so both of these guys could walk this season, and we definitely don't have an in-house solution capable of stepping up to provide the creative spark
just a running list of guys i like or who we've been linked to
lemar
gelson martins
malcom
fekir
draxler
pulisic
might need to target younger players who aren't in a hurry to win things
feel free to use this thread to discuss other creative whizzes you like, or that make a name for themselves over the coming months
Messi
Mirror is full of conjecture about Sterling. Isn't it too early to be writing about about the January transfer window? I wish all fans would ignore these rumor articles, and maybe papers would stop manufacturing them.
If Sanchez must go, sell both him and Walcott, and get
Timo Werner is a must get, guy is such a natural scorer. Not sure if he will be as effective on the wings though, since he converted to striker he has been brilliant.
Definitely Draxler.
We can't replace them like for like so it's futile to even try. It'll be a decade before we get another chance to sign a player on that level again.
My priority for next summer would be the same regardless of whether they're staying or not: Sign a central midfielder. We have to sort out the midfield for real now. Every week I have to strain myself to not punch my tv when Xhaka's oblivious face appears on the screen. We have to get a new player in, preferrably two. My pick would be Jorginho. He's top notch, plays at the base of the midfield, strong shades of Arteta except ACL injuries haven't robbed him of all pace. I'd also take Fabinho. I'd get Nainggolan in addition to one of those two.
After that I'd sign a defender, a proper one. Maybe we can't attract the best attacking talent, but we can build a strong spine again that is hard to break. You have to start somewhere, and this feels like a particularly good end to do it in a summer where you're going to lose your best attacking players.
I'd go for the best attacking player we can find after that, but I think it's going to be a much of muchness. Even the likes of Lemar are apparently out of our reach. The real opportunity will be to wait and see if we can steal away some gifted player who's misfiring at their current club.
Agree with Klaus. I'd go all out for Fabinho and Milinkovic-Savic. Forwards - I'd bring in Pulisic and Amine Harit (really wanted us to sign him this summer but we weren't even linked) and Berardi / Gabbiadini (sell Walcott). Probably a step down from Alexis but that's the level we are at.
Klaus wrote:We can't replace them like for like so it's futile to even try. It'll be a decade before we get another chance to sign a player on that level again.
My priority for next summer would be the same regardless of whether they're staying or not: Sign a central midfielder. We have to sort out the midfield for real now. Every week I have to strain myself to not punch my tv when Xhaka's oblivious face appears on the screen. We have to get a new player in, preferrably two. My pick would be Jorginho. He's top notch, plays at the base of the midfield, strong shades of Arteta except ACL injuries haven't robbed him of all pace. I'd also take Fabinho. I'd get Nainggolan in addition to one of those two.
After that I'd sign a defender, a proper one. Maybe we can't attract the best attacking talent, but we can build a strong spine again that is hard to break. You have to start somewhere, and this feels like a particularly good end to do it in a summer where you're going to lose your best attacking players.
I'd go for the best attacking player we can find after that, but I think it's going to be a much of muchness. Even the likes of Lemar are apparently out of our reach. The real opportunity will be to wait and see if we can steal away some gifted player who's misfiring at their current club.
not saying i disagree, but we will definitely be prioritising a new creative spark when we lose sanchez and heaven forbid, ozil as well. wenger will continue to neglect the other parts of the team as per usual
Signing Kolasinac for me is a sign there's still magic yet that the transfer team can do. But we need to have our backup plans.
Our transfer team have to wait for quality players to be available on a free.
Messi it is then.
They have a year to prepare. I sincerely hope we don't go down the usual 'lets see who becomes available' path again.
I think they'll clearly keep pushing for Lemar until he either signs or decides against it. Its going to be really hard to attract players without CL football though so we really do need to push hard for that top 4 place this year. Again that means we should have done more this summer.
i dont think we should pursue AMs at all. i think we should play with 3 box to box CMs, a central striker, and then two actual wingers.
Agree we desperately need to sort out midfield.
But in terms of attacking talent I like Insigne, Pulisic, or Correa
mdgoonah41 wrote:i dont think we should pursue AMs at all. i think we should play with 3 box to box CMs, a central striker, and then two actual wingers.
Yeah I'd love to see us go far a defensive mid and a top class winger. Thing is if you go for that, in a Wenger reality you wont get 2 wingers so do you go on with Theo?
I'd avoid going for a n°10 altogether. Go 433 or 343 with proper wide forwards or 352. Thus I'd go for a top class two way midfielder and a wide forward.
Semi-realistically something like N'Zonzi and Lemar
Mertens would be a good Sanchez replacement.
I love my traditional number 10s, I think they can still work in modern days football if you have 2 great CM behind.
I'd go for Lemar, Fekir and Gelson. All 3 very young, hungry and hardworking attacking mids and go 4231.
There's a bunch of CM that's top and gettable like Weigl, Goretzka, Fabinho but I would focus on AMs and see how our CMs does this season.
mdgoonah41 wrote:i dont think we should pursue AMs at all. i think we should play with 3 box to box CMs, a central striker, and then two actual wingers.
I mostly agree with this.
One pure defensive midfielder who sits and protects the back four, and can play out from deep. Doesn't have to be someone quick, I'm thinking Arteta-like. Maybe Xhaka can fit this role? He certainly doesn't have the mobility to go box to box.
Then two box to boxes. One can be Ramsey, and we'll have to buy another. Maybe two when you consider Ramsey's contract and fitness issues.
