Per Mertesacker says that competition for places, and more balanced Arsenal squad, is being evidenced in recent results, and he’s welcomed the signing of Gabriel from Villarreal to give the team more defensive depth.
In the absence of Laurent Koscielny earlier this season, the centre of the Gunners defence was often makeshift, and it’s no coincidence that our worst run of results came at that time.
Now, with the Frenchman back alongside the vice-captain, things have improved, but the German is glad to have the safety net that the newly arrived Brazilian provides.
“He is a talent and I think we will get him to the level he needs because he has that potential,” he said.
“From my point of view, it is very promising because we were short at the back, especially in the centre position. We suffered a lot and had to change so many positions.
“It was a needed position to get everyone going and keep him on his natural position is very important.”
Arsenal have shipped out three forwards on loan, giving the the squad a more balanced look, and that’s proving beneficial according to Mertesacker.
“We suffered a lot at times with injuries,” he said, “but also with results. We want a very deep squad and we look much better now/
“We have that competition in our team and have an addition with a centre-back now, so I think we have a deep and good squad at the moment.”
With a North London derby looming, the BFG also wants a repeat of last season’s result there.
“Last season we did quite well at White Hart Lane, so we will try to repeat that.”
Here’s hoping for the win at Shite Hart Lane.
“Last season we did quite well at White Hart Lane, so we will try to repeat that.”
And repeat we shall.
Last season we did not do ‘quite well’… we were bloody lucky to avoid conceding an equaliser or worse with Szczęsny letting a routine cross after cross slip through his fingers.
Despite such poor and nervy performance Szczęsny had the audacity to do a post-match selfie at Shite Hart Lane which in my mind devalued the club’s ambitions. We were still top of the table then; his energies would’ve been better spent focusing on how to perform better in the next fixture.
This season we’ve got O-o-o-ospina (four clean-sheets so far for Arsenal) which will hopefully after Saturday become O-o-o-o-ospina!
His energies? Really? Have you ever taken a selfie? It’s real easy..
Some people are just desperate to have a moan.
I’ll never understand the Szczesny-hate and unconditional Ospina-love from some of the fans. Szczesny wins golden glove and it’s all because of a good back four in front of him. Ospina keeps four clean sheets in games where the defense has played exceptional and he’s only had to make like five saves in total – yet he is deemed a world class goalie who will be our savior.
I’ve given Szczcney stick and this is why. I think he has an abundance of talent to be on of the greats. The tools are there. However, looking from afar, I’m not in training with them, he doesn’t strike me as though he wants to put in the extreem dedication it take to be one of the greats. That’s why I’m frustrated with him. 2 years ago, there was not much difference between Szczcney and De Gea. No objective observer would put them in the same category on current form. On pure talent alone, De Gea is not better than… Read more »
Nice to see gooners sticking by their players during harder times rather than just throwing them under the bus….Oh.
Love Per, especially with speed either side of him.
COYBFG!! Balance and depth are very pleasing, Saturday’s result will be great!
And Coquelin in front. Armchair for Per.
Is it just me that finds it amusing that it is, of all people, the BFG himself who says, ” . . . we were short at the back . . . “. ?
I hope he had a wry smile and a knowing nod to the irony as he spoke those words !
Still, it is good to hear him welcoming the new boy and let’s hope that Mert, Kos and Gab can be all as interchangable as each other if need be !
Feeling quietly confident about the rest of the season, right now . . .
Just winning THEM would do nicely, thanks. Up the arse of the cockerel!
Same plan as City away please. And result.
Not sure we need the same plan as City – same result would be very nice though!
It is good to have competition for places…all teams do. But I think the difference is in the quality of the players fighting for the places. We have quality all over and it’s showing…
Giroud or Welbeck
Walcott or Ox
Ozil or Cazorla
Alexis or Rosicky
Ramsey or Wilshere
Arteta or Coquelin
Monreal or Gibbs
Koscielny or Gabriel
Mertsacker or Chambers
Debuchy or Bellerin
Szczesny or Ospina
That is quality all the way.
We still have Martinez, Flamini, Akpom and Gnabry. The future is Arsenal!
What about Diaby…?
Diaby Oh Diaby! How are the mighty fallen! *(Shaking my head and sobbing)
Gnabry on the mend too!
There is only one thing missing from your assessment of the squad. And that’s: Diaby 2 or Diaby 24
Diaby has gone to live on a farm.
You’re thinking of Assou-Ekotto.
Another good defensive performance at the weekend would be nice.
A clean sheet, even. A handful of classy goals. Another three points.
What’s certain is that we’ll not make Mourinho’s (5-3) mistake. So let’s thank him for that.
Yes – learning by doing. He also defines the term Wankhammer. Which is helpful.
An interview with The Ox:
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenals-alex-oxladechamberlain-playing-through-the-pain-barrier-has-been-holding-me-back-10022996.html
Good article. Not great goal/assist stats but that will come.
21 years old, such pedigree and potential.
As well as we are playing, it seems like Spurs have found some run of form under Pochettino as well. This match is HUGE for our top 4 ambitions considering they are breathing down our necks and we dont want to let Southampton dropping points at home last week go to waste.
Hope we take advantage this time and make it a good run considering we have Leicester at home next! COYG!
Gabriel sure got pace from what I have seen at YouTube, and should be a great match for Per me thinks. According to Squawka, Gabriel this season averages 9 defensive actions per game which is the same as Koscielny. Koscielny got slightly better passing accuracy with 89% vs Gabriel 85%. But Gabriel wins more headed duels with 60% vs Koscielny 47%. And Gabriel is abit more clinical in the tackle succeding with 54% of his tackles vs Koscielny 40% success rate. Koscielny however make fewer defensive errors and have only made 1 defensive error this season which lead to an… Read more »
The number of aerial duals is largerly down to the opportunities, i.e. the number of high balls, which is undoubtedly lower in spain.
Pace and watch the pace pers is a gd reader and player with the game world cups don’t arrive evry day gd covering for back four helps easy na coyg
I have no idea what you just said despite reading it mulitple times. All I can say is 3 points would do bloody nicely on Saturday! COYG!
You know what?.. I’m wondering round about now how many of those #WengerOut fans still want Jurgen Klopp to replace Le’ Prof?
P.S. We all know Wengers faults but I can tell you right now… No other manager in the game right now can do what he has done for Arsenal. #Fact!.
Deafening silence isn’t it…
You do realize that there are fans who only enjoy drama. I wonder what they are doing with all their energy now that there is no drama?
Crying in their cornflakes, maybe?
Alexis is out for the Sp*rs game.
Off subject, but isn’t it time that Jack grew up, both on and off the pitch? His immaturity is often reflected on the pitch, imo; But he will have a hard time breaking back into the team whilst they are in the form they are in at the moment. And I don’t want to see Ozil shunted out to accommodate him either.
We are about right at the moment with one experience player per position and at least 2-3 players as alternates per position. CF – Giroud/Welbeck (Giroud if we need finesse against tighter sitting defense, Welbeck for pace) RW – Walcott, Ox (Walcott thrives in space where Ox is better used with his close control when in congestion) LW – Alexis, Gnabry ( This one is a bit lopsided on account of Gnabry’s youth but there is also Ozil and Rosicky…there’s also Akpom for both flank and CF) AM – Santi, Ozil (Both fantastic playmakers with different styles) CM – Ramsey,… Read more »
BFG, I fucking share your enthusiasm! Hopefully, this game will fuckin’ kick start a fuckin’ great day for me!!!