With Gervinho currently injured and due to leave us at the start of the new year for potentially the best part of two months, in order to play in the African Cup of Nations; and Theo’s refusal, until now, to sign a new contract – and therefore likely to be sold in a couple of months, Arsenal are running the considerable risk of not having adequate cover on the wings from January onwards.
Podolski has played mostly on the left wing, but he is not a proper winger, and he suffers significantly when Gibbs is absent and is left too much to his own devices. The Ox has had a few games on the right wing and I personally believe it is his best position at this stage of his career, but I don’t think he is ready yet to become our first choice team player in that position. Ramsey has played on the right wing, but more as a right midfielder and he clearly has not the skillset to be effective in this position.
The big question is: do Arsenal still need ‘classical’ wingers, or do we need multi-skilled midfielders who are capable of taking on players when needed and are fast enough to trouble the full backs of opponents occasionally?
For me, it is a question of which system of football we play. In a 4-5-1, I would be happy for Arsenal to play with multi-skilled midfielders, and a single striker up-front. This formation and system of football has my preference, but ever since the traitor took over from Chamakh, back in January 2011, Arsenal have not played with this system anymore.
In Arsene’s current 4-3-3 formation, I reckon we need traditional wingers –well, one at least – who are both fast and good at taking on players. They should produce a large number of assists as well as score a respectable number of goals themselves. Gervinho and Walcott are such players, and we could come to miss them badly, come the start of the new year.
I would love Theo to stay and sign a new contract. He has got something to offer that is hard to find in the PL and he is entering the best period of his footballing career now. With Giroud still struggling to establish himself as our top CF, I would be prepared to start playing Theo more in the middle. He showed again against Reading what he is capable of and with either Gervinho, Ox, Podolski on the wing, Wenger has options to make it work.
However, we could do with another right winger, and I reckon Arsenal should go for Luciano Narsingh of PSV Eindhoven. The new Dutch International offers everything needed to make it at Arsenal. He is the classical winger: fast, likes to take on his opponents and gets past them easily, he has a good first touch and he is strong with a good balance.
Narsingh is known in Holland as the king of assists, but he also scores himself regularly. He is still young, but he is very good at deciding what the best option is when in full attacking flow: a quality so rare with the majority of wingers in the PL and across Europe.
I reckon Narsingh would fit into Arsenal without a problem, and although he won’t be cheap – PSV only just signed him this summer – he should be affordable. A strike-force of Podolski – Giroud – Theo –Ox- Gervinho and Narsingh would leave us with a number of attacking options which makes this Gooner lick his lips in anticipation.
Good right wingers are hard to find, and I reckon Narsingh could be the missing part in the attacking jig-saw for us. Sign him up Arsene!
Total Arsenal.
Bergkampesque 
Hi RA,
Your post got some very good discussions going yesterday, and I would love to have taken part. Instead, we went all the way south-west in Mull and saw some truly amazing scenery, great wildlife (buzzards, eagles, red dear, seals etc) and we had some great weather as well. Today we’ll do the Northern part of the isle.
I am not sure how much battery I have left so have to be quick. I will email you in a minute.
Hi Herb, you are more than welcome to keep blogging on BK, but please respect the previously mentioned etiquette.
I will email you once I am back from my hols.
Thanks.
Right battery is going, gotto go. Have a great day.
Herb,
Sorry you are not happy.
It is just an accepted condition/agreement of site ownership that courtesy should be shown to other sites, and that includes not criticising the site or the owners.
I am not a site owner, as you know, and I was trying to be helpful not to cause TA a problem, if you were unaware of the code, and as he was not around.
Our comments coming close together was a coincidence.
See you later.
TA.. I agree with you about Narsingh..
I adore him since he play for Hereenven last season..
his assist to Bas Dost is brilliant.. And he himself also score a lot..
I remember ever said that we must get him and Bas Dost this season..
I am very happy that Vaan Gall get him into the squad..
With Jeremain Lens in LW and Narsingh in RW, stiker like RvP and Hunter can easily score..
Yes Holland have many good winger like Robben, Affelay or even Elia.. but Lens and Narsingh will do better..
But he just move to PSV this season.. and his contract is still long..
i don’t think Einhoven will sell him.. not in this very moment..
I don’t really know about Miyaichi lately..
