This is a post Arsenal Andrew made earlier today. I believe it deserves its own blog. Nice to see you Andrew,absence makes the heart…………….and all that .
I suspect it may take a few years for the enormity of all Arsene Wenger’s achievements to be fully digested, absorbed, understood and appreciated. Much as the great artists often only earned full recognition once they had stopped working, so too may Arsene only finally get the universal acknowledgement that most here feel he richly deserves.
Yesterday’s signing, aside from strengthening the side, is possibly more significant in its value as a statement of intent. Building on 2013′s Ozil signature, the timing, rhyming as it does with the PUMA deal and kit launch, the sense of all our ducks finally being in a row is now overwhelming.
Not only do we have the firepower pitchside, but the ability to add to our arsenal, season in, season out, thanks to the outstanding commercial work Kroenke has allowed to take place behind the scenes and so triumphantly executed by Gazidis and co.
Clearly Arsene will rightly go down as the architect of Arsenal in the 21st Century but the role of Kroenke and the success of Gazidis should never be forgotten. The euphoria most Gooners are feeling in the summer of 2014 is in no small measure thanks to all three, in spite of the vicious lies posted against their name by those who chose not to see the wood for the trees.
A small number of us called this exactly right – not over recent months but throughout several years. Years when we were attacked, belittled and derided.
We are probably more entitled than most to savour the coming success.
We’ll certainly know how to appreciate it.
Positively Arsenal 
Morgan Schneiderlin has the better name, just. Otherwise I’m really not qualified to comment, not having seen enough or much of either player, or Bender. Not forgetting that I know nothing. Khedira could do with a haircut, that’d help.
Khedira looked just as good when he came on in the Germany France QF as he did in the SF.
If the much admired Ancelotti and Lowe were both happy to play him in big games when he was clearly not fit then I am happy to conclude that he must have something about him.
LikeLike
Rantetta, I can’t believe they let that idiot into the Puma launch. I especially like when he interviews the guy who sounds like he has a huge wad of phlegm on the ready. The old guy who looks like Rocky’s trainer. You’ll know him when you see him.
LikeLike
George, I’d be delighted and do think Khedira is a really good player. But he’ll be quite expensive and there might be options as good or better we can afford more easily. (I cheer us spending but why throw good money away!) But I do agree with Gains on an important point. Khedira is much more box to box and his game is a bit like Ramsey’s without the goal scoring. I think we might benefit from a more complementary and physical player (with less concerning an injury history) like Javi Martinez or Luiz Gustavo for the similar fee and wages. At a lower level there are options like Schneiderlin or Lars Bender too who might be good, but I am not sure. What I would like to see is a player who is willing to be disciplined and cover when Ramsey goes forward along with Gibbs/Monreal and Debuchy (presumably). I know Gustavo’s standing is at a low point after the Brazil walloping, but I thought he was the only one trying to play defensively and can’t be responsible for Dante being poor, Fernandinho having a shocker and David Luiz, well, being David Luiz, all without the chief organizer and captain in Silva.
But don’t get me wrong. If we get Khedira, I’ll be thrilled because the boss would be spending to get the player he wants in there.
LikeLike
Gains
As Adrian Clarke wrote in his piece this signing means that when one of Sanchez or Walcott or both are on the pitch they will constantly be creating that extra five or ten yards for the midfielders to play in for every game. Can’t wait to see how they do (I expect a Nov/Dec return for Walcott).
Vela seems happy, settled and confident at Real Sociadad. Be interesting to see how he compares to the la Liga superstars next season.
LikeLike
Diaby is a theoretical construct at this point. Is he the same Diaby as before? And what was the previous Diaby game to game? He had oodles of talent and great physical gifts. But at the best of times he was still inconsistent, which is understandable as he was a young player still developing and struggling between various injuries. He’s been out so long and it has been so long since he put together a string of games and had a consistent run, that I don’t think it is clear what sort of a player he is or would be at this moment in time. Hopefully he is healthy and will get a chance in preseason to develop some form and match fitness. If he does, I am sure AW will play him as he sees appropriate. But it certainly isn’t a reason to avoid getting the best possible midfielder we are interested in. We’ve tried that a couple summers ago when Song was sold and we didn’t replace him because of Diaby. I’m not sure we can really afford to forgo the chance to strengthen and build some momentum by finding the right player in that area to start, if possible, alongside Ramsey this season.
