As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Yep. It’s only 20. Although the official site includes the keeper Okonkwo.
Interestingly when you look at the players out on loan, if you included that lot we would have a much stronger squad. Pity we choose to sign players and then subsidise their wages to play elsewhere.
Saliba
Bellerin (purely would work in a squad)
Torreira
Guendouzi
Mavropanos
Reiss Nelson
Balogun
Mari
AMN
Its absolutely shocking mismanagement isn't it? The mystery of William Saliba will outlive the meaning of life question. Arteta's bum chums will have you believe he's being brought back into the fold next season, whilst forgetting that they said the same thing last year. He will be loaned out forever until his contract runs dry - another £27m pissed up the wall.
Bellend should have been shot of years ago when clubs were still interested for anywhere between £20m-£30m. Guendouzi despite his misdemeanours is still highly valued in France and I suspect elsewhere but we'll let him go for fuck all too
Why we persuaded Balogun to stay but then kept on Nketiah who clearly isn't good enough (nor wants to be here) is equally mystifying. When our two remaining strikers have scored two goals all season from open play, you'd have to ask if he wasn't good enough to make the bench and the odd appearance in the run in, then when will he be ready?
Mari - just another Edu/Kia fuck up fuelled by agent greed to sit alongside Willian and Cedric.
AMN as a young Englishman would also have "Willock style" resale value but I bet he leaves for fuck all too
Clubs like Liverpool manage to knock out Solanke for £15m, whilst Willock apart we can't sell anyone
Wont happen in this instance buddy - saliba is ambitious enough to know that he can do better than that and will push for the exit next summer and personally I dont blame him. The cone boy apologists will claim that his hands were tied with saliba cos the player wanted out, and totally ignore the shocking way he was treated by the legohead *word censored*
One of the papers done a story yesterday that showed that pep's cone boy is now left with just 7 players from the 28 player squad that he inherited from dick - we all know that we have carried some dead weight for years, but 21 players ?? I dont fcuking think so. Included in those 7 players is the swiss c.unt, nketieh and elneny, so that doesnt look great either. Fact is that in his haste to rid the club of any player that might have had some loyalty to a previous manager, pep's cone boy has driven out some good quality players that we could certainly do with right now
Now the dust has settled we have 21 senior squad members left for the season. Arteta will add 3-4 u-23's to that squad.
I'm speculating that Arteta was told need to cull the squad wages, and numbers as we only have league games to play. It means more recovery time, less rotation of players and less players to keep happy.
It makes sense to have a smaller squad given our current situation. I still believe 4th is achievable with the remaining squad players as they are the ones who have been picked to play regularly already this season.
Once everyone is back and available from suspensions and AFCON, we've got the squad that has put unbeaten runs together. Only 2 games in February, 3 in Match with 4 still needing to be rearranged. Wolves and NLD could easily fit in Feb/ March.
I don't think any of the teams fighting for 4th are any stronger after this transfer window. It's really our neighbours that could realistically beat us to 4th. We just have to deliver consistency now.
I'm all for positivity mate but tbh that is borderline delusional, no offence intended. Even if we freaked a second half of a season with no injuries and no suspensions, that squad is not only small it's lacking in talent and depth in key areas particularly up front and in the DM position.
were going to have to rely on almost all players being fit and available for selection. Arteta might also need to get creative. There is no way Lacazette can or should start every game as striker.
Martinelli as the central forward really needs to be given a chance. It will allow ESR to come in on the right and shift Saka out to his natural left.
We cant have a goal shy striker starting every game.
Now the dust has settled we have 21 senior squad members left for the season. Arteta will add 3-4 u-23's to that squad.
I'm speculating that Arteta was told need to cull the squad wages, and numbers as we only have league games to play. It means more recovery time, less rotation of players and less players to keep happy.
It makes sense to have a smaller squad given our current situation. I still believe 4th is achievable with the remaining squad players as they are the ones who have been picked to play regularly already this season.
