Honestly I like having Laca in the role for now, now that we don't have a better option. He's performing and scoring goals since ESR started playing and he seems to be a good pivot for the others to play off of.

Obviously if we could sign a better player for the role then that would be ideal but for now I don't think we have anyone who could perform the role in the way Arteta wants. Auba certainly doesn't fill me with confidence at point trying to link up with the others. He'd need to stay on the left for me.

Gazza M wrote:

ESR has made a difference purely by dint of where arteta positions him on the pitch. I think ESR will be the one to lose his spot. xhaka, partey and odegaard will be the go to midfield

Odegaard won't be match fit for a while, and his role will be to rotate with the likes of ESR and Saka.  That said it does not mean that he may not start at CAM even with ESR also starting, as ESR can also play off both flanks like Saka.

Big Willie wrote:

Honestly I like having Laca in the role for now, now that we don't have a better option. He's performing and scoring goals since ESR started playing and he seems to be a good pivot for the others to play off of.

Obviously if we could sign a better player for the role then that would be ideal but for now I don't think we have anyone who could perform the role in the way Arteta wants. Auba certainly doesn't fill me with confidence at point trying to link up with the others. He'd need to stay on the left for me.

The problem is Laca is going into his last year of contract. What do you do? Give him a new deal, let him go for free or sell him? For me the choice is obvious even though I like Laca.

Sell him now. He's in good form now but you can see he's past his peak.

Even yesterday you could see he was half a yard off the pace most of the game.

Just move Auba up top, he's not as bad at linking play and holding at the ball as the lone front man as is made out. Honestly that job is so simple, drop deep, make yourself available and play simple layoffs and passes around the corner.

Lacas good form should drive a bit of interest in him. I'd say he'd score loads in Italy or France still, maybe even in Spain.

Official. Thread open in Arsenal talk.