Rousseau

I saw that he played 20 times in their Premier League season. I don't know if it means much, because I do recall them being a basket case at the end of that season, but to be trusted to play in the PL at a young age says something, I think.

I do hope these articles put to bed the 'he doesn't have a clue' brigade, because quite clearly he's an intelligent man, who does know what he's doing. It doesn't mean he'll ultimately be successful with us, but he certainly knows what he's doing.

Draxler is a very good player but I don't think he solves any of their problems. It's the same old problems with Arsenal, and it stems from the manager: he just seems incapable of building a balanced side. His best defensive sides of the past were mostly inherited. Kolasinac was a good signing, but he was benched for the Liverpool game!?

He turned down Chelsea too, where he'd probably be on more money and have a better chance - going by recent seasons - of winning trophies; all because he wants to play CM. Yes, fair play.

I don't see that as a personnel problem, though. If they want that they have Xhaka, Elneny - both exceptional at those roles with Monchengladbach and Basel - and even Wilshire, Ramsay and Ox could do that job, albeit they're not perfect. The MNF guys on Sky were saying the same thing as you pointed out: Ramsay was getting into the box despite being a sitting midfielder, and I recall in another goal Xhaka was up there too! Even Wenger was saying, 'I wanted Ramsay there so he could make those runs into the box'. I don't see Arsenal's issues changing, unless the manager goes, unfortunately. Maybe Drinkwater could do a job, but IMO only in certain games, as Arsenal tend to dominate and need creative, short-passers of the ball, which Drinkwater is not.

While I'd agree he perhaps doesn't have the awareness that the best have, I'm not sure it's really needed at Liverpool. They're drilled, using their pace and energy, to press and counter. For me he slots nicely into a CM spot. He can also play as one of the front-three, although he's not at the same level, offensively, as Firmino, Salah, Mane etc. I think Klopp will get the best of him. However, we can only wait and see. Barkely is not an Arsenal player, I agree -- another pacey, attacking-midfielder that doesn't track back. Van Dijk would improve any top 4 (or 7 ) side. I don't think Drinkwater would suit Arsenal. I see him more suited to Chelsea: a team that will counter more, and a team that needs positional discipline from their central two.

Ach... it comes in cycles, doesn't it. You're just perhaps going through a singularly perfect storm with regards to your favourite clubs.

I think to get Ox for £35M is a good deal for everyone; I can see him flourishing at Liverpool, as he's just the right type for Klopp's philosophy. I think Barkley is similar to Stirling in the sense they're young English talent that have came onto the scene with blistering pace and, in Barkley's case, a good strike on him, but alas, they've not quite got the brains and tactical awareness. It's no coincidence that two of the most tactically astute managers - Koeman and Guardiola - are letting them go, or at least letting the rumours circle.

Watching Arsenal fans in their current predicament like...

I caved in and looked at his stats: 32 goals in 49 games is good, but not spectacular; 17 in the League is poor, though, for someone being punted for that much; 5 goals in 12 CL - not sure if they were all group stage - is good. I'm not seeing the hype. Liam Boyce hit 23 goals for Ross County; that's more impressive. (I would've liked us to sign Boyce.)

MW has a blueprint, and it'll work up to a certain level the majority of the time. He was a step forward for us, but not the one to take us to the next level.

Ha! I just read that he has been playing LM in a 4-4-2 for a newly promoted Portuguese side on loan. I'd like to think PC knows about him, and I do think he's the type of player we should be targeting, but he's not a Left-winger; he's more a central-attacking-midfielder, like Windass and Kranjcar!

I think Man City had a £17M bid for Evans rejected, and recently Leicester had a £22M bid rejected too. He's an OK defender, but he's not worth that - I'm not sure how he improves Man City's back line either!? It's the same with Arsenal.

[tweet]902563169784266752[/tweet]

Stirling is not the answer. He's rubbish; all pace, no brain.

Charlie Adam starred for Blackpool during their rise to the PL, playing as a free-man in a midfield 3 in Holloway's 4-3-3. Adam's two partners in midfield had all the energy, tracking and covering for him which left Adam free to drop in between defense or right up into a No.10 role, allowing him to use that wonderful left-foot; a quarter-back role. I can see Kranjcar thriving in a similar way. He has the vision and technical ability, but we need to cover for him.

I think that ArsenalFanTV is hilarious. I'd like to see a Rangers one.

Foderingham 6 - nothing to do again Tavernier 7 Cardoso 6 Alves 7 Wallace 6 Jack 8 Dorrans 7 Kranjcar 6 Candeais 7 Miller 6 Morelos 8 Subs Herrera 7 Pena 7 Rossiter 6

TB giving a player a compliment? And Wes Foderingham?

As frustrated as I was at the lack of energy and creativity that second half, I wasn't actually too worried defensively. Pena is lacking match sharpness, but I thought he did well when he came on: positionally good, always available and was constantly breaking the lines; should've scored and did well to tee up Herrera at the end with a chance. At their goal, I thought Niko was fouled; the player goes through Niko to get the ball. Niko only gets caught out when he dithers; for the most part he moved it on quickly and accurately; perhaps tiring at that stage - he is getting on a bit!

Re: Penalty incident - Anywhere else on the pitch and it's a foul; you can't tackle from behind.

The Ross County player was just protecting himself.

We've been comfortable - Foderingham having nothing to do - without really creating good chances. Morelos is a natural goalscorer; give him a chance and he'll put it away. That cross had no pace and neither did his header, but it was pin-point into the bottom corner. Great determination to get that second. Another absolutely awful refereeing display. Clear penalty, with Morelos being taken from behind - it doesn't matter if he got the ball, which is debatable. And that forearm smash on Miller was a disgrace. How there wasn't a red there, I don't know. It's just a league of hatchet-men; absolute disgrace.

Did you not see it? He was through one-on-one against Hearts, but the defender clattered him. It wasn't that tackle but the way Windass came down onto the defenders bended knee; like a wrestling move. Looked a real sore one.