If you were Unai Emery and could buy only one player in the January window, which position in the team do you think is in the greatest need of reinforcement or improvement?
I don’t usually look at the ‘we’re after this player or that player’ clickbait articles, so I haven’t really got a scooby what sort of player the manager is supposedly interested in (that’s if it’s even vaguely possible to deduce such a thing from completely fabricated stories 🙂 ).
Personally, I think we need someone to link the midfield and attack, like a Santi Cazorla type player. Though a case could be made for left side wing attack even with Wobbly having had such a fine season there so far. Deffo don’t like Auba there.
A young left back with international pedigree, a ball-playing centre back who’s great in the air, maybe a new glove butler?
What do you think?
chas
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
So Chas, my last comment on yesterday’s post says it all for me.!!
Think we have a potential “Santi Cazorla” in AM-M and now need an all energy, up and down, right sided, attacking wing back defender, who scores and assists. Not much to ask!
Almiron could be the man, perhaps, maybe, probably the best……
Morning.
When I first saw the question I thought this is going to be easy until I had to chose and then realised just how hard it is.
My first thought was right side attack, someone to play ahead of Bellerin so we no longer have to suffer Mikhitaryan out there or even worse Ozil. But then I thought what would that do to Nelson?
I agree with LBG that we have all the midfield we need with Guendozui and AM-N coming along nicely.
CF is covered, happy with the keeper, no probs with Bellerin, no probs with Nacho although either a replacement or and youngster in the summer must be a priority.
I am starting to chase my tail, If I had to chose one who I thought would really help us from now to the end of the season it would be right mid attack, Nelson may or may not make the step up to the EPL and he can also play on the left.
So my vote – right wing back
Morning All,
“glove butler” 😀
As LB wrote this was more difficult than expected. My immediate thought was left back. A significant injury to Nacho, who is geriatric for his position and we are in the excrement.
CB’s – we have back up when fit and some good kids.
MF: Fully staffed.
Left Attack. Wobbly does a job and PEA seems the managers choice.
Right attack: Shoehorn job, but nothing will happen until summer when UE is likely to be busy buying and in particular selling. We certainly need someone and I would like to see a proper winger signed.
But in January? A left back for me.
This is the phrase I most like from Freddie’s assessment of Dick’s changes -(we are now playing) ” football with a purpose”.
If that doesn’t sum up the main problem with AW’s last two years I don’t know what does.
A solid CB who controls the defence will set us right in Jan. Look at what dick van dyke did for LFC.
Also LB’s comment yesterday on getting Dido to start writing a post for Monday had me put something together.
Its not at the same standard as the regulars on AA but if you get desperate and want to edit the crap out of it, cuts bits, rewrite it, add pictures etc. feel free to use it.
I emailed it through.
VP. Thanks
VP
I can’t see anything in the arsenalnuts@live.co.uk inbox???
Can you check if you sent to the write mail address, please?
Chas I sent it to aol email but have now resent it to live.co.uk
Cheers, man, it’s arrived.
Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Morning all, thanks for al the posts recently guys.
I voted Right wing attack as I don’t like the SP.RH scenario. I agree left back is a concern and I fully expect us to bring in an LB in the summer when we will have more time to find the right player. Hopefully an attacking right winger can chip in with a few goals. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I’m disappointed in Mikhi … but he is only a squad player for me. Bellerin needs someone in front of him who will also track back.
Everton ladies v Arsenal women 12.30pm
Definitely available on the red button BBC.
Looks like it might be on website, too.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/45838129
Shouldn’t ozil be the guy to link the attack
Hi Fred. I don’t like Ozil on the right, do you?
Fred
Mesut plays wherever he wants. That linking player I was suggesting needs to be available just in front of Granit and Terrier (or Douzi) all of the time. Mesut isn’t because he’s a number 10.
Here’s his heat map against Wolves to illustrate how widespread his touches are.
I really wish I understood that Chas and I mean that without the slightest tone of contention. I understand that Ozil plays where ever he wants but like Fred I thought that he was supposed to play ahead of Xhaka and Torriera.
Are you suggesting a replacement for Ozil? What am I missing?
I’ve got my own ideas about why we look like two separate halves of a team when the front 4 get isolated.
I just don’t think Mesut provides that link. He obviously does play ahead of Granit and Torreira, but ‘where ahead’ is the question. The answer is anywhere he likes which means he isn’t often available for a forward pass from either of those two. I’d like a player that was available more often than not.
The player I’d be after would be a 360 degree player, equally adept which ever part of the compass he’s facing. Santi’s two-footedness helped him in this respect. I’m not sure Mesut is that good with his back to goal – his strength is when facing forwards.
Still, what do I know. 🙂
LB
The linking player in a nominal 433 would be hopefully the slightly more forward, more creative, more capable of beating opposition player of the middle three. His creativity will link him either with Mesut or (for me) with Aubang and Lacs playing off each other. I suggest AM-N is the man.
Now it makes sense (I think) you would like to see a younger fit Cazorla to replace Ozil.
Fair enough, as for what do you know, that should surely be, what do we know, but hey ho that’s the fun isn’t it?
A M-N could be the answer, I certainly hope so.
I’d probably like a younger fitter Santi just behind Mesut and two up front.
Hello Guys,
Nice Post, Chas, but missing a key option in the “vote’ box — “none of the above” – for those of us who have seen very few games — AKA – none – but I am not sure about the Arsenal GK, also known as ‘finding Leno’.
To be candid, I have had to rely to a large extent on having the sports pages read to me — and we all know they are amazingly accurate. Not.
With the benefit of reading the comments above, I would choose an update on the left back position, but I am not too keen on Mustafi either from what I saw last season — can I have two choices? Or three, with the ‘none of the above’ option if it were available.
Good chatting/reading. 🙃
The Ladies, sorry, Women’s team did well again. A 4-0 away win and ToTL.
——————–Leno
Bellerin, Someone, Koscielny, Monreal
————Torriera——–Xhaka
————Younger, fitter, Cazorla
———————-Ozil
————Striker——–Striker
Or maybe it is this
——————–Leno
Bellerin, Someone, Koscielny, Monreal
——–Torriera—-YFC—-Xhaka
———————-Ozil
————Striker——–Striker
I think I am starting to get it, actually that is quite exciting.
I have sat here for a good 15 minutes thinking about that and realise I cant see how it will work at all.
LB
It probably won’t work at all – a bit like the 4-2-3-1 employed by Unai at the moment!
For example, when the front 4 got completely disconnected from the back 6 as in the first half against Wolves.
p. s. Your first formation was what I meant and I think Unai has inadvertently tried it to some extent already but with using Ramsey as the Cazorla man. Trouble is Rambo has no discipline and plays too far forward.
We just haven’t got the players for the current system. Need two decent wingers! Haha, I’m talking real bollix now!
I say inadvertently because Mesut was meant to be playing wide right but ended up in his usual position central-ish.
Soz, I’m back working again today, so pushed for time.
NEW POST