2021 Summer Transfer Window

[jayramfootball]

A DM next to partey should be our priority. Partey is not a DM, he's a box to box midfielder doing the job of a DM because none of our other midfielders are good enough.

What is that DM supposed to do? Help us concede 10 fewer goals, whilst we score 50 or so goals again?

Saka and ESR aren't goalscorers. Lacazette might be leaving. So, unless, Auba, Martinelli, and Pepe score 60+ goals amongst themselves, we will be where we are come May next year.

Defensive football only works when you win trophies. Otherwise, there ain't a difference between Stoke under Pulis and Arsenal under Arteta.

The only way a DM alongside Partey works is if we have Simeone in charge, a world class CAM, and two world class forwards up top. So, if we have a front three of Martinelli - Haaland - Mbappe with Messi behind them, sure, let's go for it. We'd score 150 goals so it won't even matter.

But we don't. We won't. Signing a DM when we can't create chances, when we are enjoying our worst goal-scoring season since 95/96 is just stupid.

Now, if we have £300m to spend, well, then I won't have a problem signing a DM alongside creative/attack-minded players.

Over the last 5 months we've averaged 1.91 goals a game - that's a rate of 70+ over a season.
We used to have a problem scoring goals, which started at the beginning of last year and bled into the start of this season, but we haven't for a while.

We do need a CF, but that is about it for this year - the priority has to be CB (Luiz is leaving), a FB to replace Bellerin and a DM. Ceballos is leaving most likely and wasn;t good enough anyway. Elneny can be hit and miss and in reality is not a top 4 class player.

[ag6789]

We need goal scoring midfielders period. CM or CAM doesn't matter, should have their share of 6-7 goals each along with assists. Can only expect Auba, Martinelli and Pepe to score, 12-14 each at best and ESR and Saka to add another 6-7 each, and the defense to put up another 10. Then we will be comfortably on the road to CL ( provided we concede less tham normal).
The team is calling for better linkmen and ditching likes of Xh, Ceb, Ode,etc( the unlinking ones ).

[swipe right]

We have good defenders and good attackers. What we are lacking is players connecting them. The metronome players. The ones who will quickly switch us from defense to attack. It doesn’t matter whether you play counter attacking football or build up play, you still need those type of players. Buying more DMs will not solve this problem. You need a Buendia type of player who will switch us on against the run of play.

[jayramfootball]

We have good defenders and good attackers. What we are lacking is players connecting them. The metronome players. The ones who will quickly switch us from defense to attack. It doesn’t matter whether you play counter attacking football or build up play, you still need those type of players. Buying more DMs will not solve this problem. You need a Buendia type of player who will switch us on against the run of play.

Buendia and ESR together in the same team?
That would not be pretty to watch away to the likes of City or the other bigger clubs.

To properly connect play we need a CF who can link with the likes of ESR, Saka and Martinelli.
That means holding the ball and setting up play as well as finding space in behind at other times.
It's one of the main reasons our midfielders don't score a lot of goals. They can't get forward because the ball doesn't stick.
Fine when we have all the possession, but an absolute nightmare when we're under the gun.

[swipe right]

We have good defenders and good attackers. What we are lacking is players connecting them. The metronome players. The ones who will quickly switch us from defense to attack. It doesn’t matter whether you play counter attacking football or build up play, you still need those type of players. Buying more DMs will not solve this problem. You need a Buendia type of player who will switch us on against the run of play.

Buendia and ESR together in the same team?
That would not be pretty to watch away to the likes of City or the other bigger clubs.

To properly connect play we need a CF who can link with the likes of ESR, Saka and Martinelli.
That means holding the ball and setting up play as well as finding space in behind at other times.
It's one of the main reasons our midfielders don't score a lot of goals. They can't get forward because the ball doesn't stick.
Fine when we have all the possession, but an absolute nightmare when we're under the gun.

It is perfectly possible to play a 10 and an 8 at the same time. We played Cesc and Nasri, Ozil and Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere. So yes we can play ESR and Buendia.

