Don Pacifico what makes you think we'll set up in the same way when Xhaka leaves? Maybe I'm misunderstanding but I'm really confused by the notion that we need to get like-for-like replacements when Xhaka was clearly a compromise in how we set our midfield up this season.

I don’t think that’s an accurate reading at all. The system wasn’t the compromise, it was Xhaka. Don’t take it from me, here’s Arteta talking about it:

“The squad wanted to evolve to another level and be more dominant and have more resources in the final third to attack and to score more goals. We needed to make that change.

“I spoke to him at the end of the season and said, ‘I need to unlock something in your brain because you’re so comfortable and confident playing in this area that you have forgot that actually what is going to win us the game is here and the team now demands somebody here, so unless you unlock that I’m going to have to do something about it’.

Xhaka was just a stop gap to bigger things. Arteta has also talked about playing Vieira and ESR there several times and actually played them too. It’s clear that he wants to turn that left 8 role into something productive.

That being said, I think the merits of having someone like Rice doing it are there too. Win the ball high, drive with the ball and commit players, good in tight spaces, technical and athletic. It will make us more dynamic than your typical creative 8.

      goon for what it's worth, I think we're basically saying the same thing in so much as we're replacing Xhaka like-for-like (and Arteta's quote you referenced was exactly the one I had in mind). Where we potentially diverge is that I think part of the reason Partey plays the role he does is partly to cover Xhaka's deficiencies.

      Therefore, my expectation is that when we replace Xhaka, both his and Partey's roles will evolve somewhat versus what they were this season. But the emphasis will be the same in terms of facilitating more attacking play.

      • goon replied to this.

          Would have actually kept him for his final year as a solid reliable squad option and sold Partey (for obvious reasons).

          Hope this means we are signing both Rice and Caicedo. Partey can sit his arse on the bench next season.

          Don Pacifico

          Fair enough. I personally don’t think the system or Parteys roll will change much at all, but it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

          For sure Xhaka would have been somewhat of a restraint on how far we could push things.

            I think Caicedo is being eyed for a right sided Zinchenko role, which would allow White to play centreback and give us depth there.

            I know reports say we want both Rice ans Caicedo, plus a CB, RB and a winger, but that’s just too many players to bring in.

            Should we get Rice and Caicedo, I’d expect us to only get one more player in. Probably a winger

              goon

              I'll be happy to see him go. Now's the time.

              The fee is okay. It's good there is a fee. We could also have had €20m a couple of years ago when the Roma deal was on, but if we'd replaced him then it would've been with a lesser calibre of player.

              And yes, he's done pretty well this season—and for a fair bit of last season—and registered some great moments. Really enjoyed when he got our third against Palace for example. Both Xhaka and Arteta deserve credit for all that.

              But I do hold Xhaka a little bit responsible for setting off the capitulation at Anfield that then led to our overall surrender. Call it paranoia or an agenda, but I think his temper's let us down too many times. We will be a notch stabler without him and the airspace in the dressing room might allow some of the younger ones to step up.

                Tierney + Balogan + Xhaka ideally should get us 100 mill E IMO

                  Cannon Sounds about right. Tierney and Balogun should both cost 40+m.

                  Xhaka we know his price is 15m euros

                    I refuse to think that we're getting 40m for any of those two. Would happily sell for that though.

                      reckon we can get 40m for Tierney from an English club. balogun I reckon will be 25-30m tops

                      QuincyAbeyie We bought Tierney for 25m, Newcastle bought Matt Targett for similar amount.

                      Surely we can fleece them. They already paid 22m for Willock

                        We shouldn't be selling Tierney to a direct rival for anything less than £40m.

                        If Tierney wants to go to Aston Villa or something at that level we can go for a £25m deal.

                        I'd be very surprised if Edu suddenly starts getting maximum value from players like Balogun and Tierney.

                        Yeah, with Tierney I'd almost be happy just to get our money back - I don't think expecting £40m for someone who - however much we value him - has been on the bench most of the season is realistic. Not to say it won't happen, I just don't think we should expect it.

                          RocktheCasbah but do you think part of that is based on our reputation we have as being poor sellers? Whether Edu is able to achieve it or not is a different matter but I'm really struggling to accept that Tierney hasn't increased in value at all in his time here.

                              Tierney definitely going. I think Artera doesn’t forgive him for missing the business ends of seasons 21 and 22. Ironically when he was fit in 23 Arteta didn’t use him.

                              Edit: think Tierney also missed 20

                              Problem with Tierney is he doesn't really excel at anything. He's decent defensively but I've seen tricky players turn him inside out and in attack he is again decent but very predictable. Then you also need to consider he's only managed 30+ league games once in his career.

                              It is a shame to see him go but I think we should easily be getting our money back. £40m might be pushing it but £30m+ should be realistic.