Arsenal shedding centre backs

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Mikel Arteta has an entire week with his players, the longest gap of time between games since he joined the club. That means more recovery time for the players, more time to spend talking through ideas, and plenty of practice for whatever the plan is against Chris Wilders excellent Sheffield United outfit this weekend.

One of the main challenges the coaching staff will be dealing with is the loss of Auba, our most lethal player. Overall, one of the issues we’ve had for a while is the lack of shared responsibilities when it comes to goal-scoring duties. This was Arteta.

“They now have to make a step forward now he is not able to contribute to the team with goals.

“Someone else has to do it and I want to see that reaction too.”

My hope is that as we move closer to the vision of the new regime, goals will start to be more evenly distributed.

There are a few players I’d love to see step up to the plate, one of them is Gabriel Martinelli. He has a monstrous opportunity ahead of him. He’s Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, so I’m intrigued to see what the manager does to the structure of the team to unleash him. My guess is he’ll slip into the left of the front three and just replace Auba. He’s more of a natural presser though, so maybe the temptation might be to have him lead through the middle.

Another player who should start offering up more goals is Nicolas Pepe. We’ve seen flashes of what he’s capable of, but he really needs to double down and focus on more consistent delivery. He can be a bit ponderous at times. His casual nature can come across like he’s not bothered, I’m hoping a bit more urgency in his game and the added responsibility over the next 3 games will see him rise to the occasion.

When it comes to our midfield, it’s hard to see where the goals will come from. Torreira finds good positions sometimes, but when he’s too far forward he struggles to make up ground, he’s thrived playing in a smaller area of the pitch. Same can be said of Xhaka, though it has been noted that he’s powered through on the overlap twice in two games. Matteo and Ceballos both have limited productivity, and Ozil has rarely shown much of a gift for goal scoring.

It seems I have talked myself out of this, let’s just hope the front three can offer something otherwise we’re in trouble.

In defence, there appears to be movement. Mavrapanos has been sent out on loan. Sven Mislintat came back in for the player, but Nurnberg appears to have won the race for the Greek defender. Everyone loved him when he joined, but he’s been well off the pace since. Hopefully, a stint in Germany can help with his fitness and confidence.

The player we’re all desperate to see the back of is Mustafi. Sport is a brutal job, but he’s quite simply not good enough and no amount of coaching is going to save a player that stopped being hungry. He’s certainly a lesson in what £90k a week contract can do to a persons appetite for success. Galatasaray, regularly a saving grace for persona non grata in the Premier League, are rumoured to be interested in reinvigorating his career. Good luck to them.

The worry I have with exiting these defenders is we’re left very short through the middle. We’ll be relying on two 30+ centre backs, and the fitness of Rob Holding. Feels very, very risky… which is why I suspect there will be some sort of cover on loan. I just hope it’s not Jerome Boateng, who is hilariously being courted by Ivan Gazidis.

ESPN ran some analysis on bad reffing this season, it had Arsenal down 9 points.

I DON’T WANT TO BE A VICTIM BUT COME ON FEEL SORRY FOR US.

The reffing was pretty bad at the Palace game and it was atrocious at the Chelsea game. I don’t understand how they run the associations. What are they looking at? Who is bringing them patterns of bad behaviour that go on? Like, how can this tactical fouling thing still be an issue? Shouldn’t the refs make a statement to clubs and say that they’ll be dropping red cards as a deterrent. If we’re using VAR, can’t someone update a live iWatch table that tells refs how many tactical fouls a player or a team have dropped in a game? These problems we have in the game seem fairly simple to solve, but when the problem is given to Mike Riley, he comes up with the most bizarre ways of fixing them.

I still maintain the refs should be accountable to press. I also think we should hear them justify decisions. It works in the NFL, it brings the fans into the decisions.

Right, that’s the blog done, jump on board for the latest podcast with Alex who occasionally blogs on here. I bought a new mic, the sound is pretty damn crisp. Let me know what you think in the comments!

