DKGooner all good points. I suspect the biggest unlock is a L8 with skill on the ball. Because so much of our attack goes through Ode/Saka. What this causes when you look at opposition heat maps is clustering of defenders around these guys, making us easy to hold at bay. Ramsey or Cazorla at L8 would make a big difference. Maybe Vieira was supposed to help with this but he’s failed

Claudius

Not sure it will be one player in that L8 position to revitalise Arteta's attacking systems. It will help, but I think the obsession with inverted fullbacks has to change and a fear in losing the ball by playing quickly needs to be addressed. I wonder how much mental/physical fatigue these players are carrying over a very few hard seasons that they will be up for another tactical overhaul.

We also have to be forward looking at how our competitors tactics/personnel, both domestically and in Europe, will develop over the next 2-3 seasons. We have seen how Guardiola's City have reached that inflection point where tweaks to their old style are not as effective any more at the highest level.

I also wonder whether

While we have been very lucky to get two unreal talents break through from our academy into the first team squad this year, we look to be pretty sparse on talent between 18-21 in most positions. I think our transfer budget this summer has to be spent on bringing in prospective talent (like but not to same extent as Chelsea) knowing that hit rate will be patchy. Costs for this will be cheap either, but feel it is something we can't neglect.

I fear next season will be as difficult, if not more so, than this season. Dare I say it, it might be easier to part ways with Arteta in the summer as that might be the best (easier and cheaper) way to reinvigorate the existing squad than relying on several key new signings alongside current players regaining form under same manager.

Nico Williams just scored this. This is what I want. A second protagonist in attack to balance Saka

HomeSteak
1) his production isn’t great this season. Good time to buy. The player is ridiculously talented
2) Martinelli gets unfair grief.

Claudius 1. His production isn't great. Period. In the league he scores 3 goals per season on average, a goal every 11 games. He is talented, but forget about it. The money they want for him is insane, the money he wants is beyond stupid. But I agree he is talented.

2. Yes.

Claudius this is splitting unnecessary hairs.

Nico Williams, Barcola or Semenyo needed

Coombs it isn’t. If you’re not clear what part of the problem you’re trying to solve, you’ll do the wrong thing. If we solve for xG outperformance, the highest in the league is Chris Wood. So say we go get him. But we still have a problem getting the ball into the space I front of penalty box and into penalty box. So this shaep knife will be left unused.

Olabe. The new Edu

Liam Delap does feel like a very Arteta signing

banduan or Rory, the final infinity stone of our set piece gauntlet.

Coombs We are literally saying the same thing

QuincyAbeyie I'm picturing Rory Delap getting up out of our dugout for every throw-in we get, the same way Jover does for corners.

Do we have a throw in coach? I imagine so.

Asterix same guy who does corners. Notice how both take half a day to set up.

The longer we don't have a DoF in place, the less confident I get on us doing what we need to do this summer to take the next step to being an elite squad next year. Hope we get someone in soon and it needs to be someone with experience negotiating big transfers IMO. I like the links today with Andrea Berta, the former sporting director of Atletico Madrid from 2017 - 2024. He had a great mix of value signings and bigger splashes (of course some didn't work out) and would seem to have good experience negotiating with the top clubs/agents. I trust Arteta's talent ID but I believe where we have dropped the ball is in convincing the player/agent/team to make the move. Let Arteta have a big say in who we go after but then get the deal done.