[Arsenal Tone]

We have good defenders and good attackers. What we are lacking is players connecting them. The metronome players. The ones who will quickly switch us from defense to attack. It doesn’t matter whether you play counter attacking football or build up play, you still need those type of players. Buying more DMs will not solve this problem. You need a Buendia type of player who will switch us on against the run of play.

Buendia and ESR together in the same team?
That would not be pretty to watch away to the likes of City or the other bigger clubs.

To properly connect play we need a CF who can link with the likes of ESR, Saka and Martinelli.
That means holding the ball and setting up play as well as finding space in behind at other times.
It's one of the main reasons our midfielders don't score a lot of goals. They can't get forward because the ball doesn't stick.
Fine when we have all the possession, but an absolute nightmare when we're under the gun.

It is perfectly possible to play a 10 and an 8 at the same time. We played Cesc and Nasri, Ozil and Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere. So yes we can play ESR and Buendia.

^ we got bullied with those midfields though

[swipe right]

We have good defenders and good attackers. What we are lacking is players connecting them. The metronome players. The ones who will quickly switch us from defense to attack. It doesn’t matter whether you play counter attacking football or build up play, you still need those type of players. Buying more DMs will not solve this problem. You need a Buendia type of player who will switch us on against the run of play.

Buendia and ESR together in the same team?
That would not be pretty to watch away to the likes of City or the other bigger clubs.

To properly connect play we need a CF who can link with the likes of ESR, Saka and Martinelli.
That means holding the ball and setting up play as well as finding space in behind at other times.
It's one of the main reasons our midfielders don't score a lot of goals. They can't get forward because the ball doesn't stick.
Fine when we have all the possession, but an absolute nightmare when we're under the gun.

It is perfectly possible to play a 10 and an 8 at the same time. We played Cesc and Nasri, Ozil and Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere. So yes we can play ESR and Buendia.

^ we got bullied with those midfields though

And finished top four every time.

[Arsenal Tone]

We have good defenders and good attackers. What we are lacking is players connecting them. The metronome players. The ones who will quickly switch us from defense to attack. It doesn’t matter whether you play counter attacking football or build up play, you still need those type of players. Buying more DMs will not solve this problem. You need a Buendia type of player who will switch us on against the run of play.

Buendia and ESR together in the same team?
That would not be pretty to watch away to the likes of City or the other bigger clubs.

To properly connect play we need a CF who can link with the likes of ESR, Saka and Martinelli.
That means holding the ball and setting up play as well as finding space in behind at other times.
It's one of the main reasons our midfielders don't score a lot of goals. They can't get forward because the ball doesn't stick.
Fine when we have all the possession, but an absolute nightmare when we're under the gun.

It is perfectly possible to play a 10 and an 8 at the same time. We played Cesc and Nasri, Ozil and Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere. So yes we can play ESR and Buendia.

^ we got bullied with those midfields though

And finished top four every time.

Fair comment

[theHotHead]

Angelito, people's obsession with defence is part of the problem with the fans. All you ever hear is defenders, defenders, provide defensive cover. What Arteta has done defensively is nothing special, any muppet could do that and claim some improvement, but if its at the expense of a fully functioning attack that is rendered as effective as a wet paper bag, its NOT an improvement. If you have a goal and you make gains in an area but then losses in another area your net gain is zilch.

I don't want to see Pepe helping the defence, I want to see him in offensive areas doing damage. Let the midfielders and defenders worry about defending.

Fixing the defence was the right place to start after Emery left.
It was easily the priority and had to involve the whole team.
The best teams defend as a team.

We've conceded the 3rd least goals in the PL - you can not say that is not an improvement.
It hasn't come at the expense of attack at all.

Goals scored is similar to last year - depends what we do against Brighton, but we may end up scoring more this year PLUS we've created more chances than last year. For sure the attack needs a lot more improvement, but it IS improving in the last few months - by a lot.

For this window, still think we need more defensively.
DM, CB and FB.

Fixing the defence was the priority, correct, but how you can say it was not at the expense of the attack I don't understand. We looked woeful and clueless for months, we were having something like 4 shots per game, we were creating next to nothing, During those games we lost shitloads of points. the fact that we had a few high scoring games against a few teams has papered over the fact that our goal spread has been massively uneven. Would you rather score 2 goals a game or go 4 games without scoring then have 2 games where you score 4 in each ?

