He looked physically shot yesterday. God knows what we're doing

Was pretty much Arteta's first choice defender and it looked like Luiz may have been off, so it makes sense from that perspective.

goon wrote:

So apparently Mustafi rejected a contract offer in the summer and informed the club he intends to leave at the end of his deal.

😆

And here we thought the problem was that we couldn't get rid of him..

To be fair to him, the guy has just come back from a few months out with injury. Plus he was brought on with a couple minutes notice because of injury, which is probably why he was warming up at the start of the second half and why Luiz started the second half even though he was injured.

I can understand giving him a new deal as long as his salary doesn't become a problem (maybe a slight increase topped up with bonuses and a small sign on fee) if the aim was to sell him rather than lose him for free.

Surely the thinking is to make sure we can sell him rather than lose him on a free? Basically a hail mary at this point, though.

I’d be really worried if Arteta and Edu do not realise by now that no one will buy Mustafi, and he won’t take a paycut. Him leaving on a free will add more value with his wages off the book, not having a liability at CB and not blocking other CB’s from playing.

He isn't blocking other CBs from playing. He doesn't pick himself.

There will be a double announcement soon of Mustafi and Lacazette signing new deals and you’ll bloody well love it

It does make you wonder what the plan is for the center backs going forward. I think at this stage it feels like only Gabriel is guaranteed of our 6-8 centre backs. What will happen to the rest? If we assume that Saliba is a very highly longterm prospect that still leaves another 2-3 spots that need to be filled.

Speaking about centre backs, does David Luiz need more credit? Thought he was brilliant first half yesterday.

whole defense was brilliant first half. passed and ran their hearts out.

Claudius wrote:

It does make you wonder what the plan is for the center backs going forward. I think at this stage it feels like only Gabriel is guaranteed of our 6-8 centre backs. What will happen to the rest? If we assume that Saliba is a very highly longterm prospect that still leaves another 2-3 spots that need to be filled.

Mari is here for a while, saliba will hopefully break through, chambers and holding have a chance to prove if they're worth keeping this season. With mustafi, sokratis, luiz and kola all out next summer id go back into the CB market and get upamecano as our centrepiece defender

Meh, our defence doesn't really give me great cause for concern. I'm still banking on Saliba being our long term partner for Gabriel going forward. Lets see how this season goes but I'd be happy to go into next season with Chambers/Holding, Saliba, Gabriel and Mari.

Same, but we would need a LB and start to play AMN more at RB.

Based on the games last 3 games, I would like to see us try the following to give us vertical balance, and ability to hold possession higher up the field. I want Partey as the designated alpha in midfield with a complementary workhorse.

Saka - Aubameyang- Pépé

Willian

Partey - Elneny

Tierney - Gabriel - Luiz - Bellerin

Leno

Key subs: Ceballos, AMN, Nketiah, Willock, Nelson, Saliba, (Martinelli)
Phase out: Xhaka, Laca, Mustafi

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert wrote:

I want to see that too, with Nelson eventually usurping Willian.

Agree with that. I'd like to also see Saliba being integrated over time to replace Luiz.