Morning all.
For all the hope and belief I and probably a number of Arsenal fans had going into the match against Liverpool, the reality is, at Anfield they were far superior to the team Mikel Arteta selected.
After going 1-0 up against the run of play, defensive mistakes allowed Liverpool to equalise. The home team soon went ahead thanks to more sloppy defending and when Lacazette blew a golden opportunity to bring the scores level, our chances of taking something from the game were pretty much gone.
No sooner had the game started, Mane clobbered Tierney in the face with his elbow. Pawson showed him a yellow card. Perhaps VAR would whisper in his ear to make use of the pitch-side monitor, I thought to myself. Nope, nothing. A red card would have led to a very different game.
Before being too harsh on Arsenal, certainly in comparison to Liverpool, let’s not forget Jurgen Klopp has had a few more years of working with his players than Mikel Arteta. Many weeks of training, drilling the pass and move style of football they play, drumming home how important the pressing game is. A pressing game Liverpool seem to have upped a gear this season. Many transfer windows to make his squad his own.
Arsenal fans cannot in my opinion, expect Arsenal to be at Liverpool’s level after eight months and a Covid hit transfer window.
We are in a different journey to Liverpool. They’ve been together for five years and they weren’t able to do what they’ve done tonight two or three years ago, that’s for sure. They have a lot of good work, a lot of belief in the way they play, great recruitment and they’ve improved the players that they have. This is what we have to try to do. They set the bar and they’re probably the best standard that the Premier League has seen in many years. This is where we have to get and obviously we’re still a long way from getting there. – Mikel Arteta.
That aside, I do wonder that if we’re going to go to places like Anfield and play such negative football, is there much point in playing Lacazette and Aubameyang? Would we not be better off just playing Aubameyang up front on his own and make the most of his pace on the break?
I thought Craig Pawson had a stinker. Arsenal tackles were fouls, Liverpool’s were mostly fine, even though they clearly weren’t. Fabinho’s tackle on Willian, the block on Aubameyang, just two which stick in my mind. And then Bellerin received a booking for doing less. Fairness, consistency, call it what you like, the game is crying out for it.
Much talk has been about a ‘new Arsenal’ – Tyler and Neville made reference to us being more difficult to beat these days. Yet we still conceded three goals. Three sloppy, avoidable goals but this is probably why Arteta is clear with his message to the world, there is much work to be done yet.
We weren’t winning enough 50/50 balls, we weren’t strong enough and our passing out from the back filled me with dread each time Leno started the ball rolling. Actually, Leno himself fills me with very little confidence, period. If only he could catch a cross. From front to back, we can do better.
It’s just my opinion but I think the tinkering in defence doesn’t help the team. Swapping around the central pairing will do no one any good. Leno needs to build an understanding with his defence just as the defence do him. If Saliba isn’t quite ready for the first team, then surely our strongest central pairing is Holding and Gabriel. A settled back line is key to any great footballing side.
That’s why Adams, Bould, Dixon, Winterburn and Seaman were so good. Lehmann, Cole, Campbell, Toure and Lauren too.
Our midfield isn’t balanced or settled either. Chopping and changing won’t help but we know Arsenal are trying to do something about that. But it takes time, transfer windows and money.
Even so, I think Arsenal could have done better last night. To score against the run of play which was probably the way Arteta expected the game to go, and then switch off, allow Liverpool to equalise almost immediately, was sloppy. The other two goals could have been avoided too had our players not been so easily brushed off the ball.
On whether Aouar is a player we’d like to sign?
We don’t have any news on new players. It’s a week to go and I think it’s going to be really busy for the clubs because not much business has been done. Let’s see what happens.
On whether it will be really busy for us?
I think it will be really busy for the Premier League. I don’t know for us how it’s going to happen.
I’m sure Mikel Arteta is simply keeping his cards close to his chest. At least I hope that’s all he’s doing because we need a strong and athletic midfielder. At least.
