Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Brice Coffer 
Date:Sunday July 5 2009
Time: 12:22AM
UK time is: 06:46:05
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What Is Samir Nasri's Best Position?
Our new poll at Vital Arsenal asks you what is Samir Nasri's best position at Arsenal.
Since his move across the Strait of Dover, the young Frenchman has played in a variety of positions for the Gunners, including both left and right midfielder, attacking midfielder, and defensive mid. With the arrival of Andrey Arshavin, the possible return of Rosicky, and competition from Walcott, much debate has ensued about where Nasri should be played next season. He started out on the wing and instantly made an impact against FC Twente and West Brom. Then in January, with Arsenal ruing the injury to our captain and offensive heartbeat Cesc Fabregas, Wenger pushed Nasri forward to try and fill the obvious void in Arsenal's play. In March, with the sensational emergence of Arshavin, Arsene once again switched Samir's position, but this time he was moved back to defensive midfielder. With all the movement, it's clear Wenger isn't sure where to put his big name signing from last summer, but I feel we find out next season.
So I ask you, where do you think Nasri will thrive next year? Vote in the poll to your right, or better yet, register and debate with other members on the articles and forum. With a constantly growing membership of over 4700, Vital Arsenal is the perfect place to debate all things Gooner. Make your voice heard! All the cool people are doing it ;)
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Your Comments
Personally, I am torn on the subject. I will have to say winger. Rotating him, Rosicky, Walcott, and Arshavin will be a immense luxury for Wenger.
gunnerkid107
cam is the best position for nasri but competition for places mean that he has to do with a place on the wing !
arslan
i still dont think he is strong enough yet. he seems to lightweight on the ball and still needs another season to get up to speed - i see him coming on as an impact player.....
D4NNYT
In future I could see him as an attacking midfielder, but also as a central midfielder who is scrappy, but not "defensive". Like a pint-sized Vieira. He is never a winger, and even if he plays on the right/left, he does not play it like a winger.
Tom14
His best position is as an attacking midfielder but I think he'd fit in best on the right wing with Arshavin or Rosicky on the left. If both Rosicky and Arshavin are fit, I think Nasri shouldn't be starting, but having all three of those available would be amazing.
ArsenalFan01
I can't help but think that as long as Cesc is here, Nasri's best position for Arsenal is on the wing.
gunnerkid107
On the wing, yes, but not a winger as such. Although I see a 433 next year with him in the middle as our Iniesta figure.
Tom14
Tom14 Nasri does not have the pace to beat his man.He needs to work on his pace because his passing , ball retention and dribbling skills are excellent only pace needs to be worked on for him to become a truly world class player ! Still though he is young and will develop the physical aspects of his game imo !
arslan
in a interview on arsenal.com a few weeks ago, he said he could become a defensive midfielder. i quite liked him in the deep role he played in the few games towards the end of last season. he only needs to work a bit more on his tackling and toughen up a bit, everything else is just there in him, the guy is so classy in everything he does on the pitch, looks super elegant when he's playing..
luckys_10
How about on the bench!
haigh_for_7
No that's where Zhirkov is going to end up. You're paying more for an inferior Russian than we payed for Arshavin.
gunnerkid107
but luckys_10 converting him into a dm goes agianst his natural instincts which is to attack and he is effin good at it ! he just need to develop his pace to become a true replacement fo Booby Pires .... the thought of rosciky,fabregas and nasri and a front 3 of RVP ,arshavin and theo is mouth watering
arslan
i wudnt have theo in the starting 11m rather go wid eduardo instead. and if yu see nasri's game, he does a lot of tracking back and defensive play as well. and who said curb his natural attacking game. whenever he will have the ball, he will do what he does best. just maybe have him playing a bit more deeper than usual. the guy is very intelligent. i'm sure he will adapt wherever he plays. why buy a melo or any other such expensive dm when we can solve the problem internally. rather lets get rid of adebayor and buy someone in his place instead..
luckys_10
and whatever the critics say about eboue, he is a very very good squad player to have. i wudnt let him go, no way..
luckys_10
Maybe while he develops his pace, a couple of our central defenders can develop their height.
elbondo
Melo, or another CM that offers height and toughness in the tackle as well as passing range and confidence on the ball is needed to take this club to the next level IMO. Nothing against Nasri, but he lacks one of those facets, and possibly toughness in the tackle. A mature (24 + years) midfielder of at least 6' offers us something that we need, that we don't have internally.
As to Nasri, playing centrally in a 4-3-3 combination gets my vote.
hughied
He played defensive midfield? Sheesh, you lot are wasting his talent!
JT_daniel
I think realistically, Nasri is not a defensive midfielder, I'm sure he could develop into one because he's an intelligent player, but we've got enough players learning on the job at the moment without adding to it unnecessarily. The reality is that when Nasri played the DM role at the end of last season we started to concede goals. I'd wait and see how Nasri comes along in an attacking position this season. His first season was pretty good for an inaugural campaign but I'd expect a lot more this year now he's acclimatised.
Little Dutch
Sorry to go off topic but I'm the Derby editor and I've been trying to get an email through to the Arsenal editor but it won't deliver. So could you (the Arsenal editor) or a co editor please get in contact with me in derby@vitalfootball.co.uk. Thanks.
Rammie
Altho not a natural DM, nor destined to be one... Nasri is tough in the tacke. He may not have the gangly legs of Diaby to slide in with but he doesn't shy away easily. I remember early in the champions league he was clattering players and a crunching he gave one J. Barton.
MeetTheGunners
The Nasri tackle on Barton was classsic- the smug thug gets on the pitch and got hacked down almost instantly by the little Frenchman. Right up there with Nani getting hacked down after his showboating in the FA Cup the season before.
elbondo
"Although I see a 433 next year with him in the middle as our Iniesta figure." -Tom14, I agree Tom, I think he is too good a player to have him sitting on the bench. Nasri, Denilson Fabregas as a midfield triumvirate sounds petty good to me, but then that creates other selection problems for the front 3. Van Persie, Arshavin, Eduardo anyone?
GunnerBlood
just looked at what I wrote and I have seen a team of midgets :-)
GunnerBlood
And GB, I had a little brainwave. Everyone goes on about van Persie playing on the left of a 433 with Edu up top, but why can't Eduardo play on the right? Makes more sense to me.
Tom14
or Arshavin! van Persie should be up top, I don't think he could play the wide roles.
Tom14
What is Nasri's best position? The same could be asked of Walcott. Only your manager knows! But we wont go into the sordid details all over again!
mutters
mutters indeed. Think you might be missing the point of a discussion forum, as in a forum for discussion. Here's how it works, somebody poses a thesis or asks a question, then others contribute their opinions.
GunnerBlood
What's Almunia's best position. Only the manager knows. Jeez Louise, some people!
GunnerBlood
Tom, I like your ideas about playing a 433 with arsenal next year... but Van Persie has played on the left wing for Wenger before if I'm thinking correctly and he'd certainly be good if you wanted to rotate your strikers in and out a la Man U in 08. Arshavin, Walcott, and Van Persie can all play centrally or in the wide area.
cfcAlex
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