How you fixing us?

MistaT

We’re in clear need of a “jolt” even though our league position is solid (points wise, if not standing). Most of us recognize we have a strong defense with one or two blemishes, and our offense has the capacity (see last year) to be much better.

So between roster/personnel changes, formation, training, and one achievable January signing — how you fixing us?

KingslandBarge

MistaT Sorry to be hipster-ish (as need for some reinforcement is blatant), but the key fix will come from within. Put on the spot, the first port of call is doubling down support for the fab four of Saka, Martinelli, Jesus and Ødegaard, all of four of whom are currently facing criticism and pelters. Support may come in several forms: Don't drop any of them before mid-season break (but if so, substitute in Nketiah). Shorten the proximities between LW, CF, and LCM and especially when initiating long distribution and playing for 2nd balls. Play whichever fullback is fit enough to provide overlapping support and the wide-forward with safe-out. Promote within-game interchanging in the front line. Drop Havertz in the short-erm for someone that can effectively move laterally and take a bit of defensive responsibly off the WFs. This could be an academy player, Tomi until Partey is back (not that I think no. 5,41, and 8 should be the standard blueprint). If continuing with Havertz, make sure there is a functioning pivot between him and Jesus/Nketiah. To me they bear no deliberate association, particularly when Jesus retreats or Havertz advances. Also agree that Saka may need to walk back that hairstyle.

lorddulaarsenal

I don’t think there’s a single player who we can afford that will “fix” us, but I think a centre forward that gives us a more physical presence would give us the most bang for our buck

Wonder if we could get Mathys Tel?

Doc

Bring in a striker and perform some dark juju so that Partey can stay fit and Timber comes back ready asap... I'd actually prefer to bring in a new 6 but I doubt they would be able to hit the ground running, easier for a striker, probably....

Midfield, would want one of Partey or Jorginho to be the starting 6... I'm not completely opposed to Rice there but we don't have the appropriate 8 to complement him... Need some Cazorla level players to do it.

6 - Partey, Jorginho
8 - Rice, ESR, Trossard, Kai

Kai has been a massive disappointment for me in midfield, his quality on the ball is really lackluster, maybe he grows into it with time but we can't afford that right now... Perhaps needs to be rotated up top as second choice or something....

Read that Rice at 8 would just cause different problems to our attack and I somewhat agree but his attributes there would give our left back a lot more freedom to occupy attacking space. Tomi and Zinchenko could do that until Timber comes back.

Most annoying thing for me out of this is Odegaard who is a magician in the spaces around the box has had to do that less and less due to the new midfield dynamic.

I don't have any major issues with Arteta's tactics and still find the notion that he doesn't want to attack, a weird one... Would however like to see more overlaps from our fullbacks when our wingers are getting double teamed

Get a striker who can provide a good mix of linkup and goals. No idea who that is, maybe it's Toney if it's for a decent price.. No target man bs, not the way we play... Starting to warm more to the idea that Jesus should be mainly used as a wide option..Saka and Martinelli are going to need to be rotated in the second half properly, and the rest of the options there are shit... had hoped Jesus would kick on as a striker here but not so convinced any more..Still an elite quality player to have, maybe some proper CF competition spurs him on there.

Burnwinter

Doc I don't have any major issues with Arteta's tactics and still find the notion that he doesn't want to attack, a weird one

I have to remind myself last season we scored more goals than in any Wenger season, and in fact in any Arsenal season since the 60s. I think Arteta's tactics are highly offence oriented, albeit through territorial domination and camping in the opposition penalty area.

The intent is there, but the two way demands of the system are brutal on all the players and stifle creativity to some extent, and our execution has gone stale after two seasons of this tactical template.

It is important to understand there is very little wrong with what we're doing, and that therefore, major surgery on tactics or selection is much more likely to have a negative than positive effect.

I would also double the number of minutes given to our subs. Instead of writing off the likes of Nelson, Smith Rowe and even Trossard—one of the best and most productive "spot signings" I've ever seen at Arsenal—Arteta should be throwing these dogs a bone and resting the legs of Saka, Martinelli, Jesus et al.

Burnwinter

Been saying it this season, but I think our attack's gone stale due to the fixed positions Arteta's got everyone playing, while also stretching the demands being made on players two ways.