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Habesha Gooner

Midfielders must be dynamic , intelligent and have to enough technical quality to be a top player in the modern game especially in the premier league. Xhaka is slow and can’t tackle while Ozil is a gifted footballer technically he lacks energy to affect matches. They have major weaknesses in their game. And these weaknesses can’t be coached out of them because they are physical and a little bit mental. If we had a decent midfield our defense wouldn’t look this worse ( this season), our young players wouldn’t shoulder this much responsibility. ( Matteo, Joe, Torriera) all have had… Read more »

Receding Hairline

“Nothing unfair about his dismissal..”

Nothing unfair about Conte’s either, he was begging to be sacked for months before they sacked him.

@ Pierre

Didn’t expect better

Still rolling with the boring “know nothings” line i see

Distant legrover

Pierre

This is why they say stats don’t tell u everything. Would have thought Ramsey was the more consistent goal scorer.

Champagne charlie

“We have a collection of players that are not really suited to any known formation so any system picked by the coach would have issues.“ Want to unpack that? “Again, the fact we didn’t replace him -like for like with that money suggests these replacements for him are not as common as you like to claim.“ Don’t conflate the fact we never replaced Ramsey’s output from midfield with the idea there’s nobody out there capable. We brought in Ceballos and I’ve already stated that was an apples to oranges “replacement” while we spooned money wide on Pepe. “Unless you want… Read more »

Distant legrover

Aussie gooner

Perhaps he should shut up until he’s ready ? Last thing we Arsenal fans need right now is more false hope.

azed

“Is this the best the know nothings can do..they spent 18 months defending Emery’s tactics and man management and all we are hearing now is imbecile comments like “when can we start holding these players accountable ”” Actually Pierre if you go through the comments, the prevailing theme/excuse was that Emery needed time and needed to get his players. Its the same thing with Arteta, he needs time and needs players… You on the other hand swore that playing Ozil as the number 10 would see us creating chances again and that hasn’t happened. You’ve gone from blaming Emery to… Read more »

Marko

Complaining about refereeing decisions costing Arsenal. We’re back to the days of Arsene.

Receding Hairline

“Perhaps he should shut up until he’s ready ?”

Perhaps he should not be asked the same question anytime he is interviewed by foreign media

Brooklyn

Pierre, You claim lack of confidence, I say players already got their confidence back after Arteta’s second game in charge. Now it is just player’s quality and consistency. Already making excuses for not accepting player poverty under Emery I see. Also we are tactically limited due to limitations of players like Xhaka, Torreira, AMN and to extent Ozil and Kolasinac. One or two limited players taking into consideration their strength for overall team balance can be accommodated, but playing to strength of all these limited player all of whom happen to play in defensive position is hurting our offensive balance.… Read more »

Paulinho

As I’ve said, Maddison is out and out number ten. He can’t play central midfield. Talking about apples to oranges…..

Anyway, even if we did want to buy him, good luck getting him. Proving my point about easier said that done replacing these players.

Paulinho

Pierre – Ramsey scores big goals in cup finals, Ozil scores when everyone else is already piling on for the most part.

Champagne charlie

Paulinho

How many games did Ramsey play in CM last season? Seems you’re hell bent on tweaking what’s so special about him time and again.

We miss his goals and the threat he gave defences. You replace him with a Maddison (call him a 10 all you like, the others aren’t) and he gets the goals/assists whilst another player gets the tackles.

Because remember… nobody else in the league has a Ramsey, so why would it be wild for us to exist without him?

peanuts&monkeys

Lacan is to blame for this abysmal goal-scoring record of Arsenal this season. He is the main culprit. He has been pathetic. Even Giroud could have put in a few more than him.

Distant legrover

He’s being asked the same questions over and over because he initially opened his big mouth and confessed his intention to buy the Arsenal.

Did you hear a peep from Kroenke in advance, when he initially joined Arsenal ?

Distant legrover

Receding

Real players don’t talk about it, they move in silence.

vickingz

Who’s still calling for zaha here?

Paulinho

“Because remember… nobody else in the league has a Ramsey, so why would it be wild for us to exist without him?”

Because we had someone no one else had, got rid of him, while still lacking in areas other teams had an advantage over us.

Not very good at this are you.

Receding Hairline

Brooklyn the confidence thing was always nonsense

We have not even had a proper new manager bounce and it was written off as the squad suffering from Emery molestation.