Anyway, we’re off back at Anfield on Thursday night for the Carabao Cup. If last season’s fixture in the competition is anything to go by, there’ll be goals.
See you in the comments guys.
Spot on anyalis of game we look really short in midfield to me and slightly energetic as well early on yet so room and time for improvement
Thanks Rob.
Morning Adam. Thanks. I agree re the change and how much better we looked after Arteta swapped Xhaka for Ceballos. Pepe is a real mystery but in out, in out, that’ll do him no good whatsoever. I really don’t understand all the the continual changes. Regardless of what the club do in the next week, imo, Mikel really needs to find his best 13 and play them in the PL for a run of fixtures.
Nice one, Rico!! Remember yesterday – it’s been 84 years…..😂😂
I’m not gonna lie, I am frustrated. I didn’t expect to take the lead….. then let it slip 147 seconds later!! Saw a stat saying since MA came in we’ve dropped more points from a winning position, than any other team – 18….☹
I knew we’d have chances – just needed to be more clinical!! Ain’t that always the way!
We’ve not had many shots this season either – 24, I believe? Only West Brom have fewer!! Which means we really need to pull our finger out… 6 days left, much to be done!! Midfielders at the double!!
Nelson has been speaking to Palace over a season long loan. I say just bloody swap with Zaha 😉 (sorry Potter).
We have Kevin Friend on Thursday, make of that what you will!!
And just for the record..the dippers make me sick!
Thanks Sue. I did think of that towards the end. Lol
With those stats, perhaps we’re not improving as much as ‘we’ think. But again, an unsettled team won’t help. As a friend said to me last night, we are little more than a cup team at the moment and it’s hard to disagree.
Time and patience I know.
Morning Rico. A fair summation. Accurate yet tinged with disappointment. As for the Mane thing. Let’s not forget that moments before he punched Tierney in the face he clobbered Bellerin from behind in what would certainly have been a yellow if Xhaka had done the same thing. But, as you say, we are some way off of their level at the moment. I also agree with you over the chopping and changing of personnel. You can be too clever.
It’s probably wise not to read too much into the game but Mikel really needs a couple of convincing wins to get some traction for this season. After a convincing win against Fulham, we struggled to beat West Ham and now this almost-expected loss to Liverpool.
I do struggle to see how an increasingly static and immobile Xhaka fits into Arteta’s Arsenal I must say. As soon as Ceballos came on we looked much better I thought. We need lots more midfield mobility, some security at the back and who do we have who can hold play up or even keep hold of the ball up front? We know that Laca can’t do it. And something surely has to be done with Pepe, whose price tag seems to be hanging round his neck like a lead weight. Perhaps tell him he has a run of games where he will start and sort out a position for him. Perhaps a bit more central as this ultra wide starting position gives him too few options and makes him predictable.
I expected a loss, but still……
Talking about Pepe Adam, I wondered if Lacazette went, Pepe would play more central too. At the moment he’s looking like an expensive version of Theo. We know he can score though, we know he’s quick but a left footed player on the right isn’t working. Great when he can cut in but as you say, he’s so darn predictable. PL defenders soon sussed him out.
Morning all.
Lacazette finishes, Mane is sent off, we don’t concede very late…………
How was Auba not awarded a foul and the Scouser scum not given a yellow, yet 10 seconds later Hector gives away a foul and
cops a yellow for the same damn thing?!
Game changing factors.
Rico. I agree re Pepe. This is the PL and I firmly believe we lack different attacking options. As an example I look at what Antonio is doing at West Ham. Basically, he’s terrifying defences. He can hold the ball and is quick. He will run over you rather than round you and he takes up 2-3 players. I like subtle football as much as anyone but, as I said, this is the PL and perhaps you need more than one way to win. We all want to see skilful players slotting balls through defences for nimble strikers to run onto but sometimes a powerful striker who can head a ball and play with his back to goal gives you an out ball that stops the goalie and defenders trying to fiddle about at the back to create a midfield option and also acts as a crucial defensive ingredient as teams won’t try and compress you if they know that a single ball over the top can spell trouble. Pure power and pace should never be underestimated. I know it’s perhaps not in the Arteta blueprint but I remember the chaos Adebayor caused to defences when he first arrived and before he became a dick.
