Arsenal - 2007/2008 - Official thread

radikal_dj · 13 Aug 2007 at 13:04

Fantastic start,

0-1 down, 2-1 up! I was at the game yesterday vs Fulham and also attended the pre-season Emirates cup matches and from what I have observed, I have to say I am relatively re-assured by this years team and believe we have a very good chance at winning the league, the FA cup and might I be so bold as to say, The Champions League.

Of course, it's far too early to be completely sure, but one thing this Arsenal team has, is youth, speed, spirit and a good mix, all the ingredients to make be made champions of whatever challenge they face.

The only criticisms that I have, are shared possibly by most of my fellow gunners are sometimes the apparant lack of desire to pull the trigger when a chance stares us in the face, Hleb, Rosicky, Fabregas and Flamini* are all guilt of that, they need to develop more of a killer instinct when infront of goal and not take too long to get a shot off. Against Fulham yesterday there were several, if not more, chances for easy shot attempts and the player on the ball * almost froze in hesitation to shoot, they have got to start being more driven by hitting the net and not just getting assists.

Based on the recent performances i've seen, my eleven would consist of:

---------------------------------Almunia--------------------------------

-------Eboue--------Gallas--------------------Toure---------Clichy------

---------------------------------Fabregas-------------------------------

-----------------Rosicky---------------------------Hleb------------------

-------Walcott-------------------------------------------Eduardo--------

---------------------------------Van Persie------------------------------

Wallpaper

Gilly · 13 Aug 2007 at 13:08

radikal_dj said:
...we have a very good chance at winning the league, the FA cup and might I be so bold as to say, The Champions League.

lol

Richard_16v · 13 Aug 2007 at 13:09

Man I need some of what you've been taking

Gooner14 · 13 Aug 2007 at 13:36

Gilly said:
lol

As long as he means separately I see no problem with what he has said. I'm fairly confident this season, I feel we just need a winger.

That line up is wrong in several places imo

Gilly · 13 Aug 2007 at 13:41

LeaguePosition14 said:
As long as he means separately I see no problem with what he has said.

He didn't make that clear though. Reads to me like he expects to win the treble.

Winning one would be a very good season for Arsenal.

Twinblade · 13 Aug 2007 at 13:46

I would be getting very concerned about Lehmann. Arsenal were very lucky to get a win out of the Fulham game yesterday.

Gooner14 · 13 Aug 2007 at 13:53

Gilly said:
He didn't make that clear though. Reads to me like he expects to win the treble.

Winning one would be a very good season for Arsenal.

True, it does. I just didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to think we would win all three

I'd certainly be happy to win one of those 3.

Twinblade said:
I would be getting very concerned about Lehmann. Arsenal were very lucky to get a win out of the Fulham game yesterday.

One mistake.

I don't think we were particularly lucky, we deserved it imo. How it wasn't a penalty in the first half I don't know, I was at the other end of the ground and saw it. If that had of been given it would have been far more comfortable imo.

radikal_dj · 13 Aug 2007 at 14:30

Friends, I must clarify that I hope and believe that Arsenal have a very good chance of winning either the League, the FA cup or CL. It would be a ridiculous claim for anyone to announce that after week 1 of the season, their team will win the treble.

sam83uk · 13 Aug 2007 at 14:35

Van Persie wont do as well has Henry.. Walcott is a waste of space, he should join the olympic sprint team

Gilly · 13 Aug 2007 at 14:41

sam83uk said:
Van Persie wont do as well has Henry..

:/

Who in the history of the Premiership has??

I'd suggest you read and take in more posts in here. You'll learn a lot - not least a) not stating the obvious and b) not slating players before they've matured enough to have a chance.

red11 · 13 Aug 2007 at 14:43

sam83uk said:
Van Persie wont do as well has Henry.. Walcott is a waste of space, he should join the olympic sprint team

Walcott hasn't been given a real opportunity yet and until then I think I'll reserve judgement. Van Persie is a class player, he can go on to become as equally important to Arsenal as Henry was to them.

