Two questions
1) What is 'comfortably'?

Even 3-0 doesn't feel comfortable these days, as we saw in the Brighton game.

2) Who do you bring on and how do you adjust the formation?

I'm a bit fearful about Marquinhos's loan to Norwich. The Championship is a brutal league, very demanding both physically and mentally with lots of teams all capable of beating each other. Every game is a tough, tough test.

If Norwich fans are expecting a sexy Brazilian winger, full of tricks and flair then I think they will be a tad disappointed. From what he's shown so far he's more of a wide midfielder than an out and out winger. Lovely touch and weight of pass/cross but not really a dribbler who goes past a fullback.

I hope I am wrong but I'm not sure he's ready for such a tough loan, maybe somewhere in France or Portugal would have been better. He's not really been exposed to the rough and tumble of what Championship football will bring so I think he might struggle for game time.

That said, I hope I am completey wrong on this and that it proves to be an inspired loan and he lights up the league. Norwich play good football so hopefully he can adjust quickly.

Charlie Patino is learning his trade there in that division, and doing okay. The fans at Blackpool regard him well - a bit like Palace fans did with Ashley Cole and Brentford fans did with Szczesny.

I'm a bit fearful about Marquinhos's loan to Norwich. The Championship is a brutal league, very demanding both physically and mentally with lots of teams all capable of beating each other. Every game is a tough, tough test.

If Norwich fans are expecting a sexy Brazilian winger, full of tricks and flair then I think they will be a tad disappointed. From what he's shown so far he's more of a wide midfielder than an out and out winger. Lovely touch and weight of pass/cross but not really a dribbler who goes past a fullback.

I hope I am wrong but I'm not sure he's ready for such a tough loan, maybe somewhere in France or Portugal would have been better. He's not really been exposed to the rough and tumble of what Championship football will bring so I think he might struggle for game time.

That said, I hope I am completey wrong on this and that it proves to be an inspired loan and he lights up the league. Norwich play good football so hopefully he can adjust quickly.

Jorginho from Chelsea as an alternative is being mooted

Surely fakes. This nonsense is never ending

Brighton are free to reject or accept any bid they want but one way of looking at this is Brighton are able to get these players and are an attractive option for these players because they get a) playing time, b) prem league exposure and crucially, c) an unwritten promise that they will be allowed to move on to bigger things.

If Brighton are seen to block the moves for their players (which is completely their right) then maybe up and coming players might start to look elsewhere

If (and I haven't seen anything so far but it could very well happen) we don't bring anyone else in, what do you think of our chances of getting the title?

I think c would be include "at a time and in a manner that is not unreasonably detrimental for the club". That often is not the case in the January window. Clubs have to be able to say 'no'. Players agitating for moves on social media is a major problem too. You can see why a club would want to make a point about this.

Big NO from me
Have we not learnt our lesson with Willian???

I thought the only real concern from the City cup game was how well Ake dealt with Saka. He was excellent and kept Saka quieter than any full back I’ve seen this season. I’d expect the same match up in the league games. Having Ødegaard out there with Saka will help though.

Wouldn’t be my choice. But I would take him as a last ditch thing if it was only on a 5 month deal. I don’t want him long term. I could see situations in some games where he could be useful. Arteta supposedly wanted him back in his first season, as did Pep at one point.

Looks like no Caicedo then,

Why have we left things so late to try to sign the one type of player we absolutely need to cover Partey, even more so with Elneny's injury?

We spent what seemed weeks chasing Mudryk, expecting Shakhter to cave-in and accept our offer. That went well.

We only signed Trossard after his agent apparently contacted us the day before he signed, so why did it take his agent contacting us to set the deal in motion? Was it just serendipity?

Kiwior looks like more of a successful planned signing.

Let's see what happens to day but its not looking good.

No sooner do I post then Ornstein says…

Arsenal advancing towards agreement to sign Jorginho from Chelsea. 31yo Italy midfielder now most likely #DeadlineDay recruit. Acceptance at #AFC that Brighton stance on Moises Caicedo means pursuit of 21yo Ecuadorian is over

A club with our resources and souting network has to do better that Jorginho on the last day of the window.

We have a chance to win the league and you're telling me there is absolutely no one in europe, South America or even Africa who could have come in, even on loan, with a profile more similar to Partey than Jorginho.

I’m surprised that Chelsea would consider letting one of their players come to us. With their dosh they can afford to keep him and thereby stop us strengthening.

I’m surprised that Chelsea would consider letting one of their players come to us. With their dosh they can afford to keep him and thereby stop us strengthening.

They need to offload wages and squad numbers as a priority. I really hope we haven’t paid much though.

At the end of the day we just don’t have the budget so we have to stretch it. What’s the alternative ? 8 year contracts for unproven players.

Even if Brighton accepted 75 million I’d feel uneasy about it. He’s hardly proven.

Every once in a while we go large. Last summer it was Jesus, apparently this summer it’s Rice but there’s an element of working to a budget. It’s always been this way with Arsenal

I’d rather we sat on our hands than sign Jorginho. Even play lokonga than sign him for 15 million and pay him 150k a week.

They need to offload wages and squad numbers as a priority. I really hope we haven’t paid much though.