Well... we've been left somewhat short of numbers.

[Rich]

Clearly the boss wanted a new CF and a LW but the club have failed him. So how to address these problems:

LW: I'd argue that Eze is ahead of Tzolis in the pecking order at the moment. Having seen how Cash played against Tzolis on Monday night, he's going to get more of the same aggressive defending every week. We will see how he can adapt to that. Madueke and Saka can also offer cover on the left which frees up a spot for Dowman to play. Dowman may also have to step in for Odegaard when the captain needs a rest.

CF: Clearly Arteta doesn't fancy Gyokores (I don't think he ever did - given that we know Sesko was his choice and Gyokores was a Berta siging). Gyokores is going to have to play some minutes as Havertz can't play every game (and will undoubtedly get injured at some point anyway). I would imagine Merino will get a lot of time at CF too. Arteta will have a real job ensuring we have some attacking fluidity when Gyokores and to a lesser extent Merino are playing that role.

What is vitally important is that the club start working on the Jan window now. The attack at present may get us out of the CL group but for the latter stages we are going to need more numbers and quality. Just look at Mikel's comments after the CL final. We just have to make sure that we're in contention.

Yildiz was Arteta's choice on the left and is apparently open to the move. May be worth tempting Juve with a 100m+ bid in Jan.

Kroupi is the obvious candidate up front.

[redgunamo]

Clearly the boss wanted a new CF and a LW but the club have failed him. So how to address these problems:

LW: I'd argue that Eze is ahead of Tzolis in the pecking order at the moment. Having seen how Cash played against Tzolis on Monday night, he's going to get more of the same aggressive defending every week. We will see how he can adapt to that. Madueke and Saka can also offer cover on the left which frees up a spot for Dowman to play. Dowman may also have to step in for Odegaard when the captain needs a rest.

CF: Clearly Arteta doesn't fancy Gyokores (I don't think he ever did - given that we know Sesko was his choice and Gyokores was a Berta siging). Gyokores is going to have to play some minutes as Havertz can't play every game (and will undoubtedly get injured at some point anyway). I would imagine Merino will get a lot of time at CF too. Arteta will have a real job ensuring we have some attacking fluidity when Gyokores and to a lesser extent Merino are playing that role.

What is vitally important is that the club start working on the Jan window now. The attack at present may get us out of the CL group but for the latter stages we are going to need more numbers and quality. Just look at Mikel's comments after the CL final. We just have to make sure that we're in contention.

Yildiz was Arteta's choice on the left and is apparently open to the move. May be worth tempting Juve with a 100m+ bid in Jan.

Kroupi is the obvious candidate up front.

The player we need to sign in January is Gabriel Martinelli.

Think of his departure as merely an extended one-man Dubai-style Winter Break. He avoids our Autumn/Winter grind and returns refreshed after four months in the sunshine to lead our run-in, especially in Europe.

There's no other individual who would suit that exact situation better.

[Rich]

The player we need to sign in January is Gabriel Martinelli.

Think of his departure as merely an extended one-man Dubai-style Winter Break. He avoids our Autumn/Winter grind and returns refreshed after four months in the sunshine to lead our run-in, especially in Europe.

There's no other individual who would suit that exact situation better.

Not for me... In the PL we are constantly facing low blocks as we did against Villa on Monday. Martinelli does not posses the technical acumen to help in such scenarios. One PL goal in the entirety of last season attests to that.

He would be more of an asset in the CL but hopefully we have enough to finish in the top 8 of that.

[Peter]

Clearly the boss wanted a new CF and a LW but the club have failed him. So how to address these problems:

LW: I'd argue that Eze is ahead of Tzolis in the pecking order at the moment. Having seen how Cash played against Tzolis on Monday night, he's going to get more of the same aggressive defending every week. We will see how he can adapt to that. Madueke and Saka can also offer cover on the left which frees up a spot for Dowman to play. Dowman may also have to step in for Odegaard when the captain needs a rest.

CF: Clearly Arteta doesn't fancy Gyokores (I don't think he ever did - given that we know Sesko was his choice and Gyokores was a Berta siging). Gyokores is going to have to play some minutes as Havertz can't play every game (and will undoubtedly get injured at some point anyway). I would imagine Merino will get a lot of time at CF too. Arteta will have a real job ensuring we have some attacking fluidity when Gyokores and to a lesser extent Merino are playing that role.

What is vitally important is that the club start working on the Jan window now. The attack at present may get us out of the CL group but for the latter stages we are going to need more numbers and quality. Just look at Mikel's comments after the CL final. We just have to make sure that we're in contention.

Yildiz was Arteta's choice on the left and is apparently open to the move. May be worth tempting Juve with a 100m+ bid in Jan.

Kroupi is the obvious candidate up front.

I think you believe too much of what you read, Rich. I suspect there is an issue between Arteta and Berta but we dont actually know. We also dont know who preferred which target. It is all speculation.

Saka on the left is an absolute last resort. Madueke is an option. He is ****ing useless on rhe right so he cant really be much worse on the left Dowman isnt ready to play regularly.

If Havertz keeps performing the way he did at Villa then Vik is going to get plenty of games. For now Eze is the choice on rhe left and that will remain the case until he costs us a few goals by switching off. That won't take long. Then we'll have to look at options.