Once everyone is back and available from suspensions and AFCON, we've got the squad that has put unbeaten runs together. Only 2 games in February, 3 in Match with 4 still needing to be rearranged. Wolves and NLD could easily fit in Feb/ March.
I don't think any of the teams fighting for 4th are any stronger after this transfer window. It's really our neighbours that could realistically beat us to 4th. We just have to deliver consistency now.
I'm all for positivity mate but tbh that is borderline delusional, no offence intended. Even if we freaked a second half of a season with no injuries and no suspensions, that squad is not only small it's lacking in talent and depth in key areas particularly up front and in the DM position.
I'd go further and say it MIGHT only work as long as we are at least 4-0 to the good before substitutions are made and even then it would be touch and go
I think that you are being very harsh on Lacazette . Were he being played as an out and out centre forward your goal shy comments might have merit. However he is being asked to do the job that an advanced midfielder should be doing . He spends more time on the halfway line than in the opponents box and that's because it's what he is being told to do .
His return on goals should be compared to that of Xhaka , Partey and Lokonga because it's their job that he's doing.
I think that you are being very harsh on Lacazette . Were he being played as an out and out centre forward your goal shy comments might have merit. However he is being asked to do the job that an advanced midfielder should be doing . He spends more time on the halfway line than in the opponents box and that's because it's what he is being told to do .
His return on goals should be compared to that of Xhaka , Partey and Lokonga because it's their job that he's doing.
Absolutely spot on. He isn't being played as a striking goalscorer but predominantly as a link man.
I was championing his workrate long before most on here finally recognised it. Doesn't get the credit he deserves most of the time.
I think that you are being very harsh on Lacazette . Were he being played as an out and out centre forward your goal shy comments might have merit. However he is being asked to do the job that an advanced midfielder should be doing . He spends more time on the halfway line than in the opponents box and that's because it's what he is being told to do .
His return on goals should be compared to that of Xhaka , Partey and Lokonga because it's their job that he's doing.
Absolutely spot on. He isn't being played as a striking goalscorer but predominantly as a link man.
I was championing his workrate long before most on here finally recognised it. Doesn't get the credit he deserves most of the time.
Which is all well and good but it doesnt deliver the goals we need - playing the link up role is great if you have a front 2 partnership akin to Bergkamp and Henry, but we play with one central striker so he effectively is trying to replicate citeeh's false 9 bul.lshit I also wonder if some of the problem is that it is suiting laca to drop himself deeper - you often see strikers dropping deeper to take themselves out of firing line
I think that you are being very harsh on Lacazette . Were he being played as an out and out centre forward your goal shy comments might have merit. However he is being asked to do the job that an advanced midfielder should be doing . He spends more time on the halfway line than in the opponents box and that's because it's what he is being told to do .
His return on goals should be compared to that of Xhaka , Partey and Lokonga because it's their job that he's doing.
Absolutely spot on. He isn't being played as a striking goalscorer but predominantly as a link man.
I was championing his workrate long before most on here finally recognised it. Doesn't get the credit he deserves most of the time.
Which is all well and good but it doesnt deliver the goals we need - playing the link up role is great if you have a front 2 partnership akin to Bergkamp and Henry, but we play with one central striker so he effectively is trying to replicate citeeh's false 9 bul.lshit I also wonder if some of the problem is that it is suiting laca to drop himself deeper - you often see strikers dropping deeper to take themselves out of firing line
The point we're both making Augie is that Laca is playing to instructions so any criticism of his goal scoring record is a bit unfair based on a skewed view of him as a striker.
The number of times he's been pulled back into the 10 position after substitutions lends weight.
I think that you are being very harsh on Lacazette . Were he being played as an out and out centre forward your goal shy comments might have merit. However he is being asked to do the job that an advanced midfielder should be doing . He spends more time on the halfway line than in the opponents box and that's because it's what he is being told to do .
