Match Reaction vs Citeh (home).

[Unai Tea]

If you're talking about players like Ox Chamberlain, Gabriel etc, they weren't exactly backup they were 1st teamers and 1st team squad players we used a fair amount and hadn't been bad for us (Gabriel wasn't perfect but he was better than Mustafi), I'd have kept Ox and he brought in 40 millon of that.

Yes I am. First teamers getting more or less similar game time as Xhaka, Chambers and Iwobi.

You toss in three red herrings (jenkinson, perez and campbell) to prove your point that we can only sell our players with great difficulty and to suggest that Xhaka, Iwobi and Chambers, therefore, have little to no value and should be allowed to leave for nothing. But the three you highlight (one of whom we've just sold) have played practically no games for us in the last 2 years, compared to the 135 or so premier league appearances for Xhaka, Iwobi and Chambers in the last two years.

I'm not suggesting these three are top quality players who can adorn any top 4 team's starting 11. But they have value, and can be sold and as such are investments/assets. To suggest otherwise is nonsense.

[IBK]

Personally, I think that we are inevitably Arsenal-centric when we consider our so-called dead wood players. I haven't done any forensic research, but I would imagine that most teams in the top half of the table have plenty of players that their fans would consider surplus to requirements. We don't have a squad of world class players, and I think that many of our gripes can be attributed to that simple fact.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I agree with you on effort. It wasn't a case of a Ozil not trying. On defence, I saw how he pressed and chased back to defend. Those were the positives. But once again Aubameyang looked starved of service when playing up front on his own. It's a one off game but this is a growing trend with Ozil. They touched on the spark Lacazette adds to Aubameyang's game and I expect that sort of connection with Ozil involved. I just don't know if he will ever get there. With these sort of players on the pitch, his passing should release them to do serious damage. So far, the least likely candidate, Giroud, has been his best partnership.

As for Lacazette, when we have a team performing so poorly, it's pretty harsh to criticise a 6.5 / 7 performance. He has his flaws and so does Aubameyang but their style of play may just compliment each other as stated on the podcast.

I think they are all rethinking Xhaka but have some sort of hope for him as a player and not drawing any quick conclusions. Where ai disagree with their analysis is the part on Xhaka not being the deepest midfielder to collect the ball. He started off playing that way but when pressured off the ball he kinda of stopped showing up for the ball and left it to Guendouzi. That's not a good sign.

I think as the potential biggest goal scorer we really should be focusing on getting the most out of Auba...which to my mind is the best chance we have of finishing top 4. If Laca is useful and moreover, clinical, I think the argument is strong to accommodate him in the starting lineup too but that's 'if' he is clinical. Nobody was sharp in the first game though so he get's a by, but going for power on his finishes has been a trend since last season, which I initially attributed to the frustration of Wenger's lack of faith in him and taking him off early all the time. I agree, it is useful if they can compliment each other and in the pre match talk I suggested a 3412 with both of them up top so I'm generally for it.

I think a 3412 with Ozil as the 10 and those two ahead and a few games repeating the same set up will soon see him finding them with regularity.

[Power n Glory]

I think as the potential biggest goal scorer we really should be focusing on getting the most out of Auba...which to my mind is the best chance we have of finishing top 4. If Laca is useful and moreover, clinical, I think the argument is strong to accommodate him in the starting lineup too but that's 'if' he is clinical. Nobody was sharp in the first game though so he get's a by, but going for power on his finishes has been a trend since last season, which I initially attributed to the frustration of Wenger's lack of faith in him and taking him off early all the time. I agree, it is useful if they can compliment each other and in the pre match talk I suggested a 3412 with both of them up top so I'm generally for it.

I think a 3412 with Ozil as the 10 and those two ahead and a few games repeating the same set up will soon see him finding them with regularity.

Lacazette scored 17 goals last season. Just last week or so we were talking about how we'll miss the goals and assists from Sanchez and Walcott. Do you think we can honestly leave Lacazette on the bench considering our lack of goal options?

I think you're slightly nitpicking with the power shots. If these were clear cut chances he was fluffing I'd agree with you but he was starved of service last season. We've seen worse from Welbeck, Ramsey and Giroud in terms of missed chances so whatever problem Wenger had with Lacazette, it couldn't have been his finishing. Ridiculous if so. Also, with this recent game, he has shown he can offer more than just goals with his link up play and connection with Aubameyang.

