Arsenal Mexican talent eh?

Brings to mind Carlos Vela.

Artetas comments after the game definitely lend gravitas to the suggestion we have to sell before we buy again.

Artetas comments after the game definitely lend gravitas to the suggestion we have to sell before we buy again.

Tierney and Tomiyasu both missing again. The number of comments on the internet about our first half defence was noticeable. Instead of criticising Nuno (who played over 80mins) they should be asking where is Tierney, who has failed to get himself fit since 31 March. Is Tomiyasu even a viable starter for early in the season? Zinco can't get to the club soon enough but then he will need to bed in. I see Zinco as our early season LB - lets hope he is good enough. It is hard to bed in Saliba if a number of the players who potentially could be first choice are absent, and he has no idea how they play.

Until November there are a lot of games and our squad isn't looking that strong. The LB, RB, & Partey's position are all essential and all where we are most vulnerable.

I read it like that as well. Which is a shame because we could struggle to get the money in for all our cast offs combined to get another serious player.

Hopefully it is something like £25m Tielemans. We should be able to scrape that together. We should be getting at least £10m for Leno, Torreira must find a home for £8-10m, Mari is probably a free, Bellerin might struggle to get £5m, If Nelsen is under £3m or so then you might as well keep him with us for Europa group stages at least. Pépé, feels like that will need to be a loan.

What did he say then? If you’re right (and I’ve not heard or read his comments), it surely supports the conclusion that he gave a much bigger priority to signing players in various other positions than deep midfield.

For example, firstly a new striker (completely understandable with Jesus). Secondly a creative midfielder Vieira who for all we know might end up as being a backup to presumably the next club captain Ødegaard. Thirdly, Zinchenko who may well be used mainly as cover for Tierney (assuming we do get him and our interest in Martinez was genuine). Fourthly a wider or more mobile attacking player if our interest in Raphina was genuine.

Have I forgotten anyone? Turner, who at most will be the new cup keeper and cover for Ramsdale, and if Leno’s move to Fulham doesn’t transpire then probably not even that.

With us not even competing with Tottenham for Bissouma and Tielemans allegedly being available for as little as £25m to £30m and apparently nothing having been done in getting the latter on board with the season a fortnight from starting (fifteen days to be pedantic), it does make me wonder if Arteta is happy with Partey and Xhaka as the deeper midfielders covered by Lokonga and possibly Maitland-Niles.

It’ll be fascinating to see whether we recruit Tielemans, if he’s seen as the deeper midfielder. Is it possible Arteta simply doesn’t fancy him and will make do with Partey, Xhaka, Lokonga and possibly Maitland-Niles? I would be very surprised if we change our playing style and Vieira is a regular starter with Ødegaard and one of Partey or Xhaka. Apart from against the weakest opposition or if we desperately need a substitute to create a late goal.

EDIT: I forgot Marquinhos. That presumably pushes Tielemans ever further down Arteta’s list of priorities.

I think Arteta currently sees Elneny as the Partey back up in the system we play with a single defensive mid. I think if Xhaka or Lokonga play deeper they play as part of a pair - or at least I think they need to!

Tielemans can and has played deeper but again I see him as part of a deeper two, or a 'double pivot' as football hipsters call it.

I think Arteta has been clear his preference is for a 4-3-3 and the 3 in midfield being a lone deep player and 2 No.8's, much like City have played for a number of years. Last year Xhaka played that advanced left sided 8, his position was much higher once Arteta switched. But Xhaka is not what Arteta really wants as that 8, potentially this is why Vieira was recruited but also why we are looking at someone like Tielemans for that position - or even using Zinchenko there as I think he's capable

I think it's simply economics Bernard. Vieira sounded like it was a deal that required the club to act decisively and quickly. I don't think this necessarily means Tielemans isn't favoured or fancied by Arteta, it could simply mean that he knows he can get him at any point in this window so it wasn't one of the pressing deals. Once he frees up some space he may make is move.

I think you may be overthinking the rationale behind it. That's not to say you're wrong, just the way I read it is that it's just about freeing the space in the squad both physically and financially.

Perhaps I am overthinking it Darren.

Maybe Arteta sees Zinchenko as a CM who can fill in at LB or LM if required. Pep says he seems him more as a creative midfielder and he only really played left back to help the team out.

Just saying.

Maybe Arteta sees Zinchenko as a CM who can fill in at LB or LM if required. Pep says he seems him more as a creative midfielder and he only really played left back to help the team out.

Just saying.

Yes, give that braincell a rest Bernard.

What makes you think Xhaka “is not what Arteta really wants as that 8”? Do you not see Xhaka as a first choice starter next season?

