JazzG This window we really need to sign a GK, defender, CM and at minimum 2 attacking players. Probably over £200m worth of players just there, is spending up to £120m on Wirtz a good use of funds?
Yes, this, give or take. Wirtz really isn't the player to complement who we've got. Frustrating watching him go to the champions at Liverpool, but we need to pay for Zubimendi, Gyökeres (the important one) and a winger.
I cannot stress to you blokes the importance of sales. Díaz and Nuñez moving on will enable their spending, Liverpool will get more than £100m for them.
Next season we've got 18 clubs to beat. Based on the last two seasons, our main issues are goals, some sort of workable relationship with PGMOL, taking proper physical and medical care of our players, and the tactical flexibility necessary to adapt to unpleasant and unwanted game states.
It's Arteta who needs to "exceed all metrics" here, pumping his big brain with hormones and oxygen if need be. We should be far better able to cope with injury and suspension by way of properly holistic tactical and formation adjustments, but what we get is Rice at 6, Merino at 9, Partey at right back. There's always a silver lining when some chameleonic player like Skelly or Merino steps up, but too often our responses to player setbacks compound the negatives.
It's not that Arteta needs to coach Total Football, more that he needs to avoid Partial Football. I don't know if it's an obsession with a fixed "game model" as a basis for planning more broadly, but it is holding us back.
