Hi, I just signed up to these forums and I was wondering how my fellow gooners believe we will line up this season assuming we sign Cazorla and Sahin, with everyone fit (wishful thinking, I know ).

Firstly, welcome to the (most sensible Arsenal) forum mate. You will find us to be a reasonable yet passionate bunch. I hope you stick around.

Regarding our ideal best eleven line-up:

1. I go for Mertesacker over TommyV because TommyV and Koscielny are similar, but I like what Per offers despite his pace. On the basis of performances from end of last season and preseason, I am not very impressed with Vermaelen - I feel he needs to put his head down and work a bit in training.
2. Santos over Gibbs - both are weak defensively but the Samba magic works better offensively for me.
(I understand that both the above are controversial selections).
3. Assumption : Theo and RvP sign on. Then no doubt RvP plays in front. I would prefer Theo over Gervinho and Oxlade Chamberlain for his pace and experience respectively.
4. Podolski on LW, even though its not his best position - AW wants to play him more centrally, which means to me, that he would have a license to drift in from the left.
5. Wilshere over Arteta, but this is only because Wilshere is younger and has a lot more potential than Arteta. Ofcourse, injuries aren't in consideration acc. to your OP.
6. Pushing Jack deeper meant I could pick from Rosicky, Cazorla, Diaby and Ramsey for AM. I went for Cazorla over Rosicky.

i want RVP to leave england or to play for a mid-table club . let's move on him.





Arsenal best line up is the hardest to predict because injuries, adaptation-time and dip in form


OUR main STRENGHT is we have manny versatile players

What I would do (assuming Robin stays):

If he wont stay replace van Persie with Giroud. And if Wilshere does a "Ramsey" replace him with Arteta.

What I believe we'll see:

Again replace van Persie with Giroud if he's not at the club and Wilshere with Arteta if he doesn't impress anymore.

Sahin is not needed only when Song goes to AFCON and Wilshere is still not back.

Szczesny
Sagna Verma Koscielny Gibbs
Sahin Song
Ox RVP Cazorla
Podolski

Podolski >>> RVP at CF

I need to wait before writing team, before arrivals/departures are sure.

Welcome to the forum. I'm fairly new myself but I'm confident you'll like it here.
My starting 11 for the first matchday(considering injuries,form etc.)


The reason I'm doing it this way is because
we don't know exactly how our certain players (Sagna,Rosicky,Wilshere) will come back from injuries.
The omission of Gervinho is debatable but I think we all noticed how our midfield isn't that goal threatening like back in the days of Fabregas. That's why I decided to put 2 players out wide who have decent scoring records on the wings.(based on Walcott's last season 15 goals? and Podolski's NT performances). Knowing our luck with injuries, the likes of Diaby,Ramsey,Wilshere and possibly Rosicky will get enough playing time in Cups and in the CL.
Not sure where will Sahin fit into all this though.
All in all I'm satisfied with our depth if all of our transfers go through.
I'm not exactly sold on our back 4 but that's for Wenger to decide.
And there's still the thing with RVP

REWB wrote:
*Lastly, verm instead of mertesacker because i feel merte is incredibly overrated by arsenal fans on this forum, in addition he just came back from a long term injury which people seem to have forgotten.

I feel merte is incredibly underrated by arsenal fans on this forum. You should talk to Wilson37 - he absolutely HATES Per :I'mveryunoriginal:

I like Mert but there is no way I would start him ahead of Vermaelen. Mert can start cup games.

Koscielny may be our best CB, but Vermaelen is the true General on the field.

REWB, that is one sick gif, very disturbing to watch the second time.

If everyone is fit and in form

..................Szczesny..................
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
.............Song Sahin...................
...............Wilshere.................
Cazorla........RVP.......Podolski


................Fabianski...................
Jenkinson Djourou Per Santos
..............Coquelin Arteta..........
.................Rosicky....................
Walcott.......Giroud......Gervinho

.............Mannone................
Yenaris Bartley Miquel Lansbury
...........Diaby Frimpong........
..............Ramsey...............
AOC.........Chamakh.......Ryo

Raptorgunner wrote:Vermaelen is the true General on the field.

The general of noobie mistakes?

Arsenal concedes goals constantly because of him but he's the general

srigooner wrote:

REWB wrote:
*Lastly, verm instead of mertesacker because i feel merte is incredibly overrated by arsenal fans on this forum, in addition he just came back from a long term injury which people seem to have forgotten.

I feel merte is incredibly underrated by arsenal fans on this forum. You should talk to Wilson37 - he absolutely HATES Per :I'mveryunoriginal:

Mertesacker is rated fine he's nothing incredible but still a reliable defender.

Vermaelen on the other hand is the most overrated defender in the world

urbaNRoots wrote:

Raptorgunner wrote:Vermaelen is the true General on the field.

The general of noobie mistakes?

Arsenal concedes goals constantly because of him but he's the general

He always makes up for the mistake.