LikeLike
LG , Diaby is a better player than any of the players we have discussed. However he was, and never will be a holding MF.
As a B2B he is as Gains says > Sami.
LikeLike
Limestonegunner July 11, 2014 at 7:21 pm
I know Gustavo’s standing is at a low point after the Brazil walloping, but I thought he was the only one trying to play defensively and can’t be responsible for Dante being poor, Fernandinho having a shocker and David Luiz, well, being David Luiz, all without the chief organizer and captain in Silva.
++
apologies… but thats not an accurate reflection of what happened on the night. and im happy to discuss it and go goal by goal with replays and prove it as long as everyone is ok with it…it is a gross distortion of reality to lay the blame of such a collapse on one player when on the night the fullbacks and def mids were non existant……
i have mentioned it before but noone has been able to counter it. it is only at goal 5 where you can attribute direct/indirect fault to luiz for abandoning his position. the arguement that as standing captain he should be organiser becomes null and void at goal 2 after which everyone collapsed…nothing you can do there…its a matter of each individual to find the ‘leader’ within him and respond…….
LikeLike
Hunter, LG named 4 other players , so how the fuck do you arrive at “it is a gross distortion of reality to lay the blame of such a collapse on one player ” HE DIDN’T Seems like you are just looking for an argument to me.
LikeLike
True, Fin. I’ve just never been a huge fan of Khedira, especially the way he’s played at Real Madrid. Next to Xabi Alonso he looks a bit cumbersome and superfluous. As if he’s there to provide cover because they don’t have a proper holding midfielder. From what I’ve seen of him, his passing is not prolific and his defending is not the best either.
LikeLike
You don’t play in MF for Germany if you’re a bit shit.
LikeLike
I cannot think about any other prospective signings at this moment. I’m too excited at the signing of one of my favourite non-Arsenal players.
I always hoped that one day they might land one of Vidal, Sanchez or Isla. And they did!
What’s even more exciting is that the player himself seems aware of the levels that Biesla and Wenger have reached in the game. He’s a lucky player to have had such great coaches.
Sanchez! He’s quick!
LikeLike
PG, I agree he is not a holding midfielder. He’s a box to box and physically dynamic and technically talented midfielder. I also think we need a more defensively disciplined player alongside Ramsey to get the best out of his game, and I wonder actually if Khedira is too similar (but inferior in attacking production). As far as Diaby’s talent–I’m with you. But AW did say he was counting on Diaby to play so we didn’t need to replace Song. So all I am saying is that I hope we don’t have to do that or don’t choose to do that this time around. I’d much rather get a really good player who might have to rotate with Diaby if the latter were to find form and fitness. We have no idea, either, if Diaby is the same player. When you are 27 and have had your career interrupted the way he has, I am not sure you can consider him to be at the same level he was at 24. We’ll have to see what happens and, I suggest, plan for anything we do get from Diaby to be a bonus for next season.
LikeLike
noone is looking for an arguement..i said im happy to discuss. not once did it cross my mind to approach this as an arguement or any kind of aggression as your response implies….
david luiz, well being david luiz
thats what prompted me to comment, because it referred to that night basically, and i dont understand what the problem is to get it right.
LikeLike
He has a strange little moustache – I cannot see a chap like that fitting in at the club
LikeLike
Hunter, George pointed out the obvious there!
But I do look for your goal by goal dissection of the match, since I recall at least once or twice when Fernandinho was dispossessed or made a poor pass deep in his own midfield and then didn’t bother to try and get back and defend the German swift counterattack. I’m certainly not saying Gustavo had a great game, but it was difficult for him to play four positions.
LikeLike
You don’t play in MF for Germany if you’re a bit shit.
but you can play cb if youre a donkey
LikeLike
It is a new moustache, Anicoll, and a very strange look. I agree it would be an impediment. But if we pay him enough wages and put a clean shave in his contract…!
