They don't deserve a top four finish!! Can we play without Robin?

But we do!!

If anyone watched the Fulham v Tiny Tott match they will know what I mean – talk about Lady Luck!!

Well, we don’t need Lady Luck anymore and it’s a good job too as we seldom get it! No way do that bunch deserve to be in the CL next season, their 3-1 scoreline was flattering to say the least and roll on February 2012 when we batter them at The Emirates!

So, back to us and the first thing I need to say is well done to our team and of course Arsene Wenger.

I believe that the victory against West Bromwich Albion was an important, massive and not only for the 3 pts but the way we played.

To me we looked as if we are very close to where we used to be, passing wise.

We moved the ball around crisply and cleanly and gave the ball away less, we also chased for the loose ball and we closed down a lot better.

I liked the pairing of Kosceinley and Vermaelen as the two central defenders, there was clearly a good understanding between them , they looked comfortable and covered one another well.

Although I miss Bacary Sagna, I thought Jenkinson has been a very good understudy, he strikes me as player that plays within himself and for a relatively inexperienced young player, he shows maturity for someone much older. I like the enthusiasm he puts into his game, I also like his forward runs down the wing but his enthusiasm to get back to his position is incredible for some one of his age.

This young man is the buy of the century, he cost just £1 Million – incredible and Arsene Wenger should take a bow. Jenkinson reminds me of Gerrard, not that one, the one in the film The Fugitive, the way he hunts down his fugitive Kimble if he gets away from him.

This lad is going to be a regular of that I’m certain!

I wrote in my last post about if we catch the leaders and I have to say that we are doing our damdest to try.

Another 3pts has moved us closer to some above us and like i said in that post the others will drop points and that has started to happen.

Vermaelen has made a good return, as in the past he often gets forward without going over the top but as with all good defenders he seems to know the right time and in this game he was rewarded with a fine goal. My concern at the moment is for Robin Van Persie, he has become a talisman for us. When he plays Arsenal play  and the game against Olympique Marseille showed that.

Our passing and movement in that game was not up to the standard needed to win games and that is my concern. Robin Van Persie is without question  quality, he appears to make the rest of the team feel comfortable when he play’s. He appears to have taken over, or should that be over taken the mantle left by Cesc Fabregas, his calmness and unique talent has helped rebuild the confidence that seemed to have left us.

Robin has taken his chances well, and we are in desperate need to find another that can fill his gap if and when he is rested or injured, Ju Park, Alex Oxlaide Chamberlain may be the players for the future but we need a player with Robins attributes, and we need that now.

With the Internationals taking place over the next fortnight, any injury to our Captain could so easily put a dampener on our present run, so with the transfer window looming forever closer, I urge Arsene Wenger to be on the lookout.

Koscienly, Vermaelen and Per Mertsacker have certainly tightened up our back line but I would still like to see another quality centre back added, Per Mertsacker is a good buy but on this showing against West Brom, Kos and Verm would be my first choice.

However, the Premier league and all the other competitions makes for an arduous season and it pays to think ahead. Arshavin has struggled to find the form of his first season with us and I can foresee his exit soon – Yossi Benayoun has fitted in quite well but he’s not young so I don’t see him being with us much longer.

Chesney appears to be Wengers first choice keeper and when asked Wenger said he has plenty of goalkeepers, my concern is are they good enough if the need arose for them to play full-time? My answer would be no, so I would make a clear out and buy quality.

Alex Song, once one of my first choice players but Alex has found the need to hold on to the ball a couple of seconds to long and in this league that’s not a good thing. He also likes to play out of trouble instead of a big hoof which is some times needed. If he can overcome this problem and with Frimpong/Coquelin there as cover, I would see how this works out over the next few months.

Theo Walcott,  well I can see why Wenger has problems with Theo,  should he try him alongside Robin or keep him on the flank and if only Theo could only cross the ball better he would always be a winger.

He shows great speed along the flanks and  at times he makes intelligent runs  but that final ball is a problem!

In fact, so much so, I wonder if when Sagna comes back maybe Jenkinson could replace Theo?

He has pace in abundance, he crosses a mean ball into the penalty area and I think he would work well with Sagna. Jenkinson also defends well too so nothing lost there…

As for Theo up front with The Man, I would be surprised.

Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey has been with us for a while now and he fills the space quite well but should we expect more from him?

Aaron has come back from a bad break and although progressed well,  something still seems to be lacking. Is there room for both in our squad, or will one be off loaded soon once Jack comes back?

Chamakh it has to be said has failed to impress, he has had many chances but has not shown the form of his first six months with us and I can only see him leaving real soon.