Agree again Adam. We lack players who can explode with pace at the drop of a hat, other than Aubameyang. We missed a trick not snapping up Zaha imo. Grealish is another who isn’t afraid to run with the ball. Our forward play is so sluggish most of the time. It’s easy to beat a team like Fulham but there aren’t many like them in the PL.
I think expecting much different in attack from the players we currently have is optimistic to say the least. Aouar looks good on the ball but very lightweight imo. Our hold up play is poor in general I think. Considering Pep plays entertaining football with quick passing etc, I’m surprised Arteta isn’t, or certainly doesn’t seem to be, heading down a similar path.
I have to agree with Adam. Whilst watching the game we all said that Mane should have received a yellow for his foul from behind against Bellerin. If that was Xhaka it would have definitely been so. Then an elbow to the face on Tierney, should have been a straight red, let alone a yellow. So all in all either way, he should have been sent off. Again, if that was an Arsenal player committing the same offence he would have been sent off.
That aside, Liverpool were by far the better team.
Our tackling was timid at best, we lost almost every 50/50 challenge.
Who on earth sanctioned the Pepe purchase should be hung drawn and quartered. £70m plus is a joke. With that money we could have got Partey AND Oaur (spelling?)
Having said all this, we are on an upward spiral imo. I can see vast improvement under Arteta than I ever see under Emery. Not many teams, if any, will come away from Anfield with all three points.
Every blog is saying we need to get Partey AND Oaur, but I feel we need to get an upgrade on Bellerin. This player will lose us many points. He cannot defend to save his life, is slow to see any danger, and has gone backwards since his injury and cat walking.
Fingers crossed we can pull off a win this Thursday.
COYG
Vcc, if Barca come in with a big offer for Hector, I can see us selling him. All a bit late in the day though I think.
Real keeping their options open perhaps Sue. If fit, I’d start him in every PL game. He’s far superior to the rest of our midfielders imo.
A cup team – that’s bang on, Rico!
I’m loving Dani… was a little miffed as to why he didn’t start.. but he did really well when he came on. Why didn’t we just buy him?!!!
PAINFUL EXIT! Benching Ceb, the only creator in the team and bringing him on to play just 35minutes dug the grave and Lac sluggishness in front of goal buried us. Good Morning Rico and all.
Morning Twinsy. Unless we sign a midfielder, Elneny and Ceballos for me. Both seem to have a footballing brain.
Talking of Elneny, the capture of him on camera as Lacazette fluffed his lines was priceless.
We scored one in the first half, none in the second.
Just wondering why we were so much better after Ceballos came on 🙂
Now saying that, we were in fact much better after half time because until that point, we were too bloody defensive but my point is we improved after a tactical change, not a player change.
Hi Rico and all I know I said this before but Auba needs to start scoring no goals in 3 matches is not good enough and Arteta needs to just concentrate on coaching and not running the club like Wenger that part will come later, for now just coach and let Edu worry about getting the players Arteta wants
Good accurate report rico, morning, good comments all round. We deserved to lose. They came out with the ball 75% of 50 50s, that cannot be right. And we are so soon going to get caught playing ball across our own goal line.
But what most annoys me, is that if Luiz or Xhaka’s had done what Mane did, I imagine we would have been playing 10 men for most of the game. And the Bellerin booking after ‘play on’ just added injury to insult.
Auba didn’t have many chances and he unselfishly passed near the end when he could have shot. I just wish it had been Auba through rather than Laca who I thought looked rather sluggish last night.
