but PSG isn't going to give us someone of Matuidi's quality. there's no reason. at least with cavani, the boy is playing out of position, but even then, he's deputising to a 33 year old who can't last at the top forever

Matuidi just signed a new contract few months ago.

The notion that two class central midfielders can't hold a team together is rubbish.

You just need proper two-way players. I don't think Ramsey is disciplined enough to be one though. Most of his defending and tackling happens further up the field, which is fine; that's where he does most good. When he drops too deep he gets exposed with his dwelling on the ball. You need someone who has more tactical instinct next to him with that in mind. Khedira isn't that player in my opinion. He prefers to press high up the field too. Someone like Fernandinho would have been the perfect fit for us.

Agreed. Really Arteta is an excellent partner for Ramsey, that pairing is arguably our best since 2005. We just lack depth/physicality when Ramsey is out. A versatile midfielder like Schneiderlin (or Fernandinho) who is comfortable playing both deep roles benefits us a lot more than buying a pure 'DM'.

We need to buy to avoid Arteta-Flamini and Arteta-Wilshere pairings next year, rather than simply replace Arteta IMO.

I prefer Matuidi too Dules, but I think we missed that boat. There are a number of options out there that would give us the midfield we need to be going into a PL campaign with, I think Khedira is one of those options.

I wonder if ramsey can play as the deepest MF. Something akin to how schweinsteiger played.

Think he started to find form when Wenger put him there for a couple of games but his strength is in his engine & box to box play, why change that.

Definitely think Aaron needs a quality defensive minded midfielder next to him to get the balance in the team right

I think it's sorting the attack that will get the balance right more than who is next to Ramsey.

innervisionscm wrote:

We need to buy to avoid Arteta-Flamini and Arteta-Wilshere pairings next year, rather than simply replace Arteta IMO.

I disagree

We played 100 different midfield pairing last season (Ramsey-Flamini, Rosicky-Ramsey, Wilshere-Ramsey, Ox-Arteta etc) and I don't think we looked any less solid with any combination.

Ramsey was the player we missed the most when he was injured, his driving runs and productivity in the final 3rd were very important for us given our shit attack. We didn't miss him in the 5-6 weeks after his injury as Wilshere was playing quite well during that period (scoring and assisting goals), but he got injured and lost form, and that was when Ramsey's absence was really felt. Finding a top class partner for him should be one of our priorities this summer, Arteta is not good enough at the highest level IMO - this is coming from an Arteta fan.

We have got a lot of midfielders that could do a job, in fact I'd say our best performance in a big game last season was with what is probably our 3rd or 4th choice midfield pairing; Flamini-Wilshere (1st half against Bayern). What we lack is an absolute top class midfield pairing IMO.

Your post says that we suffered when both Ramsey and Wilshere were injured. I agree with that. That doesn't mean we need to buy a new 'DM' - we need to buy someone who can play Ramsey's role more reliably (as well as supplement our attack to make us less reliant on Ramsey's runs and goal scoring, of course). Wilshere can't really do that based on last season and looks like he belongs up front.

How many bad performances have we had with an Arteta-Ramsey pairing? That's a very good unit right there. We need a third CM who can play both positions and eventually replace Arteta (Schneiderlin). Flamini is then our 4th CM who gets about as many games as Rosicky does.

don't really khedira for our current team. square peg for a round hole.

innervisionscm wrote:

Your post says that we suffered when both Ramsey and Wilshere were injured. I agree with that. That doesn't mean we need to buy a new 'DM' - we need to buy someone who can play Ramsey's role more reliably (as well as supplement our attack to make us less reliant on Ramsey's runs and goal scoring, of course). Wilshere can't really do that based on last season and looks like he belongs up front.

You are contradicting yourself here, aren't you?

I know 99% of you don't agree with me on this, but I truly believe Wilshere at his best is better than Ramsey in deeper areas, Ramsey is far better in the final 3rd though (and that will never change IMO).

Wilshere for me is as talented as any young CM in Europe. His peak is as high as any IMO. I hope he is finally over his injury troubles, there is a player in there ready to explode.

innervisionscm wrote:

How many bad performances have we had with an Arteta-Ramsey pairing? That's a very good unit right there. We need a third CM who can play both positions and eventually replace Arteta (Schneiderlin). Flamini is then our 4th CM who gets about as many games as Rosicky does.

That partnership has generally been crap against any decent opposition IMO.

Btw I think you massively overrate Arteta, even as someone who has always backed him in the Arteta vs Flamini debates on here, I don't think there is a massive difference in quality between the two. I fully understand why many prefer Flamini (who is no more than a decent player in my book) to him. Even Wenger was constantly rotating them throughout the season, it was only after those stupid cards/suspensions that Wenger stuck with Arteta. I think I remember you saying Busquets could not do a better job (apologies if that wasn't what you said), but the difference in quality between Arteta and Busquets is like night and day IMO. I like him, but I don't think he's good enough at the highest level, we should definitely be looking for an upgrade this summer IMO.

I think Wilshere is an important part of our team, he just doesn't look very good from deep and that position doesn't seem to play to his strengths.

Busquets is definitely a superior player and the best in the world in his position. What I said was that Arsenal fans would complain about Busquets if he were here because he's not a swashbuckling tackler who yells at people, and I still think that.

Wenger's probably sticking with Arteta for another season. Things are very quiet on the CM front and Schneiderlin could be tied up if Wenger wanted. I don't think Arteta is a super player, but I think he does a decent job and is underappreciated. We can win the league with him in the XI. We can't without signing two forwards and a right back IMO.

What are some bad games Arteta-Ramsey have had?

9 days later

Arsenal want to strengthen your core with more muscle and Arsène Wenger is confident a 'terrain' as Khedira.

Also, if you just consummating Kroos arrival to the 'White House', a new and Khedira would 'rival' in midfield, so his departure would weigh.

I love Google translate.

"consummating Kroos's arrival to the White House" :o Uhhh ...