There are 2 big problems with the squad at the moment.
1) not enough quality in key positions
2) highly paid and expensive players not performing and not easy to shift on - Willian and Aubameyang being the worst at the moment

This squad automatically loses Luiz, Ceballos, Ryan, Ødegaard this summer. All 4 positions need to be replaced. I like Ryan but he's not home grown so it places limits on the squad in a position most teams now opt for a home grown player.

I don't see a future for Elneny or Chambers, in theory neither of those need replacing but we would be a bit light on numbers in central midfield. Kolasinac also I'm sure would be sold in the summer.

Decisions to be made on Willock, Nelson, AMN and Nketiah. Either loans, sold or I think reluctantly part of the squad, for me it is selling because right now I think the money we get from them would be more beneficial than what they give to the squad.

Finally you have Lacazette, someone who has performed well recently but I just can't see him being the striker that takes us in to the top 4. More importantly is that he will have 1 year left on his deal - so again you sell, you let him run down and leave for free or you give him his last big payday and 3 year deal. It needs to be a sale.

That's 12 players who should, in my view leave the club in some form. 14 if you add Torreira and Guendouzi. That is pretty crazy.

If we stick my making decisions on players who have 2 years to run on their contract then this summer also needs decisions on Leno, Bellerin, Xhaka, Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, Aubameyang, Willian. I suspect the last two get let run to zero. Emile Smith Rowe and Leno clearly get tied to new deals. as for the other 3, Bellerin could be tempted by a move, Xhaka will stay and Nelson might be a loan but should probably be a permanent move.

If I was rebuilding this squad I'd be in the market for:
No.2 GK - homegrown status
back up left back (tyrick mitchell on a free?)
new right back better than bellerin - he's no better than 10th best RB in the league
new right centre half - irrespective of Saliba coming back
new defensive midfielder to allow flexibility in how we play and how Partey plays
new creative midfielder (could be Ødegaard - or similar)
2x new striker
14 out and 8 in. Chances are we won't need as big a squad next year if we aren't in Europe!

What is it then that a midfielder superior to Xhaka would've done yesterday? We had control of the play for the most part, we got the ball to our attacking players in dangerous areas on many occasions and they couldn't find ways to unlock the Villa defense. No matter how much better Grealish is, surely Saka, Pépé, Aubameyang etc should be good enough to create more chances?

We've seen this over and over again this season, even against teams fighting relegation. Even if one thinks the squad isn't good enough for top four, nobody can sit with a straight face and say a lack of quality in the squad is the reason we barely created anything against the likes of Burnley, Leeds and Sheffield United.

What is it then that a midfielder superior to Xhaka would've done yesterday? We had control of the play for the most part, we got the ball to our attacking players in dangerous areas on many occasions and they couldn't find ways to unlock the Villa defense. No matter how much better Grealish is, surely Saka, Pépé, Aubameyang etc should be good enough to create more chances?

We've seen this over and over again this season, even against teams fighting relegation. Even if one thinks the squad isn't good enough for top four, nobody can sit with a straight face and say a lack of quality in the squad is the reason we barely created anything against the likes of Burnley, Leeds and Sheffield United.

I don’t think it’s undeniable at all. You’re ignoring the type of players he had alongside him. If you put Ramsey into this current Arsenal set up playing Arteta’s style, I have genuine doubts he’d improve us. Also, hasn’t he been a disappointment at Juventus? I presume so if they’re trying to get rid of him.

Trying to make a beef stew but can never get the consistency right for some reason.

If anyone knows the key to the success of this pop us a response please,

Pirlo doesn't want Ramsey apparently.

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/totten ... d-by-spurs

One has to assume he doesn’t rate him then.

As well as your usual gravy, hopefully made quite thick, I think port adds something to beef stew rather than just using red wine (assuming you are using red wine). Not forgetting the tomato purée, a bit of mustard, horseradish and a few splashes of Worcestershire sauce. What type of onion are you using? Shallots? You have seasoned the beef I hope?

He was only ever signed because he was free anyway,

It was a no brainer for them

Partey is a fantastic engine but aside from that there’s not much there.

I love your optimism, Rich, but this is Arsenal, a club that historically strings outs it negotiations for an eternity. You think we can do 8 major signings in 1 summer?

It just feels like we are creating some kind of persecution complex to paper over the fact that we just are not very good at attacking anymore.

We boast one of the world's best strikers (or at least he was until a few weeks ago), one of the world's most expensive wingers, one of the worlds most exciting young wingers, a £50m french international striker and yet we consistently create very few clear-cut chances, take very few shots on goal and rarely make opposing keepers work hard to earn their money.