If we take Emery's last season and then the joint Emery/Arteta season followed by Arteta's almost full season

2018/19 - goals for 73, goals against 51.
2019/20 - goals for 56, goals against 48.
2020/21 - goals for 53, goals against 39.

We are 20 goals shy of the goals scored in Emery's full season, we have so far conceded 12 goals less.

If we look at each manager over a season and a half:
Wenger (final season and a half) goals for 110, goals against 76. Average 1.92 goals scored per game, 1.33 goals conceded per game (57 game total).
Emery goals for 91, goals against 70. Average 1.78 goals scored per game, 1.37 goals conceded per game (51 game total).
Arteta goals for 85, goals against 60. Average 1.49 goals scored per game, 1.05 goals conceded per game (57 game total).

Sorry Jay, but there is the proof, categoric proof that, our attack has suffered massively in the hands of Arteta when compared to Emery and absolutely been battered when compared to Wenger's shittest season with us. The defence has improved, but like I keep saying, any fool should have been able to improve a defence that Wenger paid no mind to and that Emery managed to make EVEN WORSE than Wenger.

When we compare to Wenger's shittest season and a half, an identical number of games, we are at a net loss, our points and position are confirmation of that. Srteta messed up the attack while trying to fix the defence, all he had to do was make small changes to fix our defending. not over committing on every attack would've been a good start.

[theHotHead]

Goals scored is similar to last year - depends what we do against Brighton, but we may end up scoring more this year PLUS we've created more chances than last year. For sure the attack needs a lot more improvement, but it IS improving in the last few months - by a lot.

For this window, still think we need more defensively.
DM, CB and FB.

Jay ... last year was dreadful !!! How can you proclaim victory over last year like its an achievement??? Thats like have 5 dumb kids in a class, one scores 6 out of 100 - bettering the scores of the others and claiming intellectual superiority !!

[theHotHead]

Angelito, people's obsession with defence is part of the problem with the fans. All you ever hear is defenders, defenders, provide defensive cover. What Arteta has done defensively is nothing special, any muppet could do that and claim some improvement, but if its at the expense of a fully functioning attack that is rendered as effective as a wet paper bag, its NOT an improvement. If you have a goal and you make gains in an area but then losses in another area your net gain is zilch.

I don't want to see Pepe helping the defence, I want to see him in offensive areas doing damage. Let the midfielders and defenders worry about defending.

Yes, exactly.

That's why I find it baffling that people are still advocating for a DM or more defensive players. With Bellerin likely to depart, and a vacant back-up LB spot, if we spend whatever little money we have in these positions, we won't have the money to address our biggest needs. We need to sign a back-up goalie too.

Defense isn't the problem.

As I've mentioned before, I'm actually fine with Cedric at RB—rotating with Chambers—and Saka/López as our LB when Tierney isn't available or needs to be rested. The last thing we need is stimulating Arteta's obsession with hoarding defensive players.

The three top priorities are a CM, a CAM, and a forward.

The best defensive side in Prem history—Jose's 04/05 Chelsea side—still scored 72 goals. If we scored 70 goals this season and conceded 50, evenly spread out, we'd be in the top-4.

The same Chelsea side, with Ancelotti, scored over 100 goals and conceded only 32. Under Conte, they scored 85 goals and conceded 33.

Those are great defensive performances.

People praising Arteta for our defensive improvements really don't get what we've sacrificed to achieve that. It's like drawing 38 games next season and claiming to be Invincibles! Technically, well, we would be unbeaten, but what sense does that even make?

In 05/06 Mourinho had essien and makelele alongside Lampard, two DMs. In 09/10 under Ancelotti it was Ballack and Mikel alongside Lampard. What you are advocating is the equivalent to playing Lampard in the midfield 2 of a 4-2-3-1. It wouldn't work and that is why they played 4-3-3 with 2 DMs.

Essien didn't play as a DM immediately, he went to DM after Makelele left Chelsea.

