Sicario2 - Tier 1 when it comes to the club, that's fair.

But if you look at how ruthless Arteta has been with the playing squad and the improvements made to defence and midfield, it just doesn't track that he wouldn't want to do the same to the forward line. It makes no sense at all.

    USArsenal we have limited scope on who we can sign. A big name DM is crucial but 2 would be poor allocation of resources given our needs. We have to play by PSR rules and while it gives us plenty of scope for signings big players of the Zubi/Bruno variety are needed at CF and LW rather than as back up in midfield. We probably do need another midfielder beyond one of those guys if we lose Partey and Jorginho but I think it makes more sense to get one big player and another Jorginho/Merino level player to back them up.

    Vieira cannot come back. Nwaneri is there, Dowman is coming through, MLS is capable in midfield, we have Merino and Rice. We don't need another 8. As for Vieira he has to be sold. He's way below standard for this squad.

    samthegooner A Sesko/Williams/Zubimendi/Garcia/Guimaraes summer would be incredible though. Add in a creative midfielder that could also play on the wing (Cunha/Eze/Moleiro/etc) and a LB if we sell Zinchenko and that's 10/10 in my book.

    Of course that'd be a great summer but it'd also be around £350m of a spend. Quite possible more. I don't think its realistic.

    Claudius folks were lukewarm on Isaks output too when we got Jesus instead. Sometimes you have to look beyond output and to ability and potential.

            Zubimendi's turned into one of those ones where the amount of talk, over years now, means we've either already all but signed him, or he'll never actually come to Arsenal. Yes, I know about his clause and so on. But I'll believe it when he's announced.

              Burnwinter a lot of Arsenal fans getting a bit of potential ‘buyers remorse’ with Zubi as in he’s good but is he that good? Will signing him move the needle? I prefer Bruno and it’s been a while since we’ve had a cunt in the team

                Burnwinter means we've either already all but signed him, or he'll never actually come to Arsenal.

                We'll sign him or we wont. Wow Burns with insight like that you should start a podcast.

                    Qwiss I'm not really counting Guimaraes in the realistic category. To me, the 4 players we've been heavily linked with seem to be the most realistic.
                    Sesko - rumors of anywhere from £50m to £75m in a formal/informal clause
                    Williams - rumors of £50m - £65m clause
                    Zubimendi - £52.5m release clause which we will likely pay a little more than to gain flexibility so maybe £60m-£65m
                    Garcia - £25m release clause

                    Clearly wages will factor in as well but we are also going to be cutting at least £420k per week with Partey, Jorginho and Tierney leaving. So on the high end of these fees, we'd be looking at closer to £230m for the four of them, which I think is quite reasonable. Even if we assume we pay a bit more than these fees to gain additional flexibility and not have to pay clauses in one lump sum, we're likely still looking at closer to £250m. And personally, I think we are going to spend more this summer especially if we have a few sales.

                      Is there any particular reason why people seem to be allergic to talking about Sverre Nypan when discussing this summer's transfer window? I don't really know how good he is, but it seems like we're probably going to sign him and (if we sign him) he'll probably have a role to play in the team.

                        DiabyKungFu Honestly I just forgot about him! He'd be a great addition of course. Ideally, we could find a similar profile (very young with a high ceiling) on the wing to bring in as well for depth there too.

                          Sicario2 - Tier 1 That’s Arsenal DNA for the last 20 years. Always 1 or 2 players short. I’ll see it when I believe it re summer window.

                          Then believe it so that we may see it.

                            I'm not a fan of Zubimendi for us. Been watching him since we were linked and I just don't see it with him.
                            Get Wharton instead

                              GooneriC I’m suspecting the same a bit more each passing day. I think football is going to bounce out of its Pep era, and we need to be prepared for that.

                                  Claudius Agreed. I feel we are more likely to lean into what City were doing than looking at where the game is headed. Want us to sign a more athletic/pacy players rather than more controlball passers.

                                  With Tierney going (and Sterling's loan ending), I would also like us to offload Jorginho (off on a free) Kiwior, Partey, Trossard and Zinchenko but that would be a sizeable amount of squad depth to replace so think unlikely. Would also like to offload Havertz but can't see any takers unless on loan.

                                  I am not against the Zubmendi signing but only if we sell Partey. Ideally bring MLS into midfield so would look at options for another LB to compete with Caliafiori.

                                  Not sold on Sesko but not against taking the punt and also 50:50 on Williams. He could be great but if not, suspect he will be another one difficult to shift particularly on rumoured wages. Would go for one or the other but but not both.

                                      Qwiss funny how ten years ago we wanted the exact opposite and we were accused of having too many midget ‘Tika taka’ players? A mix is always the best - look at Liverpool

                                          Sicario2 - Tier 1 look at the dominant teams over time. The formations and player characteristics keep changing.

                                            Qwiss Agree to a limited extent. I feel we have enough players who are very capable passers, but our system is risk averse and has led us to be very passive in the central midfield area. Maybe it is a limitation of ability, but think part of our issue is that we have very few running into space ahead of the ball so our options are usually the backwards or sideways pass.

                                            If achievable, would love to gamble on a player like Wirtz, but can't see Arteta wanting to go down a route that would marginalise Havertz's role in the team. I also don't see the point of having both Merino and Havertz. While their strengths are not exactly the same, with the latter being a more willing runner, I can't envisage a midfield with both of them starting. Want to promote MLS into midfield to see what he can do and in terms of signings, I would then try and gamble on bringing in Camavinga alongside Zubimendi. That's only a possibility if we can offload Partey and one of Merino or Havertz.

                                            Rather than go for Williams, would like to try a prospect like Ali Cho from Nice on the wing.

                                            If still available, would prefer to get Watkins as CF as imagine he will be better able to hit the ground running as a proven player in the league. Ideally like to re-sign Biereth in 2026 (if he can maintain his form for Monaco).

                                                DKGooner Agree to a limited extent. I feel we have enough players who are very capable passers, but our system is risk averse and has led us to be very passive in the central midfield area. Maybe it is a limitation of ability, but think part of our issue is that we have very few running into space ahead of the ball so our options are usually the backwards or sideways pass.

                                                I think if you have a less technical passer at the base of defence then that slowing gets worse as teams get back and can get men behind the ball before we get it forward. We've seen that when Rice plays as the 6, and yeah he's a capable passer but he isn't as quick to turn and release it as Partey or Jorginho are and it limits us somewhat. This is why I favour Zubimendi. I think he exactly what we need in there on the ball.

                                                DKGooner If achievable, would love to gamble on a player like Wirtz, but can't see Arteta wanting to go down a route that would marginalise Havertz's role in the team.

                                                I think inevitably Havertz gets somewhat marginalised anyway but I don't see Arteta signing someone like Wirtz. Havertz will be marginalised when we get a better striker.

                                                DKGooner I also don't see the point of having both Merino and Havertz. While their strengths are not exactly the same, with the latter being a more willing runner, I can't envisage a midfield with both of them starting. Want to promote MLS into midfield to see what he can do and in terms of signings

                                                Yeah I agree here. I think if we get some proper strikers in then this clash becomes an issue. However I think we are at least 18 months off that.

                                                Rather than go for Williams, would like to try a prospect like Ali Cho from Nice on the wing.

                                                I haven't seen enough of Cho but he's far less proven than Williams and his stats don't exactly blow me away in a far weaker league than Williams is in.

                                                DKGooner If still available, would prefer to get Watkins as CF as imagine he will be better able to hit the ground running as a proven player in the league.

                                                I think he should definitely still be seen as an option. If they don't get their top couple of targets he should definitely be considered again for exactly the reasons you say.