With TH14 injured last year, our automatic choice for PKs was gone and Gilberto stepped in admirably. Henry is gone, so who will take them now?
From my recollection, the PKs last year were taken by:
Henry
Gilberto
Baptista (also gone)
Adebayor
van Persie
Further options last year could’ve been Ljungberg or Aliadiere- both gone as well. So is the first choice Gilberto? Wenger even stated that he was not a natural penalty kick choice. So what are you predictions and why?
1) Gilberto (performed well last year so why change?)
2) van Persie (take FKs, our dead-ball specialist)
3) Eduardo (previous exp. in this role with good success)
4) Adebayor (Wenger mentioned as the next choice after Baptista missed in Liverpool)
In the Carling Cup, my best guess would be:
1) Bendtner
2) Walcott
So what are you predictions and why?
13 Responses to “Penalty Kicks for Arsenal”
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August 10th, 2007 at 7:24 am
1. RvP (as you said, our dead-ball specialist, he hits the ball with power and accuracy)
2. Eduardo (has a good record, I think he would do the job)
3. Rosicky (the guy has talent, knows what he wants when he has the ball, so he would place the ball beautifully, given the chance of course)
4. Gilberto (although he took all the penalties very good last season, he doesn’t seem confident enough, I’m just not so sure that he will score)
5. Adebayor
August 10th, 2007 at 8:03 am
When Gilberto was named the taker last season, I thought Wenger was out of his mind. But he held his nerve surprisingly well.
Anyway, I agree with Sheed, I too think RvP should be the no. 1 taker. He too is a striker with no fear. Along with a great shooting technic. Two crucial elements for a PK-taker, and he got it all.
Another thing is - there are many top of the league strikers whose total tally are made looking better with their goals from penalty. Andy Johnson, for example, I think he once scored 24 goals in the league with Palace, and ppl started talking about how promising a striker he was. Yet 12 of that 24 goals were from penalties.
My point is - RvP’s 13 goals last season did not seem that impressive. But if we take away the fact he has missed half of the season, and not many penalty goals in those 13, it was a reasonable effort.
Allowing him to be the no.1 PK-taker, and let him grabbing more goals, it will boost his confidence even higher. That can’t be a bad thing for a striker and the team as a whole.
I saw the odd from a betting site that van Persie to win the Golden Boot is something like 1-12. Sound like a great odd to me.
I do have a feeling this gonna be a breakout season for van Persie as well. Forget about Drogba, Rooney, Torres, Bent…. I won’t be suprise van Persie turns out to be like Ronaldo of Man U last season. The only thing can stop him now is injury. He has yet to play a full season without injury for us, so let’s hope this will be the first.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:46 am
My order - RvP, Eduardo, Gilberto & Ade.
Last season, we got more penalties than any other team. So let’s hope that continues and we keep scoring.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:07 am
RvP, Gilberto, Eduardo
August 10th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Definately RVP, followed by Eduardo, and it wouldn’t suprise me to see Cesc taken some.
August 10th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Hey guys. In general, I agree but I really wonder if that will be the case. There were opportunities for him (RvP) to take them last year but he didn’t. The only one I remember is when Henry got fouled, we were up and it was close to the end of the match… i.e. a low pressure opportunity to take a PK. I like the thought of Rosicky since I am hoping for him to score 5 more goals than last year and successful PKs could settle him for other goal scoring chances.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Well, no matter who Arsene selects to take the PK’s, it will be just a fantastic selection anyway.
He could have Lehman step up to take them, and there are some that’d say GREAT IDEA!!!!!
I would say it has to be RVP.
As long as Cesc never takes one, I’ll be fine!
August 10th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
RvP
Gilberto
Gallas
Lehmann
August 10th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I agree that it has to be RvP as he is poised to really break out this year as a dominant goal scorer following last year’s injury.
August 10th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
I think RvP with no question, and Eduardo as a second option.
PS I love the Nick Hornby allusion above me ^^^
August 10th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
i bet on RVP wiining the golden boot and im gettin 21-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…yes 21..lol
August 11th, 2007 at 3:43 am
7 Chris Stagliola Says:
August 10th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Well, no matter who Arsene selects to take the PK’s, it will be just a fantastic selection anyway.
He could have Lehman step up to take them, and there are some that’d say GREAT IDEA!!!!!
I would say it has to be RVP.
As long as Cesc never takes one, I’ll be fine!
STOP ACTING LIKE A KID!!!!
August 12th, 2007 at 8:28 am
The sensible choice, but AW gets to show this card- RvP top of the net! Much prefer the side-netting PK where the GK has to guess right to have a chance.