That theme will continue until most of them are replaced. Don;t expect some on here to ever come out and accept the glaring limitations of some players in the squad.

Not surprising Ozil went missing the first away game against a team with a pulse, it has been blamed on his team mates not finding him when he takes up fantastic positions.

Jim Lahey

How is Ramsey getting on in Italy?

HighburyLegend

“Who’s still calling for zaha here?”

Don’t care if Auba is suspended.
No to this piece of shite under our colours.

Champagne charlie

Paulinho

Again, you’re talking to one of the only people who called for attention to our CM last summer so spare me.

You’re arguing Ramsey was near irreplaceable, that’s bollocks. If we spent the Pepe money on a Fernandes or Grealish we’d have done more good at replacing Ramsey. Because we chose not to isn’t strength to some claim he was a unicorn.

Receding Hairline

“Real players don’t talk about it, they move in silence.”

Distant goner Aliko Dangote has a personal net worth of 10 billion USD. He is as real as they come.

HighburyLegend

@Jim : injured, old habits, you know… lol

Big Dave

See that Bamford’s posting on Arseblog again and replying to Bill’s killer posts from HERE. Don’t know what the locals are making of it. Probably think he’s confused.

It’s like me arguing with someone at work, getting shredded and then shouting on a train that his arguments were “not valid” with everyone looking and shuffling away from the yank krank.

Champagne charlie

Jim

He’s managed 630 minutes football so far, 7 games total. Ripping it up, no idea how they’ll eventually replace him.

Distant legrover

Grealish I thought was another English hype but I gotta say, I love his take the game by the scruff ability. Hes the anti-Arsenal player of recent history.

Jim Lahey

@CC –

Ouch! Yeah I am sure they won’t find his likes again!

Receding Hairline

This Grealish lad really seems to tickle the fancy of a certain patron on here

Mentions him every 4 seconds

Paulinho

” If we spent the Pepe money on a Fernandes or Grealish we’d have done more good at replacing Ramsey. ”

But we didn’t, and you still claimed our squad was better than last year when the season kicked off.

Until we sign a Grealish or Fernandes and they do the business all it’s all hot air and conjecture.

Paulinho

Jim – How are we getting on since he left?

Jim Lahey

@Paulinho –

Come on, he was a decent player, but nothing special its not like the entire club was being proped up bt Aaron Ramsey.. I mean how are we doing after Yaya Sonogo left?! Answer me that!!

Champagne charlie

“But we didn’t, and you still claimed our squad was better than last year when the season kicked off.“

Because it is. We lost goals from midfield through Ramsey (though how many given he’s not fit this season?), but bettered ourselves in Pepe, Martinelli, and Tierney. Plus the emergence of Saka, and to a lesser extent Willock. Then when you consider further adaptation from those we bought a year ago, it’s hard to claim we’re worse off………unless your world revolves around Aaron Ramsey and we’re shit without him as you’ve claimed.

Distant legrover

Receding

I actually am familiar with Dangote. Been hearing that name for almost 2 decades. It’s just that his declaration to buy Arsenal seems more like what people thinks he’s capable of (his wealth) as opposed to his personal intention or desire.

Paulinho

Jim – Our performances and results have fallen off a cliff since he got injured then left, but you and a few others are just as clueless as ever. Some feat that.

vickingz

Dangote is just regurgitating the “buying arsenal” news, I don’t think he’s gonna buy it though.

Champagne charlie

Where would we be with Ramsey in the side this season?

He’s managed 7 games and 2 goals, one of which was a Nani steal from Cristiano.

Marko

Arguments about the squad again. Literally every football writer, pundit, ex-player whatever will gladly take apart our squad and shit all over it and yet there’s a few numpties on a blog somewhere so tribal on the issue that it’s day whatever and they’re still arguing about it’s quality despite it’s current obvious standing in world football. But have at it I suppose

Paulinho

Charles – Well I look forward to Arteta,with this squad, doing better than last year next season, and making big strides in the next five months.

vickingz

Please what was leno doing outside the line when CP equalised? Leno is a suspect, I’ve always been saying it.

Paulinho

Charles – Thank god we still can still build our team around Guendouzi,and have the characteristics of Xhaka to propel us forward, so at least midfield is sorted.

