Winter Transfer Missed Opportunities and Regrets

[IBK]

It is by its very definition an anomaly because it deviates from what normally has been produced by Arsenal in recent years, and my point is that it’s simply too soon to categorise it definitively as being anything more.

If you’re asking have we been the best team in the league so far this season, the objective answer going by the league table as well as from deriving an opinion from watching us play is yes.

The Germans refer to the team that is top of the table at the half way point as the Autumnmeister, in the last ten years I think Dortmund have been Autumnmeister on more than one occasion but have ended up falling considerably short of Bayern in the end of season table.

We have to go to Liverpool, we have to go to Newcastle, we have to play City twice. All games we could comfortably lose and then our eight point advantage is potentially a four point deficit. And with Newcastle and United closer to City than they are to us, it wouldn’t take an epic disaster to see us tumble out of the top four.

And will City pick up points on a continual basis from January to May?, I don’t know…but historical precedence shows they are more than capable of it, as are Liverpool, as are Spurs…the only teams untested in that regard is Newcastle and Man United under Ten Haag.

We’ve enjoyed a good start to the season, but yes it’s not a reflection on us that we are where we are because a lot of teams have suffered indifferent form (Chelsea nowhere, Liverpool inconsistent, Spurs in a funk and City by their ridiculously high standards and a freak of nature goalscorer have been below par)

Understand all that. But on the anomaly point - football progresses, and while you can of course say that our league position is a divergence from recent years I don't think that you can look at past seasons to assume that this trend will continue for Arsenal this season. The evidence is before our eyes. Arsenal is clearly a team on an upward trajectory and extrapolating from our performances this season suggests that we will finish in the top places. Its a question of belief, really. Yes we need to play teams that may be competing for top four, but we have already beaten Spurs twice for the first time in 8 seasons; Liverpool; Chelsea twice in the last year. We have found consistency that we lacked formerly and there is more reason for reason for optimism than for assuming we will lose against all the teams you have mentioned.

What I take issue with is the suggestion that we are only where we are because the traditional top teams have been inconsistent. Again, football evolves and with the money and talent flowing to the EPL other teams are undoubtedly uppoing their game, and this is to an extent why we are seeing 'anomalous' results week on week. So far, we are the team that has weathered this storm best.

I agree that we may fall short of the title - and the main reason for this (if it happens) will be fatigue and injuries that mean we can't play our first 11. But based on the evidence of this season my prediction is that the inconsistency of our competitors is more likely to continue than not.

[IBK]

Finally, we got there



The funny thing, besides Mudryk, which we royally bungled, I have not insisted we sign anyone.

I have been consistent about my assessment of the team, our weakness is in the centre, we get someone of quality there then I am more than happy. But if we bungle the title because our weakness comes back to haunt us (and more importantly we did nothing about addressing it) I will hold the club responsible. Simple.

Every single post I have put out is saying the club should IMO be trying their best off the pitch (go the extra mile) because I am not seeing any evidence that suggests they are.

BTW I doubt anyone can accuse me of panicking or being on the edge, surely that label is better suited to those who refuse to accept the obvious i.e. we are favourites and will clinch a CL place.

I actually agree with a lot of what you're saying here. But like HCZ my view is that if there is a criticism to make over our transfer business it is more pertinent to look at last Summer rather than this January - which tends to be a transfer season for panic buys rather than proper squad planning. I think the truth is that back in the Summer, the club was not expecting to be in a title race. The real disappointment of Mudryk was that he did not fit into the panic buy category, but did we bungle this? I don't really think so. At this point the 'bungle' won't be failing to break the bank on a largely untested player, it will be not having a Plan B to strengthen the squad sensibly to at least try to capitalise on where we find ourselves. I'll reserve judgment on this point until the end of the window.

[selassie]

Understand all that. But on the anomaly point - football progresses, and while you can of course say that our league position is a divergence from recent years I don't think that you can look at past seasons to assume that this trend will continue for Arsenal this season. The evidence is before our eyes. Arsenal is clearly a team on an upward trajectory and extrapolating from our performances this season suggests that we will finish in the top places. Its a question of belief, really. Yes we need to play teams that may be competing for top four, but we have already beaten Spurs twice for the first time in 8 seasons; Liverpool; Chelsea twice in the last year. We have found consistency that we lacked formerly and there is more reason for reason for optimism than for assuming we will lose against all the teams you have mentioned.

What I take issue with is the suggestion that we are only where we are because the traditional top teams have been inconsistent. Again, football evolves and with the money and talent flowing to the EPL other teams are undoubtedly uppoing their game, and this is to an extent why we are seeing 'anomalous' results week on week. So far, we are the team that has weathered this storm best.

I agree that we may fall short of the title - and the main reason for this (if it happens) will be fatigue and injuries that mean we can't play our first 11. But based on the evidence of this season my prediction is that the inconsistency of our competitors is more likely to continue than not.