Uwe Seeler dies. Farewell you deadly striker - you broke our hearts in 1970, but you were a great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps3JBN1vAe0

With the current squad I do think he's a certain starter, and I also think his contribution to the team is rated higher by Arteta than 99% of Arsenal fans - however, (and this is just my opinion) if as I suspect Arteta wants to truly replicate the Man City 2 No.8s, then Xhaka's skillset is not what any City player who played in those positions had. In that system I think of players at City like De Bruyne, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Foden - even Gundogan. Xhaka has his worth but he's better deeper for me than he is in a left side position, high up to mirror Ødegaard

Someone accused me of trying to overthink things earlier. I wonder if you’re doing exactly the same with stuff like wanting to replicate two number 8s. I suspect it’s far easier. Arteta rates Xhaka and will put him in the team.

https://www.planetfootball.com/trending/gabriel-jesus-arsenal-turn-run-shot-orlando-city-signing-arteta/

There are flashes we've already seen from Jesus that really make me quietly excited. He comes alive in the box, and not just in a 'tap in' way. Dribbling, link play, fast feet, gets his shots away. I think both he and Nketiah will surprise people this season.

On the formation I don’t think its even a question Rich is right. It’s also one of the most interesting points to watch for this season.

Arteta has been on record before talking about his preferred midfield system and that it requires very specific players. He’s a graduate of la Masia and used to be a roommate of iniesta. How Barca and the guardiola teams have set themselves up for a long time now is with a midfield 3, one player who holds and assumes the defensive burden (Busquets, Fernandinho) and 2 who have more freedom (Iniesta, de bruyne)

This is what arteta seems to want and has played this last season. I still don’t think we have the right players as it requires a fast aggressive holding player who can beat the press and I’m not sure that’s xhaka or even Partey possibly. We are also missing the 8 player LCM and this could be Tielemans (they will probably try vieira there too at some point)

Therefore I think we are still missing 2 players essential to the system required. Now we may be able to bring one in but I doubt 2 and the player who plays deepest is a very expensive buy as rodri cost 62 million and a -player like neves would cost similar.

I anticipate if we sign Tielemans we may try the system again this year but it still may not work and we have to revert to the 2 player pivot in which case xhaka will get a lot of games alongside partey in a 2 with Ødegaard taking the creative burden.

I may be wrong but it feels we are missing that strong, midfield enforcer who can intimidate but also play in equal measure, a modern day Graeme Souness if you like.

I know people might say those kinds of players are extinct now but they are pure gold on a cold night up north where the opponents try to rattle you physically.
Too often we've capitulated in those kinds of games, probably not since the days of Vieira and Petit have we been physically intimidating in the centre of the park.

Don't ask me who fits that bill, certainly not Tielemans as good a player as he is.

Yet we can’t admit the problem. We trot on ignoring the damage

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 28542.html

Yep and it’s going to cost us all another £300 per person. The ‘critical incident’ being declared in Dover due to the gridlock causing huge border control issues is hilarious. They voted to remove freedom of movement and they now literally can’t move. *%^@ them. Brexit Is and will always be a total disaster.

But I repeat, it will take years for people to see it fully. And it has to be allowed to play out. Many people think the only reason it’s so bad is that it’s being executed badly. They need to connect the dots fully for themselves however long that takes.

Off on holiday next week. Not looking forward to potential chaos at the airport, not sure my 8 year old considers waiting around for delays an acceptable trade off for her sovereignty. I’ll try explaining it though.

Same, I'm off to Stockholm for a few days. I've told my kids it's a small price to pay for straight bananas and having control of our borders even through we had complete control of them before. They understand.

Gonna be a challenge next week trying to get the kids to eat those weird bananas then in stockholm then. I’m off to North America and the kids are looking forward to escaping the EU’s bureaucracy that specifies their pizzas have to be a certain size. Excitement has reached boiling point In our house on this.

Always wanted to go to Stockholm, ashamed to say it’s a European city I’ve never visited. Heard it’s great and the people are super friendly which is certainly the case when I’ve met swedes on my travels

Gonna be a challenge next week trying to get the kids to eat those weird bananas then in stockholm then. I’m off to North America and the kids are looking forward to escaping the EU’s bureaucracy that specifies their pizzas have to be a certain size. Excitement has reached boiling point In our house on this.

Always wanted to go to Stockholm, ashamed to say it’s a European city I’ve never visited. Heard it’s great and the people are super friendly which is certainly the case when I’ve met swedes on my travels

I’ve been there a few times on business and was very glad that it wasn’t me paying for the alcohol. I hope that you’ve been saving up.

Wonderful city.