I like what i see and think he would improve the team more than Lacazette as he fills the left midfield position we have struggled with for years.
Thomas Lemar
If we’re abandoning three at the back I’d like to us try a 433 with Xhaka, Ramsey and Lemar as the midfield three. One sitter and two high energy, technical box to box midfielders. Then we leave the front three the same with Sanchez, Ozil and Lacazette operating as Sanchez, Ozil and Welbeck did in the cup final. I’m making number of assumptions relative to the 433 mentioned with regards to Lemar’s skillset. Essentially I see him doing what Di Maria did for Real in that position when they won the CL. He seems to have the necessary attributes to make it work.
If we lose Sanchez then we need to go big on an additional AM/wide player to make this work. I worry that Lemar is being signed to replace Sanchez in the 3421 we play. If that’s the case it won’t be enough and we will fall short again.
That's not a bad idea. Either way, Lemar gives us loads of options in terms of tactical versatility.
Who says we're abandoning three at the back?
[font=Arial, sans-serif][size=large]Albert II: "There may still be one or two outstanding [departures] such as Bakayoko but it will be over after that."[/size][/font]
looks like we're too late. reckon shitty will get mendy now theyve missed out on alves. lemar's price will be too high at that point
a few journos that travelled to sydney to cover arsenal have released similar stories about a 45m bid going in, and are quotng the same wages and contract terms. seems like they've been briefed
That we keep increasing our bid means they must be pretty happy to sell once the price is right
We're not the type of club to keep increasing if we've gotten signals that he's absolutely not for sale.
Exactly.
it would be puzzling and a bit embarassing if a 3rd bid was knocked back
i really want this to happen. if we get him, we don't have to rush sanchez back like always do
I can't see how Monaco can keep Mbappé, or rather, why Mbappé would elect to stay, if they sell Lemar, off the back of selling Bernardo Silva, Germain, Dirar, Bakayoko, Mendy, and most likely Fabinho too. Their season has disaster written all over it and surely the kid is smart enough to know the only way is down after that one off achievement last season? There's being loyal and then there's wasting a year of your career.
For that reason, I'm not sure we'll get Lemar. I think Monaco know his departure is the straw that will break the camel's back. He goes and I think they all go.
Quincy Abeyie wrote:We're not the type of club to keep increasing if we've gotten signals that he's absolutely not for sale.
Maybe we've learnt from Martial.
Some of those players haven't moved yet Ricky, I think thats why the club keep coming back to Monaco with improved offers quite quickly. They clearly want to get him before he's off the market.
Qwiss! wrote:Some of those players haven't moved yet Ricky, I think thats why the club keep coming back to Monaco with improved offers quite quickly. They clearly want to get him before he's off the market.
there may be some truth to this... get what we want before others get what they want
Yeah, Germain and Dirar were squaddies, Bakayoko has a knee injury and Fabinho wont move before January, if the Atletico rumors are true.
So far they have lost Bernardo Silva only and brought in Tielemans and Kongolo. The latter is probably a replacement for Mendy who is probably going to City soon and that's why we need to keep pushing it - its obvious they will close the door at one point. We need to make sure, we get our man out before it happens.
Germain and Dirar were still players that had been there a long while and were important last season, especially Germain. Mendy and Bakayoko are gone, for sure. That's a lot for important players to lose in one summer, especially when there's still 6 weeks+ left of the transfer window.
This deal is looking very, very likely now. Everyone is reporting the same thing - from the Times to the Mirror and the Mail, and all the twitter ITKs, including AFCAMDEN aka Dean Allam, writing in the Sun (moving up in the world! Hehe):
Everyone is saying the same thing: £45m + £10m in add-ons and 100k a week.
Wonder what Wenger has in mind for him? With Ozil and Sanchez, I can only see that left midfield/wingback role (Wenger has already confirmed we're starting the season with the 3 at the back).
Could be in CM, as a Wilshere replacement.
