With all the debate about our greatest midfielders I notice not even a mention for Xhaka. He'd struggle to make the top 30.

I'd be amazed if they achieved either. But I'd agree: 4th is the marginal less improbable of the two.

Just as some weekends are chock full of high class sport, this week is the opposite. Couple of poxy cup ties in which I have no interest whatever, so I watched the cricket.

Wow!

South Africa v Sri Lanka - what a last session. Needing 304 in the final innings, Sri Lanka were well placed on 206-6, but SA took quick wickets and had it all but wrapped up at 226-9. Then Perera took control, farming the bowling to knock off the 78 runs needed. He finished on 153 not out and his partner Fernando faced 28 balls to score 6, 4 of which came from overthrows! Amazing game.

Were you watching, Decaf?

Although any of Inter, Napoli, Sevilla, Valencia, Villareal and Benfica could beat us over two legs, I'd make us the favourites against all of them. For me winning the Europa League still looks more likely than finishing above both Chelsea and Manchester United in the Premier League (assuming that overtaking Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham is beyond us).

top 30? Wouldn't make my top 100!

As well as those already mentioned, for a top 30 I'd include the following (in no particular order):
Kelly, Talbot, Gilberto, Edu, Petrovic, Rosicky

What are you on. I'd love some if you've got any to spare................

Win the Europa when we can't even beat Bate away

Worst ten arsenal midfielders ?

Where do you start

Xhaka?

More chance of that in my view than finishing above both Manchester United AND Chelsea. Should we get through against BATE we won't have to meet all of the sides that were listed, and in two a legged round I'd fancy us to beat any of them.

Perhaps we should sign some Newport County players. They appear to be better than us at keeping Man City out (so far).

Go look at their respective records - Parlour was by far the greater achiever. No question about it.

Yes, plus how about Frimpong, Hillier, McGoldrick?

I was actually joking, although when you consider his transfer fee....jeez.

Hillier was the first one that came to mind for me. Jensen was bloody awful.

In other news...Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry became engaged on Valentine's Day.
Lovely.

I’ve always believed and always will that Eddie Mgoldrick was the worst player that ever played for Arsenal. He made a comment about arsenal fans and that he wouldn’t piss on one if we were on fire. However you can always forgive someone who isn’t good enough and trying but he literally visibly came across like he didn’t give a *%^@ anyway and it was like he was playing for a pub pool team.

David Hillier can be criticised however he was very prescent in our 91 title winning team and if I recall correctly we only lost at Stamford bridge cause we had to play him at centre half because of injuries and if that hadn’t happened we would be singing songs today about George’s and Wengers invincibles

He played with far better players so won far more. But Robson was better than Parlour and it's idiotic to claim differently. You're on a wind up. You have to be.

In no particular order, for central midfielders how about Hillier, Selley, Morrow, Denilson, Court, Matthews, Gatting, Price, Jensen, Elneny? They all played plenty of games so I've avoided any hopeless gits who came on as a late sub in a couple of League Cup ties.

Yes Bernard, that's a collection of stunning mediocrity. A reminder of some of the dross we've been served up over the years to counterbalance the better times.

Interesting and thoughtful analysis. And yet, you've kind of made this up, haven't you?

I only say this because Leno is actually going to be the next captain.

Judging by recent events, it's only a one year appointment anyway.

Hopefully Emery will see sense and realise that selecting one of our top 10 worst ever midfielders as captain isn't a great idea.

I see Guendouzi being linked with PSG for £60m+.

As much as that sounds it's peanuts in the context of the player he could become.

I actually read on twitter comments from some Arsenal fans who genuinely don't rate him. I don't know what games they are watching but this kid is 19 years old with the potential to become an absolute superstar.

It would be strange if the all the big clubs in europe were not monitoring his progress and if someone gets him for £60m that could be an absolute steal.

Indeed. Spectacular stuff. Perera's knock is one of the finest I've seen. SA still dont like pressure ... unable to bowl on the stumps to the no 11 or keep Perera off strike.

I’m a big Guendouzi fan but we would have rebuffed £60m bids for Wilshere who was doing similar at the same age. If the bidding started going higher than that we’d have to seriously consider it given that we have lots of gaps to fill in the squad and £40m won’t cut it.
I’d have to look at it as weakening 1 position in order to strengthen 3 others

The worrying thing in the report I saw was that the £60m price was being set by Arsenal. I reckon Guendouzi could be worth £150m in the not too distant future. If they let him go for £60m, I hope I'd be able to give up on Arsenal because I don't see it being reinvested in the team anyway. My bet is it will be used towards paying off the loans Kroenke took out to buy his 100% stake in the club.

