Why is Arsene refusing to play either Podolski or Theo in the middle?

[JJSB]

For my money both would be decent alternatives. Certainly when considering the alternatives available! Is it a control or authority thing? As both keep saying through the press they want to play there? Pod is not exactly thriving in his current position and has lots of experience in the centre anyway. And I kind of thought, and there may be quotes to back this up, the long term plan with Theo was to make him learn his trade out wide, then switch him centrally.

Though in his case it could be too late anyway, but certainly Podolski should be considered

[Red N White Army]

In a system like we use. I agree he'd be better than Gervinho though

[BK]

[JJSB]

Imagine if he goes elsewhere in January, plays as a striker, and then goes on a scoring run

[JJSB]

rotate Podolski for the left side/striker role, Giroud mainly in the centre and yes Theo or Ox right side

[Red N White Army]

Certainly not in something other than fawfawtoo. His movement can be iffy, he has no touch and little skill to create something himself. About the only (top) team I could see playing him there are Liverpool. Everyone else, he'd be exactly the same as with us.

[The Tony]

Back 4, Arteta and everyone else run around pretending to be Barcelona for 90 minutes.

All about interchangeable midfielders / wingers / strikers.

Only works if you have a goal mashine like Messi or RVP....which we dont.

[JJSB]

if neither Podolski or Theo could play the lone role. Either could then form a partnership with Giroud. Cesc is long gone so maybe it is time to play to the strengths of the current players in a formation that suits instead

[BK]

welcome. Yeah I don't really know how well Santi would do out wide there, and again I like having him behind the front three, probing and pushing. We have the options up front though, we just need to combine them to create that magic (hopefully)

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Or perhaps the opinion that he is completely unsuited to said role in the current Arsenal formation.

His desire to play there is utterly irrelevant. When I was young I wanted to play up front and be the glory boy but the fact is I was simply too good to drop from midfield so I stepped up to the plate and became the glory boy from there. A footballing David Watts.

In Podolski's case it may be quite simply that he is a left sided player and has played a lot or most of his career there, I dunno.

Not really linked at all to a ".. control or authority thing?" unless of course you see both control and authority as fundamental elements of management.

[Peter]

And may move to the centre when he leaves.

Re podolski, i think i actually agree, he should hve a go in the centre. Not surehe really suits the left side role, particularly with giroud in the side.

[Red N White Army]

But there's a reason most go man for man in midfield

[Peter]

No more talk about playing centrally.

[Uttoxeter Gun]

[Peter]

[Peter]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

I am Brighton mk2!!!

[redgunamo]

Paddy and Gilberto for instance.

[Peter]

Good in midfield to be moed when what they really mean is that you are too slow to play up front.

In my case i was too left footed not to play on the left. Poor coaching in my opinion.

[redgunamo]

Him, not you.

[Peter]

[plastic james]

yes its possible, wenger is trying him on the left to keep him in the team, but i would bench him or send him back to germany in january

[JJSB]

and would he be better than some of the other available options. The answer to both questions is potentially yes. We have enough midfielders who can play through balls, surely Walcott would at least get chances to use his pace playing on the shoulder of the last defender?

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

He tells you you are too left footed, you spend the next 40 years or so reflecting on that.

Had he simply said you were a useless ******** and being stuck on the wing was basically his way of keeping you away from the ball you would have gone home crying and nobody wants that.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

And without argument does it well.

[JJSB]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

I think the main and obvious issue here is the lack of viable options beyond Giroud, that is irrespective of fitting Podolski and/or Walcott into roles which it looks like the manager does not see them playing.

1 f**king striker.

[redgunamo]

[Peter]

Moved into centre midfield a year later, ripped it up every game. Imagine a cross between petit and arteta- an elegant powerhouse

Seriously http://www.awimb.com/images/smiley_icons/smile.gif

[Luis Anaconda]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

[Peter]

[Peter]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

"f**ks sake, there's ******** Peter again, hope the boss sticks him out on the wing".

[Peter]

Thy might have been talking about a different peter.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Poor f**ker could hardly have been as bad as you.

[plastic james]

[Luis Anaconda]

So basically it is one game - his first

[taxman10]

Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler wrote on Thu, 13 December 2012 12:54



And without argument does it well.





have you ever watched an arsenal game? he swaps with giroud for short spells on occasion - ok not for long, but he does effectively play as our front man for little spells in games. Maybe its harder to see on the TV than from in the ground?