27 Jun 2017 10:34:00
This stuff we are reading here that ox is not good enough is just emberassing. Player didn't even pull the shirt yet. I think we will all be very surprised what a player he is if we really do sign him! He is so versatile and can do a very good job on three positions. those comments about him being unable to pick intelligent pass are just untrue as i watched like 20 arsenal games and he was top 3 players on the pitch in every of those games. give the lad a chance!


1.) 27 Jun 2017
27 Jun 2017 11:22:35
Well said mandzo . The amount of times I had to argue my case for mane from fans who said he was rubbish not good enough he plays for Southampton etc. He has most the attributes to be a really good player and still young with lots of experience for player of his age. a lot if my mates who are Arsenal fans are not happy he maybe leaving as he was very good the second half of the season (there words) Also give us option in a few positions which can only be a good thing with possible 4 competitions next season.


2.) 27 Jun 2017
27 Jun 2017 11:25:30
His passing is so under rated. I saw him a few times last season and one of the best ways to tell how good a player is on the ball is to watch what his team mates do when they get it. Every time he got the ball Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott etc would instantly look to run in behind or attack the box. Ox, even if his passing lanes were blocked, had the weight of pass and vision to lift it over the top of the defence. He actually did this on various occasions and created a few goals with balls in behind.

His crossing as well has come on leaps and bounds. Just watch his cross to Monreal in the FA cup semi final against Man City for an example. It was an absolute peach that would've made Beckham or Gerrard proud!

I don't want to over praise the kid. His defensive awareness is very poor. You only have to see how much space opposition midfields have when he is playing as part of a holding two. The thing is though, we don't play with that tactic. We play with a high tempo press, which is why attacking midfielders/ wingers like Lallana, Coutinho and Gini have looked so comfortable in our midfield three. Judging Ox on his lack of positional awareness is fair enough, but you have to appreciate that Klopps system rarely exposes his midfield to that issue. We press as a pack so reading of the game in midfield is less crucial. Nobody seems to be considering this. How many thought Lallana or Gini would be a good midfield alongside Henderson (who also started his career as a right winger)? I'll bet nobody even saw it coming, let alone thought it could be so successful!


3.) 27 Jun 2017
27 Jun 2017 11:32:34
When he's good he's good, his problem though is that he's not good often enough.

Klopp is good with getting consistency out of players, just look at lallana etc.

I think if we do get him he could be a really good player for us.


4.) 27 Jun 2017
27 Jun 2017 12:59:16
This notion that we can't call a player not good enough before he signs is just ridiculous. How many players currently in league 2 are we looking to sign? -none.
Why? They are not good enough. It is possible for a player we are linked with to not be good enough to play for us.


5.) 27 Jun 2017
27 Jun 2017 12:43:10
We are voicing opinions based on what we have seen of Ox in Arsenal and we are free to differ from others as that is the right of everyone here. The system we play does not allow for passengers and requires a high rate of positional intelligence to press and then get back into position when the press does not work which is where ox has shown that he is not good enough, among several other areas of his game. There's a reason why players like Allen, Ibe, Benteke, Marko, Moreno no longer/ will no longer play for us. They lack the tools both ability-wise and game intelligence to play our system.

Now does that mean that Klopp can't work with Ox to improve him? No. Does that mean the Ox can't be good for us? No. It just means that many of us have a diff. opinion from others regarding Ox BUT if Klopp wants him then so be it. Two things can be right at the same time as it is not an either/ or in many instances.


6.) 27 Jun 2017
27 Jun 2017 15:54:42
Fair play Brussels that was actually a decent counter argument. I will still agree to disagree but it is nice to see you accepting that other people have different views.


7.) 27 Jun 2017
27 Jun 2017 16:57:20
For the price we can get Ox for it is well worth looking to in my opinion. I work with a semI professional footballer and Arsenal fan who rates him highly and really wants him to stay. For all the positions he can cover he is well worth 20/ 25m in this crazy market. Is he a game changer or Marquee signing. no, but at that price he leaves a lot of money left in the kitty for other areas to be strengthened.


8.) 27 Jun 2017
27 Jun 2017 17:02:40
The point I'd make is that he offers nothing in centre midfield other than a headless chicken. Whenever he's played for Arsenal or England in that position he chases shadows and looks clueless on the ball, that's without mentioning his lack of positional sense. He's a very bog standard Premier League winger who wants to be Steven Gerrard. Watch the games that he has actually played in centre midfield for Arsenal and England you'll see a player completely out of his depth, I'd rather he was out of his depth at Arsenal than here and I'd rather we bought someone who was brilliant in centre midfielder who improves our starting 11, than average winger who is barely adequate in centre midfield.


9.) 27 Jun 2017
27 Jun 2017 17:19:43
MK, I may have come off that way but that was not my intention in any way. If you notice, I air my opinion based on facts and even said that in spite of this, if Klopp wants him, I will fall back and let him do his job. I just have a problem with people painting a rosey picture of a situation (in this case, a player) who has shown to not be able to hack it at his own club and making him look better than he actually is just cos Klopp rates him, or that they are a big fan of. That is my issue. I actually agree with your opinion and appraisal of VVD as I too think, he's not good enuff and supremely overrated even tho, he is supremely talented with ability to burn. That is my only point of contention. You are free to disagree mate as that is the beauty of honest debate, bro. Nuff Respect!