Gervinho he is getting better and better but is still settling in, I see him as a good one for the here and now. Santos has some nice touches and some good forward runs and likes to be where the action is but lacks the discipline that’s needed for a left back.  He too often leaves a lot of work for his team mates when he ventures forward and struggles to get back. He also commits himself to a tackle to early and seems to struggle with being part of the defensive unit.

That needs to change, Gibbs had made this position his own and at present will take it right back when his fit.

Back to Robin Van Persie, can we play without him is the question?

The answer has to be that we will have to learn to!

Because, if we can’t, our season will finish as it started.

We must find a way just in case Robin should get injured, we need another player that can step in if this should be the case and we need that player to make that move soon.

Robins history with injuries doesn’t just go away, so a solution needs to be found and soon.

If we have a player that can do just that, our climb up the table will continue…..

COYG.

Written by Steve Palmer.

107 thoughts on “They don't deserve a top four finish!! Can we play without Robin?

  1. fddfg says:

    Are you kidding? Jenkinson as a winger? Pace in abundance?

    Mate, your view of football is much too simplified, naive and one dimensional.

    I don’t particularly like Tottneham either, but at the moment, they are above us in the table and so deserve to be in hte CL more than we do.

  2. rico says:

    WordPress!! grrr

    Morning all, nice one Steve, sorry about the little addition.

    Regarding RvP, unless Ju plays and starts scoring goals I think Wenger needs to buy a goal scorer in any case, We need to be able to atke a bit of pressure off him. He says we have Theo and Gerv, but only one of them will be with us in Jan…

  3. TT says:

    Jenkinson is a RB first and foremost and quite frankly if the boy keeps progressing like this he will give Sagna a run for his money in 2 years. He already is a much better at crossing the ball than Sagna and is staying on after normal training to work With Pat Rice who him self once was a fullback.

    As for a another CB no we don’t need one IMHO. We already have 3 very good ones and buying a 4 world class CB would be far back on my agenda. What we need desperately now is a striker that can help RvP carry the goal scoring duty’s.

    As for midfield I would take M’vila if he was available, we have good cover in midfield but it’s creativity upfront that we need and Hazard or Gotze would be excellent buy’s.

  4. Vikram Singh Negi says:

    Hi,

    Nice article, but I have to disagree with you on some points.

    Firstly, I would want Arshavin to stay. Him, along with Rosicky, have a lot to offer, not as first teamers, but as experienced reserved.
    Last season, our second string was weak which meant we dropped points against Wigan etc.
    This time around, with the likes of Coquelin, Benny, Arshavin, Per/kos and Rozza, we are much better.

    Also, Chamakh deserves our faith right now. Last season, he kept us in the title run when RVP was out. We waited 2 years for Nasri’s 6 months of glory. Chamakh has already given us 6 good months. Maybe we can support him through his tough time.
    And mind you, it is not easy being Chamakh right now. He is an understudy to the world’s best striker right now. He hardly gets any gametime and when he does, he is asked to hit the ground running. And most of his gametime is with the second string team which hardly have played with each other.

  5. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning VSN,
    This is a site where its ok to dissagree, i can understand what your suggesting with Arshaven and Rosiski, but i had visions of squad players of, i don’t like to say it, but better quality, i cannot see the benefits of reasonable reserves when we can buy quality squad players who would fit in when we rotate or for injury reasons.

  6. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning TT,
    Wenger brought Henry as a winger but changed him to the centre and we all know what happened to him, Jenks is one of those players that could play anywhere. As for another CB we are paying Squilly Wages do you want him in the team or what, me personally do not, so i would move him on and replace with Quality the season has a lot of ups and downs and we cannot afford to field a weakness

  7. stevepalmer1 says:

    FDDFG, we may differ in our oppinions, but Spuds deserve it more than us, as McEnroe said “you cannot be serious”

  8. TT says:

    Don’t know where you got the idea that I considered Squiallcy a world class CB……..He is a squad player nothing more. Have 4 world class CB and one of them at least will go stale as he wont get enough time playing, defense is the last place you rotate and only when absalutly needed. A settled defense that plays together all the time is what we want and with 4 top CB one at least wont get the time! We have Bartley to come back and there is JD plus young Miquel so IMO we have enough at CB. Its creativity we need now.

  9. stevepalmer1 says:

    TT, you missunderstood me , never would i consider squill as that just pointing out that he is still on the books, and for me a waste, if Cahill comes on the market cheap, you wouldn’t be interested then

  10. allezkev says:

    SteveP another very very good post.
    Really enjoyed it.
    You made some very interesting points.
    And i don’t agree with any of them… 😀
    Only joking mate….
    Off to read the comments….

  11. goonster says:

    Steve don’t feed the trolls on…FDSG or whatever you call yourself.. Don’t come back until you’ve got something decent to say. Afternoon good people.

