Slartibartfast
CIES Loyalist
The problem is for me that we have a midfield that can’t handle a press if Ramsey isn’t in the team.
It leaves the strikers unable to get involved as we can’t break out and the defence is completely overwhelmed.
The major problem we’re having is trying to put plasters over gaping wounds. The club has to realise it’s going to take three or four windows to get quality replacements in every position of need.
We’re not going to become consistent title contenders by spreading our budget across four or five players.
Maddison and Tielemans are two young players who are already experienced and performing at a high level. They might not be available next summer.
Sort the midfield out, see what the youngsters can do on the wings and target the defence next year. Maybe try and see if someone like Jamal Lewis is gettable but otherwise consolidate the money.
The defense has been a shambles whether Ramsey has been in the side or not. Emery has been forced to play with a back 3 a lot this season -- something he never did before in his career -- because Arsenal not only has defenders who are not good enough, but defenders who aren't good fits. Arsenal not only needs to make defenders their first priority, they need defenders who can change the defensive culture of the club. Consistency starts at the back. When Arsenal was winning championships and becoming Invincibles it was primarily because the club had a defensive culture that has now been lost.
Remember the scene in The Full Monty where they were trying to get a step-up dance move right and it only finally seeped through to them when it was explained as the Arsenal offside trap?
How many times did Mustafi play Vardy onside on Sunday? I honestly don't know because I turned it off at halftime, but it was a bunch in the first half alone. And those weren't his only mistakes. Sokratis wasn't much better, Maitland-Niles (who has been pretty good) was stupid (even if his fate was a bit harsh) and the best I can say for Kolasinac is that he's not as dreadful playing back in tight spaces as he is trying to defend in open spaces. But he's not a defender either way.
That's not to say that the guys ahead of them aren't culpable in this mess as well, but strong defense begins at the back. You have to have players who have a clue what they're doing, who can and are willing to communicate, who don't let their minds wander or take plays off and who will do whatever is necessary to stop an opponent.
Maddison and Tielemans are fine players. I'd love to have them at Arsenal. But they aren't going to fix a back line of clowns behind them. If Arsenal were willing and able to spend money like Manchester City, then by all means buy them and some top defenders as well (although I haven't seen anything seriously linking Arsenal to those players, so it's more wish list stuff). You said yourself that a it's going to take awhile. That's exactly why they need to fix the back first. This has gone on too long already. I understand that everybody likes the pretty boys who create and score goals, but Arsenal needs some guys who can do the dirty work. Whatever the budget is -- something we don't know, but it will be more than this £40 million nonsense and less than the £200 million the clickbait sites are claiming for Manchester United -- they need to focus this year's funds on defense. They simply can't let it go any longer.