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Plus Onomah seems to have completely dropped off and we’ll do well to get that much for CCV, though he’s likely to be in more demand because at least he’s been playing.
 
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I think Zaha's a really good player but just lacks consistency, which could arguably be attributed by playing for Palace, put him alongside better players and I think you'd see a next level Zaha. That said, from an outside perspective, Arsenal have much bigger concerns than going for him right now. Their defence is **** and their midfield is a lot weaker now without Ramsey.
 
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You could be right, Brian, it would certainly be an expensive risk - and as we have shown the last few years, most of the big-money investments we've made have backfired on us drastically.

I think (one of) the issue(s) we've got is a lack of width in our team. We have no wingers that can take players on or really stretch defences/create space for others.

Most of our attacking players last season wanted ball to feet, rather than making intelligent, darting runs in behind. It became too easy and predictable to defend against, despite how many goals we scored overall.

You look at our wide options right now and you'd have to say, a winger of some sort is a necessity:

Iwobi - 23 years old, homegrown academy player on low wages. Looked like he turned a corner at the start of last season, then reverted to type. Lost confidence. Can't handle pressure. Good dribbler and strong on the ball, but his end product is sorely, sorely lacking. Not reliable.

Mkhitaryan - 30 year old winger, who can carry the ball forward well and has decent acceleration, but is weak, doesn't score/assist enough and loses the ball a lot. Not reliable.

Kolasinac - has a lot of power and is strong, but is too one-dimensional. Doesn't offer a lot. No subtly or variety to his game. Can't cross for toffee. Gets into good positions and frequently lets us down with final ball. Not reliable.

Maitland-Niles - central midfielder by trade, yet forced to play as a wing-back because we had so few other options. Felt sorry for the kid to be thrown in the deep end so often. Not reliable.

Reiss-Nelson - probably the only real attacking/wide talent we have that can take players on, get in behind, create chances and scores goals. He's not played for us for over a year though. Is it fair to pin our hopes on a 19-year old with very few Premier League minutes?

Willock - prefers playing in attacking midfield, but can play on the flanks. Not his natural position though. Only 19. Not had much first-team exposure bar EL and domestic cup action.

So out of that bunch, two of whom aren't even actual wingers but have played wing-backs & one of whom is a CAM, we have one decent winger.

It would be criminal to neglect such a crucial position this transfer window.
I think best Arsenal team as it stands is:

(4-4--2)
LENO
BELLERIN KOLASINAC
SOKRATIS KOSCIELNY
XHAKA TOREIRA
MIKARATAYAN OZIL
 
Which when you compare to Arsenal Teams of the past, is not very good apart from strikers!
Arsenal need at least 4 new players to be able to reach Top 4, I am not conviced by Emery either, he tinkers with his team selection and formations too much
 
I think Zaha's a really good player but just lacks consistency, which could arguably be attributed by playing for Palace, put him alongside better players and I think you'd see a next level Zaha. That said, from an outside perspective, Arsenal have much bigger concerns than going for him right now. Their defence is **** and their midfield is a lot weaker now without Ramsey.
Lol Arsenal couldn't afford Zaha, and why would he join Arsenal when he wants Champions Leaguie football?
 
You could be right, Brian, it would certainly be an expensive risk - and as we have shown the last few years, most of the big-money investments we've made have backfired on us drastically. ...

Necessity is the mother of invention.

As with Chelsky, circumstance may cause you to fast track kids in
certain positions and they turn out to be decent for the PL campaign.

You do have the luxury of 6 EL group games where the draw may allow that
without too much fear of irreparable damage.
 
Lol Arsenal couldn't afford Zaha, and why would he join Arsenal when he wants Champions Leaguie football?

They still have some pulling power and basically anyone outside the top four would probably join them, even if Zaha did state he wants CL footy. But yeah, chances of them actually being able to afford him is slim to none. They’d likely have to sell one of Auba or Laca to make the dough as they’re the only sellable assets who’d make enough money.
 
You could be right, Brian, it would certainly be an expensive risk - and as we have shown the last few years, most of the big-money investments we've made have backfired on us drastically.

I think (one of) the issue(s) we've got is a lack of width in our team. We have no wingers that can take players on or really stretch defences/create space for others.

You look at our wide options right now and you'd have to say, a winger of some sort is a necessity...

It would be criminal to neglect such a crucial position this transfer window.

The return of Bellerin will presumably help significantly and if you can sort out a deal for Tierney, that would represent a significant move forward. Getting width with other facets to your play (better defending) would (for me) represent better spend of scarce resources.

