understand why Bellerin isn’t playing. Ridiculous imo, he chucks him in against Dortmund and then removes him for the PL fixtures. He should have started last weekend against Burnley and again on Tuesday.

    You are spot on about not using who we do have, Campbell is a prime example but he’d give 100% that’s for sure…

  11. Wath says:

    The fact Bellerin needs game time and experience is a no brainer that he should of played against Burnley at the very least Rico, least then it gives us the option of adding height and physicality into the centre…! I don’t blame Monreal at all, I think the fella has done a very decent job considering he’s been thrown in at the deep end due to the negligence of the managers summer transfers… or lack of as the case may be. He’s neglected the obvious for years and still in denial making excuses and telling us all he’s managed 2,000 games… Does that make him great then… Does that mean because we only watch we don’t know what we are talking about… He is a very patronising arrogant man when he is wrong and won’t admit to it….! His ranting never change and nor does the way the team react and play when the shit hits the fan.

  13. BT62 Gooner says:

    Agag, hope the world is treating you well and your bank account even better….As for The Arse, we are what we are, boringly predictable..

  14. rico says:

    Absolutely agree again Wath.

    Playing Bellerin would give us more balance in defence and I don’t blame Monreal ether, like I said, only Wenger would put a 5′ 10″ defender in the heart of our defence.

    Bould must be having nightmares….

  15. Wath says:

    Bt, we are what we are which would be acceptable if we were still at Highbury and not being milked for every penny to turn up and support our team whilst the owner and board neglect the primary target which is to try to win things and be competitive…!

    Nothing will change whilst we have an owner who is money driven and knows nothing about football and we now have a manger who’s forgotten what he knew about football….!

  16. Joaquim Moreira says:

    hello everyone!
    yes, like I posted before: Bellerin RB, chambers CB;Monreal/Gibbs LB;
    Monreal wasn’t bad in center back, Last penalty (?) was reaaly a penalty?

  18. Wath says:

    Arsenal fans don’t do that kind of thing Rico, way to much apathy… Last time that happened was back in the 80’s but it worked… Then again now days you have the risk that any kind of demo would be met with ppl getting nicked and season tkts being taken away such is the police state we live in..!

  19. allezkev says:

    Yes Wath, he’s managed over 2,000 game at the top level.
    Therefore to keep on repeating the same mistakes every transfer window is inexcusable.

    Afternoon All
    Afternoon BT, Rico, Agag…

  22. rico says:

    Well that’s the only way we’ll see change Wath. Put Kroenke under a lot of pressure and surely he’d think about cashing in….

    Afternoon Kev, totally inexcusable, but until he has to answer to somebody about what he’s getting wrong, he’ll carry on regardless. Just why Kroenke needs to go, get someone in who knows about football, or someone who at least appoints a proper board full of people who do…

  23. Wath says:

    Kev, what about repeating the same old mistakes on the pitch…. 2000 games bla bla bla, highlights his ineptitude and arrogance that despite all those games in charge he still continues making the same mistakes time and again…. and again….. and again…!

  24. agirlagunner says:

    BT, haha, went to HK for a quick getaway over the Halloween. The bank account took a hit, for sure. 😉

    Boo, rico!! Howdy? It is clear that Kroenke isn’t really invested in our club; I wish they would just leave!!

    Hiya, Kev. How are you?

  25. BT62 Gooner says:

    Rico, absolutely agree, handing in questions ,pre AGM’s is only paying lip service to the corporate giant..Take to the streets. show mass dissent, put them under pressure with negative publicity on a massive scale.

  27. Wath says:

    Bt, spot on mate…. The yanks HATE bad publicity so being that far away it’s the only way for him to come under pressure… public demo’s must show dissent and not wanting his sort….! If it makes the tv and the media take not it will get across the pond and then he will be asked questions….! Make the fucker squirm and sell up…! Best way to start the ball rolling…. But…… As i say back to the apathy shown by most is that the normal response is “we can’t do anything”…..!

  32. BT62 Gooner says:

    Wath, Yanks as you say, “HATE” bad publicity, hit them where it hurts, on the front pages and on social media outlets, our own apathy as fans, could and possible will in the end, be our downfall…

  34. potter says:

    I saw my first match in 1956, I played competitive football until my late 30’s then county and Sunday league until I stopped at forty and then played training 5 a sides and gave up just after my 50 th birthday. But I know nothing about the game . It’s insulting the arrogance.

  38. Bob John says:

    We need someone to bear this revolting Chavski team. If they don’t lose today that’s both Scousers and both Mancs away out of the way. The thought of them going unbeaten makes me feel ill.

  40. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Vermaelen still injury. If he is an Arsenal player will be one more defender injury.
    During Christmas time, Chelsea will be the new champion

  49. tsgh says:

    After Rico, Wath and fellow HHers..

    well said Wath at 10:10am.. sums it up succintly.

    In my view Nacho is doing very well.. I might even say he has covered Pers backside on a few occasions with his better positioning…

  50. tsgh says:

    Per is really going against the grain against AW’s philosophy…
    Mertesacker “Everyone has to be involved to defend, We cannot afford that we have just five or six players defending”

  52. potter says:

    5 or 6 defending ? the problem is 2 of them are up front in Sanchez and Welbeck and there is nothing in the midfield.

  53. goonster says:

    Morning HH I won’t even waste my time talking about le screw up again. He’s not worth it. He has so alienated us fans. Right now arsenal is the least of my worries. It’s disheartening though because a better coach will whip this team into shape and rip it.

  54. goonster says:

    Is it me or are the chavs looking menacing. I fear they might go unbeaten. Lord God in heaven. That’s the last thing we need.

