So when is Saka back then?

[7sisters]

We were told March. It's almost April.

He's dead, isn't he?

Running along the same lines as the City verdict. Another of those mysteries ?

[Luis Anaconda]

It was. I know he's young, will make mistakes, have games that pass him by etc, as he still has a lot to learn and to develop physically.

And I know we'll almost certainly spend big on a striker.

But I'd like to see him tried as a no.9 from the bench, with Kai as a 2nd No.10 at IL. He gives the height, plus added creativity.

Absolutely nothing in Nwaneri's game suggest he is a No 9. He's ideally suited to the wing or MO's position

[Peter]

Absolutely nothing in Nwaneri's game suggest he is a No 9. He's ideally suited to the wing or MO's position

Perhaps even deeper in midfield, later in his career. His technique and balance lend themselves well to playing in small spaces and it may well be that playing wide proves a waste of that ability.

I don't think we know exactly what he is yet. We just know he is capable of becoming very ****ing good at it.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Absolutely nothing in Nwaneri's game suggest he is a No 9. He's ideally suited to the wing or MO's position

MA's said he's thinking of playing him as a 9. He played there as a kid at times, and some webpage the other day showed his yoof starts and goals in different positions. 10 in 8 playing as a CF.

Leo's played there {and done rather well at times} and he's a small winger with a top first time shot.

Play Kai at IL for height and creativity {and he won a lot of duels that first half season playing there, even though he couldn't score for toffee at the time.} Dec at DM. And then you can play B, Odin, Ethan, Kai and a LW. Pwoppa front five that, with Dec behind them and the best back 5 since TA's days.

[Peter]

MA's said he's thinking of playing him as a 9. He played there as a kid at times, and some webpage the other day showed his yoof starts and goals in different positions. 10 in 8 playing as a CF.

Leo's played there {and done rather well at times} and he's a small winger with a top first time shot.

Play Kai at IL for height and creativity {and he won a lot of duels that first half season playing there, even though he couldn't score for toffee at the time.} Dec at DM. And then you can play B, Odin, Ethan, Kai and a LW. Pwoppa front five that, with Dec behind them and the best back 5 since TA's days.

The biggest challenge this kid is facing is that for probably the first time in his life he is entering a level of football where he isn't comfortably the best player on the pitch every week. He needs to add a layer of caution to his game that he has probably never needed before, even when stepping up through the age groups early.

I'm guessing the wide positions are a better place to learn and grow than the central ones.

[Luis Anaconda]

MA's said he's thinking of playing him as a 9. He played there as a kid at times, and some webpage the other day showed his yoof starts and goals in different positions. 10 in 8 playing as a CF.

Leo's played there {and done rather well at times} and he's a small winger with a top first time shot.

Play Kai at IL for height and creativity {and he won a lot of duels that first half season playing there, even though he couldn't score for toffee at the time.} Dec at DM. And then you can play B, Odin, Ethan, Kai and a LW. Pwoppa front five that, with Dec behind them and the best back 5 since TA's days.

Arteta says a lot of things about No 9 (Smith Rowe comes to mind). Very noticeable that since the injuries Trossard played 60 minutes against Leicester Merino has started every game since. I'll say it again there is literally nothing in EN's game that suggests his best position would be No 9 - look at him. Running for deep and crisp passing. Why would put him in a position where he can be easily isolated

[WES]

The biggest challenge this kid is facing is that for probably the first time in his life he is entering a level of football where he isn't comfortably the best player on the pitch every week. He needs to add a layer of caution to his game that he has probably never needed before, even when stepping up through the age groups early.

I'm guessing the wide positions are a better place to learn and grow than the central ones.

The 'third midfielder' question seems to be the outstanding one. I'm sure Arteta knows he needs a striker, and with Saka, Martinelli, Nwaneri and Trossard he has wide options.

But not sure I see where he's going in midfield if he buys Zubimendi. Rice and Ode must be in midfield, but with whom? Havertz, Nwaneri and Zubimendi are all very different players and would result in a very different midfield. Then there is the Partey question as well.

A lack of creativity suggests Nwaneri or a player like him, a lack of goals maybe Havertz, control of midfield Zubimendi. Not sure even Arteta knows what he wants. Maybe the ability to choose any of the three.

[Peter]

The 'third midfielder' question seems to be the outstanding one. I'm sure Arteta knows he needs a striker, and with Saka, Martinelli, Nwaneri and Trossard he has wide options.

But not sure I see where he's going in midfield if he buys Zubimendi. Rice and Ode must be in midfield, but with whom? Havertz, Nwaneri and Zubimendi are all very different players and would result in a very different midfield. Then there is the Partey question as well.

A lack of creativity suggests Nwaneri or a player like him, a lack of goals maybe Havertz, control of midfield Zubimendi. Not sure even Arteta knows what he wants. Maybe the ability to choose any of the three.

I don't think we have got the midfield we intended. Our options don't fit together very well and we haven't had a great balance in the two central roles since Xhaka left. Rice has been playing very well in recent months but it has to be said, he and Partey are not a natural fit together, despite being our best two midfielders. Merino has yet to convince in the Xhaka role, and Havertz didn't look like a good fit there at all.

I still think that is what is ****ing up Martinelli. The midfield pushes even more of our possession out to the right and when Martinelli does receive the ball it tends to be on the touch line with no support within 20 yards of him.

[Luis Anaconda]

I don't think we have got the midfield we intended. Our options don't fit together very well and we haven't had a great balance in the two central roles since Xhaka left. Rice has been playing very well in recent months but it has to be said, he and Partey are not a natural fit together, despite being our best two midfielders. Merino has yet to convince in the Xhaka role, and Havertz didn't look like a good fit there at all.

I still think that is what is ****ing up Martinelli. The midfield pushes even more of our possession out to the right and when Martinelli does receive the ball it tends to be on the touch line with no support within 20 yards of him.

Fair points - although the lack of a consistent left back hasn't helped Martinelli either.

[Peter]

Fair points - although the lack of a consistent left back hasn't helped Martinelli either.

True, although the left back normally sits inside rather than trying to get out to Martinelli.

I think Odegaard gives us a right side bias as well, as does the fact that our best player is out there. But when Xhaka was getting up alongside Martinelli we had a more varied attack. And were more vulnerable defensively.....

It is pretty complicated, and probably best left to the likes of Arteta