But he is more than good for me..
He can play RW and LW.. He have speed.. and good assist too..
And how about Campbell.. He is a RW isn’t he..??
Who is our U21 RW..?? What is Afobe and Watt position..??
And I think somehow Gnabry is suitable for Winger than midfielder..
Maybe all this youngsters just need to play more.. and they can be a star..
Like Ox did.. he is still 18.. If he can made it.. so do the other..
Go Gunners..
Hi Henry, 🙂
Excellent summary and very interesting views.
I do not know what the plans are for Miyaichi, Watt, Afobe, Anneke and Campbell. They are all still very young so perhaps we will see more of them next year when they come back from their current loans!
Each of them have promise but I do not think Watt is quite good enough.
Good shout TA.
Personally I’d like for us to go the experienced option and bring Robben in. But that’s just me dreaming!
I’d hate to say it but I’m going to have to drop Draxler’s name in the fold again. He’s going to explode as a player soon enough, and I’d rather it be for us! The one player I still want to see his affelay though.
i see Arsene resorting to AA and Serge though. I want to see Ryo in the team next season. His pace is scary and he knows how to use it unlike theo. See below at 1.19.
Theo this season looks like he is doing a nasri/bsr and putting it on for perspective buyers. Yes he wants to play down the middle but I’ve never seen him so driven like he was against reading! Sign up you **** head!
oops forgot the clip haha (and three teams he blitzes are chelsea, man city and the scum so it’s not like he’s doing it against nobodies)
Fantastic, Oz,
Miyo really is a great prospect, I just wish he was being given a chance at Arsenal now.
Gnabry has great potential, but I think he is still behind Miyo and Afobe.
But what do i know? 🙂
TA, that is a fine Post! 🙂
I am still researching Narsingh when I get the chance, as I am ashamed to say I know nothing about him!! 😦
A hell of a lot more than me RA haha
I just found out he’s made 33 appearances mostly (mostly as a sub) for Bolton, Wigan, and Feyenoord and he has scored 4 and had 9 assists. Also voted player of the month when he was at Bolton! It’s hard to believe Wigan haven’t played him more. But I suppose there are a lot of old vets in the Championship that like to rough up the young ones.
Nor do I RA. With a name like that I would never have picked him to be dutch either. I would have gone with spanish crossed with indian
Thanks TA, you have dealt me a googlie here old chap. Claen bowled, out for a golden duck what.
Narsingh?? Sounds like a combanation of teenage scally upon when asked a question all you get is “nahh”. Hows the studys going young man? “nahh”. Have you got any interests at all young man? “nah”. The Singh bit is my neighbour at number 14, lovely fella with a Turban He has a delicious wife. I have crank called and heavy breathed her a few times, very satisfying. Last time Singh tried the whistle on me but i was wearing the Stocking.
Errrr, thats all i can say realy. Ive never heard of him so that means his probably brilliant. hahaha
Terry, you rogue, 🙂
From what I have read, Narsingh is Dutch born of Indian parentage.
The info is sketchy, so I will go with TA’s recommendation, altho’ I still believe Theo is just sodding about (that is right isn’t it – sod/sodding – or is that a lump of soil?) 🙂 — and he will eventually sign a new contract having led Arsene a merry chase!
Thanks RA.. and Oz
I know Narsingh because I am a Holland’s fan.. hehe..
Yes he is Indian blood from his daddy.. but he is Dutch..
Just like some Dutch player have Indonesian blood.. hehe..
Miyaichi is a Japanese..
Japanese is the best asian team now.. before was South Korea..
Japanese players play in some big europian clubs such as MU, Intermilan, Frankfurt, Wolfburg and other..
We adore them because there are asian.. hehe..
And you know what.. half or more population in the world is Asian..
Some say that football was actually came from China.. hehe..
But we lives in globalitation era now.. we are all one nationality.. earth.. hehe..
Wenger must promote his youngster..
Eisfeld and Miyaichi are good enough for first team..
Go gunners..
Thanks, Henry, that is interesting.
Certainly in the future there are three countries that are going to rise right to the top of the economic league.
China, India and Brazil are already becoming super powers and they will have an even bigger impact on football.
I was sitting at my keyboard minding my own business when a shiver went down my spine.
It was the thought of Glic, and what he is doing with that rotten old mirror —— to Merry Terry!
