We have strengthened our defence with Saliba coming in and with Zinchenko being a huge upgrade on Tavares. The goalkeeping position is weaker with Leno's departure.

This time last season we had 3 strikers in Aubameyang, Lacazette and Nketiah. Now have two in Jesus and Nketiah. We could throw in Balogun but he is totally unproven.

The midfield is much the same, unless Vieira replaces Xhaka, which would be a surprise.

We might be marginally stronger than last year overall because of the better quality in defence, but the central midfield still looks a problem and we are too light at centre forward.

Hi Dec,

Neketiak looks a different player from a year ago. Stronger, fitter, better at running with the ball and with his hold-up play and, crucially, more confident.

Balogun looks like he's going on loan so I agree that we are light of a striker, in particular a plan B type of striker who give us something different from both Nketiah and Jesus.

I also think a topclass central midfield signing is imperative because we all know Partey is going to break down at various points in the season.

CM is the biggest priority right now for me. The most irreplaceable player in the team right now is Partey, because he has such a specific role in the team I think we would need to change the structure of the team quite fundamentally if he's not there. I can't think of any other ;layer in the squad like that.

I don’t know what’s going to happen with the midfield. But other than the possibilities I’ve outlined above, I’m struggling to think of anything else.

Hi Soc,

I'm afraid I'm not convinced by Nketiah yet. The jury is very much still out for me. I'd have no issue at all with him as a squad player. If Jesus gets injured, not long-term but say just a couple of weeks, Nketiah starts all of those games and is Balogun then the game-changer on the bench? There are 5 subs allowed this season. I think we are very light there.

As for midfield, I completely agree. It was a priority last summer and it still is. To be honest, Partey hasn't been a great signing. Some really good games, lots of injuries and plenty of ordinary games. He needs to improve considerably and we need another strong midfielder in there.

I think we now need to sell before we can buy. Once we've shifted a couple I think we're going to bring in a forward and a midfielder. not necessarily a centre forward but a wide player who can play across the line. They seem to be the kind of players we're being linked with.

I think you raise some important points here dec. At the beginning of last season with Aubameyang, Lacazette and Nketiah, I bet more people thought we were stronger up front than they do this season with Jesus, Nketiah and Balogun. Of course last season Aubameyang fell out of favour very quickly and Lacazette showed what a mixed bag he is with generally poor finishing and good hold up play. Nketiah’s breakthrough really came towards the end of last season. Up to then, there were major doubts about him. Now he is undeniably our second most important striker. Last season he was third.

I have mixed feelings about Bissouma - I really like him as a player, but he's mainly a defensive midfielder and ideally you'd play him next to someone progressive, not plonkers like Hojbjerg and Bentancur. He'll stabilize their midfield for sure, but a huge problem for Tottenham has been their inability to control the midfield with possession and I'm not sure he helps them with that.

I think Bissouma is a very good signig for Spurs, he's defensive minded but can receive the ball and is skillful enough to distribute it. Conte's teams don#t really tend to dominate midfield and dont go for the high press either. Ive seen his tactics described as a mid block - ie: they don't press right up to your area but they also don't let you get to their final 3rd, the mid block wins the ball back and releases Kane/Son/ Kulusevski and now Richarlison. It sort of fits the players. I think Spurs have bought well for the system the use. The main hurdle for them this season is replicating their form v City and Liverpool and finding a way to break down the deep block as I think more teams will use that against them this season. They don't have the technical players to pick a lock. They rely more on crosses and long range shooting to unpick a packed defence

I don’t know what’s going to happen with the midfield. But other than the possibilities I’ve outlined above, I’m struggling to think of anything else.

If that’s the case don’t you think Zinchenko will be announced anytime soon?

Right now in the top 6 you'd maybe have to say on paper Spurs have improved their squad the most, although I think if we get Zinchenko through then we could have that title.
Liverpool and Chelsea have so far replaced like-for-like. City have moved out two goal-scoring wide players and replaced with 2 goal-scoring No.9's - seems a very un-Pep-like set up, whether City are weaker or stronger depends solely on Haaland (who has had some injury issues as well). City also still have a surprisingly thin squad.
Man U for me had the most work to do and haven't done it yet. In a way the best piece of busienss they could do is finding a way to move Ronaldo on, I think most of their forward players play better without Ronaldo - Rashford, Martial, Sancho as a front 3 has decent potential and is the modern way of playing with 3 quick, versatile and direct forwards

I think Bissouma is a very good signig for Spurs, he's defensive minded but can receive the ball and is skillful enough to distribute it.

I think he'll be the last signing before we sell. I was including him as already done.

Surely that can only mean Arteta sees a deeper midfielder as less of a priority than every other player we’ve signed? Okay, Hazuki says we might be trying to force Tielemans’ price down even more. But how much money will Leicester go down from the rumoured £25m or £30m?

I’d have considered that verging on a giveaway price as it was. If nobody else really wants him for that sort of price, why is that?

I'm not sure it's really relevant to look at how our forward line was perceived before last season started, because we now know how things turned out. Aubameyang continued his abysmal form from the previous season,

You may be interested to know that in the preceding season to last when you say Aubameyang was in abysmal form he scored more Premier League goals than Jesus with 10 goals in 29 games. Jesus scored 9 goals in 29 games that same season (2020/21).

Indeed, even last season (2021/22) Aubameyang had the same goal per game ratio (4 goals in 14 games) as Jesus (8 goals in 28 games).

Yeah, I largely agree with this analysis. They did well last season, but the thing is I'm not sure you'll get higher than 4th with that set-up and struggling to control games. A more technical midfielder would give them another dimension and they could still use the tactic of defending low and hitting on the break against the bigger teams.

Surely that can only mean Arteta sees a deeper midfielder as less of a priority than every other player we’ve signed? Okay, Hazuki says we might be trying to force Tielemans’ price down even more. But how much money will Leicester go down from the rumoured £25m or £30m?

I’d have considered that verging on a giveaway price as it was. If nobody else really wants him for that sort of price, why is that?

Antonio Conte: “Spence is an investment of the club. The club wanted to do it. I said okay, this player is young but he showed he can become a good, important player for us. The club decided to buy him.”

Sounds like Conte doesn't fancy and didn't want Spence!

Arsenal Mexican talent Marcelo Flores will join Real Oviedo on loan deal valid until June 2023.

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.