After a slumpy and slightly worrying end of the first half of the EPL last year, we started this year with a bang…courtesy of set-pieces to unlock the game through Gabriel and then great counter-attacking efforts expertly concluded by Trossard and Martinelli. 5-0 at home against a sorry Crystal Palace and here are the talking points:

A) We are cementing our reputation as a lethal offensive set-pieces team.

B) Raya does not give me much confidence in terms of shot-stopping and he is losing confidence with his passing too, at least with his feet.

C) Saka seemed in good form and so did Odegaard while Trossard continues to show his intelligence on the pitch.

D) Two goals for our Brazilian CB and a double for our Brazilian Winger… We need goals from everyone.

E) Zinchenko was very comfortable in the game but the opposition was weak.

F) Hoping that Gabs and Rice just have little niggles. We need them!

G) Top 4 will be a tough battle – I don’t see Liverpool nor City losing many points so we are going to be fighting with Villa and Spurs for the remaining two spots and it will not be easy. Without some smart and effective purchases this winter, we will not be able to battle it out with the Scousers nor the Citizens for the title.

Raya, White, Saliba, Rice, Havertz, Jesus – 6

Saka, Zinchenko, Odegaard – 7

Trossard, Martinelli – 8

Gabriel – 9

Other subs: N/A

• Out of the League Cup, out of the FA Cup…
• Still in the hunt for the EPL and still qualified for the CL

But more worryingly, we are struggling to win games for the last 5 weeks and we are also not able to put a shift to “at least, not lose”. We are not even playing poorly but we are not decisive in our own box and especially not in the opposition box. Goals are not coming via our defenders (White, Zinchenko, Sailba, Gabriel), our midfielders (Ode, Jorginho, Havertz) and not even our forwards…

Also, I feel like our back 4 is definitely not as strong as people think it is. Always feels that Zinchenko can be caught, Gabs can be bullied and that White-Saliba can get confused…Raya is not so decisive and Ramsdale is losing confidence and he may want toleave in Jan now that we are out of national Cups…

Everyone is pointing at G. Jesus but Saka and Martinelli not really performing and Trossard not being as decisive as before. Nketiah and ESR are not given much playing time. Havertz is still looking for his scoring boots while Odegaard continues to create good chances but is not scoring himself…

So the point is that we need someone who can put the ball inside the net. Toney will stay with his club for now, Solanke is having a resurgence but no guarantees that he will leave Bornemouth so…who is left? Not many players…I am thinking we should try (a) Jonas Wind (Wolfsburg) or (b) Arnautovic (Inter). I think both players could be swayed into joining us. Jonas has a great goal ratio and is really improving since last season, he will have the energy to also play for us while Arnautovic provides a great anchor point up front “a la Giroud” although he is not young anymore so he is more of an impact player to bring to unlock games during the games themselves but he is tall, strong and can hold the ball well and has a good goal ratio as well and can take good freekicks too.

I would not be against brining in a CB and a DM too. Kiwior has been way below par wherever he has been playing and we cannot only rely on him and then we have a good DM/CM group but with El Neny at the ACN and Partey yet to fully recover, we need another player…For the DM/CM, I think Koopmeiners would be a very good addition but also, and of course, D. Luiz and Paulinha are also to be considered even if Arteta likes Zubimendi a lot. For the CB and since it is a squad position, I would not mind Tarkowski or Branthwaite.

Raya – White, Saliba, Gabs, Zinc – Rice, Havertz – Ode – Saka, WIND, Marti

Rams – Tomy (once back), Kiwior (boo), Tarko, Cedric (boo) – Partey, KOOP – ESR – Jesus, Eddie, Trossard

Anyways, feeling grim about our chances to even remain in top 4 at this point…

Few players that may ask to leave: Ramsdale, ESR, Nelson and maybe even Eddie