  12. allezkev says:

    TT/SP, i would take Cahill in a heartbeat.
    But i have a horrible feeling that the Chavs or Arabia might muscle in for him in January.
    And if it went to the summer, they would just blow us out of the water financially for Cahill, on a Bosman.

  13. goonster says:

    Hi ya Kev….the interlull is hitting me real bad my man. Can’t believe I won’t get to see my “glorious gunners” this week and next. Who watches international footie? What a borefest.

  14. allezkev says:

    Afternoon Gooners btw,
    Afternoon Your Highness Rico.
    And afternoon Stan. Chirpy as always!
    Plenty of tittle-tattle on the rumourmill already.
    Whose your flavour of the month Stan?

  15. Lee says:

    Howdy Gooners….someone just told me about the Subotic injury! Elbowed and face smashed to bits, metal plates etc!!!

  16. TT says:

    Ok a lot of people want Cahill….get him and we have 4 very good CB’s. So the question is whom will you bench and how long do you think the CB that is not getting a regular start will be happy collecting splinters? Remember a world class CB will have plenty of suitors and wont be happy when not playing.

    Cahill Mert Kozzer and Verminator would be a formidable team I agree but we already have 3 of them and only 1 top striker so i believe our priority’s are no longer centered on the defense but up front.

  17. goonster says:

    Spot on TT….we need a good CF not a CB. Sheeesh kev sometimes you baffle me. Where the heck are you going put 4 good cBs…..you can only play 2 at a time. Podolski looks good. Maybe he ll come to us in january. Heard steve rowley was spotted in the stands at dortmond’s last game. Goetze scored twice. Man that kid is class. Get him arsene. Enough dilly dallying already.

  18. agirlagunner says:

    steve, top write. It’s wonderful to speaking about our team with some genuine (v. wishful) positivity now. Chamakh has shown us that he can score goals; that he also scores for Morocco shows that this funk is really just in his head. There are others I would offload before him. But he needs to grab his chances and make a case for his return to proper first team action.

    Lee, I saw that bit on Subotic. How awful.

    Hello, AK 🙂 I doubt we’d get a defender now that we have Per. The Chavs and Manchavs are just snapping all the good ones up. And I thought, goonster, you liked Granero?? 😉

  19. Lee says:

    all ok Stan, loads of running around at weekends with my sons football practice/matches so dont get on here as much as i’d like…but always read the post etc.
    The internationalzzzzz really bore the shit out of me, struggle to get excited with terry/cole rooney et al, pricks in any team!!!

  20. goonster says:

    Tell me about it lee. I don’t get the international football crap…..somebody some where pull the plug on this shit. If I see rooney’s c*nty face smiling back at me from the screen I might hurl the damned thing out of my window. Hi ya agag, yeah I love granero. Still do. It wouldn’t hurt tp snap up another german wonder kid would it.

  21. W.A.T.H says:

    Stan, Just cos what fddfg wrote doesnt fit in with what most think on the above article it doesnt mean you have to be rude to the fella….! It’s his opinion and he wasn’t rude and didnt call anyone names so lets do the same….!

  22. allezkev says:

    Stan/TT regarding centre-backs, yes i can see your points, but they can play anywhere across the back-four if we suffer injuries, and/or, even def/mid, as Martin Keown did when he came back to Arsenal in 1993.
    I don’t think we’ll get Cahill anyway.
    But a forward/striker would be my priority as well, something i was banging on about all summer Stan, sheeesh….. 🙄 😉

  23. allezkev says:

    Hello Lee/ Wath/ Agag…
    Looks as if Arsenal are looking to get out of their shirt sponsorship with Emirates.
    Not before time…

  24. allezkev says:

    Stan, i agree with you, Goetze looks a very good player and a lot cheaper than Hazard.
    And suprisingly Stan, i also agree on Podolski.
    Blimey agreeing with you twice in one day.
    What is wrong with me… 😯

  25. goonster says:

    Yeah my bad….am sorry FDDG(whatever) but you should know this is an arsenal blog and we don’t big up scums here.

  26. allezkev says:

    Yeah, i’m really worried Lee, especially as i’ve not been smoking anything today…
    I need Spunktrum back on here to get me annoyed… 😉

  27. goonster says:

    yeah its weird kev, you agreeing with me twice a spate of an hour! Are yo ok my man? Did you bump your head while sniffing them roots lee got for you on a cheap!*winks*

  28. Micko says:

    Afternoon all,
    StevieP, I think you covered everything there, just missed the weather forecast off at the end.
    I hope wenger brings in a top striker in january, but I wouldn’t bet on it, remember back a couple of seasons ago when rvp was out injured and we were all crying out for a striker in the window, instead he put arshavin up front for 10 odd games in which time i think he only got the one goal, he wouldn’t go out and get chamahk as he knew he could get him on a free in the summer and he stated bendtner would be like a new signing when he came back from injury, he came back in late jan and took about 6 weeks to get fully fit again and the season fizzled out.
    Wenger has the opportunity do things differently this time round but i wouldn’t hold my breath.