IMHO, you still need at least one centre half and a better quality central midfielder before you need a player who turns up sometimes and not others. You're scoring enough goals....but you're conceding too many.

The job of a manager with limited resources, is to improve the weakest element of the team/squad every season within budget. Unless you can get rid of Ozil and Mkhitaryan, Zaha's a luxury you shouldn't be pursuing....unless £100m has been found down the back of the sofa.
 
Zaha’s contract situation and the price Palace will ask for him ultimately reflects his importance to the club rather than his real quality. Not a bad player by any means but a huge gamble to take him away from being a big fish in a small pond. I wouldn’t touch him at £50m let alone double that.

<applause>

Totally agree. Seriously over-rated player and I am so glad we went for Son instead of him. Arsenal's only strong area is their attack so I would be over the moon to see them blow more than their entire kitty on Zaha.
 
Just to add to this, the bloke is 26 years of age, has played 5 full PL seasons and has failed to score more than 10 goals in any of them. If he was as good as £80m suggests, a huge club would have swooped in years ago and carted him off. We went for Son, United went for Martial, City went for Sane, Pool went for Salah, Chelsea went for Pulisic. Real and Barca weren't even interested. And all of the above players cost far less than what Palace think Zaha is worth. That tells its own story.
 
Just to add to this, the bloke is 26 years of age, has played 5 full PL seasons and has failed to score more than 10 goals in any of them. If he was as good as £80m suggests, a huge club would have swooped in years ago and carted him off.

For that alleged price, IMHO :

1. we should have seen at least one PL season performance from
Zaha akin to Bale 2012-13.

2. unless Palace seriously lower their asking price, then #1 is the
only way he is going to get a move to a PL top 6 club or Euro heavyweight.
 
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Zaha shot himself in the foot signing that long term deal last summer - especially as there was no release clause. He accepted a short term rise at the expense of a long term gain.

Palace - and rightly so - are demanding huge money because he’s their best asset and also HG.

In my opinion he’s good enough to play for a top six/ top four club (not necessarily as a regular starter for some) but not at the cost of £80m. I can’t see anyone paying that.
 
Just to add to this, the bloke is 26 years of age, has played 5 full PL seasons and has failed to score more than 10 goals in any of them. If he was as good as £80m suggests, a huge club would have swooped in years ago and carted him off. We went for Son, United went for Martial, City went for Sane, Pool went for Salah, Chelsea went for Pulisic. Real and Barca weren't even interested. And all of the above players cost far less than what Palace think Zaha is worth. That tells its own story.
Zaha is another A Lennon, a world beater on his day but not consistent enough, doesn't score enough goals and question marks over his attitude, No way is he worth £80m! IMO his value is maximun £40m
 
Zaha is another A Lennon, a world beater on his day but not consistent enough, doesn't score enough goals and question marks over his attitude, No way is he worth £80m! IMO his value is maximun £40m

I loved Azza I truly did but he was never a 'world beater'. He was a very decent player for a team with aspirations to break into the top 6, which is exactly what Zaha is, albeit 53 times more expensive.
 
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Zaha shot himself in the foot signing that long term deal last summer - especially as there was no release clause. He accepted a short term rise at the expense of a long term gain.

Palace - and rightly so - are demanding huge money because he’s their best asset and also HG.

In my opinion he’s good enough to play for a top six/ top four club (not necessarily as a regular starter for some) but not at the cost of £80m. I can’t see anyone paying that.
Back to Spurs:
Lets have a vote! Three era's of "Premier League" (not Div 1), which one was best?

1990's (nineties) = Thorsvedt, Carr, Campbell, Mabbutt, Edinburgh, Howells, Barmby, Anderton, Sheringham, Ginola, Klinsmann

2000's (naughties) = Gomes, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Ziege, Carrick, Davids, Lennon, Keane, Berbatov, Defoe

2011's (teens) = Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Modric, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Bale, Kane
 
Back to Spurs:
Lets have a vote! Three era's of "Premier League" (not Div 1), which one was best?

1990's (nineties) = Thorsvedt, Carr, Campbell, Mabbutt, Edinburgh, Howells, Barmby, Anderton, Sheringham, Ginola, Klinsmann

2000's (naughties) = Gomes, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Ziege, Carrick, Davids, Lennon, Keane, Berbatov, Defoe

2011's (teens) = Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Modric, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Bale, Kane
Apologies for leaving out Van Der Vaart and Son in naughties team! Only pick XI
 
Vorm
Naughton, Chiriches, Fazio, Fryers
Nkoudou, Stambouli, Paulinho, N’Jie
Soldado, Janssen

Job’s a good’un.