Clrnc there is a big big difference between being defensive and prioritising game control. Even in yesterday's game, we had higher possession, higher field tilt and higher xG. We had a much higher average defensive action height - at the halfway line versus towards the middle of their own half for Chelsea. We also had 4 high turnovers leading to 2 shots which was encouraging.
Whenever I see "he prioritise defense over attack" it feels like a complete misunderstanding of the control architecture that we have in place. Havertz has been critical to this. As much as Arteta is criticized for not buying attackers, Havertz is possibly the best pressing forward in Champions League this season (he has 2 of the 5 pressiest games this season).

In this model, creativity isn't just about having a number 10. It's also about disrupting the opposition and penetrating them when they are disorganized. Beyond losing his creativity, we also lost Odegaard's press ability. And then the various injuries and lack of health have also meant we have had various spacing and connectivity issues which make it harder to exert control. Yesterday was the first time I saw us look controlling in that second half, especially when Merino came on and probably had his best game for us. He was not only defending, but getting on the ball and punching through balls.

Clrnc not only did Edu veto the Calafiori deal, we also had to deal with both Basel and Bologna to get the deal over the line.

It's not really debatable after almost five years and a thousand defensive signings compared to what, four or five attackers in the time frame. I understand he might be scarred from having to rely on Holding in the past but clearly he doesn't mind looking at the shitshow we're currently serving, Saka going through weeks, Martinelli through months of poor form. He'll always prioritise defensive control over attacking patterns.

Claudius and when Havertz gets injured or has to drop into midfield who's our next CF? Trossard who always looks poor when he starts and Jesus who's been out of it for two years.

He absolutely prioritises defence over attack. We let four attackers go this season and brought in three defenders plus a washed Sterling on a deadline day loan, not sure what's left to misunderstand here.

jones not only did Edu veto the Calafiori deal

I haven't seen that? I heard he was trying to push the deal through but the board said they wanted some sales sorted first.

JazzG think it was an Athletic tweet which came out shortly after he resigned but might have been elsewhere, fairly certain though I read it a couple times. Either way - even if sales have to be sorted first the normal reaction making Calafiori the first signing then scrambling for a Sterling loan clearly shows where the priority was

Claudius Rice is now an attacking midfielder? lol

Nah man this isn't just but also about number of bodies. We're running Saka into the ground, Havertz has to deputise in midfield where he doesn't belong, Martinelli been out of sorts for the best part of a year, Jesus injured or shit for two years. All of this was the case long before our last window and we still signed only defensive players. By all accounts were closer to spending 20m on Espanyol's GK than getting another attacker in ffs.

jones like I said before. I think we need additional forwards with different characteristics. But I don’t agree with this defense vs attack framing. I think there is just an issue getting that 4th or 5th top attacker in the team. But that’s not being stopped by the fact that we improved our goalie situation significantly. Can chew, walk and shit at the same time.

Claudius it's not a framing of us having to do one or the other, it's an observation that one is clearly prioritised. Otherwise why don't we do all three at once then? Club didn't have an issue spending big on Ramsdale who was a huge gamble and was ruthless when he showed he wasn't up to it. We signed more goalies than attackers since Arteta and Cana joined the club.

Lets not rewrite history. Havertz is absolutely not bought as a centreforward for us.

Claudius Arteta said initially it would take Havertz time to evolve into a proper Xhaka replacement. He also said he could play up front and in the hole but it was clear he was supposed to replace the guy we lost who averaged 45 starts a season.

Clrnc and bringing in a hard working CM who has questionable finishing as striker just sums up where our priorities lie.

He brought Havertz to be his Fellaini. When it became obvious that he was better as a CF, he brought in Merino to be his Fellaini replacement.

Now we have a team with no proper striker, our attacking play is based on getting crosses in for two Fellainis to score headers or getting corners and swinging them in for our 4 CBs and 2 Fellainis to score. If that fails, plan B is for Odegaard/Saka to create something out of nothing.

est and the thing about that is Havertz isn't really the type of CF who gets on those crosses that often. His movement just isn't there for that. He's more of a ball at feet player and good at getting on those lose balls from the byline. He's got the size to get some headers but its not his forte. You never see him making that little move from behind the centre back to nip around in front of him and get the header the way Giroud would routinely for instance.

Qwiss giroud is certainly better at that. What Havertz is really good at is working defenders. I’m sure they hate him. He’s constantly moving defenders around, and very physical with them. He’d actually benefit from more vertical movement from our midfielders into the spaces he makes defenders vacate with his movement. Guy’s a warrior

est That's spot on. Saying we bought Havertz as our CF is equivalent to people who said we bought Ben White to play RB.

Clrnc i think the issue is that Arteta is buying players and thinking about positions differently from many people's fixed ideas of them. So what you see, particularly with players he has bought recently is a lot of malleability. Nobody knows what exactly Calafiori is, or Timber. Even Trossard. Havertz. He's more interested in sets of attributes that enable our way of playing versus fitting a traditional role in a 433 or 442 etc., as one might typically expect.
It also shows in how much formations and match-ups change within games, either during a transition or as game phases evolve.

A great example is Ben White. There are games where he has been a flying right back, inverted right back, and then right centre back; depending on what is required. And he does all of these roles well. You won't, for example, see Trent playing or Gusto playing all all these different roles in a single match.