A lovely sunny day gets me thinking about that ‘other’ life we used to lead that had football at its core.

We maybe socially distanced but it doesn’t mean we can’t be together in our thoughts.

I’m thinking football today - so here goes a thread on Arsenal to get you thinking

For those that know me you know I love a transfer rumour and I believe most of them!

Rumours are my lever into how we could possibly line up next year.

A chance for me to project myself into the future trying to guess our style change based on the managers choice of players.

Arteta has obvious influences in

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Wenger
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Guardiola
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Cruyff

All man managers, aligned in a simple theme of technical players that can handle the ball allowing you to dominate possession via positional discipline

So to guess where Arteta may take us - it’s time to learn

First up Cruyff:

See below a very good video that outlines something we miss today.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Connections

Your shape is immaterial if you can’t use it as you haven’t the technical quality to move the ball where you like

https://youtu.be/DWjmbTp5jq8 

Is">https://youtu.be/DWjmbTp5j... Arteta looking at new free 8’s?

Next up Guardiola

You can see from this video how Pep identified weaknesses based on how he wanted to play

Within 2 yrs he ripped the team apart lowering the age and upping the energy

https://youtu.be/1gHq-yspmso 

Pep">https://youtu.be/1gHq-yspm... has limitless cash I hear you cry

Yes but the themes are clear

How will Arteta play.

How will he fill the 5 channels

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Will he push on 2 FB’s shifting 3 forwards inside like Liverpool

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Will he keep Wingers wide, push the free 8’s forward and invert both FB’s as cover

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Will he go 3 at the back to utilise Saka to aid buildup

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Will he use the lopsided 4-2-3-1 he has done currently pushing Saka high and keeping Pepe widest on the right inverting 1 FB into a 2-3-5 in possession.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Will he did what Wenger did on many occasions and create a box in CM with 2 deep and 2 high behind 2 forwards

Well..

I honestly don’t have a preference

What this time in isolation has given me is time.

Time to look back and sideways at others to see what we miss.

For me it’s key to have players in their optimal position on the pitch to maximise their output.

We do mismanage our talent.

A now example Is Pepe.

Yes he can play widest right but he can score and create so move him closer to the goal and invest in him truly.

Recent example is Ramsay.

Why didn’t we give him a 3 man CM enough to maximise him
He wasn’t a 10

We will always debate talent but man..

So back to today - a transfer window of Unknown’s.

My priority attributes

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Speed
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> A technical ball handler
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Ball carriers
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> CB’s who relish duels
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Elite Energy
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Decision makers
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Composure under pressure
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔴" title="Red circle" aria-label="Emoji: Red circle"> Multi layered players that offer tactical flexibility

I know none of this is a priority for many right now - for today indulge yourself a little.

So

5 PLAYERS you want AFC to get this summer

Players that will take us into Arteta’s phase 2

Mine based on STYLE

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="♦️" title="Diamond suit" aria-label="Emoji: Diamond suit">Hakimi
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="♦️" title="Diamond suit" aria-label="Emoji: Diamond suit">Disasi
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="♦️" title="Diamond suit" aria-label="Emoji: Diamond suit"> Partey
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="♦️" title="Diamond suit" aria-label="Emoji: Diamond suit">Jović
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="♦️" title="Diamond suit" aria-label="Emoji: Diamond suit"> Coutihno (loan)

Cheers https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🍻" title="Clinking beer mugs" aria-label="Emoji: Clinking beer mugs">