Mohamed Elneny (25)

[gooney]

Yep...the fact that our club looked at our defense and thought he would improve it says all

[Luzh 22]

9 times out of 10, the superior side wins, even if the worse side uses better tactics

How many away games have we won this season?

We have a worse defence than most midtable sides

We still have tons more quality. We also have 4 international defenders, who play for countries in the top 10 of the world. *shrug*

We dont have tons more quality. Normally 8 of our 11 is midtable 11 with 3 top players. Wenger believes in carrying players. How os xhaka, wilshete, el nenny or iwobi above miftable. I mean wilshere couldnt even standout in Bournemouth

We wanted Evans to start for us, in place of Mustafi as well. Top class 4 defenders, hilarious. Bellerin wouldn't start for half the midtable teams either.

I did not say we had 4 top class defenders. I said we had 4 internationals, who happen to have played for nations in the top 10 rankings. There is a significant difference.

If the argument here is quality>tactics, then explain to me how "we have a worse defence than most midtable sides", given we have higher quality defenders?

Which mid table sides have better defenders?

[gooney]

the argument is not quality over tactics, quality makes difference when both teams have good tactics. But we have less quality than the top 5. Anyway kos and monreal are finished at top level. Bellerin is not really international. And mustafi is an absolute clown. Cech is past it

[Luzh 22]

the argument is not quality over tactics

people still talk about tactics and desire really annoys me. Basically they are saying teams that are 12th or 15th has no desire or bad tactics. Football is about ability. As our talent level has gone backwards last few years as has our league positions. Its really not rocket science

9 times out of 10, the superior side wins, even if the worse side uses better tactics

Everything is important when playing at the top level of any sport. Even the smallest thing can give you the edge you need for victory.

[GoonerAlexandre]

the argument is not quality over tactics

people still talk about tactics and desire really annoys me. Basically they are saying teams that are 12th or 15th has no desire or bad tactics. Football is about ability. As our talent level has gone backwards last few years as has our league positions. Its really not rocket science

9 times out of 10, the superior side wins, even if the worse side uses better tactics

Everything is important when playing at the top level of any sport. Even the smallest thing can give you the edge you need for victory.

Tactics matter, yes, but when a Newcastle are playing City, then the difference is so great, that no tactic is good enough.

Today, Newcastle beat United, a clearly superior team. Tactics, yes, but also United having an off day

[starmandb]

9 times out of 10, the superior side wins, even if the worse side uses better tactics

How many away games have we won this season?

We have a worse defence than most midtable sides

We still have tons more quality. We also have 4 international defenders, who play for countries in the top 10 of the world. *shrug*

What? Who?

Germany number 1. In world
Mertesacker 104 caps
Mustafi 20 caps

Spain number 6 in world
Monreal 21 caps
Bellerin 3 caps

France 9 in world
Koscielny 50 caps

[GoonerAlexandre]

9 times out of 10, the superior side wins, even if the worse side uses better tactics

How many away games have we won this season?

We have a worse defence than most midtable sides

We still have tons more quality. We also have 4 international defenders, who play for countries in the top 10 of the world. *shrug*

What? Who?

Germany number 1. In world
Mertesacker 104 caps
Mustafi 20 caps

Spain number 6 in world
Monreal 21 caps
Bellerin 3 caps

France 9 in world
Koscielny 50 caps

Since it's about those who play for those teams, Monreal and Mertesacker are out straight away.

Bellerin is an international defender, if 3 appearances and no real chances of another count
Mustafi is third choice behind some real crap

Koscielny is the only real international class defender

[starmandb]

9 times out of 10, the superior side wins, even if the worse side uses better tactics

How many away games have we won this season?

We have a worse defence than most midtable sides

We still have tons more quality. We also have 4 international defenders, who play for countries in the top 10 of the world. *shrug*

What? Who?

Germany number 1. In world
Mertesacker 104 caps
Mustafi 20 caps

Spain number 6 in world
Monreal 21 caps
Bellerin 3 caps

France 9 in world
Koscielny 50 caps

Since it's about those who play for those teams, Monreal and Mertesacker are out straight away.

Bellerin is an international defender, if 3 appearances and no real chances of another count
Mustafi is third choice behind some real crap

Koscielny is the only real international class defender

Mustafi was injured for the last round of international fixtures in November
He played in the previous round in October
As did monreal
Bellerin is 22
Up until last June he was playing for Spain under 21
Mertesacker is retired

[GoonerAlexandre]

9 times out of 10, the superior side wins, even if the worse side uses better tactics

How many away games have we won this season?

We have a worse defence than most midtable sides

We still have tons more quality. We also have 4 international defenders, who play for countries in the top 10 of the world. *shrug*

What? Who?

Germany number 1. In world
Mertesacker 104 caps
Mustafi 20 caps

Spain number 6 in world
Monreal 21 caps
Bellerin 3 caps

France 9 in world
Koscielny 50 caps

Since it's about those who play for those teams, Monreal and Mertesacker are out straight away.

Bellerin is an international defender, if 3 appearances and no real chances of another count
Mustafi is third choice behind some real crap

Koscielny is the only real international class defender

Mustafi was injured for the last round of international fixtures in November
He played in the previous round in October
As did monreal
Bellerin is 22
Up until last June he was playing for Spain under 21
Mertesacker is retired

Exactly.


That's three current internationals who are playing then.

Mustafi will not play in the world cup, so you can say it's two. Even Kos is a doubt with his form, and Bellerin/Monreal won't be going either

[Luzh 22]

Who said anything about current internationals?

You truly are the master of pedantry GA...


You still haven't told me which mid table teams have a better defence in quality either? About time you coughed up

[theHotHead]

9 times out of 10, the superior side wins, even if the worse side uses better tactics

Not in the Premier League buddy.

[PairyGrows]

I don't know why I've never been too harsh on Elneny. Perhaps it's because I've never expected a great deal from him. Since coming from Basel (for less than £10 million, may I add), he's never looked like an N'Golo Kante to me.

Elneny is what he is; an average footballer at best. There's no reason to set a high bar for him.

[GoonerAlexandre]

I don't know why I've never been too harsh on Elneny. Perhaps it's because I've never expected a great deal from him. Since coming from Basel (for less than £10 million, may I add), he's never looked like an N'Golo Kante to me.

Elneny is what he is; an average footballer at best. There's no reason to set a high bar for him.

Same for me, he was bought to be a squad player (For 5 mill), and it's scary how much better he is than our star signing Granit Xhaka......


That's why I can never be harsh on him, he was brought to play a bit part role, and our midfield options are so bad that subbing him off is actually somehow making us worse

[theHotHead]

I don't know why I've never been too harsh on Elneny. Perhaps it's because I've never expected a great deal from him. Since coming from Basel (for less than £10 million, may I add), he's never looked like an N'Golo Kante to me.

Elneny is what he is; an average footballer at best. There's no reason to set a high bar for him.

Yeah I agree. But at some point we need to admit that he is NOT the right man for the job and so we have to look elsewhere. I think some were hoping he could fill in the hole but in reality he is not good enough. Not his fault.

[Arsenal Tone]

He’s fine as a squad player. We need a starting DM though.