Ricky1985 wrote:This deal is looking very, very likely now. Everyone is reporting the same thing - from the Times to the Mirror and the Mail, and all the twitter ITKs, including AFCAMDEN aka Dean Allam, writing in the Sun (moving up in the world! Hehe):
Everyone is saying the same thing: £45m + £10m in add-ons and 100k a week.
Wonder what Wenger has in mind for him? With Ozil and Sanchez, I can only see that left midfield/wingback role (Wenger has already confirmed we're starting the season with the 3 at the back).
It's all the guys out there with us down under reporting it apparently.
There's 3 possibilities from what I can see. Either he'll play as a left wing back in the new formation, we'll switch back to the old formation where he'll play in his normal wide midfield role, or he's just going to be a 'squad' player with Ozil and Alexis being rest more frequently. I'm not sure Wenger is buying him with a particular plan in mind, I reckon he just rates him a lot and doesn't want to miss out. It's also a ready made replacement if Sanchez leaves on a free next summer.
As Wilson pointed out if we are getting Lemar then we need to shift some of our forwards. We currently have Giroud, Welbeck, Lacazette, Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi and Walcott competing for 3 positions. Add Lemar and that's 8 players competing over 3 spots. And that's assuming Perez is out the door and Ox's new position is deeper in the pitch.
Wenger thinks everyone's a central player.
goon wrote:As Wilson pointed out if we are getting Lemar then we need to shift some of our forwards. We currently have Giroud, Welbeck, Lacazette, Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi and Walcott competing for 3 positions. Add Lemar and that's 8 players competing over 3 spots. And that's assuming Perez is out the door and Ox's new position is deeper in the pitch.
Ideal world Welbeck, Perez and Walcott would go. Then you'd have 2 very strong players in each position. You could really go for the Europa if you were able to send out Giroud and Iwobi along with whoever of the others you fancied that week.
Walcott has a plan!
He can't play LWB imo. That position has to consistently provide width and strong running, which is not his game
The best fit is reverting back to 4231 and having him play left wing, and tucking in next to Ramsey and xhaka to make a 3 man midfield when defending
If we stick with 343 i can only see him playing CM as a Ramsey replacement, or as back up RW/LW for ozil or Sanchez
With Ramsey's injury record i can easily see him getting quite alot of minutes in his place
If he's playing whenever one of Ramsey, Özil and Sanchez isn't playing, he'd probably play more than at least two of them.
I don't watch Monaco so don't pretend to be an expert but the more i see, (unreliable yt clips),the less impressed i am.
He is more of the same of what we already have with potential to get only slightly better.
Of course if we lose Ozil, his skillset would help but i would much prefer Mahrez in that case.
How do you assess someone's potential for growth via YouTube? It's hard enough judging it watching full games!
Please note that i did type "unreliable" for that very reason.
Lemar strikes me as a Wenger project, not what we need but the type of player Wenger likes.
Bold Tone wrote:Please note that i did type "unreliable" for that very reason.
Sure, but I'm just wondering what about those clips made you think he can't improve much?
I've never been overly impressed with him in games except for his crossing/final ball which seems remarkably consistent but he's got very good techniche which, coupled with his strong stats, I always feel is a good base to work off of when we are talking about potential to improve.
It's easy to see that high technical ability which Wenger likes but i was looking for a spark that is different to what we already have.
His small physical stature also put me off as we have more than enough tiny/non-physical players.
That said, he would be an upgrade on our left side.
Quincy Abeyie wrote:If he's playing whenever one of Ramsey, Özil and Sanchez isn't playing, he'd probably play more than at least two of them.
Bold Tone wrote:I don't watch Monaco so don't pretend to be an expert but the more i see, (unreliable yt clips),the less impressed i am.
He is more of the same of what we already have with potential to get only slightly better.
Of course if we lose Ozil, his skillset would help but i would much prefer Mahrez in that case.
mahrez has more individual flair, but he's a specialist. he's can be great at RW, and just ok everywhere else
lemar's versatility and workrate gives him a big edge, plus he has a big upside being only 21
Do you see his upside as more than Ramsey/Cazorla/Ozil level?