You could argue that our central midfield is simply not creative enough and I wouldn't argue with that but surely we can do better than a paltry 27 goals in 23 games.

Trying to make a beef stew but can never get the consistency right for some reason.

If anyone knows the key to the success of this pop us a response please,

Liverpool looking to match us in daft goals conceded this weekend. Truly horrible.

Oh boy. Now they’ve doubled up. Keeper from hell.

I just imagine what the Liverpool fan forums are saying right now.

Blaming the officials? Or Xhaka? Gordon Brown?

This is the best beef I have ever made - don't be put off by the prune juice - it tastes amazing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fok7sdsq-k

I haven’t made a traditional gravy I used a base of onion, celery and carrots with beef seasoned with salt pepper and flour as a thickening agent.

Instead of wine or port (let me know if that works better) I’ve used Guinness and a little bit of stock. Bay leaves and a little Tyne. Tomato purée

I’m not using a slow cooker though I’m using hob and oven ?

I’ve just checked the consistency and it seems slightly better this time than last time which was frankly really disappointing

If you use wine AND tomato puree you might end up with a rather low pH!

Plenty of recipes include both red wine and tomato purée. Most obviously, but not exclusively, many pasta sauces.

EDIT: On a side issue, if you cook with wine, don’t use a Bordeaux first growth, a Penfolds Grange or anything at that sort of level, or even close to it. But it’s also important not to use plonk just because it’s dirt cheap. Try a wine before putting it in your dish and if it doesn’t taste pleasant, discard it and open another bottle which again you should try first.

A wine that tastes horrible will compromise the taste of your food. This is even more important for wine with a cork than with a screw cap closure if you’ve had the wine before (including the same vintage), because wines closed with cork can be what’s called ‘corked’.

You don’t have to drink a full glass. Just a small slurp to test its flavour is sufficient. If it’s nice enough to use but you want to save the rest of the bottle for the next time you cook with wine, check it again before using it the second time as wine kept in an already opened bottle will inevitably deteriorate over time.

Plenty of recipes include both red wine and tomato purée. Most obviously, but not exclusively, many pasta sauces.

http://youaremyarsenal.com/referees-premier-league-lessons-to-learn/

This is an interesting take on rules in football. Not a rant at refs by the way.

I really do like the idea of a sin bin in football. This piece sets out the argument that a yellow card for a cynical foul stopping a very dangerous attack is more reward for the defending team than the attacking team. There are also a lot of fouls where a yellow card doesn't seem enough but a red card would be too much. 10 minute sin bins would be really interesting to see in football

Can you imagine the sheer utter mess our incompetent refs would cause if tasked with implementing this. You think they are inconsistent right now ? It would be a nightmare

Can you imagine the sheer utter mess our incompetent refs would cause if tasked with implementing this. You think they are inconsistent right now ? It would be a nightmare

I think the big challenge is that so many of the things us fans moan about - diving, time wasting etc - is so ingrained in the football culture.
.

You're right it is ingrained. I watched Liverpool v City yesterday and Alexander-Arnold took a corner on the side without the linesman on and he very deliberately placed the ball outside the quadrant, not by much - maybe 10cm. Utterly pointless. Footballers are always looking to bend the rules wherever they can. I've seen players appeal for throw ins when the ball just hit them and went out.
Huge amounts for the game to learn from other sports

It's not perfect by any means, but there's lot to be learned from Rugby - both Codes. Refs give a running commentary and explain their decisions to the players. Only the captain is allowed to approach him for a comment in response - and it'd better be polite and respectful. When it comes to VAR, the whole process is there for everyone to see and hear. The decision-making process is explained and discussed very publicly for all to witness and understand; for that reason, however complicated, VAR decisions are always accepted.

It's a very different type and pace of game but Cricket's use of VAR is just as public (and as good) as Rugby. The introduction of VAR to Rugby and Cricket has been universally welcomed and has undoubtedly improved the standard of Refs and Umpires alike; as a by-product, the spectators'/viewers' matchday experiences have improved as well. There's an understanding in both games that any transgression will be picked up and punished, so simulation or cheating is actually quite rare. Footballers aren't yet in that place because they can and do still prosper from screaming and diving when there has been no contact whatever. They can routinely place the ball outside the corner quadrant or appeal for throws they are clearly not entitled to because despite it all being picked up by the cameras, there is no sanction. They get away with it because they're allowed to.

Can you imagine the sheer utter mess our incompetent refs would cause if tasked with implementing this. You think they are inconsistent right now ? It would be a nightmare

This is the best beef I have ever made - don't be put off by the prune juice - it tastes amazing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fok7sdsq-k