Brooklyn

Receding, Re:Ozil, I only partially agree mate. While I don’t particularly care for Ozil he is only player in our squad who won’t lose ball frequently or atleast manage 80-85% possession in final third. Viewing our squad make up and the way Arteta wants us to play he is needed for now. He also has been given limited role by Arteta in right half space plus more intensity to win the ball back. So, when Torreira, AMN, Sok don’t pass the ball to him quick enough with all the time in the world, I don’t really blame him for it.… Read more »

Champagne charlie

Paulinho

Not going to offer a view on what I said then? Just a series of childish bollocks because someone dismisses your Ramsey FC ramblings.

The midfield is lacking, I said so in the summer. Renders your point scoring nonsense exactly that.

vickingz

I think those clamouring for auba to be played through the middle really need a reality check. Auba despite being on the flank get played to score mostly through the middle but he’s useless when played through the middle. Can’t dribble, can’t even play a simple return pass, y’all need to count how many times he loses a simple return pass when played through the middle

Paulinho

Charles – You attempt to make a load of ‘gotcha’ points that fall dead on their arse,and then accuse others of childisness. Do me favour with the sincere shite.

vickingz

Papa sok is just too slow to do anything meaningful with the ball

Paulinho

“We lost goals from midfield through Ramsey (though how many given he’s not fit this season?), but bettered ourselves in Pepe, Martinelli, and Tierney”

I obviously disagree. Should be apparent by now.

Champagne charlie

Paulinho

I’ve not made any, you see them as gotcha points because you’re so buried up Ramsey’s arse you tweak reality to suit the narrative.

How different would things be for us this season with him? He’s managed 7 games worth of minutes total, netted twice. Joe Willock has done more this season.

Nelson

Just watched the replay of the 1st half of the game against Palace. Until Pepe collided with Torr at the 28 minutes, we had the game under control. Pepe was the worst player on the pitch. When we were sending the crosses in from the left, he didn’t make any effort to challenge the ball. When we were attacking through his side, he screwed up every ball. We has wasted the chance to score a second goal. He still has a lot to improve.

Habesha Gooner

I don’t think replacing our inadequate players is as tough as people make it out to be. We got Guendouzi for 7 mil and Martinelli for 6 mil. No one at arsenal would sell Martinelli for 50 mil now. We need to Improve our scouting. And we need to take risks on unpolished gems. Dortmund have been run that way for a long time and they keep buying elite talent for peanuts. and there are no sure things. Ndombele and Keita were bought for big fees and they still haven’t justified their price tags. We should take 20-30 mil risks… Read more »

azed

“Want to unpack that?” CC Aside Bellerin and maybe Tierney, we played our best 11 at the weekend in a 4-2-3-1. Problems 1) Aubameyang on the left is not his idea position. 2) The moment a team presses us, we find it hard to get out of our half because two of our 3 midfielders need space to operate. 3) Because of 1, we need our left back to give us width. 4) Neither Torriera nor Xhaka provide 3rd man run from midfield. Emery tried to make Torriera do this by playing him as a b2b but we know how… Read more »

Paulinho

Charlie – Yes, Ramsey is injury prone. Well done, never noticed.

Champagne charlie

Paulinho

So less and less irreplaceable in reality.

Distant legrover

Ramsey would be a world beater if he was an injury free kinda player. Unfortunately hes a perma-crock. Unless he pulls a late career Van Persie, injuries will affect his legacy. He’s talented but what makes him special is his focus, Ronaldoesque.

Paulinho

Charles -I said last season I understood why we didn’t renew due to injury issues. It doesn’t change the fact you still have to replace what he did give us in the previous years. Even if he had stayed and was injured we would’ve have had the same problem of working around it.

So not really less and less irreplaceable at all. Try again.

Champagne charlie

“1) Aubameyang on the left is not his idea position.“ It’s not? He’s pretty gash centrally unless we’re counter attacking. And he’s won the golden boot playing from the left, up there again this season. What exactly do you think will come of him playing centrally? “2) The moment a team presses us, we find it hard to get out of our half because two of our 3 midfielders need space to operate.“ So it’s nothing to do with us adopting a new system a couple of weeks ago? When we pass quickly we avoid the press as we managed… Read more »

WengerEagle

Prime Ramsey was a brilliant player, arguably the best all round CM in the PL outside of Citeh who have always had by far the best CM players in Yaya Toure, David Silva, KDB.

