The Wishlist 2020/21: Page 76 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

The Wishlist 2020/21

Gazza M

Wenger tried to get casemiro before he became a mainstay under Zidane, he saw the value there

Klaus

I think we would have been a different team if we had managed to land someone that good in that position.

There was always a feeling that we never made a big enough effort to sort out the midfield though in Wenger's latter years. Our style changed and got stuck in-between the need of

and wanting to dictate the tempo from deep. Fabregas was moved up to create more and we never plugged that hole he left behind.

We lucked out a bit with Arteta who turned out better than anyone could have hoped for,

We went for Xhaka who was a very different player, somewhere in-between Arteta and an attacking midfielder maybe, and we immediately lost the screening ability. One of Xhaka's most annoying traits is how the game just passes him by in key moments. He can man mark someone pretty well but the second they come at him with off the ball movement he's gone and the shop is closed.

Qwiss

Clrnc wrote:
The last time I saw Arsenal midfield dominate opponents regularly was Cazorla Coquelin partnership. Before that Arteta Ramsey was decent too. The rest pretty much big mess.

You have to remember we sacrificed a winger for the midfield so Ramsey could join in from the right. Its the epitome of a patched together midfield.

Qwiss

Klaus wrote:
Qwiss! wrote:
Half a decade? I'd argue the midfield has been a mess since we got rid of Gilberto, Diarra and Flamini within a few months of each other.

I definitely think Gilberto is the guy we've missed the most over the last decade. Vieira was unique of course, but even without Paddy we got to a Champions League final. You could redistribute what he brought to the team even if you had to do it across multiple players and positions.

We never replaced Gilberto though. Not with Flamini, not with Coquelin. They could run but they never had his excellent ability on the ball or his tactical intelligence. We haven't had a screening player since he left, never mind anyone that good.

I watch Casemiro nowadays and feel a slight envy because he's pretty similar. I think the Wenger back in 2006 would have pushed the boat out for him before he became a Real Madrid regular.

Whats annoying about that is it wouldn't have been nearly as hard to replace Gilberto. You have to spread Paddys duties and change the way you play but good as Gilberto was he was just a DM, he screened the defence, filled in for full backs, etc Its not rocket science, other high quality players in that mould existed, no other Vieiras did.

Coombs

Can't decide who I'd be more excited for Arsenal to sign - Barella or Locatelli.

Clrnc

Coombs wrote:
Can't decide who I'd be more excited for Arsenal to sign - Barella or Locatelli.

Get both, play a proper 433, can afford marauding fullbacks even.

---------------Onana
Corona---White---Gabriel---Tierney
---------------Partey
-------Barella----Locatelli
Saka---------Auba----------ESR

Top 4 easily.

Would be a miracle if we could even get one of them. We never sign Italians

goon

I was just thinking we’d be better off switching to a 4-3-3 or at least signing players to play in one. ESR can definitely play as an 8, so can Willock.

Partey, Locatelli, ESR, Willock, Lokonga and Azeez would be a fine midfield to move into next season with.

Coombs

It would be pretty fuckin' excellent. I'd still want Odegaard, though.

Anzac

Clrnc wrote:
Coombs wrote:
Can't decide who I'd be more excited for Arsenal to sign - Barella or Locatelli.

Get both, play a proper 433, can afford marauding fullbacks even.

---------------Onana
Corona---White---Gabriel---Tierney
---------------Partey
-------Barella----Locatelli
Saka---------Auba----------ESR

Top 4 easily.

Would be a miracle if we could even get one of them. We never sign Italians

One problem I see is that of the 5 new signings only 1 has any previous experience in the EPL, which doesn't fit the current narrative regarding EPL experience so as to hit the ground running (as seen by the links to Maddison, White, Ramsdale, Neves, Bissouma, Andersen, Berge etc). That said IMO you can mitigate the lack of direct experience via a combination of both player quality in the position/role, and any experience of moving to a different league.

I also think if we are playing PEA as CF then we need to stay with the 4231 as he can only play as an Advanced/Pressing Fwd and is not able/suited to play a deep lying or linking role, meaning we will need a CAM to help in the transition & build up.
I'm also concerned that there aren't any bona fide goal threats other than PEA in that front 5, and if we retained the 4231 I'd consider the likes of Sabitzer and Pellegrini, although that has the same issue regarding lack of EPL experience = Maddison as CAM (although I'm not entirely sold on the idea).

..............PEA
Saka - Pellegrini/Maddison - Pepe
.....Sabitzer - Partey

Asterix

I think Saka and Pepe will increase their goal threat next season Anzac. If we can get around 4-5 goals from the midfield base, instead of none, that would help too.

Anzac

Asterix wrote:
I think Saka and Pepe will increase their goal threat next season Anzac. If we can get around 4-5 goals from the midfield base, instead of none, that would help too.

I certainly hope so as we're talking about replacing the goals from our top goal scorer for last season as the break even, let alone to improve our numbers over last season.

Anzac

3 Signings Arsenal Need to Make in the Summer
Statman Dave

Baku, Sabitzer and Berardi

would be happy with this but think we should have got this done prior to the Euros.

lorddulaarsenal

Berardi is great but we gots Pepe!

QuincyAbeyie

Yeah winger should be our last priority.

Anzac

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:
Berardi is great but we gots Pepe!

As the video points out Berardi can also play as CF, whilst Pepe can also play on the left flank.

Anzac

Quincy Abeyie wrote:
Yeah winger should be our last priority.

I also found it interesting he considered Onana to be too good an opportunity to ignore, and identified RB, CM and CF ahead of both CB and AM.

Anzac

Another point to consider if we are prepared to spend 120m on White and Maddison, then they should also be players to play Arteta's preferred 433 shape and roles rather than just looking to improve our current 4231 shape and roles. Considering these are only 2 of about 5 positions Arteta said we were short of to make the change, then our likely investment will likely be over 150m before player sales. For that level of investment there can be no gaps in the team remaining at the end of the transfer window, and no excuses for the manager / TD at the end of the season.
Whilst I understand the strategy to prioritise players who are already familiar/acclimatised to the EPL, there are less expensive options in other leagues if it means the difference to us having a team fit for purpose.

Qwiss

Anzac wrote:
Quincy Abeyie wrote:
Yeah winger should be our last priority.

I also found it interesting he considered Onana to be too good an opportunity to ignore, and identified RB, CM and CF ahead of both CB and AM.

I'd say thats spot on.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

I would 100% opt for a new striker (highly technical and with link-up ability) over an AM if it came down to it.

With ESR at AM we played our best football anyway.

Anzac

The reason I brought that up is we are currently looking at spending 120m on 2 players in those same positions = White and Maddison.

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