LikeLike
Yeah, Fin, those five or ten yards are crucial for all the little mismatches we can create all over the pitch. It also helps keep teams pinned back, which is a huge help for the back line and holding midfielder. Not having that is what eventually killed us last season.
LikeLike
There is too much of the Ronald Colman about him – I suspect caddishness
Admittedly sans facial growth he is a vigorous physical performer – hmmm I’m wavering
LikeLike
Anicoll, let’s split the difference and go for Javi Martinez, then. He seems a useful player and has been relegated to the bench and back four in Bayern ala Guardiola.
LikeLike
G69
I’m probably alone in never having seen a Rocky film, so I don’t know who the “flemish” guy is. Worse still, I was too late in replying to an email invite for the Puma launch. Sold out, said Eventbrite. I’ve been gutted ever since. I’ve lost quite a lot of sleep over that one. (Smiley face with huge tears, indeed, there’s been no smiling since. Actually, that’s a lie. After all, we’ve made a rather tasty signing, innit). Still, for me that would’ve been an event to savour for the rest of my life.
Do any of you have links of videos from Carnaby St, please?
LikeLike
And both are tall
I am dubious about the holding midfielder is as much as a good midfield players could and should be able to play in every position
Tall however is not a thing you can learn
And we are short
LikeLike
lsg i dont know what prompted to george to suggest i wanted to argue i just wanted to go through the goals and bust the myth that sideshow bob was the main culprit as its been suggested in popular media as well as here. .
im glad you re looking forward to it
– 1st goal – set piece, corner, well worked as 3-4 germans screen luiz to release muller or whoever is being marked at first post. ball is delivered at penalty spot to an unmarked muller who scores with a placed shot from the side of his foot. Noone from brasil defense has followed with the exception of luiz who is chasing but its too late. perhaps keeper could have done slightly better.
– 2nd goal – please watch at marcelo… the guy is ridiculous. luiz and dante push up and maicon follows them while marcelo follows the german runner who is doing parallel run in the box. ball goes ot the runner who squares to klose. takes the first shot cesar blocks but sends it straight back to klose.
– 3rd goal – marcello again is on the right and allows a very easy parallel pass at the edge of the box. the defensive mid ( fernandinho) MUST get that…. he misses it.. ball falls to kroos. connects well. goal.
– 4th fernandinho gets dispossessed after dante puts him in trouble. germans play quick one two. another goal.
at goal 5 you can blame luiz for abandoning his position and missing oncoming hummels ( i think)…but this happens at midfield…there still some way till goal is scored.
– 6th – marcelo gets humiliated again…lahm is inside the box alone with time space to shoot or choose where to roll the assist. two oncoming germans…nothing the cbs can do there when noone form midfield is tracking their runs
– 7th – great finish but cesar is kneeling and shoudlnt get beaten form that angle. people blaming luiz for not following shurle are naive…its already 6-0 ….what defence are we talking about at 6-0…they all want to go home from goal 2 …
LikeLike
I don’t think we need a classic holding midfielder. I just think we need a younger, quicker, and more physical Arteta. Height is important as well, as you suggest, simply because we don’t have a lot of it.
LikeLike
.” I just think we need a younger, quicker, and more physical Arteta ” Just? JUST? fucking just????? Good luck with that.
LikeLike
I’d rather have Ramsey free to range forward when our fullbacks are overlapping. I can think of no midfielder I would prefer to go forward over Ramsey in those situations, so I want someone who will stay back and cover the wings on the counter and shield our CB’s.
LikeLike
But Diaby isn’t short, and his game against Liverpool at Klanfield, having not previously played for awhile, shows he’s still the business, (albeit; occasionally).
When Abou last played, entering the field as a sub, did you here our fans chanting his name non stop for about 20 mins? Brought tears to my eyes.
I make a point of not debating who’d be best for what position because, tbh, I simply don’t know. Abou Diaby is a known quantity, a known known, as opposed to an unknown known, or some such shit. (Whadoo I know?)
