We need more than one tactic, so I think we need to be able defend our MF much better and Arteta is not a defender, he's a playmaker. Adding Bender when we need to defend something is a great option. Adding Gundogan or Arteta when we need to create from deep would be another great option. Cover and rotation is needed in 13-14 season if we are going to compete with the big squads. Not having the quality in reserve is where we have always gone wrong IMO.
Arteta hasn't played as playmaker for more than a few games at Arsenal, he is playing as a defensive midfielder and started playing that role in his last season or two with Everton as well, he's also been good at it, he was much better in the first year than the second though(not uncommon with ALL our defenders). As for cover and rotation, again Wenger has Rosicky, Diaby and Ramsey, who he loves. Secondly Wilshire's only full season was as a defensive midfielder and he's world class in both an offensive or defensive role. When England were good for 12 months him and Parker flanked Lampard with Wilshire playing more defensively or offensively as required, this is pretty much how Arsenal play, Arteta/Wilshire either side of Santi, with Wilshire either getting forward more or defending more. We already have the versatility, top players aren't bad at defending or attacking.
Lampard is the best goal scoring midfielder, pretty much in the world for an entire generation, yet he was absolutely fantastic defensively in the run to the champions league final and crucial defensively to winning that title as well as crucial offensively.
You don't buy 2 more 20mil players just in case you want to play with a plan b. You have 3-4 midfielders who can cope with any tactic, then back up. We have 3 midfielders of which 2 are incredibly versatile, and we have back up which we know, unfortunately, that Wenger will use and likes despite them being crap. We also know that Wenger is tactically retarded, and absolutely doesn't and has categorically stated multiple times that he does not change how he sets up the team no matter the opposition, so buying a couple 20mil + midfielders to play only when we want to play a specific way, with a manager who doesn't change the way the team plays?
You have to factor in the manager when you're talking about who would work with the team. Wenger will specifically not alter the team, he won't play 3 DM's against Bayern say, so why spend lots of money on guys who won't get games, or guys who mean you drop other top players. Another manager, maybe you buy a back up midfield enforcer, a De jong type who in games you think you can't win you just try to not lose, but outside of clubs with insane money you still don't buy 20mil players you only expect to use sporadically.
Always, every time spend your money strengthening the weakest parts of the team, fullbacks, goalkeeper, striker, right winger, central midfield has the most players, the most depth and the best quality first team players, its absurd to try to strengthen there.
I agree with this. Arsenals starting 11 is very, very close to challenging for things, so a little improvement in that, and then a vast improvement in the overall squad quality would be brilliant. Especially with some of the players linked, except Rooney. That one would be a disaster IMO.
Pretty much the whole reason we haven't won things when we had a stronger starting eleven, is because a great 11 win nothing if the back up 11 is cack. A starting 11 is meaningless, because 11 guys can't play 65+ games every season, Xavi did 70games, one season and has since moved down to playing some 22-28 league starts a season to protect him for the champs league and other competitions. Big teams win titles because of big squads. Our best 11 isn't good enough yet but our best 18 is no where near other teams, and realistically you need to have a good 20+ players to be truly competitive.
First team, Walcott, keeper maybe, fullbacks, strikers simply aren't good enough, and the back up midfielders are no where near good enough, back up wingers, lol, back up strikers, nope, back up fullbacks(better than the first team, thanks to the absurdity that is Wenger), back up keeper, nope, back up cb's, nope.
Arsenal are 10 players now from winning a league, at least, but with a lot of luck maybe only a 4-5 players from winning a cup.
