Monty asked below "what do we do". I think that merits its own thread. We have to have a better

[Mo Britain less Europe]

buying policy. Ozil showed the way (sort of) in proving we can buy big names, we have to reinforce every transfer window by getting players that are better than what we have.

And we have to give our youth players more chances. I was disappointed with the sale of Yennaris, for example. What had he done to prove he wasn't good enough for the Arsenal?

We dropped points at Southampton because we had a team tired from beating Coventry. Surely we should be a team who always has half a dozen kids with a chance of making it? But they need to be given chances. We're not doing enough of that which makes the pressure on our smallish squad of experienced players even worse.

[Luis Anaconda]

Leaving aside there was plenty of time between games the line-up was completely different - only four players who started against Coventry started against Soton

[Monty91]

from the teams below us to guarantee a top four finish.

You seem to think that genuine title challengers should not have to worry about such lowly inconveniences.I put it to you that this is a highly arrogant point of view. It is only a couple of years since the billionaire backed Chelsea finished outside the top 5 (albeit winning the CL the same year)

[Red N White Army]

About 18, first season in the 1st team? Seemed to do quite well. And some 16 year old too. I remember him playing a bit.

There are many accusations we can level at AW/the club, but not playing young players (that He thinks are good enough) is not one of them.

[Brentwood]

Quote:

And we have to give our youth players more chances. I was disappointed with the sale of Yennaris, for example. What had he done to prove he wasn't good enough for the Arsenal? We dropped points at Southampton because we had a team tired from beating Coventry. Surely we should be a team who always has half a dozen kids with a chance of making it? But they need to be given chances. We're not doing enough of that which makes the pressure on our smallish squad of experienced players even worse.

For years AW has been slated for picking youth team players with zero PL experience. It takes them a long time to add value to a league chasing team and not all will be good enough to make it. Our fans aren't willing to give a 17 year old the benefit of making a few mistakes each game

Also, it makes me laugh when fans say they don't understand why we haven't seen more of Akpom, Yennaris <insert youth team player name here>. Wenger and his coaches who watch them in training every day know if they are good enough, or if they have the right mentality (see the mistake with Frimpong as an example of them getting it wrong). If they were anywhere near good enough, Wenger would use them like a shot

[Nicosia Gooner]

Was it really 4?

[redgunamo]

Firstly, it costs you points and performances; secondly it costs you money.

As for the "big names", well...

[redgunamo]

[Nicosia Gooner]

[Brentwood]