His return on goals should be compared to that of Xhaka , Partey and Lokonga because it's their job that he's doing.
Absolutely spot on. He isn't being played as a striking goalscorer but predominantly as a link man.
I was championing his workrate long before most on here finally recognised it. Doesn't get the credit he deserves most of the time.
Which is all well and good but it doesnt deliver the goals we need - playing the link up role is great if you have a front 2 partnership akin to Bergkamp and Henry, but we play with one central striker so he effectively is trying to replicate citeeh's false 9 bul.lshit I also wonder if some of the problem is that it is suiting laca to drop himself deeper - you often see strikers dropping deeper to take themselves out of firing line
The point we're both making Augie is that Laca is playing to instructions so any criticism of his goal scoring record is a bit unfair based on a skewed view of him as a striker.
The number of times he's been pulled back into the 10 position after substitutions lends weight.
I agree and I don't especially mind that he isn't a 20 goal a year man. We used to complain it was all on Auba - 25 goals and the next highest scorer might have 8. These days we've got ESR, Saka, Martinelli and Odegaard all capable of weighing in.......just like we used to have with the likes of Pires, Ljungberg, Overmars, Ramsey over different eras.
The biggest problem is there is literally nobody else to play that Lacazette role. I love Martinelli to bits, but this notion of him playing as a lone centre forward and bringing others into the game? It isn't his strength.
The lack of a 'Laca alternative' (there literally is nobody!) and proper partner for Partey will haunt this club for years, because they had a chance of the top 4 in their hands and have blown it. We are a Lacazette injury away from finishing 10th
I agree with what's being said about Laca and I also understand Augie's point about lack of confidence but again it is also down to the midfield, when playing two at the base you tend to have one, normally the better defender who always sits, the second one acts defensively when needed but also does the box to box stuff as required, we have a complete imbecile in one of those positions and those around him have rightly no faith and more often than not have to sit back with him, which opens the gap between midfield and CF because we have a roving 10, therefore Laca or whoever is forced to play deeper to get on the ball.
So yes Laca isn't a 20 a season man but he is having to play a role where he is lucky to get a couple of chances a match and as his conversion rate is low anyway it makes it look even worse...
I think that you are being very harsh on Lacazette . Were he being played as an out and out centre forward your goal shy comments might have merit. However he is being asked to do the job that an advanced midfielder should be doing . He spends more time on the halfway line than in the opponents box and that's because it's what he is being told to do .
His return on goals should be compared to that of Xhaka , Partey and Lokonga because it's their job that he's doing.
Absolutely spot on. He isn't being played as a striking goalscorer but predominantly as a link man.
I was championing his workrate long before most on here finally recognised it. Doesn't get the credit he deserves most of the time.
Which is all well and good but it doesnt deliver the goals we need - playing the link up role is great if you have a front 2 partnership akin to Bergkamp and Henry, but we play with one central striker so he effectively is trying to replicate citeeh's false 9 bul.lshit I also wonder if some of the problem is that it is suiting laca to drop himself deeper - you often see strikers dropping deeper to take themselves out of firing line
The point we're both making Augie is that Laca is playing to instructions so any criticism of his goal scoring record is a bit unfair based on a skewed view of him as a striker.
The number of times he's been pulled back into the 10 position after substitutions lends weight.
I agree and I don't especially mind that he isn't a 20 goal a year man. We used to complain it was all on Auba - 25 goals and the next highest scorer might have 8. These days we've got ESR, Saka, Martinelli and Odegaard all capable of weighing in.......just like we used to have with the likes of Pires, Ljungberg, Overmars, Ramsey over different eras.
The biggest problem is there is literally nobody else to play that Lacazette role. I love Martinelli to bits, but this notion of him playing as a lone centre forward and bringing others into the game? It isn't his strength.
The lack of a 'Laca alternative' (there literally is nobody!) and proper partner for Partey will haunt this club for years, because they had a chance of the top 4 in their hands and have blown it. We are a Lacazette injury away from finishing 10th
This is Arteta's main failing.
