At least our lineup and performance yesterday will put to bed the theory that Arteta was starting Jorginho for our ball progression instead of defensive security. It just never made sense considering the fixtures Jorginho started which were out of choice rather than necessity due to injuries.

Also, Havertz was good yesterday but it’s not because he was playing the role of a second phase midfielder. Rather it was Odegaard who did it - one of the few times he’s played the role this season, with the other times being against PSV, Lens away, and Bournemouth to a lesser extent. Odegaard’s touch maps in these fixtures were incredible, almost box-to-box like instead of being usually stuck next to Saka playing 1-2’s.

Maybe United will come for Ramsdale.

I guess Dias’ days under Pep are numbered.

He is still better than Jorginho defensively, and Rice will have a bit more freedom to go forward (or maybe Partey will be the one going forward).

You can’t win against the Parteycels. No matter how many numbers you bring up, or explain how opponents approach us differently, or suggest we may have even changed our approach, or that a pass through the middle needs a recipient capable of receiving among opposition defenders, they insist that Partey will single-handedly solve the issue.

At the very least, we’d have another high volume passer in midfield.

I also checked out Baena but he seems closer to a #10, but maybe we can get away with him and Odegaard in midfield against some teams the way we can with Vieira. The thing about the left 8 Mikel wants is that the role, on the defensive side, is not just about workrate but also being physical enough to win duels in midfield.

For me I’d really like a 8/6 hybrid in that role, one who can also play alongside Jorginho if Rice is out. If we can’t find that silver bullet (I really doubt we’ll get Luiz), then we can try for the pure 8/10, and maybe get a young prospect for the 6.

Have you seen anything in Havertz to show that he can contribute in the second phase similar to Xhaka? I don’t have doubts about his workrate, physicality and attacking threat of course.

I personally think Havertz wasn’t bought to be our left 8 in the long term but as an attacking option, and Partey’s injury is the only reason he is playing there as much as he currently does.

Hard to believe. What then are we really paying our other players?

Does anyone have a link to the post saying that penalties were too OP?

Struggle to see us selling ESR.

I confess that I find the midfielder market overpriced and underwhelming that I still hope we can find some internal solution.

What then does Odegaard’s role become?

A single frame doesn’t really help since the players were moving and it’s a split second decision. The defender might have even intercepted the pass.

I was more annoyed at how little power he gave the shot, like he was trying to place it from that distance.

Think we’ll eventually get to that point in the league where Martinelli and Jesus have to fight it out for the left wing. Martinelli might still prevail if we get a creative LCM, and Jesus will probably find more success in the champions league where we don’t always face deep blocks and aggressive defenders (Lens away being an exception here). I question whether I’m being knee-jerk but the signs this season haven’t been great.

Odegaard?

Does Trossard LCM mean Odegaard will be more involved in buildup and hence play in a slightly deeper role?

My two cents regarding league table fetishism. It’s just not Arsenal fans but I’ve seen it in a lot of rival subs as well, where some fans seem more concerned about the league table position beyond the three points. Of course points directly determine league table position but some people become fixated on the table beyond the points, ignoring fixtures and plenty of other context. I remember when we lost to Newcastle and suddenly for some fans it was not about the three points dropped but the fact that we might end the match week out of the top 4. I’m seeing the same today regarding our fixture against Brentford.

It’s funny because if anyone should know it’s us Arsenal fans considering our history of topping league tables in the earlier parts of the season.

Surely Alvarez leaves City this summer. He is never going to displace Haaland and also not good enough in that attacking midfield role.

Still think Jesus has given the best winger performance for us against City. It was against Gvardiol, who I highly rate, but I’d like to also see him against Ake or Walker.