3 minutes ago, Snedger said:

No idea whether we were ever remotely interested in this lad or not, but I have to say that Arsenal certainly look like they’ve decided to invest in a serious attempt to try and get above second. Will it pay off, who knows? But they certainly appear to be having a go.

If what has been said in here is true, that he’s good but can’t play in our system, then he’d be a waste of money for us. But I do wish we’d spend on a high quality centre back that suits whatever it is a centre back must have to be good for us. I really am not confident in our current keeper or set of centre backs.

Not sure exactly how a left footed CB can't play in our system. Think i need someone to explain that to me.

14 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Not sure exactly how a left footed CB can't play in our system. Think i need someone to explain that to me.

I’ve long since given up on understanding football tactics in the modern game. In the olden days, a good centre back was just that. But seemingly now, individuals are no longer just a good centre back but must be very specifically good - left side of a three or silly mid on in an inverted back four with a pivoting sweeper.

Edited August 25, 2025Aug 25 by Snedger

28 minutes ago, Snedger said:

No idea whether we were ever remotely interested in this lad or not, but I have to say that Arsenal certainly look like they’ve decided to invest in a serious attempt to try and get above second. Will it pay off, who knows? But they certainly appear to be having a go.

If what has been said in here is true, that he’s good but can’t play in our system, then he’d be a waste of money for us. But I do wish we’d spend on a high quality centre back that suits whatever it is a centre back must have to be good for us. I really am not confident in our current keeper or set of centre backs.

They've backed Arteta with some serious investment while also building squad depth without making major sales.

He has to deliver, they have a cracking team and depth.

24 minutes ago, Snedger said:

I’ve long since given up on understanding football tactics in the modern game. In the olden days, a good centre back was just that. But seemingly now, individuals are no longer just a good centre back but must be very specifically good - left side of a three or silly mid on in an inverted back four with a pivoting sweeper.

It's the fault of us old fogeys I suppose. When I was young those that could play played. Those of us that couldn't still played, cos we were all turfed out by our parents into the fresh air.

Of course when we got older and our kids came along, those that could play played. But for those that couldn't, cos we were concerned about the drugs and nonces, we were happy for them to sit in their bedrooms playing Football Manager, and FIFA. Now they've all grown up to be super dooper, high brow, cleverer than the rest of us, statto and tactic nerds. Where a bloke that stands on the right side of a centre back is called a full back. Stand 15 yards further forward and its a wing back and ne'er the twain shall meet.

8 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Arsenal’s net spend actually higher than ours over the past 5 years.

They will still bring out the old "Billion pound squad" line every time we play though.

8 hours ago, Snedger said:

I’ve long since given up on understanding football tactics in the modern game. In the olden days, a good centre back was just that. But seemingly now, individuals are no longer just a good centre back but must be very specifically good - left side of a three or silly mid on in an inverted back four with a pivoting sweeper.

Because modern managers set football up to be a makeshift chess game. Occasionally you get a player like Hazard that transcends/elevates tactics to a different level, but most of the time managers are looking for a specific player to make their "system" work.

13 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

Not sure exactly how a left footed CB can't play in our system. Think i need someone to explain that to me.

Its nonsense written by nonsense people desperate to make the game way more complicated than it actually is.

14 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

Not sure exactly how a left footed CB can't play in our system. Think i need someone to explain that to me.

didn't you know? Players these days can only play within a specific system, in a specific role, in a specific position.

If you move that player 5 foot further to the right on the pitch, the lifetime of training they put into becoming a professional footballer goes out the window and they lose full control of their body, no longer able to control a ball.

"Left-footed CBs" are a thing because managers, and their lackeys in the media, believe they failed because the board didn’t buy the very niche player they wanted, rather than admitting their own hubris.

Ah last summer Arsenal spent a load of money on calafiori who can cover left back or centre back when they already had timber who can play right back, centre back and left back. They also have Ben white who can play right back or centre back. And Lewis Skelley who is the future wonder boy of left backs. The centre backs they have on top of those are Gabriel and Saliba who you would expect would play when fit. So 60 million for a player who’s competing with Calafiori, timber, Gabriel, skelley all seems a bit bonkers

13 minutes ago, carefree franco said:

Ah last summer Arsenal spent a load of money on calafiori who can cover left back or centre back when they already had timber who can play right back, centre back and left back. They also have Ben white who can play right back or centre back. And Lewis Skelley who is the future wonder boy of left backs. The centre backs they have on top of those are Gabriel and Saliba who you would expect would play when fit. So 60 million for a player who’s competing with Calafiori, timber, Gabriel, skelley all seems a bit bonkers

Arteta has a hard on for CBs, he also wanted Hato last summer

Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by Deino

2 hours ago, carefree franco said:

Ah last summer Arsenal spent a load of money on calafiori who can cover left back or centre back when they already had timber who can play right back, centre back and left back. They also have Ben white who can play right back or centre back. And Lewis Skelley who is the future wonder boy of left backs. The centre backs they have on top of those are Gabriel and Saliba who you would expect would play when fit. So 60 million for a player who’s competing with Calafiori, timber, Gabriel, skelley all seems a bit bonkers

They also signed centre back/future world talent Cristhian Mosquera. The new Tony Pulis is stacking up for those long throw ins.

Wish we’d got him. Loan with option would have been ideal

15 minutes ago, Adamrb said:

Wish we’d got him. Loan with option would have been ideal

Agreed. Dreadful oversight by us, whilst we have been ploughing on relentlessly with 3rd and 4th depth level of midfield cover