Me too Andrew, me too.
The Elneny transformation has been remarkable, or has it?
Is he really playing any differently now, or is he just being given a chance?
Either way, he’s doing damn well for us.
He’s a real toiler and while not overly physical or creative, he’s very effective.
Ceballos and a real beast alongside him and we will look better.
Scott, I think Elneny has always been a good player but under the previous two managers, he was either having to pass backwards or sideways most of the time and then obviously last season, ditched. The loan away from the all the rubbish at Arsenal did him the world of good.
andrewh1313. ….. I would like to see referee’s being interviewed after the game and being asked to explain their reasons for not penalising the arm across Auba and subsequently stopping him going forward and NOT awarding a free kick, but moments later giving a free kick against Bellerin (which was also a foul) AND booking the Arsenal player????
I would love to hear his explanations.
I know this sounds like sour grapes, but I’ve already stated I think Liverpool deserved the win and was the better side, but curiosity killed the cat.
VCC, am I imagining it, or did some referees once come out after a game and be interviewed?
did any else see the interview with klopp and during the video it show a photo of a Liverpool player grabbing Luiz by the neck during play.
on news now mirror at 19:25 talking about Xhaka
Rico, no fan I know said we should keep Elneny in recent times, and really, most were venues Arteta even bothered giving him a chance.
On another topic, Willian stood and watched Robertson score that mobs second goal with no challenges offered whatsoever.
Imagine it was Ozil?
Willian remains nearly free from criticism.
Scott, I’ll be honest, I always wanted Elneny to start instead of Ramsey. I’m not trying sound arrogant etc but there was something about him, the way he played before Arsene Wenger signed him.
Willian didn’t track back for one of the goals but I think as a group, a team, we didn’t defend well enough at times last night.
Bemused, not “venues”.
Go the phone hahaha
Anyway, Elneny has been a surprise to us all and offers something different, so should stay, I reckon.
Wenger would say of Elneny’s form, ‘it’s like signing a new player’😀😀
No new recruitments now needed!😀
😂 Andrew.
Morning campers, morning Rico, very good post, you’re friend who said that Arsenal are a cup team makes a good point, we are a cup team atm but you have to cut your cloth etc so it is what it is.
I missed the first 5 minutes as I did some washing up as I didn’t want to listen to the pundit preamble, the last advertising squeezed in and the oh so tedious and meaningless taking the knee nonsense which has long outlived it’s effect, therefore I didn’t see the Mane assaults on Bellerin and Tierney – it was almost as if he was instructed to go out and kick our full backs….
Anyway we all suspected didn’t we that after seeing a litany of questionable decisions by referees inflicted on other teams that ‘our day would come’ and Mr Pawson certainly didn’t disappoint in that regard. What mystified me was the reluctance of VAR to get involved, almost as if Riley was standing over them at Stockley Park and telling them what to ignore, mainly because Liverpool are the current standard bearers of the Premier League and are refereed to different standards to the rest of us.
Anyway despite the enormous and sustained pressure we were under – not that they could have been so dominant with 10 players – we hung on in there and maybe could have equalised? Lacazette has copped some flak but he started the move in our box, charged the length of the pitch and just seemed to run out of puff as the red herd closed in on him. He should have scored but overall he was one of our best and arguably more effective than Aubameyang…
Elneny did his job but his limitations were there against the quality of Liverpool, he never got sacked whilst in possession but you could see the difference when Ceballos came on, Dani just has more to his game and can break the lines, Mo can’t at this level. I like Elneny and he can do a job for us but if we really want to challenge at the top table we need upgrades in that dept.
Liverpool knew that Xhaka was our scrum half and they were all over him, he was constantly hustled and therefore lost his influence. I think last evening was the first time that Arteta has subbed him off not that we should read too much into that, maybe he was carrying an injury?
