I see it like this: We're trying to play like Man City (and to a lesser extent Liverpool), we always have under Arteta even if he had to begrudgingly compromise because the quality of the team was low and the suitability for that style was near non-existent.
We're approaching the point where our starting XI are closer to being able to produce something similar to those two teams, but we still lack their overall quality, and in one or two positions we still don't have quite the right player for the role.
We have the goalkeeper in Ramsdale - maybe he still has some things to work on, but his suitability to what we're trying to do is a 10 out of 10.
We have the right backs - whether it's Tomiyasu or Ben White, they both suit very well the tucked in role we see Kyle Walker appear as a near constant in at City.
We have the left backs - sometimes Guardiola likes a flyer on one side and other times he wants someone with the techncial quality of a midfielder. Tierney and Zinchenko fit the bill.
We have the centrebacks - we can go with two big, beautfiul bastards that can't be run by anyone, or we can go with Ben White in for Gabriel, if we need less brute and a more culture.
We have the 6 in Partey - okay, he's different to Rodri or Fabinho - he's more dynamic and skillful than those two, but because of that he's more of a risk taker and therefore more likely to give the ball away. Which he does too often for the role he's playing, and I don't think Arteta would sign him for that role if he didn't have him now, but he's still capable of playing there to an extremely high level. In a perfect world we'd find the new Rodri though, and I hope we're looking.
We have the 8/10s but they're young - they're in the mould of City's attacking midfielders, though obviously much younger and less developed. Bernado (he's leaving but he's the blueprint of the type of player the system needs), De Bruyne and Gundogan - I think Ødegaard, Smith Rowe and Vieira are similarly talented players (well, not De Bruyne because he's off the charts).
We lack the devastating wide players City and Liverpool have/had. Martinelli and Saka (and you could include ESR but I reckon he's set for a future in the middle in a system like this) are two of the best talents out there, but they're also still learning, still growing and downright profligate in front of goal. I don't see an option but to go with them because they're that good, but until they can do a decent impression of Mané, Salah, Sterling, Mahrez etc., we're going to lag behind those teams and struggle for goals and difference makers.
We got the striker we need - Jesus can do exactly what we need him to do in the system we're trying to play. I don't think we're in a position where we could have anyone more suited.
So the issues both now and longer term as I see them are:
Depth at CB in terms of speed and technical ability if Tomiyasu's fitness continues to be a problem and Ben White is the RB. I think if we're really commiting to full scale press and pass then Rob Holding worries me. I love the guy and he's a good defender when it comes to defending his own box, but imagine him in Saliba's position last night? It's maybe an issue for another window though.
A perfect 6 for the system. I don't think Partey is quite it long-term even if he's one of our very best players currently. And I don't think he's got years at the top on him in, I think he peaked physically a while ago.
Maybe a short-term, tailor-made, ready to go option as the Xhaka alternative. Unless one of Vieira or Smith Rowe are ready to rumble in which case I'm more than happy to wait for their development in much the same way I am with Saka and Martinelli because I am convinced by their talent (well, it's hope and youtube with Vieira!).
And it's the same story out wide - I'd love a high quality and suitable option for right now, but ultimately we already have the two players perfecf for the roles here already, we've just got to accept it'll take them both time to develop into elite forwards.
Sorry, for the long post - I think I was organising my own thoughts as I typed!
