Winter Transfer Missed Opportunities and Regrets

[Niall_Quinn]

Fair point about the league cup, but we had the full team out in the FA Cup and CL when we crashed out of those, it didn't stop us winning the league (although I'll admit I feared for us when we were behind against Liverpool). I guess my overall point is if we fail to win the league then it won't be because we went out of the league cup semi-final. It'll be the lack of a striker and squad depth.

Hold on, who said we lost the title because we went out of the league cup? That's stripping away every context and leaving just the bare frame. The argument is the attitude we just saw in the transfer window and now the semi final is instructive. It's not as if we lost the semi, it's we didn't turn up. Then we watch Liverpool in the same competition smash it. People who say this doesn't matter, that momentum is irrelevant, that the attitude you take into games can be selective - are clutching at straws, especially as we have been here multiple times before.

Now you can add in the ludicrous state of the squad, pile it on top. Yeah, the squad is a joke, but that doesn't forgive the terrible attitude of the club and then the team following on from that 5-1 - what did we used to call it? FALSE DAWN.

[Letters]

Saka will be like a new signing

[Niall_Quinn]

Saka will be like a new signing

Yeah like a new signing for some other club if we don't start making at least a semi-convincing attempt to win something.

[Niall_Quinn]

Gabriel Martinelli
Martinelli limped off the pitch during Arsenal's clash against Newcastle in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old winger, who appeared to suffer a hamstring injury, was replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.

What Arteta has said: "Yes, he felt something. I think it was his hamstring and he wasn't comfortable to continue so we'll have to do an MRI scan tomorrow to see the extent of the injury."

Expected return date: Unknown.

Ben White
White has been sidelined with a knee injury since November. The 27-year-old defender, who underwent surgery, had been suffering from a joint problem before that and he's yet to return to the first team.

What Arteta has said: "No news from the game against City and Ben is still out, hopefully after the break he will be available."

Expected return date: February 2025.

Bukayo Saka
Saka suffered a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace in December. The 23-year-old winger, who also had to undergo surgery, has been spotted at several Arsenal games at the Emirates Stadium recently. He all smiles when the Gunners defeated Manchester City on Sunday night.

What Arteta has said: "We don’t know how long he is out and how many games he can play. I don't know [when Saka will return]."

Expected return date: March 2025.

Takehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu remains out of action with a knee injury. The 26-year-old defender missed the large majority of last season with a calf problem and he's played just six minutes this term.

What Arteta has said: "Tomiyasu is going to be out as well for a period."

Expected return date: Unknown.

Gabriel Jesus
Jesus suffered an ACL injury in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United last month. The 27-year-old striker has had surgery on his left knee and now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

What Arteta has said: "Not looking good at all. But we need to review with the specialist and will have more information this afternoon. I don't want to confirm anything until we have the final report this afternoon. We were very worried straight after the game and we are very worried today."

Expected return date: Summer 2025.

EDIT: Martinelli out for a month.

[Chippy]

EDIT: Martinelli out for a month.

Oh no! At least we got a striker in before.....oh, hang on!

[Niall_Quinn]

What about Mbeumo and Semenyo? Are they still out of contract? Can we get them in as bodies before we run out of players entirely? They'd take a few quid to provide a bit of cover wouldn't they?

It's impossible to think we can get through the remainder of the season without somebody. Unless the plan is to call in the reserves and literally go for the PL and CL with the reserve team.

[dazthegooner]

We could always call up Max Dowman though they would have to make sure he's done his homework first...

[Niall_Quinn]

Nah, they both signed contracts. Diego Costa is available, we could always ring the pasta place and see if he's up for a runout?

[Niall_Quinn]

We could always call up Max Dowman though they would have to make sure he's done his homework first...

Do we really want him to play his first season in the treatment room? Could affect his confidence.

[Niall_Quinn]

I can play on Wednesdays? Can anyone cover the weekend slots?