After Kev, thank you. I think I told him. Lol for what it’s worth, I think we’ll be a cup team for another season or two yet because last night showed us how important it is to get the right players for the PL which is what Klopp has done over time.
Good comment by the way. I don’t think Arteta had much choice to replace Xhaka if he wanted to try and get something from the game. Perhaps sooner might have helped.
Tierney was put under enormous pressure, Klopp knew our danger men and his players did a job on them, Holding was rushed at every opportunity as was Luiz.
Emi has gone, the decision was made, I suspect for financial reasons, so I’m not going to go over old ground every week, there’s no point but most of us can see that our defence looks less secure with Leno in goal – I’ll leave it at that…
I see that Nelson could be sent out on loan to Crystal Palace, that’s a good move as long as there isn’t an obligation to buy at the end of it, we want Reiss back, well i do.
That brings me onto to the thorny subject of Willian, has he been an upgrade?
What do you lot think?
Because so far I’m not seeing it, so can anyone honestly say to me that he’s been more effective than Pepe so far this season, or even Nelson?
What he does do could well be too subtle for my clumsy eyes to decipher but I can’t see a lot of changes, his corners are a marked improvement but then Nelson can take better corners than Pepe, in fact Scott can probably take better corners.
I wonder if Luiz will see out this season in the team?
To me Gabriel has done nothing wrong and ok, maybe Arteta was protecting him a bit from the Liverpool experience at Anfield but he surely must come back into the equation on Thursday and on Sunday, two games we have to win!
Scott. I too mentioned that during play time that Willian just left Robertson. Thats the classic thing that Arteta has been banging into our players. “STAY focused”.
Although it was clear Liverpool were a better side than us, it was also clear we shot ourselves in the foot regarding poor decisions both in defence and attack, also not committing 100% in our tackling, the list is far too long to mention tbf. It would appear we were almost frightened of them at times. Far too much respect was shown.
Perhaps Arteta will make the team watch the whole game through, and instil into them the importance of staying focused for 90 minutes and at least put a hard, but fair tackle in.
BTW, does anyone know whether the Mane incident was received by VAR? I’m thinking they didn’t bother?
VCC I’d imagine that Raul was the man behind the Pepe deal, supported by Edu and Emery with Josh signing it off, off of the the back of the ‘We care, do you?’ online campaign.
I was excited by the deal at the time and although my memory isn’t what it once was I don’t recall a single Gooner saying it was a bad deal.
I was also hugely excited by the Mesut Ozil deal and that hasn’t turned out as well as most of us hoped it would and it’s probably why I’m a bit reluctant to wave my knickers in the air over the possible signing of Aouar because he might look good on You Tube, but don’t they all.
Sorry ladies 😀
Good points Andrew, agree totally over the 50/50’s
Wave away, Kev, you know you want to 😝
Ok Sue, I’m waving my bloomers as I type, they’re as big as a barrage balloon lol
Rico, in all fairness, you’d have chosen almost any midfielder over Ramsey, so that’s hardly a massive endorsement of Elneny.
Kev, Pepe delivered some brilliant corners and free kicks last season, so I don’t think we should condemn him for two woeful ones in this game but yes, my corners are flawless 😉
VCC, you’re one of very, very few all over the net I saw even mention it so hats off to you.
Not totally true Scott. Ramsey was excellent during the time before he left. Your perception is running away with you a tad.
Well Scott, fair comment but shouldn’t that be a given in that Pepe delivers a decent corner?
It’s pretty much a major part of his game and why he usually takes them.
Kev. Great point about Ozil. I can remember the signing well. Off the back of some smashing performances for Germany I thought, wow, we have a proper player here. His type of play is totally out of tune for the hustle and bustle of the premiership, its far too intense and physical for him.
As for Pepe, I knew nothing about him, so cannot say either way, but you would have thought the powers that be would have done some homework at least. Sadly that doesn’t shine through.
