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cubeadvance

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NexivRed

NexivRed

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Arsenal's squad depth is better than any other side in the league except Man City. The difference is that currently Arsenal have more players out injured than City, Utd and Chelsea put together. You can't legislate for that with depth, that isn't the issue.

I think part of that is down to a lack of rotation. If it was known that Welbeck, Rosicky and Wilshere were all out until at least Christmas, surely there should have been some sort of signing there. Their absence made it very hard to rest any midfielders or wide players and subsequently there have been further injuries there.

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Rev

Rev

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I was keeping an eye on that result and hoping for a draw.

As it stands we need to win both of our games vs Olympiakos and Dynamo Zagreb (certainly doable). Olympiakos' other game is against Bayern so then it'll come down to goal difference if we win both of ours... Theirs is 0 and ours is -4 and I would expect them to ship a few against Bayern.

Pretty rubbish tonight, but kinda expected with our injuries. I'd prefer to focus on the league and if we go into Europa, so be it. Europa will give us a chance to test some of our fringe players because if they can't cope with Europa, then we should probably get rid.

It's not goal difference, it's head to head first. Basically we need to win by two goals.

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hauk

hauk

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The traditional February meltdown has happened early this year!

I really hope we come bottom and don't make it out of the group. If players recover and/or we buy in January we have the best shot at the League this year since maybe 2008. It we stay in Europe I can't see that happening with the current squad.

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Space Renegade Ulala

Space Renegade Ulala

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Arsenal's squad depth is better than any other side in the league except Man City. The difference is that currently Arsenal have more players out injured than City, Utd and Chelsea put together. You can't legislate for that with depth, that isn't the issue.

I think part of that is down to a lack of rotation. If it was known that Welbeck, Rosicky and Wilshere were all out until at least Christmas, surely there should have been some sort of signing there. Their absence made it very hard to rest any midfielders or wide players and subsequently there have been further injuries there.

It's the same old problem as every year for the last decade - why are Arsenal's players such a bunch of fragile garbage glassmen? No club is just naturally unlucky, there is something fundamentally wrong with the club in this regard for it to constantly be a crippling problem season after season. Training, physio, whatever, something in its approach/handling of players is completely fucked.

Christ, I remember when we used to take the piss out of Darren Anderton. These days it feels like half the squad is comprised of Darren Andertons.

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Gabe

Gabe

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That's pretty much the case though, isn't it? Flair players tend to get injured more.

Is that really true these days? And besides, players like Ramsey, Wilshere, Welbeck etc aren't really what you would consider flair players, are they?

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Cosmic_Guru

Cosmic_Guru

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I dunno, there's just something... brittle about them and your squad in general. Without a study it's hard to say but brutish 1-0 Arsenal never had these issues, did it?

I think the physios used the "magic spray" much more often in those days though; I've heard the likes of Wrighty and Lee Dixon refer to chronic problems which may have been exacerbated by playing on.

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Rev

Rev

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Yeah they were definitely the better side. I think that's a very good point in the context of the match. Hopefully we'll have a few guys back now after the break, and apparently Özil is getting rested by Germany which is good.

It's definitely a good point in the context of the match and the table. Ignore that it is Spurs and you'd take a point from a team in form.

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The Fox

The Fox

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Spurs look extremely un-Spursy under Pochettino don't they? Seems like he's done a very good job indeed with some of those players.

I think if they had a really good playmaker yesterday to take advantage of our problems in deep midfield, they'd have destroyed us.

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Rev

Rev

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Spurs look extremely un-Spursy under Pochettino don't they? Seems like he's done a very good job indeed with some of those players.

I think if they had a really good playmaker yesterday to take advantage of our problems in deep midfield, they'd have destroyed us.

It's very impressive because their core first team is as patchy as hell still. You'd be hard pushed to pick any of their team over the alternatives at any of the other top 5ish teams. They've got a bit lucky having a decent crop of youngsters to delve into, but it's Pocchetino that's managed to put them all together as a team.

If they can avoid selling bits that perform well and keep him they've got a real base for their new stadium. Mildly concerning, but they'll Spurs it up somehow. Pocchetino to Chelsea at some point seems like a reasonable bet for a start.

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Charliemouse

Charliemouse

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Spurs look extremely un-Spursy under Pochettino don't they? Seems like he's done a very good job indeed with some of those players.

I think if they had a really good playmaker yesterday to take advantage of our problems in deep midfield, they'd have destroyed us.

As I said in the Spurs thread, I think this is the best Tottenham team I can remember seeing, as you said we don't look like a typical Spurs team anymore.

We have reliance, some very good but not spectacular players but most of all there is a great sense of togetherness in the squad with everyone all pulling in the same direction, which is something I don't think Spurs have had since the early 1980s.

If we still had Modric at the club, we would almost be title contenders.

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The Fox

The Fox

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If Özil was playing for you he'd have got about five assists in that first half. Once Arteta came on with Coquelin we got a bit more of a foothold in the middle.

You'll struggle a bit if you start getting injuries, mind. Beyond Bentaleb there doesn't seem like there's an awful amount of quality in your second string.

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Dude Ranch

Dude Ranch

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On the subject of Ozil, his delivery is almost literally unbelievable. Such a shame that we don't really take advantage. As a past cynic he's probably the best in the world at what he does. Pity that he constantly shirks tackles, that's obviously not what he's there for but still irritating. He's crucial to us but criminally wasted at the same time. So many problems that keep rearing their ugly head. Injuries, piss poor options beyond the first choice 15 or so players, not enough prolonged investment, good defensive stats but still scarily vulnerable. So close but it ain't gonna happen when it so easily could. Frustrating. Also, agree that Spurs looked mostly excellent.

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Rev

Rev

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I don't think Ozil can't be wasted. His brain just goes faster than anyone else, I've said a few times it's just like watching someone press the pass button on FIFA before he's even received it and it usually ends up exactly where it should. Even when he's in a completely inconsequential position he does it, it's like he can't not do it.

It's bloody amazing. He's so much more impressive than anyone I've seen in that regard.

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Charliemouse

Charliemouse

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If Özil was playing for you he'd have got about five assists in that first half. Once Arteta came on with Coquelin we got a bit more of a foothold in the middle.

You'll struggle a bit if you start getting injuries, mind. Beyond Bentaleb there doesn't seem like there's an awful amount of quality in your second string.

I think we are reasonable well covered in most areas apart from striker and maybe at centre back, as it would be a shame to play Dier back there now even though he is easily the 3rd best centre back in the squad.

But yeah, someone with the quality of Ozil would make a massive difference, Eriksen is very good, but he doesn't really take over a game and dominate it like the best players can, and so often do.

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