Afternoon guys, I am parked at a hotspot outside a local village. There is a strong wind and it is raining heavily, the windows are steamed up and the streetlights are blurry, but so good to see the blog is still working. Did anybody notice I put a link to a Narsingh video at the bottom of the post?
He really is a fine player, and Henry agrees so I must be right! hehehehe! 😛
Oz, Draxler is also a good prospect, but I have to see him play more to be sure.
hahahaha, Redders, ive just remembered a horror film i saw in the seventies called “From beyond the Grave”. Some crusty looking fellow, who looks exactly me, ownes an antique shop and everytime a punter rips him off, said punter meets a grizzly end.
Anyway, some geezer, who looks exactly like Glic, buys a fantastic looking mirror ripping me off in the process. After he takes it home, he is awoken in the middle of the night by this ghostly looking bloke in the mirror, who by incredible coincidence looks exactly like VCC, who demands that Glic feeds him blood. So Glic goes round murdering everyone and everytime he does VCC get stronger and closer to the mirror edge,
By the time he commits the last murder, Glic is on the point of a nervous breakdown, whilst VCC’s boat is now right on the mirror. Then VCC emerges from the mirror and Glic takes his place inside it.
Brilliant film hahaha
Hi TA,
The weather here in Hertfordshire is not much better!!
Yep, you are clearly superfluous – the site is running itself!! 🙂
Good to see you guys doing crazy stuff again. I still remember watching horror or porn movies with a lot of friends regularly in the eighties. Those were the times! 🙂
Terry,
You are potty. But with your imagination coupled with the Glic’s, and ably assisted by VCC, you three could rule the world – OMG. 🙂
Good to be superfluous – lovely word by the way. 🙂
I wll be going back to our log cabin in a bit. Nice and warm and snug.:)
TA, the log cabin sounds brilliant! 🙂
Evening All.
Great to see your enjoying your holiday TA
RA ….your a legend, looking after the site. Im chuffed you guys are keeping me in the loop, means alot.
Terry …that would make a great film, but GLiC would be totally pissed off when my image goes from the mirror and he sees the true him,…..WHAT a let down, poor sod.
Catch you guys later, so busy at the moment.
Great stuff Total. Sign him up now !.
Vee See See, you made that movie yet ?. Stop w**king over my photo and get your finger out of your arse !. hahaha
I remember that movie Stretch, but I could have swore that I go around shagging everything instead of murdering them ! or was that the dream I had last night ? hahaha. I know, send me a script and I`ll turn it into a glic movie ( different from a snuff movie, in that we rogger everything to death instead ! hahaha )
hahahaha watching porn movies together TA. Wow times have changed
Saw the video TA. He does look good. There’s something about him though, it looks like he’s not running fast, but he is (if that makes any sense at all haha). It’s too close after watching ryo in action because after his clip he looks like the best winger in the world!
Morning all, 🙂
A fine sunny day, and blooming cold! 🙂
What Arsenally matters are out and about today?
Some interesting snippets we may need to stick our forensic noses into.
— Arsene has lambasted the Chavs for rushing to condemn Mark Clattenburg and ruin his career on the strength of the say so of a guy who hardly speaks English. Nice!
— Liverpool are making an £8m or £10m bid for Theo, allegedly. Me smells a stinky agent behind that!!
— The Arsenal management are already talking about pre-season games – including a game in Jakarta. It seems that the commercial revolution is kicking into gear.
— The knives are out in anticpation of RvP’s return with Manure to the best stadium and club in the country.
Glic Movie Industry is threatening — oops, promising — to bring out a new Glicster production of The Hobbits, starring VCC, Terry and of course himself, with someone called RA starring as Gandolf!! Fame at last!
Oh, ain’t life grand. 🙂
Look, you lot, if you don’t crawl out from under the covers at almost 9 a.m. I an going to have to come and get you.
And as for you Oz, at 5 in the evening under a blissfully warm blue sky — well shame on you — and when do I get an invitation to visit you?
First thing is I will confiscate your mirror, Glicman, and your telescope Terrybadman, and you VCC will be made to watch QPR and Mark Hughes for the rest of the season!
So move your asses and get out here
Morning all. Nice and sunny here in sexy Essex.