Aouar and Partey, I’m with you also. Aouar looks slight and not physical enough for the rigour of mid field life within the premiership. Partey at least looks as if he has some power and strength?
Both players I have no knowledge of their credentials, but if we are indeed interested in either one or both I hope Arteta has done his homework. But I cannot see the importance in both. I would prefer to get Partey and replace Bellerin.
😂😂😂 Kev!!
Kev, for 72 million, he should be much bloody better than he has been, that’s for sure.
There’s been glimpses of his quality, but no consistency at all.
Sue 12:43…..Don’t encourage him .. 😉
Rico, my memory of Ramsey is pretty good 🙂
For what it’s worth. I like Elneny well enough but can’t see that a midfield worker like him is good enough for a team with the aspirations that we apparently have. Would he get into any other top team? The days of utility players with a limited repertoire actually starting seem long gone to me. Klopp and Pep put pay to that one when they built their teams. In fact, if one was being really ruthless and ignoring sentiment like perhaps Arteta is, I would estimate that a good six or seven of out first team squad would have question marks over them. We have to be patient I guess.
Adam, have we got the money to follow in City and Liverpool’s footsteps? Until we return to Champions League football, Elneny imo is keeper. He’s more mobile and aware of what’s around him than Xhaka that’s for sure.
VCC, we are in the minority I think but I also feel that Partey would be a game changer for us.
I base my limited assumptions on what I’ve been told by my excellent La Liga scout, sometimes known as Señor ITK or Adam.
Partey just seems a better fit for the Premier League, but if we get Aouar then so be it, I just hope he’s more effective than Willian.
Name names Adam?
Kev. You know who I mean😃
Yes I do, but I was thinking of the others. 😀
wonder how many changes both teams make for Friday’s EFL Cup
9 hour time difference
Elneny is a recycler , he gets it and distributes without a lot of fuss and rarely gets caught in possession and gives it away . With Ceballos he looked a lot more effective than with Xhaka all they need is the right physical presence alongside them.
Out of the 14 on the pitch last night I would suggest that we need upgrades on 7 of them and I will name names
Leno , Luiz , Holding , Xhaka , Lacazette , Willian , Pepe.
For me all have their strong points but they have weaknesses that I don’t think can be taught out of them . Willian , Lacazette , Luiz are too set in their ways but I question are they there whilst Nelson , Smith Rowe , Nketiah , Saliba develop .
Pepe , I just don’t see it . He is about as effective as Glenn Helder or going back further Peter Marinello . He looks scared of his own shadow perhaps it’s confidence and maybe given a run in the team he might get as good as Walcott but that’s a stretch.
Holding seems to like the physical battles and he doesn’t back down from them which is to his credit but his concentration lapses are frequent and is often sloppy with his passing especially when playing out from the back.
Xhaka is pedestrian any team with pace that shuts him down and he runs out of ideas ,,space and time .
And then Leno ,if it’s the post Martinez situation that’s putting him under pressure then he is not man for the job . At the moment he does not look like he is . Sold the wrong one end of.
If these are your group Adam let me know but if you have more to add I would not be surprised.
Adam….I need to know names. 🙂
potter…. so you would keep Bellerin?
Before we worry about beating Liverpool or Man city we need to beat the middle of the table teams by 2 or 3 goal and play smart by using this new hand ball rule to our advantage and if we don’t have a clear shot at goal then aim for our opponents arm because other teams will do it to us. it’s not a good look but a win is still a win
it’s a bit harsh to judge Pepe when he only gets brought on for 15 minutes he needs more game time or why not try having 2 player sprint down the side lines and 1 sprint down the middle and get Leno to kick it long to one of them instead of all ways playing out from the back
VCC.. I can’t help it 🤣
ITKs are saying Aouar deal is done pending a medical…
I’d like to see a map of Willian’s touches last night, it will be almost blank I should think.