Gooner14 · 13 Aug 2007 at 14:48

sam83uk said:
Van Persie wont do as well has Henry.. Walcott is a waste of space, he should join the olympic sprint team

Well Van Persie actually out scored and got more assits than Henry last year so he's already two up on Henry.

Linoge said:
Walcott hasn't been given a real opportunity yet and until then I think I'll reserve judgement. Van Persie is a class player, he can go on to become as equally important to Arsenal as Henry was to them.

Walcott isn't suited to the wings imo, he needs to play up top. He looked ok yesterday, and had a good shot at the final whistle, which for some reason the ref gave as a goal kick, when it was clearly deflected. A lot of players (Cesc, RvP, Henry...) say he is amazing in training, but there again so was Gus Ceasar...

NokkonWud · 13 Aug 2007 at 14:50

If not more so. Van Persie just seems able to do things I don't think Henry could. Van Persie seems to have more burning desire than Henry which means he gets a little hot headed, but all great players do.

What Henry made in pace Van Persie does in other ways, in a few years I think VP will really be something special.

Clipsey · 13 Aug 2007 at 14:53

Having watched the game yesterday I was fearing the 'same ol Arsenal' - not having that killer instinct or desire to win the game. BUT to my upmost pleasant suprise we won

Never giving up and creating tons of chances!! I still think we need to sign a couple of players such as a left sided winger and another reserve right sided midfielder. Helb (Clumsy) is far too inconsistant for me and Walcott although showing signs of really coming along I still think he is yet to mature enough to comand a first team start. Great to see RVP fit and ready for the season and from the pre-season flashs Da Silva looks very promising, specially having someone up top with buckets of speed

I for one can see Arsenal making a strong challange for one of the cups and being a thorn in Man Utd's title challenge!
Would not mind seeing the new Polish goalie take a few starts either....anyone know much of him?

slinxy · 13 Aug 2007 at 15:41

With our younger players hopefully they will be more hungry to make an impact and less show boating, therefore we should be able to kill of games.

Henry was an one off, they will never be another arsenal player like him, just like they will never be another bergkamp or wright but van persie should be a good player for us.

CliffyG · 13 Aug 2007 at 16:12

I definately think we aren't the underdogs that we are pencilled in as and could well pull off a bit of a surprise this season (probably not a treble though

). It's surprising how we've been written off already as our first team is as good as any. Radikal that team is awful though lol.

My team would be 4-4-2:

Almunia (maybe the new guy if he's any good)
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Eboue/Hleb Cesc Giblet Rosicky
RvP Eduardo

And if 4-5-1:
Almunia (maybe the new guy if he's any good)
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Eboue Cesc Giblet Rosicky
Hleb
RvP

Depending on how Eduardo turns out i think our 4-4-2 formation is pretty strong and as long as our defence can work out the jitters i don't see any major problems.

Walcott clearly needs more time, must admit i am a little disappointed as i thought he'd look far more productive than he did on Sunday.

Gilly · 13 Aug 2007 at 16:18

CliffyG said:
I definately think we aren't the underdogs that we are pencilled in as and could well pull off a bit of a surprise this season

It probably wouldn't be that big a surprise for Arsenal to run the top 2 fairly close and win a cup, but I can't see them seriously challenging the other 2 for the title.

CliffyG · 13 Aug 2007 at 16:23

Gilly said:
It probably wouldn't be that big a surprise for Arsenal to run the top 2 fairly close and win a cup, but I can't see them seriously challenging the other 2 for the title.

I did say "bit of a surprise"

. The way some people are talking though Arsenal are a spent force and on the decline, i'm pretty sure that isn't the case though

.

slinxy · 13 Aug 2007 at 17:30

players come and players go, but class will always be class... come january if we are in trouble I sure the chairman will get his wallet out.

georges · 13 Aug 2007 at 18:23

I'm thinking 3rd and a cup (At least semis/finals).