[theHotHead]

A DM next to partey should be our priority. Partey is not a DM, he's a box to box midfielder doing the job of a DM because none of our other midfielders are good enough.

What is that DM supposed to do? Help us concede 10 fewer goals, whilst we score 50 or so goals again?

Saka and ESR aren't goalscorers. Lacazette might be leaving. So, unless, Auba, Martinelli, and Pepe score 60+ goals amongst themselves, we will be where we are come May next year.

Defensive football only works when you win trophies. Otherwise, there ain't a difference between Stoke under Pulis and Arsenal under Arteta.

The only way a DM alongside Partey works is if we have Simeone in charge, a world class CAM, and two world class forwards up top. So, if we have a front three of Martinelli - Haaland - Mbappe with Messi behind them, sure, let's go for it. We'd score 150 goals so it won't even matter.

But we don't. We won't. Signing a DM when we can't create chances, when we are enjoying our worst goal-scoring season since 95/96 is just stupid.

Now, if we have £300m to spend, well, then I won't have a problem signing a DM alongside creative/attack-minded players.

Exactly this.

Its been an abomination of a season but we have improved defensively. The focus MUST move to sorting out our dreadful offensive potency, To score under 60 goals in a league season is not what we as Arsenal fans expect, if we can up it to mid 70s at the least that puts us in with a shout for top 4.

[theHotHead]

We have good defenders and good attackers. What we are lacking is players connecting them. The metronome players. The ones who will quickly switch us from defense to attack. It doesn’t matter whether you play counter attacking football or build up play, you still need those type of players. Buying more DMs will not solve this problem. You need a Buendia type of player who will switch us on against the run of play.

Buendia and ESR together in the same team?
That would not be pretty to watch away to the likes of City or the other bigger clubs.

To properly connect play we need a CF who can link with the likes of ESR, Saka and Martinelli.
That means holding the ball and setting up play as well as finding space in behind at other times.
It's one of the main reasons our midfielders don't score a lot of goals. They can't get forward because the ball doesn't stick.
Fine when we have all the possession, but an absolute nightmare when we're under the gun.

It is perfectly possible to play a 10 and an 8 at the same time. We played Cesc and Nasri, Ozil and Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere. So yes we can play ESR and Buendia.

^ we got bullied with those midfields though

Horses for courses. Play them in games that allow you to, in games where teams sit back and show little ambition, you need creative players all over to break those teams down, that Was Wenger's biggest failure, he never chose a system for the team he played against, it was always the same shit every game.

[swipe right]

We have good defenders and good attackers. What we are lacking is players connecting them. The metronome players. The ones who will quickly switch us from defense to attack. It doesn’t matter whether you play counter attacking football or build up play, you still need those type of players. Buying more DMs will not solve this problem. You need a Buendia type of player who will switch us on against the run of play.

Buendia and ESR together in the same team?
That would not be pretty to watch away to the likes of City or the other bigger clubs.

To properly connect play we need a CF who can link with the likes of ESR, Saka and Martinelli.
That means holding the ball and setting up play as well as finding space in behind at other times.
It's one of the main reasons our midfielders don't score a lot of goals. They can't get forward because the ball doesn't stick.
Fine when we have all the possession, but an absolute nightmare when we're under the gun.

It is perfectly possible to play a 10 and an 8 at the same time. We played Cesc and Nasri, Ozil and Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere. So yes we can play ESR and Buendia.

^ we got bullied with those midfields though

Horses for courses. Play them in games that allow you to, in games where teams sit back and show little ambition, you need creative players all over to break those teams down, that Was Wenger's biggest failure, he never chose a system for the team he played against, it was always the same shit every game.

The situation is quite different from Wenger’s last few years. We now have our best group of center backs and good DM options. It should give us permission to play more creative central midfielders.

[theHotHead]

Agreed, we don't need to have an over load of defensive options, we need to concentrate on getting the balance right.

I still think that improving our defending must start from not over-committing, I have no problem seeing us contain teams and hitting them in the nads when we get a chance, nothing wrong with that as a tactic in some games.