There has been a lot of talk recently about squad changes, rebuilding, Youth 2.0. Removing Arteta from this conversation so as to not make it another Arteta is shit thread, where do people think we are with regard to our squad at this moment in time, with regard to being able to put up a realistic top 4 fight ? I say top 4 and not title challengers because thats the next step, challenging for top 4 is the step we should be making immediately, not this top 6 bullcrap I have seen people mention.
Goalkeepers:
Leno, Ramsdale
I think we have 2 good keepers who are at the level of a team with ambitions to challenge for the title, so they are good for top 4.
Defenders:
Tomiyasu, Chambers, Bellerin, White, Holding, Gabriel, Saliba, Mavrapanos, Mari, Tierney, Kolasinac, Tavares
Tomi, White, Gabriel, Saliba, Tierney I am comfortable with and think they are ok or will be ok given game time, Tavares perhaps. Should absulutely be able to challenge for top 4.
Midfielders:
AMN, Partey, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Torreira, Lokonga, Elneny, ESR, Odegaard
Partey, Lokonga, ESR and Odegaard should be our midfield core, of which I am perfectly happy with. I think we missed a trick with Torreira who is a very good specialist DM, we have misused him. but as challenging for top honours go, if Lokonga develops into the player I think he will, it will be as strong a midfield as anyone's !!
Forwards:
Saka, Martinelli, Pepe, Auba, Laca, Nketiah, Balogun
We have a mis-firing attack fed on scraps, too many "in development players" though and our previously reliable experienced players are not scoring. Enough for top 4, not good enough to challenge for the title.
So with all of that said, where are we with our rebuild, I think perhaps a wide forward, a centre forward and possibly a good defensive midfielder away from giving the likes of Man City and Liverpool some trouble.