Waiting in anticipation for ko tomorrow. While I feel we can get at the vulnerable Mancs defence I fear that traitorous guy whom we idolised for 7 years will come back and bite our Arse. If he scores I will cringe and blaspheme extremely loudly. I’m hoping my Son will be with me to contain my anger.
Red Arse you know how to torture people, make me watch QPR (managed by that twat Hughes) for the rest of the season. I can remember when they played some sexy football, ala Marsh Bowles n McLintock.
Red Arse…..I have booked my spray tan and teeth whitening for Saturday evening, as GLic has picked me to star in his new blockbuster film “the most handsome man on the planet” of course I am staring, it was a close call between Terry and me, but I finally won as Terry’s syrup kept slipping down his face, and as we weren’t doing a werewolf film I got the leading role. GLiC was going to be the main man but when he saw my looks, well there was no contest.
He was very impressed with my audition. He was so surprised that it came so natural to me. Well after all these years being chased by the ladeeez, I’m not surprised.
Speak later darlings.
VCC,
I don’t want to disappoint you, but just between the two of us, the real star part is going to the syrup!
Glic has not made his mind up which of you it will mate with, but he is so vain he is beginning to think only he can pull it off!! 🙂
Red Arse.
Let me tell you, GLiC is the only person in the UK that can go to a halloween party and not wear a mask and still win the ugliest prize. I know this because I saw him last Saturday. The sight put Syrup and me off our beer. Syrup offered to buy me a pint but i could not face it. I needed something stronger so he kindly bought me a double brandy, boy that helped, it almost made looking at GLiC comfortable.
GLiC’s mid wife slapped his arse when borne and said “don’t go in there again” such a naughty boy.
In fact I think she slapped his face and not his arse, consequently an UMF.
Please don’t relay this to him as I think he is very sensitive.
too right RA, Terry’s syrup had a number of lead roles in the late 80’s – early nighties…even got to star alongside a young leonardo dicaprio!
You can see it here in the third installment:
@ RA
the offer is always there. Unfortunately the weather here is up and down like a yo-yo at the moment. 36 one day, thunderstorms the next.
I’m very excited about the news that Arsenal will be in Jakarta. The Mrs and I go to Bali a lot and are planning on going for 3 weeks next year so if all goes well I’ll be the one white guy in the crowd. ‘Oz here in Indonesia reporting live for AA and Bergkampesque’
and hey if it’s not the same time I’ll have to go back…what a shame!
If you see photos, I’m the screaming/crying one shaking hands with tommy V and jack
Oz,
I have only been to Bali twice. Loved it, and not just for the beaches but the cultural hinterland.
But the Australian dependency called Kuta Beach was a great laugh with some fantastic fun to be had. Those sheilas are something!! 🙂 [Note to self — no one called the females Sheilas] 🙂
Oz. They are so much like GLiC. Spitting image of him, woh, wait a minute, on second thoughts, no they are prettier than him.
haha sheilas, it reminds me of ‘dumb and dumber’ when he says “lets put another shrimp on the barbie.” I’ve never heard anyone over here say shrimp either. Bali is great, nothing i enjoy more than swimming, a few drinks, relax under a gazebo reading, then a nice afternoon kip. Heaven!
RA as you’re the guardian while TA is away.
What is your honest opinion of a section entitled ‘the pre-match finger’
Used in a tasteful way with no swearing or anything. Just a release of anger so to speak?
Hi all,
Re: Wingers – If it was down to me I’d return to the 4-5-1 – we looked pretty solid with it and with the amount of skillful midfielders we have we’d do really well with it.
Or could we return to 4-4-2 with Theo and Giroud up front? Poldi and Santi on the wings and Arteta – Wilshire providing the midfield axis? Attacking? Yes, bold? Yes, Exciting??
Totally.
Looking forward to tomorrow peeps, I really am. COME ON YOU GOONERS!!
WG
New Post, fellow Gooners!
Redders dives into our goal keeper situation!
Sorry cannot stay. 😦
Redders! 🙂 I was pleased to spot just now that my post did actually pop up in the comments yesterday – what a mission!! I’m glad it did, as you saw it was a bit of a diatribe lol
Thankful as always that we are perpetually on the same wavelength 🙂
WG
Good to see you WG! 🙂
As I have always said, you do have a gift for scribing!