As for Ozil, he only set up 4 goals for Lacazette last season. One against Everton, one against Palace and 2 against CSKA Moscow. Aubameyang scored 10 goals last year but Ozil didn't set up a goal for him either.

Something is amiss. Ozil got 17 assists last year but he's not feeding our main strikers and our strikers are scoring but not getting much service from Ozil. We need all three working together. Seeing how Auba plays, I think Clive is right about him not being at his best when he has his back to goal, he looks like he plays better when the game is in front of him. If we intend on playing a faster style where we counter attack with pace, I don't see a problem with playing Auba out wide and scoring a load of goals. We don't have to switch to a 3412 and I think it's highly unlikely we'll see Unai play that formation anytime soon.

[Marc Overmars]

Auba definitely needs to play facing towards goal. You risk neutering a player like him who relies on his pace if you ask him to hold up and link play too much, which is why Laca should be playing with him because he's deceptively strong at that.

If anything though, they need to play together due to the lack of reliable goal scorers we currently have. Those 2 are the only ones who you can say will at least get into double figures this season.

I think we need 1 or 2 pacey players out wide and we should have signed someone like that in the transfer window. Our attacking midfielders all enjoy playing narrow and I don't think the lack of variation helps, there's practically zero threat from wide areas unless it comes from the fullbacks and that's not a sustainable threat either because they will need to defend first and foremost. It's a bit of an oversight really and I hope the scouts are working to identify a player who could fit the bill.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

He won't dream of playing 3412, Inknow that......it's just what I'd do to accomodate them both without compromising the width in the team or playing them in positions they are unhappy.

I do think we can leave Laca out, but I would prefer him to play. As I've said before I think the lack of a wide player is going to haunt us this season no matter the lineup or formation.

[Power n Glory]

Auba definitely needs to play facing towards goal. You risk neutering a player like him who relies on his pace if you ask him to hold up and link play too much, which is why Laca should be playing with him because he's deceptively strong at that.

If anything though, they need to play together due to the lack of reliable goal scorers we currently have. Those 2 are the only ones who you can say will at least get into double figures this season.

I think we need 1 or 2 pacey players out wide and we should have signed someone like that in the transfer window. Our attacking midfielders all enjoy playing narrow and I don't think the lack of variation helps, there's practically zero threat from wide areas unless it comes from the fullbacks and that's not a sustainable threat either because they will need to defend first and foremost. It's a bit of an oversight really and I hope the scouts are working to identify a player who could fit the bill.

Oh shit, we still have Joel Campbell! I had no idea.

As said on then podcast, I agree with what was said about havjng too many half and half players who can either play through the middle or out wide. On the one hand, I think we do need a Mane type but I also think we have figure out what we're going to do with certain players. As said, Auba can play wide and if successful, that leaves one slot to the right. Who we should play there is up for debate.

[Power n Glory]

He won't dream of playing 3412, Inknow that......it's just what I'd do to accomodate them both without compromising the width in the team or playing them in positions they are unhappy.

I do think we can leave Laca out, but I would prefer him to play. As I've said before I think the lack of a wide player is going to haunt us this season no matter the lineup or formation.

Because Auba looks so much better when the game is in front of him, I think he's the most suitable wide option we have. At the moment, I don't see Ozil, Mkhitaryan or Iwobi scoring a lot of goals out wide.

You think we can leave Lacazette out? Who can we play instead and what formation?

[Chippy]

Auba definitely needs to play facing towards goal. You risk neutering a player like him who relies on his pace if you ask him to hold up and link play too much, which is why Laca should be playing with him because he's deceptively strong at that.

If anything though, they need to play together due to the lack of reliable goal scorers we currently have. Those 2 are the only ones who you can say will at least get into double figures this season.

I think we need 1 or 2 pacey players out wide and we should have signed someone like that in the transfer window. Our attacking midfielders all enjoy playing narrow and I don't think the lack of variation helps, there's practically zero threat from wide areas unless it comes from the fullbacks and that's not a sustainable threat either because they will need to defend first and foremost. It's a bit of an oversight really and I hope the scouts are working to identify a player who could fit the bill.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...wage-bill.html

[Marc Overmars]

Seems like those reports at the start of the summer of us having a limited budget weren’t really far off the mark.