Biskitt

Interesting article here about our possession and conserving energy. Martinez has the most time on the ball of all players in the premier league and Pau and Konsa also rank in the top 10 which allows us the team to have a break. Only 3 teams have covered less ground than us this season as well. Smarter not harder

In a weird way, I wonder if Troy Deeney recent comments about him might have inadvertently assisted us. Ollie seems like such a nice, unassuming bloke but wonder if the comments riled him up a bit and gave him a point to prove? He properly had the bit between his teeth in that second half and was virtually unplayable. I know he's normally pretty relentless but it was like he'd gone up another level again. The human psychology is a strange thing at times. Not giving Troy any credit for it mind, he's still an absolute bellend who's not fit to lace Ollie's boots.

Exactly who I want as well, good player and would give us that new right back we want whilst also being able to play in other positions as cover too

I saw that Rafa Silva at Benfica is out of contract in the summer. 30 years old, plays as a number 10 but can also play wide and has 20+ caps for Portugal as well. 7 goals and 6 assists in 22 league and champions league games this season. Always thought he looked a good player and could be someone to potentially pick up relatively cheaply to add more firepower/options up front?

Lenglet excellent, passing his been Pau-like. Ramsey needs to wake up a bit, we've actually been poor since the 2nd goal and need to stop giving the ball away so cheaply in midfield

I think another loan to a top level championship club or lower premiership league club (like Burnley) would be ideal so we can see if he can consistently deliver over a full season. If he can, great. We either have an asset that could be worth £25m next year or a player we can integrate into our squad. If his performances are a bit sporadic and he has injuries again, I still think we'd fetch around the £10m that's being quoted now. I don't have a problem with the club selling academy players (and for FFP I think it's going to be vital moving forwards) but I think he's someone we need a little more patience with

I watched the game back last night. Kamara played a lovely ball for Archer to win the penalty and also played a great, long crossfield ball to Digne in the lead up to our first goal. He was maybe a bit quieter in his aggression (it is pre-season) but for me, he has to start because of his defensive qualities. Can't remember a time when we had this quality of options in our central midfield though? Great problem to have

I watch the weekly highlights for Ligue 1 and he seemed to score or contribute every week last season and looked like one of the best players in the league. I've always liked him and if we can get him back to that level for a minimal outlay, it's a no brainer for me.

I really don't get some of the negativity although not surprised. It's his first pre-season with the players, some of whom probably wouldn't have considered joining us without him and he's trying out players in different formations in non competitive games. Isn't that the point of pre-season games? Yes the first half was a bit shit but it showed that we have a stronger squad now than we've had for years and the competition for places should keep everyone on their toes. If he continues to pick favourites regardless of form and stick to formations that aren't working (in competitive matches) then I think it's fair to criticise him.

RLC has always been a bit of an enigma to me. He has all the attributes you could want in a midfielder, he's tall, strong, reasonably quick, good dribbler who can drive through midfield, decent passing etc. One thing I always notice when I watch him though is that his off the ball work rate just doesn't seem to be there? He could be an absolute monster in midfield but just seems to lack that real tenacity on the defensive side

Excellent away performance and Martinez didn't have a save of note to make all game. Cash MOTM for a goal, assist and also a vital goal line clearance just after half time too but everyone was pretty solid. Front 3 look like they are clicking and the midfield was pretty decent too. I honestly can't remember a time when our bench looked as strong as it looked tonight either? UTV! Ps Ted Lasso has got his work cut out

Yeah, would have been a good signing in the summer but looks like he's doing well at Atalanta who are probably the most entertaining team in Europe

I don't think we've ever really replaced Tonev tbh

I'm not sure who's out there that's similar (Kessie?), but a player in the mould of Wilfred Ndidi would do wonders for our team.

I'm with you on this but I also think they'll be games where we use 4-2-3-1 as well, maybe against some of the weaker teams where Jack or Emi could play as the number 10 and then Traore or AEG come in on either the right or left to give us more of a goal threat. Nice to have some good options!

