TBH I don't see Wenger buying a new DM, I think he will think we're pretty locked up in the midfield department, and will keep Diaby at the club. I'd personally be satisfied if we bought a top quality striker, top quality attacking winger, a top quality rb, and one more CB for cover, 3 cb's I think is too short.
I'm not expecting Cesc to leave Barca but if he does he definitely won't be going to Man Utd no matter how desperate they are and how much they offer. Not convinced we'd activate the buy back clause either, if/when fit we're not short of midfielders...
I would like to add my two bobs worth If fabregas is available we MUST buy him back I am not at all convinced by Ozil not sure he wants to be at Arsenal and one thing we cannot tolerate is disinterested player and Ozil is that. I would not be surprised to see Ozil leave us before next season Hope I am wrong
Disagree with you about Ozil, but I absolutely agree that we should buy Fabregas back if he becomes available. Fabregas is simply too good a player to turn down. He could be a replacement for either Arteta, Rosicky, Kallstrom or Flamini
He is too good to pass up. However, I'm still not convinced that Barca would part with such a top player, it just doesn't make any sense. Also they are getting a new manager in Fabs maybe central to his plans. But just imagine, a midfield 3 of Fabs, Ramsey and Ozil, now that would be mouth watering. Also we have Cazorla, Wilshere, Flamini to come on. Now that is strength in depth.
This season alone showed us that we need depth in midfield, when we lost Ozil, Wilshere and Ramsey along with Walcott we badly struggled, so there's definitely room in our squad for Fabregas. Also Arteta, Rosicky and Flamini are nearing the end of their careers Fabregas would be an instant upgrade and longer term replacement for any one of them.
We have 10 midfielders on our books with Coquelin on loan. I accept Kallstrom goes back but is there really a need for an 11th midfielder ? Yes Cesc is a quality player who loves the club and has a great relationship with AW, but how do you fit Cesc, Ox, Arteta, TR7, Ozil, Ramsey, Jack and Santi in the same team, not forgetting the 're-born' Diaby. If we're looking at spending £35m on a player I'd much prefer it to be a top quality forward or versatile defender, or both
Thinking about big tournaments and player fatigue and with sincere apologies to Cym, but thank **** Ramsey is Welsh.....
For me Coq hasn't got a future at Arsenal, neither unfortunately has Diaby as much as I'd like him to 'make it' I just don't think his body is going to hold out over the long term. Arteta is a quality player but he is 33 this year, Rosicky will be 34. Kallstrom won't be at Arsenal next season and Ox is technically a forward. So that leaves Ozil, Ramsey, Wilshere and Cazorla. Three of those four spent a significant part of the season injured and Santi was out of form for huge parts of the season, so I definitely think there's room for Fabregas. It would be a bit of a luxury I admit and a Striker and DM are a priority but given his quality we'd be mad to turn him down if there was a chance he'd re-sign.
If you need a young defensive midfield type of player, how about Morgan Schneiderlein?? Very assured and has adapted to whatever level he has played at, and I am sure quite capable of performing at the highest level. And probably wouldn't cost astronomical sums of money either!!
we should buy fabregas if he is available as we should have more quality in the squad to cover for injuries/drop in form, and for us to be strong ALL season in ALL competitions. we would then be able to choose from Cesc, ozil, santi, Rambo, Jack, rosiky, Arteta, Flamini, and Diaby. it would mean that one area of team is properly covered. if we buy Cesc then we can rotate midfield or play in different formations, and that would then make the opposition think more how to set up against us as we are too predictable. when Cesc plays we can play Ozil up top as number 10, or we could play Cesc up top as fake 9 or as a 10. or play ozil/cesc/rambo we need to buy all quality players when they become available and not when we are desperate to buy, and so that we we grow the squad. imo we need to buy 2 strikers, 1 winger, 1 back up goalie, 1 CB we need forward line of Giroud, sonogoalsyet, new striker world class, new striker first class, new winger, gnarby, theo, ox, podolski. that gives us forward options. buy a CB who can play RB or a RB who can play CB - i know sagna is available for free !!! oh i forgot we let him go !! PS what about bidding £50 million for Suarez to start ball rolling, and a cheeky bid for Hazard, Rooney and Yaya Toure just to stir it up a bit
People putting Cesc in CM alongside Ramsey forget that he's played predominantly attacking midfield for barca. heck, when Messi is injured they usually shunt him up front into their false 9 position. Whilst he may have been able to play deep alongside a beast like Vieira or Gilberto, it just won't work with Ramsey. What would happen would be either Ramsey, Ozil or Cazorla would become a substitute from our first XI, with one of those players shunted out onto the wing.
Fabregas can definitely play as a deep lying mid, his passing range and vision are fantastic and he's very comfortable on the ball. He'd do the Arteta role very well. He isn't the strong beasty dm we want for certain games but in a role similar to Gerrard this season or Pirlo he'd be quality. A midfield 3 of fabregas Ramsey ozil would work against most prem teams I reckon. I still think we need a Veira type but I wouldn't miss out on the opportunity to sign fabregas. He can play lots of positions and squad depth is important. I wouldn't worry about how he'd fit in and think we could still accommodate our other key players.
Agreed Fabregas could do the Arteta role perfectly. His range of passing would also give is more options. The guy has incredible accuracy. Would take him back in a heartbeat.
^^ This. Absolutely agree about Ozil (so far) and wouldn't mind selling him if the funds mostly paid for Cesc and a decent LB. However, it won't happen and I pray that Ozil does a Rambo and makes us unbelievers look stupid
I would rather we had both, but if it was a toss up between both, then I'd go for Fabs in a heartbeat. One thing I never saw Fabs do is have his head down, even when we were struggling. I have seen Ozil's head drop a few times this season, however, this could be down to it being his first season and we'll have a better idea of him in the second. Either way, we need strengthening and buying a top player like Fabs would in some way take the pressure off Ozil, who I think is feeling the pressure of expectation.
We should keep Ozil. I have a feeling he's going to have great Season next time round. Arteta is getting slower and slower, Rosicky is 32, both Wilshere and Ramsey have suffered from major injury problems. (this would be why Wenger brought in Kallstrom) In other words Fabregas can play in a variety of positions and is simply the calibre of player we need to push on to the next level.
He's not wrong though. Look at the difference the lack of European football has made to Liverpool this season! Look at Santi throughout the start of the season after getting zero break over the previous summer? Players need a proper break and sadly, if you're from a decent international country, chances are you won't get it. Happily our best player of the season now gets a lovely rest. Gawd bless the Welsh... Regarding Cesc I'd have him back in a heart beat. If history has taught us nothing it's that we'll always be short of players and he's one of my favorite Arsenal players of all time. Of course he's not in a position we need to strengthen dramatically but I don't give a hoot!