Not damning these guys completely but, so far, they've been unable to beat the top class European sides.
hard to say. to me he looks like a perfect team player that will enhance our play both in midfield and in the final third, without hurting our balance. we've had balance issues in the team for a long time. we've also struggled to transition the ball quickly through midfield due to certain players lacking technical ability
He's not a replacement for Òzil or Sanchez in this current system. His passing, dribbling, touch and goal threat doesn't come close to those two.
I don't subscribe to the theory that a wingback has to be little more than a glorified fullback. I want players there that can make a difference in the final third as well as contribute more to our possession in the middle third. Otherwise just go with fullbacks and a back 4. I hope Wenger saw what Chamberlain contributed from RWB and now sees what quality you can get into the side via those two positions. And that is why he's after Lemar, but I doubt that's the case. I think he could be a real weapon for us in that position though, and he's quick enough, energetic enough and hard working enough that I think he'd hold his own when we dont have the ball as well. Exhibit A:
I just don't see him playing in central midfield in this system. He could play there but I think it wouldn't be the best use of the strengths he has. His best position in my view would be as the left sided CM in a 3, linking with an overlapping left back. Maybe Wenger wants to return to a back 4 and Lemar could play a similar role off the left or right of midfield. Although Wenger has recently said been categorical in saying he's going with a back 3 at the start of the season. And I don't think he'd spend this sort of money and make big promises, as he no doubt has, without having a role very much in mind from the beginning.
Either Wenger thinks like I do on this one and sees the wingback role more as a wide midfied role and as a big opportunity to get more quality and attacking diversity into the team or he sees Lemar playing in one of those other roles. He's not paying £50m+ for a glorified fullback that's for sure.
Someone mentioned Di Maria's spell as a CM for Real Madrid, and if he could replicate that it could be immense. It's incredibly rare to have a CM like that, but with Di Maria it worked brilliantly. The only reason Di Maria was sold was that Perez found a new shiny toy in James, who's now being shipped out as well.
Ricky1985 wrote:He's not a replacement for Òzil or Sanchez in this current system. His passing, dribbling, touch and goal threat doesn't come close to those two.
I don't subscribe to the theory that a wingback has to be little more than a glorified fullback. I want players there that can make a difference in the final third as well as contribute more to our possession in the middle third. Otherwise just go with fullbacks and a back 4. I hope Wenger saw what Chamberlain contributed from RWB and now sees what quality you can get into the side via those two positions. And that is why he's after Lemar, but I doubt that's the case. I think he could be a real weapon for us in that position though, and he's quick enough, energetic enough and hard working enough that I think he'd hold his own when we dont have the ball as well. Exhibit A:
I just don't see him playing in central midfield in this system. He could play there but I think it wouldn't be the best use of the strengths he has. His best position in my view would be as the left sided CM in a 3, linking with an overlapping left back. Maybe Wenger wants to return to a back 4 and Lemar could play a similar role off the left or right of midfield. Although Wenger has recently said been categorical in saying he's going with a back 3 at the start of the season. And I don't think he'd spend this sort of money and make big promises, as he no doubt has, without having a role very much in mind from the beginning.
Either Wenger thinks like I do on this one and sees the wingback role more as a wide midfied role and as a big opportunity to get more quality and attacking diversity into the team or he sees Lemar playing in one of those other roles. He's not paying £50m+ for a glorified fullback that's for sure.
width is the key. playing left midfield in a 343 vs 442 is a completely different proposition. to my mind the LWB or left mid in a 343 should be providing width as much as possible, whereas lemar's instinct and strength is to drift inside to combine with teammates if he played left mid in a 343 it would be a pretty unorthodox set up (not to say it wouldn't work at all)
Gazza M wrote:Quincy Abeyie wrote:If he's playing whenever one of Ramsey, Özil and Sanchez isn't playing, he'd probably play more than at least two of them.
