HOUSEBOAT - Warning: tenuous links ahead!: Page 396 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

HOUSEBOAT - Warning: tenuous links ahead!

Claudius

I would support that view, Quincy. Our biggest bang for buck right now is getting Granit Xhaka off the team shoot.

A year ago, Mustafi made a ridiculous backpass that caused Luiz to bring down Tammy Abraham, yielding a red and penalty. Not having Mustafi in our defense gives us such an uplift in terms of our confidence and the level of responsibility people take. We need to do the same with Xhaka. Imagine a world where Xhaka is either not starting or not around at all, and we have added confidence in midfield

Qwiss

Quincy Abeyie wrote:
If we get to keep Øde we have him, ESR, Pépé and Saka as good starting options for the three positions and Martinelli as a good backup. Imo Nelson as well for backup.

I agree. Its Ode or someone else in the summer rather than Ode plus someone else IMO. We need to sell and replace Laca and Eddie too, there is potential to get in a striker with a bit of flexibility to cover the wings too. Or if a new striker is good enough it could mean using Auba wide sometimes. Plenty of options for AM/wings. We need centre mids and full backs much more urgently.

Clrnc

Yep. I would make Odegaard permanent at the right price 25-30m etc, then splash out on a proper CM like Barella and a starting RB Hakimi.

If we manage to sell Nketiah and Lacazette both, we will have money to fund a good striker too.

Qwiss

I reckon the glaring hole is left back cover but that can be easily fixed as we don't need a worldie there, just someone left sided with a Cedric like profile. Then its all about who to replace. Midfield is the area for me where we need to clear out the dross and get some quality in. I'd go for 2 there with Xhaka and Elneny for sale. Ceballos can sod off back to Real and we can give Willock a place in the 4 man midfield rotation. If you change manager you could sign just one midfield and bring back Douzi either but that seems unlikely. Then sell Laca and Eddie and sign a striker. Also make a decision at right back. You could sell Bellerin and AMN and upgrade there quite handily if we are shrewd.

goon

Plenty of guys available on a free at left back, Bertrand, van Aanholt. Pick one of them, just don't give them a 4 year deal.

I'd keep Ceballos too. If we're signing two centre mids I doubt you'll get better 3rd choice than him for £15-20m.

Qwiss

goon wrote:
Plenty of guys available on a free at left back, Bertrand, van Aanholt. Pick one of them, just don't give them a 4 year deal.

I'd keep Ceballos too. If we're signing two centre mids I doubt you'll get better 3rd choice than him for £15-20m.

Ceballos has one PL start in the last 9. I don't think Arteta sees him as a viable partner for Partey. I'd like to see Willock as a Partey back up and then 2 players who can play with Partey brought in. For me preferably defensive, strong, athletic types.

Clrnc

Ceballos has been struggling with injuries the past 9 games.

Klaus

Ceballos has struggled with being Ceballos these past two seasons.

Claudius

Klaus wrote:
Ceballos has struggled with being Ceballos these past two seasons.

Mean. But two years is a long time to fail to find 10 games of form

goon

He was good in the run in, started the last 13 league games and the FA Cup games. Super defensive stats too, even this season he's up there.

He started this season really poorly but so did everyone, and unlike someone like Xhaka and Willian, he was given the Pepe treatment in being in and out of the side. He's generally been good when picked since our uptick in form.

That being said, he is a flakey, wierd player, but if he wasn't he'd cost £60m rather than 15. I also agree with Qwiss that Arteta doesn't really trust him, the Pepe of central midfield.

QuincyAbeyie

Pepe is a very good comparison. I think that more often than not Ceballos is better than all our non-Partey midfielders. This doesn't say all that much, but to me it makes it weird that he's not playing more.

Qwiss

I agree Ceballos should play more but at the same time he doesn't really impact games enough for my liking on a regular enough basis when he does play. My problems with Xhaka, Elneny, Ceballos is that none of them really do anything all that well, they are just there taking up a place in the side and I think we can do better.

Asterix

Yup I agree too. He's very good technically but doesn't quite do enough to impact games.

Sell Xhaka, Douzi, Torreira, Mavropanos, Lacazette, Eddie and get Luiz's wages off the books. Maybe sell Nelson and Ainsley as well but would be fine if they stayed.

Buy Odegaard, 2 central midfielders, a striker and a left back.

lorddulaarsenal

Sander Berge linked again today.

lorddulaarsenal

How would folk feel about a summer that looks kind of like this?

Sold/not retained: Torreira, Guendouzi, Lacazette, Bellerin, Ceballos, Luiz

Renewed: Balogun,

Re-integrated/more prominent squad role: Saliba, Azeez, Balogun, Mavropanos

Loaned out: Willock, Nelson, Nketiah

Signed:

Odegaard
Hakimi or Lamptey
Bertrand or van Aanholt
Berge or Bissouma

Clrnc

Top window

Claudius

I too think that would be a marvelous window.

One hopes that Bissouma or Berge would then be able to come in and immediately relegate Xhaka.

One note, it appears you’re keeping all of Chambers, Saliba and Mavropanos. On top of Gabriel, Holding and Mari.

QuincyAbeyie

Berge is decent, but don't think he's good enough. A lot of people om here dislike Ceballos who's a much better player so whoever we bring in needs to be, as Wenger would've said, super-quality.

ohboy

Quincy Abeyie wrote:
Berge is decent, but don't think he's good enough. A lot of people om here dislike Ceballos who's a much better player so whoever we bring in needs to be, as Wenger would've said, super-quality.

Agreed

A top midfielder is needed. Especially if we don’t go and buy any forward players.

goon

Generally surprised by the lack of ambition when it comes to centre mids. Anguisa, Berge and Bissouma are all good but uninspired.

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