Top post as usual IBK and it's where I see things too so I am in total agreement. The performances and results over the past year clearly back up the emergence of this team as a true title contender. We are not top because our rivals are perceived to be struggling, we are top because our performances and results have been near flawless this season. The signs were there last season.

Taking this into consideration, I have had a good think and I am prepared to wait to an extent for us to buy the "right" players at the "right" time. If it means no purchases this window then so be it. We will finish where we will finish and I don't really think any signing will guarantee the title at this point in time anyway.

I guess what I am saying is at this point I will put trust in Arteta and Edu to improve the squad with the right signings and not just a signing for the sake of it.

[Marc Overmars]

Linked with Declan Rice for a summer move.

Would be probably cost something stupid but I quite like him and I think he’d be a good fit.

[selassie]

Linked with Declan Rice for a summer move.

Would be probably cost something stupid but I quite like him and I think he’d be a good fit.

https://www.theguardian.com/football...st-ham-chelsea

Yeah just seen that and have seen he is open to a move. Not sure how we will pull this one off as I think Chelsea will undoubtedly get involved, Man United too...though I think he wants to stay in London so it's between us and Chelsea. Chelsea will do their usual most likely though regardless of whether they can actually find a place for them in their team

[Marc Overmars]

Understand all that. But on the anomaly point - football progresses, and while you can of course say that our league position is a divergence from recent years I don't think that you can look at past seasons to assume that this trend will continue for Arsenal this season. The evidence is before our eyes. Arsenal is clearly a team on an upward trajectory and extrapolating from our performances this season suggests that we will finish in the top places. Its a question of belief, really. Yes we need to play teams that may be competing for top four, but we have already beaten Spurs twice for the first time in 8 seasons; Liverpool; Chelsea twice in the last year. We have found consistency that we lacked formerly and there is more reason for reason for optimism than for assuming we will lose against all the teams you have mentioned.

What I take issue with is the suggestion that we are only where we are because the traditional top teams have been inconsistent. Again, football evolves and with the money and talent flowing to the EPL other teams are undoubtedly uppoing their game, and this is to an extent why we are seeing 'anomalous' results week on week. So far, we are the team that has weathered this storm best.

I agree that we may fall short of the title - and the main reason for this (if it happens) will be fatigue and injuries that mean we can't play our first 11. But based on the evidence of this season my prediction is that the inconsistency of our competitors is more likely to continue than not.

Agreed. Our current points haul would have us challenging for the league every season and is also in keeping with the ridiculous runs Man City and Liverpool have had in recent years. So I don’t believe the form of others has had much to do with it, we’ve been incredibly good bar the Leeds game which I think we can all agree we were lucky to win.

However granted, things can turn very quickly and this week is one of those moments. United could be 3 points behind us by Sunday evening and then suddenly there’s a very different feel about things.

No doubt this team has earned more trust than any Arsenal side has over the past 10-15 years though. So it’s not a given that mistakes of the past will come back to haunt us. We’re playing better than we ever have done but most importantly winning a lot of games that we previously wouldn’t have.

[IBK]

Agreed. Our current points haul would have us challenging for the league every season and is also in keeping with the ridiculous runs Man City and Liverpool have had in recent years. So I don’t believe the form of others has had much to do with it, we’ve been incredibly good bar the Leeds game which I think we can all agree we were lucky to win.

However granted, things can turn very quickly and this week is one of those moments. United could be 3 points behind us by Sunday evening and then suddenly there’s a very different feel about things.

No doubt this team has earned more trust than any Arsenal side has over the past 10-15 years though. So it’s not a given that mistakes of the past will come back to haunt us. We’re playing better than we ever have done but most importantly winning a lot of games that we previously wouldn’t have.

Yep - although United will be six points behind us if they beat us

[Marc Overmars]

Yep - although United will be six points behind us if they beat us

They’ve got Palace tomorrow night.

Not sure why we’re not playing Everton, as I believe they’re the fixtures that were postponed when the Queen died.

[selassie]

Yep - although United will be six points behind us if they beat us

I am hoping they drop points at Palace because they are quietly going about their business and racking up the points. United are a good side, but I personally think we are the better team. It's going to be a decent game on Sunday, pretty close and quite tense but if we play to our strengths then at the worst we will draw IMO.

[IBK]

https://www.theguardian.com/football...st-ham-chelsea

Yeah just seen that and have seen he is open to a move. Not sure how we will pull this one off as I think Chelsea will undoubtedly get involved, Man United too...though I think he wants to stay in London so it's between us and Chelsea. Chelsea will do their usual most likely though regardless of whether they can actually find a place for them in their team

Yes I was intrigued by this. I understand that Arsenal 'leaked' the news, so trying to understand why this potentially helps this potetial transfer...