Raptorgunner wrote:

urbaNRoots wrote:

Raptorgunner wrote:Vermaelen is the true General on the field.

The general of noobie mistakes?

Arsenal concedes goals constantly because of him but he's the general

Koscielny always makes up for his mistakes.

Fixed.

and all of a sudden Song and Arteta are shit!

Most probably vermaelan will be captain so it is unlikely he will not play.
If RVP and Walcott stays.

Szcz
Sagna Kos vermaelan Gibbs

Cazorla Song Arteta

Walcott RVP Podolski

Team chemistry is a factor and making too many changes in the playing 11 compared to last season may not work out especially early in the season as the new guys will need time to gel with the team.
If RVP leaves i would play Podolski in the middle and play gervinho at LW.

----------------------------------------Szczesny--------------------------------------------

-------------Sagna------------Vermaelen-------------Koscielny--------------Santos-------------

---------------------------Song---------------------------Arteta-------------------------------

---------------Gervinho---------------Cazorla---------------------------Podolski----------------

------------------------------------------RvP---------------------------------------------------


=EPL champion.

REWB wrote:[color=darkred]

Szczesny
Sagna Verma Koscielny Gibbs
Sahin arteta
Wilshere
carzola Giroud podolski

I agree with it mostly. Unless song goes back to being a DM there is no point in him starting if we have these players. sahin, arteta, wilshere, and cazorla playing infield mostly would probably be the best pure passing team we've had since the flamini, fabregas, rosicky (prime), hleb season, probably even better.
If we keep rvp that team could actually be the best passing team in the epl again

urbaNRoots wrote:

srigooner wrote:

REWB wrote:
*Lastly, verm instead of mertesacker because i feel merte is incredibly overrated by arsenal fans on this forum, in addition he just came back from a long term injury which people seem to have forgotten.

I feel merte is incredibly underrated by arsenal fans on this forum. You should talk to Wilson37 - he absolutely HATES Per :I'mveryunoriginal:

Mertesacker is rated fine he's nothing incredible but still a reliable defender.

Vermaelen on the other hand is the most overrated defender in the world

Mertesacker is pretty much loved or hated by most of the posters on here. I personally think he gives us intelligence and a calm presence at the back, and despite a few over-referenced mistakes, clearly gave our back-line more quality in his first season here. I'm still shocked so many people wanted Samba over him . Would I start him over Vermaelen? I'm not so sure because of Verminator's leadership role in the team, and I think Vermaelen be better this year, but Merts is our best 'backup' defender IMO.

As for my starting XI if we sign both, it is very hard to say. I would definitely say that Cazorla and Walcott should be rotated, as well as Podolski and Gervinho, with AOC filling in where necessary. As for Sahin, he will likely play in Wilshere's injury absence, but if/when everyone is available, it's almost impossible to predict which of Song, Arteta, Wilshere, Rosicky and Diaby will be benched (sorry Ramsey )

Dat midfield depth if we sign both though

for me the idal lineup should be....

Reasons : Sczeny, Sagna obvious...
about cb pair.. Kos-Verm.. Arsenal is a dynamic attacking team with good possession and quick passing.. Both fit into quick technically good defenders who are capable of keeping possession and making good passes.. they may get caught front sometimes.. but with a player lkie Arteta who can organise the game, they will be fine.. and dont forget how important Vermaelens headers are..! and he is a true leader, who works hard and inspires others on the field.. Metskr gives away possession easily.. is too slow.. passes poor.. and for all his height and physique gets outmuscled by kids.. and i feel he is not suited for playing the arsenal way...
LB.. as Sri mentioned both weak defensively but Santos better offensively.. has a good cross.. good dribbling, possession and passing skills even though he is slower..
Arteta.. as deep lying playmaker/DM like last season..
No Song.. if we have a true CAM like Cazorla no need to play Song only for his passes.. Wilshere can do the same job better as a b2b..
CAM.. Cazorla/Rosicky.. obvious..
LW.. Podolski..
RW.. Gervinho.. eventhough most of the things he tries doesnt work.. its better than Walcott drifting wide and crossing.. and i hope he will improve with his finishing.. We can play Ox also as he keeps maturing...
CF.. RVP >>> Giroud.. so if he stays and signs a new contract.. then he is the man again..

srigooner wrote:

REWB wrote:
*Lastly, verm instead of mertesacker because i feel merte is incredibly overrated by arsenal fans on this forum, in addition he just came back from a long term injury which people seem to have forgotten.

I feel merte is incredibly underrated by arsenal fans on this forum. You should talk to Wilson37 - he absolutely HATES Per :I'mveryunoriginal:

i have watched him only in the Arsenal jersey.. and my opinions are purely from what i have seen of him last season.. i have no idea how good he is for Germany... i feel he does not suit our style of play.. hope i will be proved wrong next season..

we a Spanish B Side midfield now...lol. (Arterta and Cazorla). imagine if we had cesc

we going 2 have a troublesome midfield