Summer Transfers 2025 Missed Opportunities and Regrets

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Originally Posted by Mac76

I just saw something on fbook which sets it out like this:

Raya/Kepa
Timber/White
Saliba/Mosquera
Gabby/Kiwior
MLS /Cala
Zubi/Norgaard
Ode/Nwaneri
Rice/Merino
Saka/Leo
Sesko/Havertz/Jesus
Rodrygo or Eze/Martinelli

While I don't think Cala's a very good LB, Jesus is a joke and not sure re Leo on the right, it does otherwise show how it works with the new signings so far

Basically it's short of one attacking signing

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From the above we are clearly clutching at straws with the positions of Rice, Saka, the laughable frontmen and the poor performing Left wing duo.

So that's 4 out of 5 attacking positions.

Actually 5, as Nwanerri is a kid and shouldn't be relied on to bear the burden of relieving Odegaard as the player that dictates our play.

Clearly this isn't going to be the summer where we solve our attacking issues, so I think we are on the right path by sticking to what we know best and buying defender after defender :good:

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Originally Posted by 21_GOONER_SALUTE

From the above we are clearly clutching at straws with the positions of Rice, Saka, the laughable frontmen and the poor performing Right wing duo.

So that's 4 out of 5 attacking positions.

Actually 5, as Nwanerri is a kid and shouldn't be relied on to bear the burden of relieving Odegaard as the player that dictates our play.

Clearly this isn't going to be the summer where we solve our attacking issues, so I think we are on the right path by sticking to what we know best and buying defender after defender :good:

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:lol:

To be clear it's just what a fan put up (not me)

Are you talking the left wing when you say poorly performing duo?

You're right re Nwaneri, as I said elsewhere he'd be better supporting Saka on the right, trouble is I think Arteta's inclination is still to play Saka for 90 mins in every game :rose:

I'm trying to live with what we're doing and with the idea of Sesko, i don't think he (or Havertz) is laughable but Jesus is - that said i'd prefer Gyokeres by a long way

Tbh I think there's room to move people around up front, defence less so, it's so clear when a defender is out of position

That said I'm coming around to the idea we need an Ode backup

I too am concerned we may not end up having quite enough going forward but I don't think that will be because of a lack of funds, I'm just concerned we'll mess it up. I don't like Arteta's obsession with never conceding a goal any more than anyone else, i'm only saying i understand a net gain of one defensive player when last season showed we had inadequate cover

Calvert-Lewin leaving Everton.

Our new striker confirmed. :bow:

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Originally Posted by Mac76

:lol:

To be clear it's just what a fan put up (not me)

Are you talking the left wing when you say poorly performing duo?

You're right re Nwaneri, as I said elsewhere he'd be better supporting Saka on the right, trouble is I think Arteta's inclination is still to play Saka for 90 mins in every game :rose:

I'm trying to live with what we're doing and with the idea of Sesko, i don't think he (or Havertz) is laughable but Jesus is - that said i'd prefer Gyokeres by a long way

Tbh I think there's room to move people around up front, defence less so, it's so clear when a defender is out of position

That said I'm coming around to the idea we need an Ode backup

I too am concerned we may not end up having quite enough going forward but I don't think that will be because of a lack of funds, I'm just concerned we'll mess it up. I don't like Arteta's obsession with never conceding a goal any more than anyone else, i'm only saying i understand a net gain of one defensive player when last season showed we had inadequate cover

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Thanks for the correction and I fully understand your argument that you can't really replace a defender with a midfielder ( though in our case both Partey and Rice have experience playing as CBs).

The thing is, it was crystal clear what failed us last season, and it wasn't our defence despite the various injuries.

The whole world knows that our problem is clearly our attack and I believe that even if they had managed to all stay injury free (i e. the attackers), we still wouldn't have been able to close the gap on Liverpool which pretty much started from day one.

It's really upsetting to see that our attitude to resolving this seems so relaxed and nonchalant and I am beginning to believe that Arteta and the people that matter still can't appreciate this nor understand the drive and focus it takes to win a league title (especially when we have a pretty hefty psychological block we need to overcome).

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Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...

Calvert-Lewin leaving Everton.

Our new striker confirmed. :bow:

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many a true word

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Originally Posted by 21_GOONER_SALUTE

Thanks for the correction and I fully understand your argument that you can't really replace a defender with a midfielder ( though in our case both Partey and Rice have experience playing as CBs).

The thing is, it was crystal clear what failed us last season, and it wasn't our defence despite the various injuries.

The whole world knows that our problem is clearly our attack and I believe that even if they had managed to all stay injury free (i e. the attackers), we still wouldn't have been able to close the gap on Liverpool which pretty much started from day one.

It's really upsetting to see that our attitude to resolving this seems so relaxed and nonchalant and I am beginning to believe that Arteta and the people that matter still can't appreciate this nor understand the drive and focus it takes to win a league title (especially when we have a pretty hefty psychological block we need to overcome).

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no arguments with that - you're right I think Rice can a do a job at CB though taht's one of those cases of weakening us elsewhere if we used him for that and ofc Partey's leaving

On your point about Arteta's attitude to attackers, it's what worries about Sesko, that Arteta sees him as a project to play in some weird position instead of just having a goalscorer in the box where we all want him

It's like him considering Jesus as a striking option - he isn't, even if fit, anything near what we need, firstly he's all over the pitch and second he can't hit a barn door unless it's against Palace

Are they nonchalant? - i dunno, they must know as you say the whole world is waiting for us to strengthen our attack.,

from what i hear about him, I think the delays are down to typical behaviour by Berta of playing people off each other to get the best price - which could in theory help our budget go further, but at worst lose us all the best prospects as they get fed up of being played and go elsewhere

This next week is crucial IMO - we need to see real progress or the natives will be restless...