Look at the stats for our defence between 2012-2014 and our defence between 2021 - 2023. Those teams conceded way fewer goals than this current Arsenal.
Could Koscielny play next to Saliba?
So we could switch them around. I’d also consider Mert ahead of Kosh, especially considering the “how to defend like a big fucking german” meme that was making the rounds around then.
Potentially. I think Rice’s pricetag is what’s been swaying me. But yeah, Partey is definitely a better player, pound for pound. I imagine Rice will be more consistent though.
That team got knocked out by Bradford spawning one of the most insane thread title reads in OA history, they’re dead to me either way. Couldn’t top Schalke in CL groups then got pumped out by Bayern. Then the season after we got spanked in almost every big game away (6-3, 5-1, 6-0). Then Bayern pumped us again, after failing to top the group with Dortmund. I won’t even start with Monaco.*
Cant help but say im beyond excited to see this new team play together.
How will we set up, how will these new players perform in a new club, new style.
Oh yes, there was a period of about 10-12 years when we were getting a right old spanking whenever we came up against a big team, or that’s how it seemed. It was a humiliating period, even if we did win the FA Cup a couple of times.
Regular wins against big teams is where we still have to improve but it seems like it’s been quite a while since we were on the wrong side of a proper hammering. Even if the three matches in Manchester felt like it last season.
The reason I put those questions forward is because I can’t recall such a flexible transfer window in terms of players signed. Even in January we pretty much knew where kiwior, trossard and jorginho would play. Now it’s not as clear.
The question to be answered by arteta now would be - will rotation and reorganisation effect consistency. Especially on the back of such a productive season.
For those who voted for rice as a defensive midfielder, would you be looking for someone new to replace xhaka, or is havertz already the solution?
Monreal scored some crucial FA Cup goals. Just so happens the Ox assisted both too. Thank fuck we walked away from the previous decade with some trophies.
The new defenders we have are better on paper, but the old defenders still conceded fewer goals than our new defence, so I’m still a bit “meh” with our defence at the moment. I feel like Saliba is the strongest paper over what are some serious cracks tbh.
Our defence cause 90% of our problems. I can only think of a handful of times where our defence was actually bested due to opposition talent. Unfortunately, we just love to gift the opposition goals for no reason.
Not only have we signed great players, we’ve done our business quickly.
So at the end of this transfer window It’s going to be strange not to be glued to the TV watching us scrabble around the bargain basement for players no other club wants.
We’ll leave that to mid table clubs like spurs, Chelsea and Man U.
This is what it feels like to be a supporter of a big spending, ambitious European club, and I like it.
