22 Jul 2017 07:32:52
I've always been very loyal for our players, supporting them and always hoping for them to play as well as they can. And i still am. What has changed, however, is that i wouldn't care if most of the first team players were sold.
I would keep the following players.
Cech
Koscielny
Özil
Alexis
And the new signings because it would be pointless to sell them already.
All the rest - if we receive a good offer for anyone and have a replacement waiting i wouldn't be against them going. Mustafi to Van Dijk? Xhaka to Carvalho? Ramsey to Brozovic or Matuidi? Ox to Mahrez? No problem.
The thing is some of these players don't need replacing. For example Ramsey could function very well in this new formation. Also Xhaka and Mustafi might improve as their first disappointing season is behind them. But most of the players can be replaced and even improved upon so for good money why not do it?
22 Jul 2017 08:08:57
I agree. Wenger always says 'we are looking for players to improve us', but he rarely improves the best 11, just improves the squad with 6.5/ 10 players.
22 Jul 2017 08:23:15
The problem is not so much the quality of the players but the collective mentality within the squad.
One player stands out who hasn't subconsciously slipped into top 4 is success mode and he's leaving.
So many players have been with us so long and they have without realising it lost that hunger to be the very best.
We are the only club in the last 10 seasons to have lead the table on new years day and not gone on to win the premier league that season and we've done it twice,
If we are near the top we subconsciously and collectively take our foot off the pedal when top 4 looks comfortable and if we are behind we always kick into fighting more and put a run together to make sure we get our target by the last day of the season, ok last season we got it wrong.
This has been the trend for over a decade now and it simply isn't coincidence is obviously the mentality running through the club.
I think it stems from paying for the stadium and everyone accepted top 4 was good enough for a while and that competing might be beyond us for a little while, the trouble is the vast majority of the club fans players and Arsene too just can't shake off that subconscious feeling of inferiority and reaching for the excuse book.
22 Jul 2017 08:58:29
Just to add, if buying player was our only problem why didn't getting Mesut Sanchez and Cech improve us rather than take us backwards?
It's not about yesterday and pointing fingers at individuals or groups it's about collectively coming together and accepting that the mentality running the club is a real problem and setting about changing it.
We need to set an ambitious target for the players and manager to achieve and get them to collectively accept as the required standard for a club like Arsenal to maintain their current positions within the club.
I'm sure this next bit would make the most of the squad, Arsene and many fans gulp :-) but here goes!
80 points next season or big changes in personel will follow and absolutely no one will be immune from accountability, no one.
If Spurs can get 86 points is 80 points really an unfair target to set for Arsenal to achieve?
22 Jul 2017 10:33:55
That's easy 62. It's because we buy a decent player and have F all round him to support him and expect him to work miracles.