Obviously I'm not going to know what makes the perfect team but I'd definitely say the following aren't "good enough" for Arsenal, or at least if they are then it's for maybe 3 or 4 games a season:
- Mertesacker (has his good days but more often than not is too slow/caught out.
- Walcott (the toughest pick on my list because obviously he has goals in him, we've just been way too patient in trying to extract them and it doesn't seem to be working).
- Oxlade-Chamberlain (extremely energetic and can brighten up the team but way too clumsy and terrible at passing - like Walcott I'd like to see him thrive at somewhere midtable for the sake of English football but even then they're really being pushed out of the national selection anyway).
- Flamini (maybe just keep him though because if he's minted he can just buy us the rest of the team xo)
I don't know if it's controversial or not but I'd like to keep Giroud. For what he is, he is one of the best in that role. He's not the greatest at finishing chances or getting onto the end of Arsenal's usual attacking style, but if against a tough defensive team like Everton/Stoke/West Brom etc. he's great at holding up the ball for others (just rarely has anyone in that position for him) and always good for a header. Plus he's pretty but shush Shaun be serious. The only others that get flak from Arsenal fans are either really young (Chambers - I really can't be arsed with trying to "develop" a centre back when it's arguably the most important role in the team), injury-prone (Wilshere, who I have no problem with - when he's fit he's excellent for us) or just on the verge of retiring (Rosicky & Arteta, whom I both like but they are a bit of a drain on the wages now really).
As for signing... even if we kept Mertesacker & Chambers I'd want a stronger CB - someone like Varane, or (sorry Purdy) Sakho for the sake of gelling with the team/manager. But then maybe language isn't that important any more. But please god not Stones. He has big-club flop written all over him. I'd take Funes Mori over him.
As for CM... well if Wilshere's fit then I do now think that Elneny/Coq/Wilshere/Ramsey is a good enough roster. But most seem to think we have no "leader" which makes sense - Wilshere seems the best fit for the role but if he's never in training what's the point atm? BASICALLY SIGN AN ANGEL WHO CAN HEAL HIM??????
And obviously a striker. Welbeck can be great for certain styles, Giroud can be too, but someone who's a better finisher that can either give Giroud a competitive (for the squad) edge or just relegate him to the bench. Pointless even speculating on this though, Lacazette & Aubameyang were the only real names that seemed feasible and attractive enough but idfk... the latter seems to be on the verge of being unaffordable and the former seems to have died down a little in the hype stakes? Benzema can get to **** after his trolling in the summer
Oh and the goalies are fine. Ospina's disasters are a lot rarer than his reputation belies and Cech is obviously invaluable. Wingers are good enough too, maybe someone up on the right to offer more options. Let's say Mahrez because I can and it's obvious.
