Smal

could easily have gone in for tactical instructions to be fair

Need some creativity, don’t we. We’d be so much more threatening with Maddison in place of Willock I think.

Has to score there

Longstaff’s running is unbelievable, like. He might not be the best at the final ball but he creates so many openings.

howled at the le tissier bit

reprehensible behaviour

When ASM was starting games and playing well, we had Joelinton at left centre midfield and he covered most of the defensive work for that flank. The winger needs to be able to press, but in most games we don’t need to have someone tracking back all the time if Joelinton’s in midfield.

Thought we looked shaky at the back but otherwise a good performance

Perez has been pretty decent for them

Bruno is nuts

First game Schar’s struggled in for ages.

Tielemans has made 3 fouls

I dunno if it’s his pace or his choice of how to beat his man. Bit of a throwback with how he does it in those wide positions.

we have looked a lot more dangerous when Willock has been on the left and Joelinton in midfield. Most of our attacks seem to have come from Willock.

Wilson doesn’t look fit to me

I think the past few games have shown we need someone in midfield who can put the ball in the net. We’ve had so many missed chances. Willock, Longstaff, Joelinton and Anderson have all had incredible chances to score and fluffed it. Maddison is the one, I think.

ah man, if I ever have to see Chris Wood play for us again I’ll be fuming

This is why Trippier should play every minute he’s not injured. Leaders are important.

When Ritchie moves infield we have the numbers to play straight through the middle of them. Happened a couple of times.

I don’t think Anderson is going to be a CM

I can't believe there's been a bust up, like. Doesn't seem like something that would happen between ASM and Howe. Probably illness/injury.

I really like having Burn at left back. The amount of times Arsenal tried to play the ball over the top of him to Saka last night but failed because Burn is so tall was great. Wish he was more of a threat at set plays like . But he is good at them defensively... Height can be really important in the PL.

If Miggy gets injured who do we play at right wing? If Bruno gets injured who do we play? Joelinton? etc. It's the same all over the pitch to be honest. An injury anywhere on the field would be fairly catastrophic. I just think improving the quality in the midfield and forward line is more important at this stage. Manquillo is sound enough defensively as a backup that is going to get minimal minutes because the player ahead of him is so good.

I can't see why Trippier can't play every game, like. It's not like we're in Europe playing twice every week.

We just need more quality. Need to stop thinking of it as having a strongest XI and signing options for the bench, or thinking we shouldn't sign quality players because they don't fit with our system too. We have one of the best tactical managers in the league - sign players who give him more tactical flexibility. Maddison would be ideal because gives us something we don't have and can play 3 or 4 different roles. Koné would be really good too because it would allow us to play a double pivot in some games. I don't think we need to spunk a load of money on a backup/prospect full back this window... leave that for the summer. Sign some first team options this window so we can keep the momentum going.