Here's where we are.

[Gooner23]

As I said, I've watched him play utter shit only to get MOM and an 8/10. There's some mental hype/agenda around him that most seems to have just bought into. It's fuckin weird and, frankly, doesn't do him any favors long term, imo (= fact).

As for him burning out towards the end of the season. I didn't notice that at all. I think people were actually just starting to realize that he is a total hype job at this point and rather than admit they were wrong/bought into the nonsense used fatigue as the excuse.

He was consistently poor for the entire season.

Consistently poor for the entire season? Don't be ridiculous.

[mandela8]

Consistently poor for the entire season? Don't be ridiculous.

I opened a challenge for anyone to tell me the games he was good in.

One person attempted but I stopped reading when they said summin like "terrorized Man City..."

[I am invisible]

Interesting post, man.

I think that's the optimistic angle we're all clinging to here, tbh.
Maybe all he needs is to be 'the man' and he'll rise to that. He also seems to have a lot of those intangible and mental characteristics that top players have too...

It’s absolutely the optimistic angle, but that’s all part of the fun of this time of year! You get a couple of brief months where you get to live in fantasy and pretend that we’re going to be amazing before stinking reality kicks in again - enjoy it while you can!

…It's the move from Vlahovic to him that's throwing me. They're so different I just can't understand the strategy, at all.

Yeah, I’ve mentioned the same thing several times since January - we bid for Abraham last summer, then Vlahovic in Jan, then enquired about Isak when that failed so it looked very much like there was a clear physical profile we were after. Maybe it was never anything but coincidence, though, and those three targets had more to do with availability than the fact that they’re all 6’3 / 6’4?

[I am invisible]

Just out of interest, who are the alternatives to Jesus that everyone is thinking of? Feels like there’s a bit of shortage of quality CFs out there at the moment.

[IBK]

Just out of interest, who are the alternatives to Jesus that everyone is thinking of? Feels like there’s a bit of shortage of quality CFs out there at the moment.

I'd agree with you there. There is also the supply and demand angle. Percieved top strikers are unbelievably expensive, and like it or not, AFC has to think about all round team strength. We have been burnt by making marquee signings who have not moved the dial for us, and I am pleased that we seem to be trying to be smart, and buy good talent at prices that allow us to still invest in other areas. I have no doubt that this is a big factor directing our pursuit of Jesus.

[mandela8]

All good points, You Are Invisible and IBS.

I'm struggling to think of alternatives. Other than Isak (never seen play) and Osinheim who looks absolutely legit but would no doubt cost more than Arsenal would pay. Nkunko has just renewed his contract...Lewa probably wouldn't be intradested either.

Striker isn't the kinda position you get a Vieira type signing either, tbh.

[I am invisible]

All good points, You Are Invisible and IBS.

I'm struggling to think of alternatives. Other than Isak (never seen play) and Osinheim who looks absolutely legit but would no doubt cost more than Arsenal would pay. Nkunko has just renewed his contract...Lewa probably wouldn't be intradested either.

Striker isn't the kinda position you get a Vieira type signing either, tbh.

There might be a part-x deal to be done with Roma for Abraham, if they still want Xhaka and Bellerin? Chuck in Torreira too if wants to stay in Italy! I have a feeling they’ll want an obscene amount of cash on top of that too, though.

Beyond that and the guys you mention I’m drawing a blank.

[IBK]

There's also the minimisation of risk element here. Jesus may not tick all of the boxes - particularly given what appears to be the latest trend to big physical strikers who can go toe to toe with defenders playing the low block (could Nketiah adapt here? https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/18669...tion-transfer/) - he would come with the massive advantage that Arteta knows him so well and has worked with him before. However good the scouting or player analysis this is not true for other potential targets.

Dusan Vlahovic has not replicated his form for Fiorentina at Juve since his move in January, and there is no guarantee that he would have been an immediate success for us in a more difficult league had we managed to sign him. £70 odd mil represented a massive risk in these circumstances not only because of this but because it would have meant at least one less other top signing this Summer.

Jesus is EPL ready and tested, and our manager can have greater certainty re his plans and expectations for the player. For me this trumps signing an unknown with a more 'ideal' physical profile...

[mandela8]

Again, fair points...but unless Arteta thinks they can play the same way with Jesus as they could have with Vlahovic it speaks to either a lack of strategy or change in strategy...as you have to assume there a significant element of 'getting the right player for the system'...unless I'm giving Arteta too much credit which is possible as he deserves little credit in my anyway.

[I am invisible]

He might? Again, we’re just assuming that he wanted Vlahovic because of his physical profile, but it might have always been purely about his ability to do the job we need: pressing, hold-up play, movement and goals. His size might have been nothing more than a bonus?

And tbf Arteta does have a track record of adapting and changing strategy depending on what he has to work with. When he first took over he regularly played a back 3 and wingbacks, then moved to a 4231 and more recently to 433. 433 looks like what he’s been building towards, but even now he’ll slip back to 4231 when he needs to, or chuck Holding on to make a back 3.

Looking at the core of trusted players we already have and the players we’ve been chasing this summer I wouldn’t be surprised if tactical flexibility and in-game adaptability is what we’re aiming for? A hell of a lot of those guys are comfortable in 2 or 3 different roles.