He’s fallen far off from that peak 203-2015 level of performance now though, too injury prone and lacks the defensive application he used to have in abundance in addition to his attacking threat.

He won’t be at Juve for too long, doesn’t really have the game to link with Rinaldo, Dybala and Hig. Played yesterday when they were absolutely dominated by Roma, lucky to win.

Champagne charlie

Paulinho You’ve championed all day that you knew we’d be shot when Ramsey left because he is a rare talent and hard to replace. Now stating you knew he needed to leave because he was injury-ridden kind of diminishes the bluster that comes before. He left and we added Pepe likely with the thought he’d take up the goal scoring exploits he enjoyed last season which would’ve had our output no worse off. In reality he’s not warmed up yet and the midfielder they did bring (Ceballos) hasn’t kicked a ball in anger. I’ve no issue with the idea we… Read more »

Aussie Gooner

Unfortunately Kroenke was invited to join the party and to eventually take over the club. Dangonte would have to undertake a hostile takeover and pay well over the market value of the club. With Stan it was like leaving the front door open to a burglar! Kroenke was not stupid – he would have made all the right noises and paid the going rate to some of the old school shareholders who were frankly not interested in football. It was as easy as taking candy from a baby! Mr Dangonte will have a much harder task ahead of him. If… Read more »

Brooklyn

Nelson, Yes he doesn’t have intensity as of now to play two way wingers. Dribbling past opponents who try to bully them takes away much of any dribblers energy. On top of that he is asked to track back, run forward to attack crosses, while he prefers to take on players. You don’t really see Zaha attacking cross or applying any intensity defensively as well as run beyond opposition back line. No dribbler does that bar maybe Willian but he drops deeper to conserve energy to dribble and press than run beyond opposition defence to support CF. He needs to… Read more »

WengerEagle

Spurs looking to loan that Portuguese kid?

Hopefully blows up in their face ala Renato Sanches.

Was worried it was Bruno Fernandes for a second but they are gloriously broke.

Paulinho

WE – I think if he stays fit he makes it work, although Juve said they would play him as a Mezzala, and he’s playing in that horrible No.10 role again. He always gets off on a bad foot though with fans though with the injuries. Ally that with needing four or five games to work out the kinks, and this love-hate thing develops.

Paulinho

“Now stating you knew he needed to leave because he was injury-ridden kind of diminishes the bluster that comes before.”

I understood the decision, due to injuries, and giving Ozil a ridiculous contract a year before.

I wouldn’t have given Ozil a contract, and I would’ve kept Ramsey just for those periods he is fit.

Batistuta

Auba is not a winger, he’s best played through the middle, doesn’t matter how shit he is at whatever it is some of you want him to be, he’s a goal scorer, best we’ve had since RVP

WengerEagle

Paulinho Ramsey in the right system is excellent but he’s not mobile enough when you already have a narrow CM trio in Rabiot, Matuidi and Pjanic that all like to play centrally and occupy his spots. He’s forced to play further forward and drift wide and he doesn’t have the attributes for it. Juve have basically stockpiled half a dozen of the same profile of player in Ramsey, Rabiot, Matuidi, Bentancur, Emre Can and Pjanic with Pjanic being the sole deep playmaker in there guaranteeing his spot. Douglas Costa, Bernadeschi and Dybala are crucial to their balance because of their… Read more »

Batistuta

Get a proper left winger and bin the dude currently at CF stinking the place out and play your best players in their best positions…Only at Arsenal

Paulinho

“diminishes the bluster that comes before.”

Lol, you’re so desperate to land some blow, even though it’s a constant swing and miss.

There is no diminishing of ‘bluster’. If he had stayed in, and ended up in rolling around Colney in a wheelchair, we still have the same problem.

