Can Vela stake a claim?

[Rockin' Robin]

He seemed more up for it against Blackpool - kept chasing everything down, which is what we want to see from him - work rate as well as flair. Hopefully that's the start of a new Vela we see this season, he didn't seem to do that as much last year.

[Massa]

Confidence was also a big issue last year, a good Carling Cup run could sort that out.

He's already had that two seasons ago when everyone was wanking off him, last season he was f***ked with injuries, and this season I hope he gets some games, but I don't think he will, and should go on loan in Jan.

[Popey]

he will get his chance because nic and rvp will get injured this season. would love to see chamakh and vela together in a 4-4-2. I think we could hurt teams with this 2 strikers.

[Est83]

Confidence was also a big issue last year, a good Carling Cup run could sort that out.

He's already had that two seasons ago when everyone was wanking off him, last season he was f***ked with injuries, and this season I hope he gets some games, but I don't think he will, and should go on loan in Jan.

In the year he had a good CC run, he didn't get too many opportunites in the league, certainly never got a run of consecutive games. So really that injured season undid all the work from the previous year. He'll still be in need of confidence building CC appearances.

[AZGooner]

2 more goals today. so is he just going to score against bad teams in mop up work, or will he be an actual force to be dealt with at crucial times? which Vela do we have?

[Est83]

Fair point. He hasn't shown himself to be an impact sub, if he really wants to turn Wenger's head that's what he has to do, he has to change a game.

[CynicalGooner]

Vela is the ultimate flat track bully. When we can't quite put the third past a team to kill em off it's Carlos time

[Leody]

Vela is the ultimate flat track bully. When we can't quite put the third past a team to kill em off it's Carlos time

I have no problem with that role for him at all! I would love to see us kill off teams this season, we really lacked in that department last year.

The way he's playing though I think he's going to make picking the starting XI difficult for Wenger. A nice problem to have, as they say...

[gooneritis]

i don't think he's near to causing a selection headache yet, he's clearly behind chamakh, RVP and walcott. be good to see more of him coming on as a sub though, he needs alot of game time. shows some amazing touches but can also be garbage alot of the time, amazing finish tonight and a couple of good goals but he gave away 4 simple passes which is something he needs to stop doing, he's still too often sloppy, but then again game time can change that.
he has to do it when the going is tough though and not come on in good conditions with the opposition already completely crushed and given up.

[Arsenal Tone]

Super Nik is going to struggle to get a game at this rate!

[ayN]

Super Nik isn't so super.

[Leody]

i don't think he's near to causing a selection headache yet, he's clearly behind chamakh, RVP and walcott.

Only one of which will be available for the next month or longer... so yeah... I'd say he's going to cause a headache for awhile.

And everything else you said bad about him is something that Arshavin does at a much higher rate.

[Reverend Gooner]

Nick is class, alot of pressure was put on him last season and he stood up, it was the defence which eventually made his contribution move to the background.

[She_Gunner_Wales]

2 goals in 2 games will certainly give him a confidence boost.

[GunnGunn]

2 goals in 2 games will certainly give him a confidence boost.

3 goals