Great second half performance last night - but it did need senior players like Odegaard, Saka and Saliba to come on and change the game in our favour.
Gabriel Jesus gave a stunning show, hopefully that injects a shat load of confidence into him. Kieran Tierney came in from the cold and reminded Arteta what a proper full back can offer. It was less good for Sterling, who somehow missed a sitter, Kiwior was at fault for the opener and didn't recover. Trossard was poor, and Nwaneri couldn't impose himself with Ethan withdrawn at half time.
We are in tonights draw for the semi final along with Newcastle United, Liverpool and the winner of the Manchester United/Tottenham Hotspur quarter later on.
It does give us an extra couple of games in what looks a horrendous period as we go into 2025:
21st December - Crystal Palace (a) PL
27th December - Ipswich (h) PL
1st January - Brentford (a) PL
4th January - Brighton (a) PL
7th January - League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg
12th January - Manchester United (h) FA Cup
15th January - Spurs (h) PL
18th January - Aston Villa (h) PL
22nd January - Dinamo Zagreb (h) CL
25th January - Wolves (a) PL
29th January - Girona (a) CL
2nd February - Man City (h) PL
5th February - League Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg
8th February - Potential FA Cup 4th round
11th February - Potential CL play-off
15th February - Leicester (a) PL
18th February - Potential CL play-off
Obviously avoiding the extra round in the CL is both very beneficial and very achievable. We might even be in a position where we can rest and rotate for the Girona game with top 8 secure, but would need a lot of variables to go in our favour.
The squad feels like it needs a boost, a couple of fresh faces to drive the squad forward. It is very unlikely we will get a big name, big fee attacker.
Even without any sales we have 3 spaces free in our 25 man squad for over 21s so no constraints with adding (if the unlikely happened and we bought 3 one would have to be HG). Worth noting we cannot loan anymore in, unless we got rid of either Sterling or Neto.
Will the squad cope?
posted 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
I assume Arteta wants a youngster with masses of potential in the striking position? Unless Rashford falls in our lap, I doubt there are any ready-made attackers available, who can make an immediate impact?
posted 2 hours, 45 minutes ago
Yeah, that is the type I think we might be able to sign if we can find one. Rather than a big name, big fee striker with an already high reputation like Isak, Gyokeres, Vlahovic, Sesko.
posted 2 hours, 39 minutes ago
I've never thought Arsenal would go back for Isak. Gyokeres has a release clause, Vlahovic was booed by his own crowd and Juve are worried his stock will probably be even lower in the summer, tbf we wanted Sesko before he was famous. Similarly, Osimhen has a release.
So if there is the will, there is a way.
However, I think Arteta may want to target a younger striker anyway. I don't think he is over his Havertz experiment.
posted 2 hours, 38 minutes ago
So, you think it is unlikely we will get a big name striker...
posted 2 hours, 34 minutes ago
I suppose it's the difference between what I want them to do compared to what I think they will do.
I desperately hope/want them to take the risk on someone like Vlahovic/Osimhen even pay Goykeres release. The lift that would give the dressing room would be the kind that can win you a Champions League.
I expect them to buy a younger striker who Arteta can groom behind Havertz.
posted 2 hours, 32 minutes ago
Arteta likes players who can play in at least 2 positions so I don't think he would like an out and out striker.
Thomas Partey is a midfielder who he plays at right back
posted 2 hours, 22 minutes ago
Not always. It depends on the position imo.
At the moment Havertz is that player. false 9. But really Martinelli isn't direct enough for that formation. It didn't surprise me that we were linked to Nico Williams. A fully motivated Rashford would be ideal. (though I doubt utd will sell him to us at reasonable price or if Rashford still has the fire).
Arteta said he bought Havertz to replace Xhaka and a true no.9 would have worked with that imo. Jesus/Havertz never looked on.
So he recently bought Merino and he looks better with Jesus who is not a proper no.9 but much closer to it than Havertz. Maybe Merino will form a relationship with Havertz but I doubt it. At the moment Havertz makes no runs for him.
posted 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
comment by Comment deleted by Article Creator (U22980)
posted 19 minutes ago
Arteta likes players who can play in at least 2 positions so I don't think he would like an out and out striker.
Thomas Partey is a midfielder who he plays at right back
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Atletico played Partey at right back, so hardly new for him. But if White, Tomiyasu and Calafiori were fit he wouldn't play there.
posted 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
It all depends on our injury record. Tomiyasiu, Zinchenko and Calafiori are unreliable. Timber is also a candidad I always fear to get injured.
The left forward side is a concern. Trossy started the game yesterday and it was one of his better games as a starter. Martinelli was rested but hasnt any kind of consistency. All depends on our right side with Saka doing kind of magic.
Gabtiel Jesus had a good game yesterday. After a year he owed Arsenal something. It remains to be seen if he can replicate that kind of performance and it depends also on his teammates.
I think that the forward situation needs to be addressed. It's not bedone to buy a CF in my view. We also need to give Saka competition. Looks like Sterling isnt the man who Arteta trusts. The January transfer window is not going to solve our problems. Clubs wont sell their best players and the market for CF is rare.
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Forget that we also get Benny Blanco back in January. I really can't wait which helps Bukayo a lot.