***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Pictures of Torreira having his Atletico medical. Going to be a busy few days for you guys I'm sure.

It has to be. Without outgoings, we can't bring in what we need which is honestly two midfielders. Even if we add one midfielder, we're very bare in that area and will greatly struggle to grab fourth, which is the realistic and very difficult goal for the season.

With Guendouzi frozen out, our central midfield (true central midfield) options consist of Xhaka, Ceballos, and Elneny—that's it.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

It has to be. Without outgoings, we can't bring in what we need which is honestly two midfielders. Even if we add one midfielder, we're very bare in that area and will greatly struggle to grab fourth, which is the realistic and very difficult goal for the season.

With Guendouzi frozen out, our central midfield (true central midfield) options consist of Xhaka, Ceballos, and Elneny—that's it.

Wow Joe Willock is available! And Miguel Azeez from the U23s! Azeez is even more of a defensive midfielder, that man can splay a pass out wide with uncanny ease.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Wow Joe Willock is available! And Miguel Azeez from the U23s! Azeez is even more of a defensive midfielder, that man can splay a pass out wide with uncanny ease.

I threw in (true central midfielder) because I knew someone would bring up Willock. Is he going to comfortably sit deep if an injury occurs, or we're rotating? I don't think so.

Yes, bring through the youth, but only doing that and not strengthening with experience will not move the club in the direction they need to go this season.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Aouar seems really close now—so close.

No, not close.

[JHedges2]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

If all we do in midfield is LOSE a player on LOAN....yikes.

That will leave a very bad taste in a lot of supported mouths, and really hinder the momentum we’ve been building.

Mine included.


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[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

For the record, I also count Guendouzi in the Willock category, which is Arteta does not see that player being used in that position, or he doesn't want to use the player in general. Yes, we have bodies, but not the bodies our manager wants or feels that he needs to succeed.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Xhaka and Laca both on the bench today. Pepe stays on the bench, and Saka starts again.

[JHedges2]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Very odd lineup. I trust my manager. But man...

Up the Arsenal.


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[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Sakaaaaaaaaa!

We’ve been awful, but that was a great goal.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Pepeeeeee!

Another great goal. Whatever Mikel did at the half is working brilliantly.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Given the upcoming fixtures that was three points we really, really needed.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

I threw in (true central midfielder) because I knew someone would bring up Willock. Is he going to comfortably sit deep if an injury occurs, or we're rotating? I don't think so.

Yes, bring through the youth, but only doing that and not strengthening with experience will not move the club in the direction they need to go this season.

So I can't discuss Arteta's evaluation, since I don't want to pretend like I know things when I haven't been paying as close attention as you. That said, in my mind, if he's married to the double pivot, I think it'd be fine/correct to use Xhaka and Element as the deep-lying midfielders, with Willock and Ceballos as the advanced/linking midfielders. Now I am not going compare the two but Willock and Ceballos kind of fit the same generic mold, players that I want to play further up the pitch as opposed to deeper. Ceballos obviously is better and can sit deep, but it feels like a waste when he's pretty damn good in the middle and final third.

Now if Guendouzi is well and truly frozen out of that bunch, I think getting someone like Partey/Aouar would be great(my inclination is to lean Partey, but I also don't trust the Arsenal centrebacks contingent) would be great, but I also don't think it is the end of the world if they don't get them. Azeez, as much as I admire his talent plays the deep role well, but I'm not sure how much a top flight team can trust an 18-year old in a double pivots arguably most important role. I'd love to see him get some FA cup time this year though.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Now if Guendouzi is well and truly frozen out of that bunch, I think getting someone like Partey/Aouar would be great(my inclination is to lean Partey, but I also don't trust the Arsenal centrebacks contingent) would be great, but I also don't think it is the end of the world if they don't get them.

Not the end of the world to not bring in midfield reinforcements, but I do think it reduces the already incredibly slim chance of CL qualification to an even slimmer, nearly non-existent chance. Who knows what this crazy season holds, but it seems like there's a real chance to move up the table.

It just the one area we clearly need at least one player to make a difference. We've strengthened the defense (Gabriel looks solid) and the attack has the talent.

[jb12780]

***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Partey?

Edit: This is getting traction. We’re in for a day boys. Another 2013 deadline day masterclass incoming?

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[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Partey?

Edit: This is getting traction. We’re in for a day boys. Another 2013 deadline day masterclass incoming?

Seems we're at least trying to make it happen. If we're willing to pay the clause, he seems like he'd make the move, so we'll see.

I can not stress enough—I think we have solid options in the squad right now, but moving forward into this season without another central midfielder who can play deep but also comfortably come forward is insane. I'm not saying we need to spend hundreds of millions, or that we need to sign 2-3 players. Nope, but we need one more.

We need this signing. We don't need to make any others, but we need a central midfielder.