SirBalon

This is why it's shit mate! Maybe you can do that with other sports but not with football! Football is unique whether the Americans like it or not. Back in the 80's they tried hard to change football rules to quarters instead of halves, making the goals bigger, time-outs blah blah blah because there were tons of these things. I like the fact football is antiquated in some respects because it relies on moments as a legendary symbol. Take for example past great players that didn't win too much, they're also legends of the game like for example George Best at international level or Buffon who at international level has done it but at club level he hasn't won the most prized of trophies (as seen on the continent) which is the European Cup (Champions League). We could go n naming names! Clubs come into this standing... Winning is the goal but not everyone wins and along the way special things happen. Here I'm not talking necessarily winning, but competing! Demanding to win is total arrogance because you're not on your own, but if you design a good project to really compete, then you are in with a chance of tasting glory.

You don't necessarily have to spend extreme amounts to win or compete, which is what I really want. It would be blatant arrogance to demand to win when we aren't even on a status level by comparison historically to others. It's about competing mate! Look at Atlético Madrid? They win and when they don't win, they're definitely competing! We have triple the resources that Atlético Madrid have and then I can go further down the line with a club like Sevilla. Being astute with the correct structure at a club can bring rewards as Sevilla have proved over the years and they are a pea by comparison institutionally with Arsenal. I could name many other clubs but obviously I know a lot more about Spanish football to the minuscule detail which is why I've used those two and which would be easy anyhow. But it's the financial aspect you've brought up on the spending avenues which I've touched upon here. European football's problem is that they are trying to become like those American sports franchises and that has NOTHING to do with football. They can keep that because it's boring from a real football fan's perspective.

This is true what you're saying and I can't dispute that neither have I ever pretended to do it... What I do try and do even though some Arsenal fans on TFF don't understand is put forward my opinions on solutions. The whole thing is stale on the football side of things for years and the club heirachy mainly look at the figures and all that goes along with Arsenal Holdings PLC.

Mate, I can only go on the stuff we have to analyse. Obviously right now it's balanced as to whether or not we'll be in next season's edition of the Champions League. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise so as to force Wenger out.

I like Rabiot and made that clear in the place we've all just left. He is one for the future in that department in my view although still not made and is prone to errors. We could've bought Krychowiak from Sevilla for cheaper.

Mate, we DO play those sides and only last season we got knocked out by Barça and this season it seems we'll get knocked out by Bayern. You are right though in that players can be a sum of parts that make a good machine. But the midfield is a sensitive area and an area we have been failing in for a number of years even with some very talented players in our squad. Maybe it's as Chaaay says in that the manager is the one that's not getting the most out of players like Xhaka and I'm wrong. I'm just giving my opinion by watching this guy and others I make a view point on most weeks at the ground.

I'm talking about when midfields clash at the top end. Would you put Xhaka as outplaying some of those midfielders around Europe? Without that you can't win unless you devise a plan to bypass the midfield which tends to mean either playing wide a lot or mainly long passes on a counter.

Aren't you a bird?

Madrid based press turn on Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo was missing for yesterday's trip to Eibar where Real Madrid won 1-4 and last night on Spanish tv and radio stations when analysing the fact that Madrid actually played well for the first time this year (since turning 2017) they came out with a stat... Real Madrid have won all 9 games that Cristiano hasn't played in this season and in all 9 games they've been convincing in their victories. Real Madrid have won many games this season and went on that 40 game unbeaten run which started at the end of last season. But in that 40 match stretch there were many many games where they won by the bare minimum or needed a last minute miracle (usually Ramos providing it) to sort things out. But in the 9 games Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't played in this season, Real Madrid have actually played a more stable game without maybe being spectacular, but always looking assured. Madrid's two main sports daily newspapers ran their front page which for pundits today was a message to Cristiano himself. AS had the headline saying "This is more like Madrid" while MARCA ran their headline stating "When they play like A TEAM..." (emphasis in capitals on team). They speculate that knowing how temperamental Cristiano Ronaldo is that he will probably go into one of his famous training ground moods and Florentino Pérez has already made it known that he is disappointed at the way the Madrid based press is manipulating things from "afar". Sin rastro de Cristiano

You really think Xhaka is at the level required for a top side wanting to win top honours mate? Let me put it another way... The most important part of the field when you're facing the best sides in Europe is the midfield. That's the area where you have to be superior so as to win. You see Xhaka outdoing midfielders against teams like Bayern, Barça, Real Madrid, PSG or Juventus?

To be honest I personally don't know of any Arsenal fans in my circle that feel anything negative at all on the Mustafi signing.

I've said it before, Xhaka has a very good mid to long range pass on him and a more than decent shot. But there are so many things that make him a just above average player. He is also a liability where decision making is in question. Mustafi on the other hand has been a tremendous signing mate. He is top notch and has been our best centre-back this season, much better than Koscielny for me who is good but overrated.

Brilliant film, worth more that 8 mate!

What makes me laugh about Xhaka is that he seemed to be feeling humiliated at the fact he hadn't received a booking all game so he managed to argue his way into the referee's book on a free-kick we had already been awarded!