This season the manager's asking the players to perform the exact same feats but do even more defensively. With every opposition now using the most efficient, proven methods against us, and all the same deficiencies present in a little starker relief, it's not surprising we're seeing diminished returns.

Beyond signings (which certainly can't hurt and I'd personally bite your hand off if it had Ivan Toney in it, but nevertheless probably help a lot less than we might imagine given the high quality of our existing options), tactical variation and experimentation will be the key to restoring morale, energy levels and the element of surprise that is currently entirely lacking.

Sadly, I have come to believe this is exactly the area where the balance of Arteta's leadership is the poorest.

Coombs

Burnwinter I really like your last paragraph in theory, but whenever I see them start (bar ESR obv), I question it. They just don't step up when needed right now, and I kinda get where Arteta is coming from if he isn't seeing anything to suggest they could step up in training. Trossard in particular has been absolutely awful on numerous occasions, while Reiss has been entirely anonymous.

If they all need a run of games to get up to speed, then I'm afraid they're SOL. Not gonna happen, nor should it.

Burnwinter

Nobody steps up at the moment. I think if they know they're gonna come on, their attitudes will change. For players on the fringe, it's a lot to do with knowing you'll be trusted and supported.

Pisses me off how many minutes we've given Nketiah while marooning Hale End lads with bags more talent just because they're not such teacher's pets.

lorddulaarsenal

If we can shift Cedric, Elneny and one from ESR, Nketiah and Nelson, then go out and get Onana and Vlahovic

———————-Raya
-White—-Saliba——Gabriel—Zinchenko
———————-Onana/Rice
————Ode/Hav——Rice/Hav
Saka—————Vlahovic———-Jesus

Not the end game with the squad but much improved.

mdgoonah41

try and buy a striker in january. and not a left back that can invert and play a nominal striker role. an out and out goalscoring number 9

stop dicking around with fancy formations. play 4-3-3 with a deep midfielder, create width with fullbacks, and try to take it to teams.

our cowardly tactics are extremely uninspiring. if we arent going to win the title (feels like we have like a 20% chance), then id rather at least see us play attacking football and try to force other teams into mistakes instead of us walking on egg shells fearful that one mistake will completely sink us

Gazza M

the only way the system works if we're persisting with rice as our 6, is we need a press resistant technical string puller of a left 8. basically xavi mark 2

in my opinion the spillover effect of fixing up the midfield will have the greatest widespread impact on the team

Clrnc

Gazza M Yeah agree. I think we missed a trick not getting Xavi Simons for the 8 position instead. He's been phenomenal this season again for Leipzig

Temo

Gazza M Zincenko

Coombs

Clrnc Simons seemed such an obvious choice. Still, I think striker is way more important than midfield.

Gazza M

Clrnc he would've been perfect. that's the kind of dynamism required for the 8 position

Meatwad

Clrnc
how did we a miss a trick? he's owned by PSG and they only loaned him to Leipzig. are you saying we missed out on getting him on loan?

MistaT

KingslandBarge -- I'd love to see more overlapping from our fullbacks, as it would help Saka/Martinelli play narrower (which you call out as a solution). But I don't think that's on the cards with Arteta's system. We barely get any from Ben White and Zinchenko is even less likely to provide it due to his even "stricter" positioning.

If we are to persist with inverted fullbacks who don't overlap, then we need to add some fluidity from elsewhere, and to me that is ESR as an 8. Trossard/Havertz are both too rigid and it leads to defenses getting well set up. I'd love to see ESR, Jesus, and Martinelli combining on the left flank...there's a lot there, and I think we could see some interesting challenges for defenses if faced by that and Saka/Odegaard across from them.

Clrnc

Meatwad he was owned by PSV. PSG bought him back and then loaned him out. Dutch reports said he would have preferred to move permanently elsewhere but nobody seriously bidded for him

I do wonder if we can convince PSG to sell him

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

MistaT I'm desperate for an ESR resurrection!

KingslandBarge

MistaT Nice shout, if its ever to tread ground with Emile. Xhaka also used to mix it up nicely occasionally overlapping Martinelli, offering width and allowing Gabi to tuck-in more central. I think ESR could vary it nicely in similar respect, whilst also potentially showing himself as a a better ball-carrier than Grant or Kai. This was my first preference at the start of the season, with Havertz not starting league matches and being allowed to assimilate over a longer period. Would be nice to get even a tiny sample!

lorddulaarsenal

pedri would be ace in that role