WengerEagle

Auba is shocking anywhere outside of the penalty box. Everything from his touch, dribbling, passing, decision making and hold up play are subpar to terrible. He just happens to be a world class finisher and his instincts are phenomenal. Obviously he’s extremely valuable for that for a club on our level at the moment but it’s easy to see why no elite clubs ever wanted to touch him with a bargepole even at a cut price deal. Strange player in that he frustrates that shit out of you with sloppiness and poor technique for 89 mins and then he bangs… Read more »

azed

“What exactly do you think will come of him playing centrally?”

With two proper wingers who can play 1 v 1, you drag players out wide, leaving room in the center for players to occupy.

Paulinho

“Juve have basically stockpiled half a dozen of the same profile of player in Ramsey, Rabiot, Matuidi, Bentancur, Emre Can and Pjanic”

I agree the rest of those are similar, but Ramsey makes runs none of them do and see him quite a bit differently overall, but get your point about general congestion.

Bernadeschi is a hated by Juve fans, but he is probably more of a natural number ten, which is why gets game time in that role.

Paulinho

Rabiot got voted 2nd worst signing I read somewhere as well.

Brooklyn

Present tactics of one wing back stretching play and other sitting deep helping defensively sounds even more enticing with the return or Bellerin and Tierney. But in opposite role ofcourse, Bellerin to stretch play and Tierney sitting deeper. Unlike with AMN, it won’t be as one sided because Tierney actually knows how to stretch play, he also seems like better passer and similar to Walker at City will sit deep for about 80% of time but also moves forward from time to time to provide variety of attacking combination. That way Pepe will get his favoured inside forward role, Auba/Laca… Read more »

WengerEagle

Paulinho

Well Matuidi does but he’s shocking in the final third haha.

Yeah Ramsey does have that edge to him and do you know what, he’ll score a few big goals for them this season at points in the CL/top Serie A games if given the chance but I just can’t see his future there especially given how well Ronaldo has played with Hig and Dybala.

I reckon he’s back in the PL in the not so distant future.

WengerEagle

Rabiot has barely been give a chance to kick a ball.

Bernadeschi has been shite though. No end product whatsoever.

Paulinho

WE – Yeah Matuidi is a real workhorse, one of those that stops once he gets near the box though and bit limited.

Champagne charlie

Bati
Is Auba not scoring goals or something? It’s a starting position, how did he score against Palace? Centrally, despite starting wide. It’s such a hollow statement.

Paulinho
Again with the “blow” crap, you big Ramsey up then admit he’s a crock. It makes a mockery of the claims he’s a rare talent etc when the guy can’t make it on the pitch. Put your tampon back in.

Marko

Edinson Cavani remains Atlético’s priority to reinforce the attack, but with PSG unwilling to sell this month, they have turned their attention to Alexandre Lacazette, and will offer Arsenal Thomas Lemar in a possible exchange.

Fingers crossed.

Paulinho

WE – I think a midfield of Ramsey, Pjanic, Rabiot with Dybala in behind Ronaldo is better for them.

I think long term Bentancur could do well in that central deep role. A bit like Rodri in style. He doesn’t do enough going forward for me.

Paulinho

Charlie – Ramsey is quality but injury prone. It’s not a tough one mate, I know the basics of an argument can elude you though when you haven’t got an actual point.

WengerEagle

Cavani has really spectacularly fallen off this season.

Icardi is undisputed no.1 there now.

Atletico love them some washed up elite strikers don’t they? Torres, Costa and now Cavani.

Marko

It’s not? He’s pretty gash centrally unless we’re counter attacking. And he’s won the golden boot playing from the left, up there again this season.

Not accurate at all.

What exactly do you think will come of him playing centrally?

He’d be playing in his best position for one

Champagne charlie

Paulinho

Thanks for another bombshell, renders him very replaceable you might argue. Which is kind of exactly what’s been said despite your claims of it being near impossible this whole time.

Glad we got there in the end though.

Nelson

Brooklyn,

Two times in the first 15 minutes, the ball was crossed from the left. Pepe stood there about two yards behind the defender. He didn’t move at all. The defender calmly took the ball and cleared it. He should at least pressed the defender and looked for a mistake.

Marko

Strange player in that he frustrates that shit out of you with sloppiness and poor technique for 89 mins and then he bangs in a decisive points gaining goal out of the blue.

You must be loving Lacazette at the moment. He frustrates way more and doesn’t have the goals to justify it. Also Auba does more than pop up with a goal out of the blue. Statistically speaking he’s been awesome since joining.