I agree with you socrates about any Arsenal fans who don't rate Guendouzi. They're beyond help. Still a teenager and he's already our best player, however good the likes of older and more experienced players including Torreira, Aubameyang and Lacazette might be.

How on Earth any arsenal fan couldn’t rate him is beyond me. He’s been our best player this year and if he could add a bit more quality to his incisive passing he will be one of the best midfielders in the world. He’s 19 so even in 3 years time he won’t be at his peak. I wouldn’t sell him for 90 let alone 60.

True quality stands out a mile and is easily visible for all to see. Despite arsenal fans raving about Xhaka and Ramsey no major clubs would even contemplate pursuing them if they weren’t going for free. Good players can demand a premium and quality stands out a mile. Guendouzi is quality

If the Saudi royal family buy man united will any of it even matter anymore ? Would it even be worth debating.

I mean it’s literally over as a competitive sport at that point and it’s looking increasingly likely according to rumours

The only player I find it naturally easy to compare him to is actually Manu Petitt. Just the height, the ability to hold onto the ball under pressure, the distribution. The fact he is effectively the pivot from defence to attack.

Our form is inconsistent, but at anything even approaching our best we can beat Napoli or Sevilla. I'd still just about make us favourites to beat them. And if Wenger was still here I'd have seen sixth as a lot more likely than fifth, and closer to the likes of Wolves and Watford than we are.

Why do you start posts with 'Goonermen, lend me your ears!' We read your posts, we don't listen to them.

Mesut Özil leaves UK amid standoff with Arsenal boss Unai Emery to take fiance to Turkey

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/p ... b568e5094a

Agreed, Europa win seems a more likely route to the CL. We have shown with games v Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea that we can pull it together. If we play 2 legs like we did v Chelsea for example I think there isn't a team left who would beat us.
I make Chelsea, Napoli and ourselves the best 3 left in the competition. I think we can beat any of them at home - the away leg is more tricky and our usual European undoing. Hopefully they can draw each other and we play 1 in the final. What odds Chelsea and Arsenal finishing 5th and 6th and meeting in the Europa final for a Champions League place as well as the trophy? It could really make or break each team in the short and long term

Surely 'goonerpeople' would be more apt in these days of equal opportunities Bernard. And Greeny, if you're reading, no offence mate but no you can't borrow my ears - they're all I've got.

Yeah it basically means a City and United duopoly, Chelsea will probably be sold in the next few years so they may or may not drop out depending on who they get, Liverpool have done well this season but long term will struggle to compete with the wealth of the two Manchester clubs, no point even talking about Arsenal really, we don't even bother to try and compete, Spurs might attract the vultures once they pay off some of their stadium debt, hopefully they get their own Kroenke.

Chelsea’s biggest problem is similar to Arsenal’s. A real lack of attacking threat and creativity. Chelsea have full backs that don’t offer a huge amount going forward, 3 central mids who would barely get double figures for goals and assists a season....combined. Then it is one of Pedro/Willian who are very inconsistent which only leaves hazard and higuain as the only real goal and creative threat.

It would be the final nail in the coffin for football but its always been on the cards. I mean what money-no-object potential buyer would not want to own United given the status and potential of the club.

They could dominate world football because lets face it they could afford to buy virtually any player at any price and few players would turn down a resurgent United even for Real or Barca. We've seen PSG outmuscle Barca so why couldn't United backed by the Saudi Royal Family.

The reality is that we are also-rans and have been for some time now. Our quickest way back to the top would realistically be a a new owner. Otherwise we could be on the outside looking in like Liverpool have been for the best part of 30 years.

It will get worse in the prem if the big teams negotiate their own tv deal. The big 6 are putting together the argument that people pay to watch them not the rest of the league so they should get a bigger piece of the pie. What that fails to realise is one of the reasons the premier league is the best tv export is the relative competitiveness in a one of game from any team in the league. The fast pace and bad defending help as well

Solskjaer has done a great job at Man U but things are a lot easier for a manger in his position whereby he can choose to leave out a £75m striker because he has a £65m one who suits his tactics better. Or he can afford to have the new £50m holding mid not even make any squads because they have a £30m guy the last manager didn’t play. Same with leaving out a £30m centre back and a guy you pay £400k a week to with no loss of quality in the replacements. And the last manager didn’t play his £90m mid in his best position and eventually dropped him - new guy plays world class player in best position coming in off a notional left centre mid position with licence to join the attack.

What would have been more impressive is if Solskjaer had got Sanchez, Lukaku, fellaini, Fred, Valencia all firing when Jose couldn’t. Something a bit more like what Emery is trying to deal with - (Emery has made mistakes as well for sure)

Sarri is on the chopping block at Chelsea and he is on the same points and goal differential as us. Interesting.