  57. goonster says:

    Morning rico and potter no surprises there is there. Every dog and their owner wants some other team to equal and maybe surpass our achievements. I won’t be surprised if chelshit goes all the way.

  60. goonster says:

    Hahahahahahhaha ak you twit. Costa is so shit so I heard last season. He won’t do well in the pl was the cry. Here we are a season later and he’s ripping it. Drogba reborn?? I think so.

  62. goonster says:

    How shit is this manure team but guess what….we ll lose to them in a forthnight. We re so predictable it’s cringe worthy.

  70. goonster says:

    Trust me rico they will….le fruit cake ll fuck it up again. Lol. He’s so inept he makes me look like Steven Hawkins. Lol

  73. goonster says:

    Geez adam am so behind in my writing. Haven’t written anything in years. But do I have a story for you. Lol.

  78. goonster says:

    At this rate rico I don’t see sanchez signing a new contract with us when his current one runs out. Am pretty sure he’s kicking himself for leaving barfa.

  84. goonster says:

    The saints are marching on guys….I hate to say it but koeman is by far my manager of the year. He had done a wonderful job. I applaud him.

  87. rico says:

    All is going well for Koeman and his side right now Goonster. I personally think things will stay that way for Southampton. They are doing a lot of stuff off the pitch too in order to keep the club moving forward…

    I admire them….

  90. rico says:

    I said the other day that it’s all too easy for fans to look at the negative situations when finding a new manager, but what about looking at the ones which work.. Southampton, if they carry on as they are doing, will be a well organised club financially, but not at the expense of the team…

    Something which we have failed to do….

  92. Joaquim Moreira says:

    The referee of QPR-M.city doesn’t know the football rules.
    The “second goal” is a free kick against M.city in the penalty area.

  94. Joe says:

    Evening don’t know if this has been mentioned already this week but I got a pretty comprehensive survey from the the club during the week.
    I filled it out on Wednesday after losing a 3 nil lead on Tuesday night now I think it might only be for members but I am sure a lot of posters on here are members.
    It will give them the opportunity to vent how they feel directly to the club good or bad 🙂

  95. Joe says:

    Jm
    Seems he got it right seemly the ball has to leave the box before the ball becomes active when it’s a free kick in the box info from sky.

  99. Joe says:

    Thanks Rico but goonsters news made think I needed to free up some more time for my wife and daughter.
    Also how the are worse things in life than Arsenal been good or crap I had no heart for it even though I was reading nearly every day.

  102. Joaquim Moreira says:

    joe, city’s goalkeeper gave two consequtive shots in the ball.. Afterward, QPR’player have the ball outsider the área. So, if hwe didn’t see the 2 consecutive shots by the GK, he mist consider a clear free kick and nothing more to blow out
    Rico, city down 2-1

  105. rico says:

    I’m off folks, strictly and X factor to get through. With a dose of casualty thrown in too… Lol

    Night all, catch up tomorrow ……

  106. rico says:

    Joe, think it’s just because the site has changed webhost, bare with if you can please. I get a similar message sometimes when I try to post….

  107. Joe says:

    JM
    Seemly when it’s a free kick in the box the ball must leave the box on the the first touch if it doesn’t the free kick must be taken again.
    Who knew?

  115. Micko says:

    Joe, if your gonna get a fake top wouldn’t it make more more sense to get one with Wengers name on the back !

    I wouldn’t knock Monreal either, a left back being asked to play centre, just about wing it against the bottom sides in the PL but as we found out to our cost during the week will get found out against even the fodder teams in The CL.

    To be honest ain’t got a clue if we’re playing home or away tomorrow, am I bothered, not really, nite all.

  116. potter says:

    The Daily Mirror are running a poll on whether Merson was right to call Arsenal tactically clueless or whether Wenger is correct in saying that his critics are just bitter.So far it seems that 62% are with Wenger . Either Untold have hi-jacked the vote or is this a true reflection of the size of the split of the Arsenal support.

  118. rico says:

    Sounds to me like he cares about what Merson said, otherwise why go on about it as much?

    I wonder how many people voted…

    Morning all..

  119. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all.
    In fairness Rico I believe Arsene was just answering a question from a journalist. We know how much the press love to wind him up. I don’t suppose he is going to change now.

  122. Adam says:

    Rico. We live in the time of the sound bite. Nuance has been sacrificed for the on/off switch. One might ask if a man called Merson who gets so drunk that he slams into the back of a 30 ton lorry on a motorway claiming he didn’t see it isn’t also clueless. I have a lot of issues with what Wenger is doing tactically but can’t jump gleefully on the derision bandwagon. Is LVG clueless because he has spent over £150 million to little effect? Of Pellegrini, because his team of overpaid superstars are not performing? If Wenger can’t come up with the answers then the results will get worse and worse.
    As Nigel Winterburn said the other day during a podcast I heard, Wenger has never been a tactical manager.

  123. potter says:

    As Nigel Winterburn said the other day during a podcast I heard, Wenger has never been a tactical manager.

    And that has become more and more obvious as the Kwalitee of the players has dropped. Still the young p[layers are always first onto Twitter to tell us that they are learning from their mistakes , perhaps it’s time Wenger did.

  125. rico says:

    Adam, of course Merson is a bit of a tit who has done many things wrong off the pitch but when it comes to football and our collapse the other night, he’s spot on imo.

    I’m sure if Pelligrin continues in the same way and LvG doesn’t rectify his problems, neither will be in a job for too much longer but the latter is still building his side.

    Wenger is clearly not a tactician, but perhaps a wiser man would either employ one to help him out, or listen to someone like Bould/Keown.

    But no, he carries on regardless because he thinks he knows everything…

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