LikeLike
LG Morgan Schneiderlin is that man.
LikeLike
I didn’t say it was easy. I love Arteta. You are mistaking my use of just, PG.
But we need some new dimensions and youthful energy there. Even when he was young, Arteta wasn’t very fast.
LikeLike
Sounds good to me PG. And he would be cheaper than Khedira. I’d be happy with that.
LikeLike
– 8th goal ….ozil shows pity respect and great heart and class at the same time. im 100% certain he missed it on purpose, because at 8-0 the brasilians would have invaded the pitch
(plus the ones outisde the stadium) and god knows what would happen….
LikeLike
Rantetta, he isn’t a known known. How many games have we seen him play in the last two seasons? Anyone who has played that little is at least a bit unknown.
LikeLike
Hunter, interesting account. As you will note, I did not solely blame Luiz. I included him as culpable among 4 players. I also note that you don’t put a great deal of blame in your goal by goal analysis onto Gustavo, which was exactly my point. I won’t say he had a good game, but it was nowhere near as bad as the other four I mentioned and you, rightly, point out Marcelo’s vagrancy in defense. But to be fair to Marcelo–that’s also his game and with Neymar out, there was a need for some kind of creation from the fullbacks.
LikeLike
Same can be said about David Luiz and Fred playing for Brazil, George.
LikeLike
Maybe, Limes,
AD24 may only have played 2 or 3 times in said period, but when he played, I’d known he’d be wonderful!
Don’t hit me.
Er, Coquelin?
Clutching at straws?
Taking the piss?
LikeLike
No Gains It couldn’t., because Germany is not Brazil. You have to be good to get in that MF. Brazil dont have a striker of any worth to speak of.hence Fred.Germany are knee deep in world class midfielder s.
LikeLike
Hey, here’s hoping, Rantetta. But hoping isn’t the best plan is all.
LikeLike
LG Schneiderlin would be at least as much as Sami, But the wages would be less.
LikeLike
Any game time Abou gets will be as Ramsey’s relief. 10-15 games would be great.
LikeLike
I agree with George. Schneiderlin was the man of the match when we played them at St. Mary’s last season.
LikeLike
Yes, total cost is lower. Fee is high because Southhampton aren’t chumps when they sell, it seems.
Agree with you about the role he could/should have as Ramsey relief.
LikeLike
Let’s hope they are willing to sell, then. They’ve sold several already and might not be able to part with more or need the money.
LikeLike
‘ I just think we need a younger, quicker, and more physical Arteta ” Just? JUST? fucking just????? Good luck with that.’
i will borrow ranteta’s phrase : dont hit me.
cesc ?
LikeLike
Yes, Ramsey’s relief sounds good.
Having said that (here we go), I saw Arsène answer a question about JW10’s future role in the side. AW replied “deep lying midfield… Spraying balls forward”.
So Jack simply needs to Grow a pair (of longer legs), then he’ll fit the criteria of DM and Tall.
Taxi for ranty, methinks.
LikeLike
btw
Hello Zimpaul
Hope you’ve been enjoying the World Cup.
LikeLike
Isn’t the current incarnation of Modric the model for LJW going forwards?
LikeLike
Just asked my Real Madrid mate who is as football mad as me and he believes Khedira is solid defensively, but very limited offensively. Personally, he always struck me as a Frank Rijkaard type with less skill. Meaning that he’s strong and can plow through people, but what he does with the ball is not all that great.
LikeLike
George: “No Gains It couldn’t., because Germany is not Brazil. You have to be good to get in that MF. Brazil dont have a striker of any worth to speak of.hence Fred.Germany are knee deep in world class midfielders”
Low was playing Lahm in the holding role, which suggests Germany maybe doesn’t have many options in that particular role.
LikeLike
Being mad on football sadly doesn’t mean you know shit about it. Gains. Just read the comments section on blogs as evidence.
So I think I’ll happily leave it up to the man who does know.
LikeLike
When Schwienie and Khedira were both fully fit and the games were crucial, he played Khedira over Lahm in central midfield.
LikeLike