But do we want to pay tons for Duran in January or do we wait for the summer and make the big run at Gyokeres? Or does no one think we will realistically go for him? (i think the Sesko train has already run out of steam)

daredevil Duran's combination play and hold up ability isn't consistent.

    Isn't there some kind of English law that prevents players coming from South America to immediately play in England without being granted 'exceptional status' and requires them to get an English passport first or something. We always seem to miss out on South American players when they are young.

    If we are getting a player from Villa then I hope it's Boubacar Kamara. He looked like a DM that could easily play for one of the top teams in europe pre his ACL injury. Very silky on the ball but also reads the game so well and is quality defensively. I'd say he's like a typical nr 6 from la Masia: a playmaker at the base of midfield with excellent technical skills combined with very good reading/understanding of the game.

    I remember watching him against City last season (before they went on to beat us in the following match) and thinking "how the feck did this guy end up at Villa!"

      Tactics he’s coming along nicely. this is how I described him in 2019:

      Boubacar Kamara - you should see this guy. He is deployed as a central defender. He’s 1,78, so not a giant. But he is is composed as a defender, with great timing on tackles and interceptions. And when he gets on the ball, he can slalom through opponents with ease. He’s a total football defender. He could easily do DM based on his ability. You can see why Chelsea are sniffing.

        Pepe LeFrits it'd make a mockery of everything we were told about "the standards" if he did. Rashfords an absolute shit show at United. He's on the piss, he's leaking stories, he's worse at tracking back than Sterling.

            Thought there was an interesting point in the Arsecast today, unsurprisingly it's in line with something I believe😂, but I think it was articulated well. Mainly as noted above that we've not taken enough chances in our attacking recruitment as it's always a gamble the idea you can find a guaranteed top player is unrealistic approach.

            They cited Liverpool signings since 2015 which includes Ings, Benteke and plenty of others who flopped but equally Mane, Jota, Salah. Also made the point both Henry and Salah when they were signed nobody knew they would become the elite players they did. There was an element of luck in that and our approach recently just hasn't been diversified enough and willing to chance it to try to improve.

            Equally as mentioned here we have taken more risks in recruiting defensive positions with no guarantee so it doesn't seem to be a universal approach so why have we fixated on it for attackers.

              Qwiss I really worry that's the kind of guy he's going to go in for.

                  awooga83

                  I mean we tried to sign Raphinha, Neto, Mudryk, Vlhahovic, Sesko and Felix among others I’m sure. Pretty much all £40m+ too.

                  It’s not a list of near misses for the most part, but it is curious how often we go for a forward and end up skipping it altogether when it doesn’t happen.

                      awooga83 I just can't see it. It'd blow my mind if Arteta made that move. It goes against everything he seems to care about.

                      If he takes him on a 6 month loan I won't cry though.

                        goon well I think it's not so much the trying but bringing them in. If they don't work try and bring someone else have contingency.. They don't have to be super quality to improve us right now Jesus is done, martinelli just has stagnated, Trossard up and down, sterling never going to play and havertz not quite it. Someone with medium quality could lift us at the moment.

                          goon I mean we tried...

                          There is no try. I can much more easily forgive an ambitious signing that doesn't work out.

                            My word he looks very similar in style to Partey

                            Interesting link that

                            lorddulaarsenal I feel trolled.

                            I can't remember the last time I visited Team Talk and definitely regretted it this time.

                            The report, which comes from CaughtOffside...

                            😂