We've taken a situation where we perhaps lacked quality and turned it into a situation where we also lack quantity. We are relying on a group of fairly inconsistent or injury-prone players to stay fit and keep performing regularly on the back of a World Cup. Big risk, and not a very well calculated one.

Still..... defence and midfield look good. Looks like we are in for ostensibly the same types of performance as last season. Should be fun......

[Peter]

Not for me... In the PL we are constantly facing low blocks as we did against Villa on Monday. Martinelli does not posses the technical acumen to help in such scenarios. One PL goal in the entirety of last season attests to that.

He would be more of an asset in the CL but hopefully we have enough to finish in the top 8 of that.

I am beginning to think that you dont actually know what a low block is. We did NOT face one at Villa.

[Rich]

I am beginning to think that you dont actually know what a low block is. We did NOT face one at Villa.

From The Athletic (Art de Roche) - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv.../bIk8m2rWcxJP/

That's a quality goal from Arsenal. Up against a stubborn low block, the movement of Calafiori, understanding of Eze and anticipation of Saka carved through Villa with ease.

There has been some debate as to whether Eze is suited to the left wing, but moments like that show that when good footballers are surrounded by likeminded players, they can make anything happen.
?

[Rich]

I think you believe too much of what you read, Rich. I suspect there is an issue between Arteta and Berta but we dont actually know. We also dont know who preferred which target. It is all speculation.

Saka on the left is an absolute last resort. Madueke is an option. He is ****ing useless on rhe right so he cant really be much worse on the left Dowman isnt ready to play regularly.

If Havertz keeps performing the way he did at Villa then Vik is going to get plenty of games. For now Eze is the choice on rhe left and that will remain the case until he costs us a few goals by switching off. That won't take long. Then we'll have to look at options.

We've taken a situation where we perhaps lacked quality and turned it into a situation where we also lack quantity. We are relying on a group of fairly inconsistent or injury-prone players to stay fit and keep performing regularly on the back of a World Cup. Big risk, and not a very well calculated one.

Still..... defence and midfield look good. Looks like we are in for ostensibly the same types of performance as last season. Should be fun......

It wouldn't surprise me if Berta is relieved of his duties in the coming weeks tbh. Apparently opposing clubs find him a difficult man to deal with too - which isn't good when either buying or selling.

Dowman hasn't got a choice - he's going to have to play a considerable number of minutes this season. Perhaps Calafiori can be used as a makeshift option on the left too with Hincapie slotting into LB.

[Peter]

From The Athletic (Art de Roche) - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv.../bIk8m2rWcxJP/

That's a quality goal from Arsenal. Up against a stubborn low block, the movement of Calafiori, understanding of Eze and anticipation of Saka carved through Villa with ease.

There has been some debate as to whether Eze is suited to the left wing, but moments like that show that when good footballers are surrounded by likeminded players, they can make anything happen.
?

Well of course a team is going to set up on the edge of their box if you have them penned in. Every single side will do that in every single game against every single opponent.

Look at how many times we got behind them on Monday. Unfortunately Havertz was offside every time.

[Peter]

It wouldn't surprise me if Berta is relieved of his duties in the coming weeks tbh. Apparently opposing clubs find him a difficult man to deal with too - which isn't good when either buying or selling.

Dowman hasn't got a choice - he's going to have to play a considerable number of minutes this season. Perhaps Calafiori can be used as a makeshift option on the left too with Hincapie slotting into LB.

If we get that desperate then we really are in trouble.....

I am concerned about Berta and Arteta not being on the same page. Last summer felt a bit fractured. Some good signings but the messing around w8th Eze was puzzling. The signing of Madueke even more so.

[WES]

The player we need to sign in January is Gabriel Martinelli.

Think of his departure as merely an extended one-man Dubai-style Winter Break. He avoids our Autumn/Winter grind and returns refreshed after four months in the sunshine to lead our run-in, especially in Europe.

There's no other individual who would suit that exact situation better.

You never know, red, he might find he hates the sand.

[WES]

Well of course a team is going to set up on the edge of their box if you have them penned in. Every single side will do that in every single game against every single opponent.

Look at how many times we got behind them on Monday. Unfortunately Havertz was offside every time.

I admire your persistence, Peter, it must be the socialist in you. #corbyn

I have given up trying to teach Rich about football. It clearly wasn't working and he seems happy believing what he reads and hears.

[Peter]

I admire your persistence, Peter, it must be the socialist in you. #corbyn

I have given up trying to teach Rich about football. It clearly wasn't working and he seems happy believing what he reads and hears.

I am, and never have been, a Corbynite. I think that is possibly the nastiest thing you have ever said to me.

I cant say I'm not hurt.....

[WES]

I am, and never have been, a Corbynite. I think that is possibly the nastiest thing you have ever said to me.

I cant say I'm not hurt.....

Diane Abbott? John McDonnell? You must like one of them, Pedro #

My sincerest apologies, of course.

[Peter]

Diane Abbott? John McDonnell? You must like one of them, Pedro #

My sincerest apologies, of course.

I'm a Blairite, Wes. At least I was. I've always despised the left.

[WES]

I'm a Blairite, Wes. At least I was. I've always despised the left.

Blair I had time for, Gordon Brown I would happily stab in the eye, his good one.

An appalling man, an appalling politician and an appalling Chancellor. And a Jock FFS!