WengerEagle

Paulinho

Bentancur has done OK this season, he has a bit more about him then he’s shown in previous years. As you say though a fairly unspectacular player that keeps things ticking over in CM and does all of the basics very well.

We forgot the perennial managerial favourite in Khedira too! Absolute shite and the worst of the bunch.

I think they are crying out for a Sadio Mane/Raheem Sterling/Jadon Sancho type of player. Somebody that terrifies and pens defenders back and allow Ronaldo to play much higher up the pitch where he’s lethal.

WengerEagle

Marko

Laca’s been steaming turd this season I want rid believe me.

I’d far sooner keep Auba because he guarantees you more points with his goals. Both very limited centre forwards mind, Martinelli is already improving our collective at 18 when he plays.

Bin Laca and reinvest in a midfielder.

Batistuta

Charlie

His best psoition is centrally, always has been… The player who’s occupying the central position isn’t exactly pulling up trees so why not play your best player in his best position…I mean if Laca was banging them in then sure but he’s not and we are having our most productive player chasing down players down the wings when be should be closer to the 18 yrd area sniffing goals

Paulinho

Charlie – If by ‘one’ you mean clueless clown then yeah, one would argue that. I mean this season has shown how easy it is.

Lol, absolute desperation from every pore.

Batistuta

Eagle

Bernadeschi is useless, probably why they’re about to sign Kulukevski the Parma lad, doing wonders for them this season.. Rabiot has been bad each time he’s played and Matuidi isn’t putting in same shifts like he used to, all that running is finally catching up to him which is why they look so very suspect once Pjanic isn’t playing… Dybala, Ronaldo and Douglas Costa when he’s fit are just about keeping them ticking…

Batistuta

Its like how some folks thought just playing Ozil behind the strikers would fix our attacking issues, they’re never going to be, any manager is going have to rip the band aid with the midfield and get better suited players all round… None of that lot except Torreria are food for anything really

Marko

WE I can’t stress how frustrating it is to see Arsenal fans argue about the qualities of Lacazette and keeping him and binning Auba and whatever while you see Haaland go for 17 million pounds. It’s ridiculous. I still maintain 2015 had he been signed instead of Wenger just buying Cech and no outfield we would have won the league instead of Leicester but overall I think he’s been a disappointing signing. Not nearly enough goals and overall his performances have been inconsistent and poor generally. At going on 28 sell quit this shite where we hum and haw for… Read more »

Aussie Gooner

Oh well it looks like Demiral is history! Out for the rest of the season. It will give the club yet another excuse not to spend any money this TW.

Paulinho

WE – Sancho looks back on it again. Had a bit of a dip there, although understandable at his age.

Champagne charlie

Paulinho

As ever you’re at your peak when Ramsey is concerned, everyone else is clueless or clowns etc because the marvel of Rambinho isn’t being lapped up. Absolutely hopeless for you to be objective about him.

Our squad is shit without Ramsey, you left it all on the table with that nugget.

Batistuta

Demiral and Zaniolo looking lime being out for the season with serious injuries yesterday

Marko

United in talks for Bruno Fernandes and Sporting want Rojo in the deal. Don’t suppose they’d like Mustafi instead

Paulinho

“Our squad is shit without Ramsey, you left it all on the table with that nugget.”

Glad we got there in the end.

Marko

Demiral and Zaniolo looking lime being out for the season with serious injuries yesterday

Feel for them with a major tournament on the horizon but nothing comes close to the Dutch losing Depay and Malen to knee injuries.

Batistuta

Marko

Very horrible really, worst thing for a player is getting injured with a major tournament on the horizon, chance for someone else to step up though… Means De ligt back in defence for Juve though and that’s worrying for them because him and Bonnuci haven’t particularly been a very good partnership

Ishola70

As Weagle stated Pjanic keeps the Juve midfield ticking over from deep.

I don’t think Juve need to worry about putting in a replacement for him in that position.

Pjanic is a solid player for them playing that role from deep.

Ishola70

It would be funny to see Chelsea reject Sarri win the Champions League this season with Juventus.

And he has a decent chance of doing it.