In his first ever appearance for us Pepe got clobbered a couple of times, immediately stopped trying to get past the fullbacks and started turning back or moving in field. Now he just seems to try and stay out of trouble. Give him a free kick on the right corner of the penalty box and he will make a decent attempt at scoring. That’s it, a one trick pony.
Luiz must be in his last season.
We can’t let Holding go until Mari, Saliba and Gabriel are up and running. Even then I think he will be worth keeping, he’s young and is getting over a really rough time injury wise.
Nketiah deserves a run of games in place of Lacazette so that he is ready to take over when Laca is sold.
VCC I would keep him because I don’t think that our alternative’s are in anyway better. The money that we would get for him will not be enough to buy an upgrade and he is still young and counts as home bred
What about Partey Sue? Any gossip on him?
What about Benzema then Sue, we’re usually linked with him during the last few days, anything on the wires?
I read earlier that Toots are considering a move for Benteke.
Not seen owt about Partey, Rico ☹
That might be a good thing Sue. The Aouar stuff i# getting boring. 😂
🤣 He’s on his private jet on the way to London, Kev 🤣🤣
Just so you know, these are the twitter sites I look on :
The Transfer Exchange Show
Transfer Checker
GoonerTalk
And there was me thinking Football London was your go to place Sue. 😜
Tbh, Rico, all our business is dragging on longer than an Eastenders storyline… I will be relieved once the window shuts!! 😅
Let’s hope Arsenal give us something to talk about during the international break Sue, other than a beating of Liverpool in the cup and a confident home win against Sheffield Utd.
Chelsea 1-0 against Toots
🤣🤣 if I’m at a loose end, I’ll check NN haha!!
I do look on Charles Watts’ site also..
A little half hearted yay, Rico 🤣 Good goal…
Yes, Rico… something to talk and be happy about!!
Dier’s rear squats it for the scum!
Nuff said.
Poison dwarf squeezes one out again.
Vulgar about the noisy neighbours? Not a chance…. it’s a s**t hole. Dier’s well placed and well ‘behaved’!
Downside? They progressed to the next round☹️
Squats=squits
What a bummer
Looks like Kola’s off to Leverkusen on a 5 year deal. Medical on Friday. €11m plus add ons….not a bad start, hey?!
Decent fee I reckon Sue.
Sue. 6:02…. If true, that’s a great start to the exodus.
Now add Bellerin. Mustafi.Sokratis. Ozil. Torriera. Willock. Guendouzi. Xhaka. Lacazette. Pepe. Please.
Morning Rico.
VCC. Is that all?😃
Adam, you’re up for sale as well 😉
Morning guys.
Big list VCC, and if we can sell even half it’s be a positive.
I’d prefer we kept Bellerin and I know plenty don’t agree, but slowly, slowly he’s finding form, for mine.
Mustafi as well.
The rest can go.
If we sell Bellerin and Mustafi we leave ourselves with Soares or AMN at a push unless we are going to buy yet another right back when we badly need the money for the midfield.
Also selling Lacazette leaves us without a presence up front as neither Auba or Nketiah are the type of player to hold the ball when a centre back is immediately behind them .Auba wants it to run on to and Eddie is all about the box.
We need a forward of the Lacazette style and yes he misses chances but he is not alone with that . The work he puts in closing down and tackling back seems to go unnoticed , so shoot him out and buy another ? no financial sense in that .
We all know that we need to sell to buy but when buying we need to prioritise the positions that are more important . Throwing the baby out with the bath water immediately is unlikely to be the way to go .
Morning Adam, all.
I can’t see us selling Hector this late in the transfer window, not unless Arsenal is expecting a deal to go through with Barca and have a replacement already in the bag. If not and he goes, it’d be bonkers imo.
I think Bellerin gets left exposed, as Tierney would if AMN didn’t play. Willian, Pepe, Nelson need to work harder I think or perhaps when the much needed midfielder arrives, if he does, he’ll have the energy to get about the pitch more.
New post up by the way.