I don’t think it’s necessarily the main issue but its neck and neck with needing more quality, if he doesn’t make changes tactically then we aren’t winning the biggest trophies IMO
Honestly considering how we play we could have Isak and Williams and it wouldn’t have the impact some would think, we could easily still struggle against low block but have even more joy against teams that open up.
I don’t think this platform will unlock a player like Williams as is tbh and Isak may find it hard going too in certain games such as the ones we’ve been struggling in.
Regarding technical quality he clearly has this idea that being big, physical and athletic above is the way to go but if you’re not bringing the individual quality and technical assuredness then it will produce diminishing returns long term.
It’s a bit like how Wenger saw what it took to win big with a good balance of physical tools and technical proficiency and then for some idiotic reason lurched all the way to the order side with diminutive technical players who wouldn’t necessarily stand up to the battle physically, Arteta should know from his time at City that the technical ability is something you cant compromise on.
I mean you won’t get me disagreeing on the technical quality and missing a chance to slag the likes of Merino off
I want a midfield of Wirtz/Gavi - Partey - Odegaard but with Rice there as an option for both the Partey/Wirtz spots. I’ve also been begging for Jorginho to get more time recently as we’ve been missing additional creativity.
Williams I’m not so sure about, we need a Diaz who can run in behind, score and create from nothing. I keep wishing Martinelli and Trossard would merge into one player, but if we have better creation from deep then maybe just a player who gets in behind will do.
Watch Chelsea and Man City come back with a vengeance next season while we finally hit form again but then end up getting 1 point off the league due to how competitive the league is.
Take a break, immerse yourselves in a different hobby if this season is harshing your vibes. I stopped watching in the 2010s for exactly that reason, it broke my heart to see us weaken our squad every season since we left Highbury, so I took a break because it was affecting my mental health.
No-one called for George Graham to go when we finished 4th after winning the league on “Goals Scored” in 1989, a mighty yet fortuitous win.
We lose a title by a 2 points last season, then have a blip due to the worst injury crisis I’ve seen in 40 years (and admittedly some utter fuckwittery by our recruitment team) and people are losing their heads.
And if you think your mental health is fragile enough to cause depression over a football season that’s gone sideways, I urge you to seek help. Life has some much bigger challengers ahead for all of us and you need to be ready to face life’s big problems when they appear from nowhere.
I’m just in the Calum boat of wanting to fast forward the season.
Get us to the next one already I want to go again, hate waiting for the next game after a loss and this season is essentially just one big loss. It’s done we’re fucked let’s get it over.
Having to wait 5 months to start again is the annoying bit. But no breaks, suffer through and hope for some joy in the CL.
If we get to the CL final and then a great transfer window with a couple of world class attacking signings, at least this season won’t be wasted and Arteta will have something to work with.
It’s been a freak season and I think most of us would like to get it over and start again with a fitter, deeper squad. It’s disappointing but we’re in the conversation, back in the top 4 and have no reason to think we can’t improve on some sluggish performances from some clearly absolutely knackered players.
In the days when winning the league was more down to the talent managing the club rather than the money available for signings. It took George Graham 3 seasons to win the league, Wenger turned up and had a world class defence in place upon to which to build and years of experience behind him.
In the circumstances we’re in a pretty good place. Just because it’s raining today, doesn’t mean it’ll rain all summer.
If people need to take a break from their football team because its not going how they want to is a bit pathetic imo. You are basing your happiness on the result and performance of a football team which is bad.
