I know, and my point is, if we use a front three of Sanchez + Ozil + Welbeck is a front three with only one reliable goal-scorer. No other top European side has such a toothless front three.
Yep. He's not Robben, Bale or Hazard which any elite team needs. But he can do a job for the squad. As you say - Arsenal do need one elite winger.
Apparently the internet has decided that one win over City is enough to shift all the blame from Wenger onto Kroenke. Idiots. He still needs to go. Can't wait for the contract extension to be lauded when announced this week.
I don't think we ever stood a chance against PSG. A bigger gripe is us no longer being able to spot continental talents anymore. Leicester spotted Kante, we didn't. Their new boy Ndidi already looks like a proper player. Definitely looks better than Coq. We went for Gabriel in the same season as Toby Alderweireld moved. Our pivot to British core hasn't produced a single world-class player, while Spurs have for Englishmen in the PFA TotY (although we can't count Kane since he's all Spurs.) Dele Alli in particular looks every bit the player many hoped Ramsey would be.
Has there been a better servant to the club in the last 4-5 years than Nacho? Not flashy but plays his heart out every game, pops up for the occasional big goal and generally plays well for this team. Really like the guy. I think if everyone on this team played as hard as he does, they'd have won a lot more games.
Actually read the other day that we had a deal agreed to buy both Kante & Lemar from Caen for 12.5 million but backed out of the deal. Soon after Kante when to Leicester and Lemar to Monaco. Don't think our issue is spotting talent. Issue is that Wenger is far to slow to pull the trigger. He scouts players for so long that other clubs swoop in and get them before he makes up his mind. Or he gets a deal setup and second guesses the decision.
Wenger hasn't had any alpha on talent since the Cesc/Ade/Nasri/RvP group that he sold off That's 8 odd years go. Ozil and Alexis he paid market for He hasn't discovered anyone else.
Everyone has the same info on all these players who are scouted to death. The key is knowing how much to pay for them. That's how come BvB managed to sign lots of elite players - they have better market knowledge that Wenger.
This is what is so maddening for me and again goes back to what I said about papering over the cracks. We struggle to beat a horrid Middlesbrough but still beat them, then beat a City team that, on its best days, has abject defending (along with some very lucky calls and woodwork bounces)...and suddenly Wenger is once again hailed as a tactical master and got his mojo back. Really? Haven't we seen this before....say the last ten years or so? He'll sign a new deal, say that things will change and whatnot, and things will remain exactly the same sadly.
That's where Arsenal are now. They either don't have the money or choose not to spend the money for the absolute top talents.
Since Wenger is being so exciting with his formations, he should go for a 3-4-1-2 formation and have Sanchez alongside Giroud/Welbeck. Cech Gabriel -- Kos -- Holding Ox -- Ramsey -- Xhaka -- Monreal Ozil Giroud -- Sanchez
Well, yeah save for Sanchez being behind Giroud instead of alongside him. Let Sanchez and Welbeck start with Ozil as a true #10 behind them with a free role. Danny may never become a true goalscorer, but alongside Sanchez pulling and stretching the back four relentlessly is going to exhaust opponents.
Wenger's constant comments about how much Rob Holding cost makes me think he wants the next statue to be a replica of the transfer contract. Nobody gives a shit how much Holding cost. Everybody gives a shit if the transfers can play. I notice that he's not boasting about not using Lucas even though he might be the second best forward on the team.
Disagree. Arsenal have tried to sign a number of top players. But end up competing with the likes of Real Barca Bayern Juve. And it's rare that Arsenal win that battle.
Not sure I can blame the club for that: Madrid hiked up the price (and in 2013, 32 million would have been a lot), and the club really thought they could get Suarez for 40. It didn't work, but I think it was the right decision.