The truth is there’s little output. It’s visible energy but that’s it.

I feel bad for lambasting him but I just don’t see it.

So what are the top priority positions to strengthen in January? Rank these 4 positions in priority order:
left-sided centre back, central midfielder, versatile winger, striker

For me priority 1 would be an energetic winger who can play on both flanks

central mid, then striker.

(1) Striker, (2) central midfielder, (3) versatile winger, (4) left sided central defender. I don’t see (4) as a priority at all.

Many if not countless outstanding central defence pairings have had players stronger with the same foot. We have a Saliba, Gabriel, White and Holding. That is easily enough, and good enough, whether or not Gabriel is the only left footed one.

https://twitter.com/Football__Tweet/sta ... n9egxCGXNA

Why cant we have this in the Premier League. Of course people will still disagree with referees decisions but this provides the clear communication and reasoning between the ref and the var ref over their review and decision making. Far better for the fans.

Interesting, the first 3 responses to my question had 3 different priorities from 3 different fans

You went with Striker
Decaf went for a central mid
TG went for the versatile winger

Bonus points to anyone who spots Newcastle Jets defender Carl Jenkinson.

Xhaka 'deserves' renewed success at club - Arteta

https://www.espn.com.au/football/arsena ... lub-arteta

We give this young man a chance, I think. As with Xhaka, Arteta seems to see something there worth having?

Bernard is right. A striker should be a priority. If Jesus is injured or suspended we could be in a bit of bother.

https://twitter.com/iOkmm/status/158334 ... Bmrr38NeJg

This touch from Xhaka. You just don't even try this unless you're super confident and happy with your game.

Xhaka has been our player of the season so far for me, and he has healthy competition for that award. Playing his best football for us by a mile.

I think it’s more that we dont have the 50 to 70 million quid to sign a logical alternative.

It’s going to be Johnson isn’t it. Honestly we are beyond help.

A stupid island run by criminals enabled by thick people who are motivated by stupid imaginary social issues

Xhaka has certainly turned his reputation and his play around. A new role in the set up has done great things for him...and the club.

Saka needs to be rested. Can't disagree more with Arteta about how many games he can play.

I think an injury to Jesus would be difficult but Saka worst.

It’s weird he’s like our disrupter and if he isn’t around the team doesn’t look right. When we need something it nearly always comes from him.

Pay the kid whatever he wants quite frankly.

I reckon you'll muddle through.

Although you are second best to the Italians again .. in football and in the art of having utterly chaotic politics and yet somehow being fine.

Nketiah has a knack for finding space to receive the ball and also where to be in the box for the ball to fall to him even if its rebounded. He needs finishing. A few shots should have been on target, especially since he is an attacker. But I've heard the game is a way faster, more aggressive pace and takes some time to get used to.

That said, he's talented for sure. Needs to fine tune a few things but can be good.

Not sure about being fine

Ask me in a year, my pensions have lost tens of thousands of pounds, my mortgage will go up significantly (thank god I fixed) and so on

Hopefully the markets and pound will bounce back. But I suspect there are limits and the Tories are really testing those.

Gabriel has signed a new long term contract with us, apparently until 2027

It may be that the abortive pursuit of Vlahovic left management with a young gun as the option. It wouldn't surprise me at all if we have big money in reserve if the right man becomes available in January. In the meantime give Eddie his chance to develop as a first team squad man. I don't know the stats but how many first team starts has he made? It doesn't feel like many?

And if not it will be great for tourism and British exports if we can buy un mille pounds for a rand

I agree. The policy of waiting for the right player is very sound, and relying on Eddie as a backup is a bit of risk, but not mad at all.

A sadly common story. Nice to know Truss has the option of refusing £115k annual payment for 45 days destructive work! I wonder if Johnson took it?

Yeah Decaf, all very well for tourists, very welcome as they will be, to come over here and live high on the hog - BUT - “British exports” are becoming less and less relevant as British companies will increasingly be bought up by foreign investors taking advantage of the low pound. Any export bonus would generate dividends that are paid in America and China. They own most of our utilities already. Ironically, there’s plenty of European money looking for opportunities here, particularly now that we’ve just put yet another bullet into our national foot.

So much for creating our very own off-shore powerhouse, eh? No surprise to most of the world that our economy hasn’t grown in recent years. Read the foreign views on our current banana republic chaos. They all see it quite clearly.

We were lied to. And now the Liar-in-Chief is back in the frame.

God help us.

My dad lost his pension in Ziim ... luckily not his only wealth. I wouldn't wish that on any country. Destroying one's middle class is not a good move.

Coincidentally, I was reading about Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex. I didn't realise Rolex was initially a British company, until the patented British economic policy of shooting oneself in the foot induced them to relocate to Switzerland after WWI.

Yes, and some people wonder why there is so much cynicism about politicians! Only three or four months ago he was forced to resign by his own Parliamentary party for his obvious unsuitabilty as a Prime Minister, yet now some of them want him back. If that happens the people must take to the streets to call for a General Election.

Mustn’t forget Smith Rowe is expected to be back in the new year, with much of the time until then taken up by the World Cup. In Saka, Martinelli and Smith Rowe we have three quality wide players. Marquinhos had a very promising debut and I’m still hopeful that he can be very useful.

Of course Saka would be a huge loss, but even without him Martinelli and Smith Rowe would offer very strong width to the team.

Yes I knew this. I find horology quite interesting. The idea of having this thing on your wrist created that doesn’t require power or battery built by man is really interesting on an engineering level to me

Don’t wear your Daytona or submariner in London though. Someone will try and stick a knife in your head for it.

Wolves....

Nah. More like Ronaldo without the attitude.

I fully agree OMOH. Indeed, the attempt to buy Vlahovic strongly suggests we do have the sort of money Top Gun mentions. I suspect it’s more a case of not finding anyone because Vlahovic wanted to join Juventus. Does anyone know how he’s doing at Juventus? I saw a few reports that he started well but that was some while ago.

I’ll try and remember to look up the number of games Nketiah has started tomorrow.

Agreed. I wish I could afford one. Rolex's marketing has always way ahead of its time too. Their first 'brand ambassador' was the rather amazing Mercedes Gleitze.

Antonio Conte on Tottenham plans: "I've great respect for the club and what the club wants to try to do but at the same time I know our possibilities are different to the monsters that are in England".

"You need to have time, don’t make mistakes in the transfer market"

Paving the way for his exit….

Joint top score in Serie A. But I think we got the better player in Jesus, at least in terms of current ability.

Morning OMOH. It’s very easy to look up as the match day programmes now give not only players’ appearances (starts and as a sub) for the current season, but the figures for their entire Arsenal career.

The PSV programme said Nketiah had made 42 starts and 62 sub appearances for Arsenal, scoring 25 goals (no breakdown is given for goals scored as a starter or sub).

Now he started the PSV game and didn’t score. So his details are now 43 starts, 62 sub appearances and 25 goals. Hence Nketish has played 105 games, of which 41% he started and 59% came on as a sub. So far he’s scored a goal every 4.2 games. Can’t calculate the goals per minutes (when or if he came off as a starter and came on as a sub), simply because I don’t have that data.