Doesn't really matter how good Guendouzi was or wasn't strictly as an individual in football or even personality terms, he seemed poor on every intangible to do with restoring unity to Arsenal, from the tactical to the interpersonal.

I'd agree we don't need to retroactively assert every decision has been good but on the other hand, with the limited information we have, I've been willing to do that with some decisions on the basis of the abundant need we had for psychological transformation—itself all the more proven in retrospect—after Wenger, a need Arteta's decisions have met profoundly well in a way that's surprised everyone.

Arteta has systematically gotten rid of some troublemakers or problem characters, while at the same time demonstrating widely loathed misfits like Xhaka had been mismanaged in the wrong environment. Makes it hard to refute him on these particular cases by this stage. We don't know what we don't know so I find it easy to interpolate a Guendouzi who was even more of a dickhead than he seemed to be.

I was unhappy with Guendouzi getting frozen out over attitude (the narrative at the time) because I thought his attitude was his best quality. Hates losing, always looking to push forward. But he'd be a very bad fit for our current style of play, both technically (loose touch, big turning radius) and tactically (lack of discipline), so it's just as well he's gone. I will always have a soft spot for him however. I quite enjoy Marseille at the moment as a home for Arsenal loanees and former players.

Not convinced by Balogun. Don’t think he’s the total package. Lex Lacazette looks like he’ll outscore him this season so make of that what you will

I don't think that comparison helps make your point - Lacazette is very experienced and Balogun is in his first full season of pro football.

I followed Ozil for several years before he came here. Man was a straight up baller and has an outstanding CV. His last days here are not inconsistent with the last days of many of our big name players. Aubameyang, Sanchez and others as back as ten years left with a whimper or under a cloud. The problem was more Arsenal than these players as a whole.

Look at Ozil’s output at Real, Arsenal, Germany etc. the man was a top, top player.

    What does Balogun have in his game that Nketiah doesn't?

    I'm struggling to see anything in his game that suggests he's well rounded, or majestic on the ball.

      10 days later

      Tavares seems to attract a lot of doubt and drama. If you read the article Tudor was talking about him one day playing for Barcelona the week before. He's one frustrating athlete … you get the sense from any manager he works with that making him a functional footballer is an appealing hobby project.

      But he'll never make it at Arsenal. He'll never fit Arteta's mould. He can't do what Zinchenko does, but even if we were to change that template with an upcoming midfield transformation, Tavares would still never click with full understanding into whatever came next.

      Seems to me we either bring him back and commit fully to using him in one of our competitions to boost his valuation, or we find a coach that's looking for a challenge in the summer.

        He's physically phenomenal, I wouldn't want to just give up on him yet, unless he truly commits Arteta-suicide the way Guendouzi did.

        Burnwinter just put an end to the experiment. Too much thought directed here.

        We spend sun £10m on players. Most the time you’ll get a Tavares. Move him on. Sometimes you’ll get a decent back up. Once in a while you’ll get a Mattinelli. I think we need to be comfortable with this. The key here is the team should move on quickly from the guys who aren’t in the 22.

          MistaT I'm just hoping he does well enough so that we can flog both him and Eddie for dosh to spend on Hojlund.

            5 days later

            Sounds like Balogun wants to go:

            Scored again from the spot last night.
            Yeah he is very impatient, he did the same with England. Did not get a call-up, and even if it is not 100% now, it looks like he will play for the USA national team. Bad call, as a few more months of this form and he would have been in the England team. He is 21, he has plenty of time....

              I think it's fair enough. He's had a taste of 1st team football and wants to be somewhere where he is settled and 1st choice. He won't even get meaningful minutes here. I think he's more of a counter attack striker, making runs and getting the ball in the last action which doesn't suit us and we have Jesus, Trossard, Eddie for the 9. Sell him in the summer with a sell on clause.

              Lokonga needs to be sold too. Palace have started winning without him and Hodgson is bringing on Hughes and McArthur from the bench rather than Sambi. Hopefully we will get our money back. Tavares can go too.

              Only natural he will want game time now.. Would prefer to keep him instead of Eddie but doubt he would want to be possibly 3rd choice next season...

              Should be able to get a decent amount for him in the market, would try an put a buy back clause in any sale as well.