  29. W.A.T.H says:

    Lee I said that in the summer, The Drog in an Arsenal shirt would have a field day with the chances we make…! I’d have in in a flash…! 18th months of the drog would be spot on…!

    Agree Stan noone is allowed to say anything nice about those swampy Kuntz down the rd but all other opinions are accepted 🙂

    Still cant tell the fella to F-O though…….!! 😉

  30. goonster says:

    my fear WATH for us is wenger might end up not signing anyone. We ve seen this before. I really hope he proves me wrong though.

  31. goonster says:

    Hey mama bear…..didn’t see ya there. How’s the outing? Had fun huh? Goddamn this interlull is killing me you guys. Somebody scrap international footie. Its so boring.*sobs*

  32. rico says:

    hi goonster, i see you think wenger won’t sign anyone, does that include the guy from Madrid who you said was definately signing for us? 😉 😉

    Lee 😆

  33. goonster says:

    Yeah yeah rub it in rico but I bet ya I ll have the last laugh. Richard law was seen in madrid that’s gotta hold some water? I just know we ll sign granero.

  34. rico says:

    But isn’t he the same guy who was supposed to be sorting out us signing Ricky Allevez (spelling) and Juan Mata??

    And we know what happened to them 😉

  35. goonster says:

    Shut up WATH for all we know he could be talking to the spanish buggers right about now. I just know we ll get granero in january.

  36. goonster says:

    Lee do that…I ll give anything to see kev being shawcrossed! Hey kev what do you weigh my man? Maybe you could slap that grin off monkey faced bale during the NLD.

  37. goonster says:

    WATH I ll bet you 50p we ll sign granero in January. You know what I don’t want your money. If we do sign him you change your name to “goonster is god” do we have a deal?

  38. W.A.T.H says:

    Either or Rico but I know Stan will accept them both 😉

    Am off things to do lata….!

    Stanly you behave…!

  39. goonster says:

    Am sure you guys….this is not a drill. Mata fell through cause the mug handling the transfer goofed up. Richard law won’t. Besides granero wants to make the Spanish team for the euro. No way he ll sit on the bench at Madrid while he could be running the show at arsenal. Get ready to change your name WATH.

  40. TT says:

    Meh don’t know about Granero. But fuck get me Gotze please, that would be a top top signing. mind you Granero and Gotze would be even better 😉

  41. rico says:

    TT – Wenger has denied our intrest in Granero but apparently, when asked about Gotze, he wouldn’t deny the rumour……

    AK, how are those two still working??

  42. allezkev says:

    Rico, they’re a pair of tossers, but they do get in some interesting guests.
    Keyes is a total arse. I can’t stand him.

  43. goonster says:

    Rico wenger denied Bfg too. Days before he signed him. He even ruled out signing a CB don’t forget. You just wait…you ll be sorry. Hey kev that ll be a sight to behold. What number ll you be spotting? 18 I guess?

  44. rico says:

    I can’t stand them either AK, couple of over egoed, two faced knobs!

    goonster, you best chill, it’s only the first day…..

  45. rico says:

    I wish Lee, but she did flag Suarz offside when so many others would have not apparently, haven’t seen it though

  46. TT says:

    LOL top lines woman there……shame about some of the old fogies that can’t accept woman referees and line women, stupid old git’s.

  47. rico says:

    Totally agree, he’s still be looked at for his comments to Evra isn’t he?? Talk about one cheating little turd to another……

  48. rico says:

    Spot on TT – it’s 2011, some old farts need to really get with the times……

    I wish more women would get involved at the top, the only other one i know of is Wendy Tomms but think she may have retired now…..

  49. stevepalmer1 says:

    They don’t make a bad cup of tea either AK, just told the Mrs to make one and its got her back up, so on that, i reckon that they will take over the world, and we’ll be their playthings. should have left Emily locked up.

  50. rico says:

    Fergie following Wenger then…..

    PSV Eindhoven starlet Andreas Pereira has confirmed that he is joining Manchester United, as revealed exclusively by skysports.com.

    We broke the news on Saturday that United were set to clinch a deal for the 15-year-old – rated as one of the best players for his age in Europe.

  51. stevepalmer1 says:

    You have to hand it to Fergie, theres not a great deal of messing about with him when he wants sombody.

  52. rico says:

    AK, you are treading a very fine line 😉 😉

    Nah – in for the evening Steve and yes, Fergie is bloody good in the transfer business – look how he went about it in the summer – no messing..

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