Haha. I was watching it back thinking "Christ, I hope that's not the left back we've been linked with" as it looked like Dumfries was annihilating him

Only saw the highlights but looked like he had a bit of a mare?

I've wanted Buendia for ages so really pleased that it looks like we're getting this one over the line. The fact that he's only 24, just had the best season of his career and that he's well used to the English game are all positives for me. I've always had a soft spot for skillful, tenacious players and I love the direction the club is going in with signing young, hard working players that will always put a shift in. The fact that he was the 6th highest tackler, despite playing as an attacker for the best team in the league (who would have the majority of the ball) is pretty amazing when you think about it This stat is pretty crazy too: Buendia created at least 36 more goalscoring chances (122) than any other player in England's second tier last term and was top for clear-cut chances created (18) in the division. On top of that, only Kevin De Bruyne (18) has made more accurate through balls than Buendia (12) since the start of the 2019/20 Premier League. For the uninitiated, Buendia played 2020/21 in the Championship... This gives us so much more flexibility now as well as a team and also gives us much stronger cover for injuries. Playing the better teams and want an extra man in midfield? 4-3-3 with Emi and Jack out wide supporting Watkins. Playing a weaker team? 4-2-3-1 with either Jack or Emi as a number 10 and either AEG or Traore on either the left of the right Chasing a game? Bring off a midfielder or AEG/Traore, chuck on Davis or Wesley and go 4-2-4. Can't wait to see who else we've got lined up. UTV!

Gives us some great options. 4-3-3 with Mcginn and Sanson ahead of Dougie, possibly in games where we have to be a bit more defensive or will have less of the ball. 4-2-3-1 with either Sanson or Mcginn partnering Dougie and Barkley as the 10. Grealish or Sanson can also play as the 10 too. No real pressure on Sanson to hit the ground running either and with Nakamba's recent improvement and Ramseys emergence, our midfield suddenly looks pretty stacked now and has some really strong competition for places. Very timely especially with all the games were going to have to cram in before the end of the season. Exciting times, UTV!

One thing I can't understand with Southgate and this England team is that with the players we have at our disposal, why hasn't he tried a 4-2-3-1 formation? Most of the first choice defence plays in a back four and are probably more comfortable than in a 3. We don't really have any great box to box midfielders (except Barkley and Oxlade Chamberlain who's always injured) so you could pick any 2 of Henderson, Phillips, Rice, Winks who are all more defensively minded to play as a double defensive pivot. This gives space for a number 10/more attacking midfielder which could be any of Grealish, Madison, Mount, Foden as well as providing the defensive solidity for the full backs to get forward more as well (which is their strength). It also means we have space for 2 pacy wide players such as Sancho, Sterling, Rashford, Greenwood etc too. I know Kane drops deep at times but having another player that has a bit more freedom to float around and play between the lines would make us a bit more unpredictable. It's pretty much the same formation Leicester used when they won the league and I just think this it makes best use of the players we have, in positions that they are comfortable in

Partey is a great signing for Arsenal, exactly the type of player they've needed for some time

I was a bit worried with the links to RLC as although he looks the part, he's very injury prone and his work rate never seemed that great to me either, especially defensively. I was hoping that it was Barkley that we were in for out of the two of them and think he'll bring great energy to our midfield. Really nice to have a number of players who can carry the ball well now as well. Delighted with this!

I'd be more open to this if it was a loan with an option to buy as we had with El Ghazi, like AEG he was quite well rated but it hasn't really worked out for him the last couple or seasons and he seems to have stagnated. I think there could be a decent player in there again but at £20m, I'd really hope were looking elsewhere

He actually makes more tackles per game than Mcginn. He's hard working defensively, much more so than Benrahma. My only issue is I'm not sure if he's quite what we need for central midfield and would prefer someone really pacy on the right wing. Cracking little player though

Would be great but I get the impression he fancies his chances at becoming Utd's number 1, can't blame him with the way De Gea's been playing recently. I have no trust in Nyland at all so have no issue with loaning a keeper for the season whilst Heaton is recovering. Romero at Utd could be available, depending on what happens with Henderson/De Gea and I'd be happy with him