I'm no master tactician and haven't taken any coaching badges so it's just a layman's opinion.
If his preferred system isn't working he doesn't change the way we play he just makes substitutions and shuffles the front line a bit. As you say SteveO, Laca is the only player we have of that kind so bringing on the Feather or moving Martinelli into the central position just doesn't work. A bit of Wenger's square pegs in round holes.
As I said, I'm no tactician so I don't have the answer but Arteta and his staff certainly should.
Which is all well and good but it doesnt deliver the goals we need - playing the link up role is great if you have a front 2 partnership akin to Bergkamp and Henry, but we play with one central striker so he effectively is trying to replicate citeeh's false 9 bul.lshit I also wonder if some of the problem is that it is suiting laca to drop himself deeper - you often see strikers dropping deeper to take themselves out of firing line
The point we're both making Augie is that Laca is playing to instructions so any criticism of his goal scoring record is a bit unfair based on a skewed view of him as a striker.
The number of times he's been pulled back into the 10 position after substitutions lends weight.
I’m not sure criticism is unfair. I think Laca quite rightly gets plenty of plaudits for his work rate and how dropping deep is getting more out of Saka, ESR and Martinelli but… he’s been a goalscorer all his career and he keeps shanking shots wide and over the bar from very presentable positions. He’s getting chances and fluffing his lines and that’s ridiculous for someone of his ability.
He’s done okay but it’s a very low bar and we need a serious upgrade in the summer.
Which is all well and good but it doesnt deliver the goals we need - playing the link up role is great if you have a front 2 partnership akin to Bergkamp and Henry, but we play with one central striker so he effectively is trying to replicate citeeh's false 9 bul.lshit I also wonder if some of the problem is that it is suiting laca to drop himself deeper - you often see strikers dropping deeper to take themselves out of firing line
The point we're both making Augie is that Laca is playing to instructions so any criticism of his goal scoring record is a bit unfair based on a skewed view of him as a striker.
The number of times he's been pulled back into the 10 position after substitutions lends weight.
I’m not sure criticism is unfair. I think Laca quite rightly gets plenty of plaudits for his work rate and how dropping deep is getting more out of Saka, ESR and Martinelli but… he’s been a goalscorer all his career and he keeps shanking shots wide and over the bar from very presentable positions. He’s getting chances and fluffing his lines and that’s ridiculous for someone of his ability.
He’s done okay but it’s a very low bar and we need a serious upgrade in the summer.
But surely that goes hand in hand with how he's asked to play? His main role in the team seems not to be scoring goals. Opportunities for him are few and far between so he snatches at them when they do come along?
All strikers miss chances but when you're presented with one, maybe two chances in a game and you spurn them I find it hard to be too critical.
If you want a player that is a deadeye then you're looking at someone like Haaland or Lewendowski and they're never within our grasp.
Lacca is average as a striker, its that simple, he misses absolute sitters like the one ESR put on his toe from 6 yards out with a virtually empty goal, he fluffed it like he has many great chances this season.
It was very easy for him to score a goal when Auba already had a couple and there was no pressure, now the pressure is on him to score a winner and he can't.
Again I agree Laca is an average striker, but compare his misses to the absolute clusters PEA had this season quite a few more times and it brings things into perspective. PEA was deadly for two seasons but Arteta's tactics didn't work for him, he is a much better striker than Laca so it is understandable that Laca is struggling add into this the deeper role and there is at least some mitigation.
We needed a striker and we didn't get one, that is on Edu and Arteta. Some reports coming out of Dubai are hinting Martinelli may play central in this formation and with these tactics he will almost certainly struggle, I hope to god it doesn't do more harm than good
- who am I missing? 
I also wonder if some of the problem is that it is suiting laca to drop himself deeper - you often see strikers dropping deeper to take themselves out of firing line
