11 Dec 2014 23:11:35
Sissoko?

Too forward thinking for me. Only a decent buy if both Arteta and Flamini leave in the summer and he is signed along with a truly top draw defensive midfielder.

1.) 12 Dec 2014
Yes please and Schneiderlin. With these two and a couple of quality defenders, our squad would be competitive at the top level.
Sell/release: Monreal, Flamini, Arteta. Possibly Campbell & Podolski, if Wenger isn't confident in playing them.

2.) 12 Dec 2014
No offense Robbie, but you keep coming on here and talking about selling our Captain, and a key player of the team - sorry mate its not on!

3.) 12 Dec 2014
I think Robbie has been playing too much FIFA or Football Manager. He is always selling half the team and replacing them with another dozen. Once again. YAWN.

4.) 12 Dec 2014
Rooster to be fair to Robbie Arteta symbolizes the team, 4th place Player at best and in decline.
If we are to ever be a force again it will not be lead by Artea and Flamini and only by replacing them can we move forward.
Its not about retaining the players we like or sadly those who have been fantastic for the club its about competing with the best and only accepting reality will make that happen.
I'm a massive Ozil fan and will be totally gutted if he leaves but if his going ment funding an excellent CB and DM then that's right for the club so has to be done.
Rosicky Diarby Arteta Flamini will never compete for big trophies again, sadly

{Ed025's Note - ozil would not be a massive loss in my eyes G62, he is not as good as people expect for me, when he left madrid he was expecting offers from the major players in the champions league (no offence), he has done nothing but sulk at arsenal and if a good offer came in i would get rid..

5.) 12 Dec 2014
Red Rooster -
Simply because Arteta is not of sufficient quality, would the likes of Chelsea & Man City have him in their squads?
VDG -
Sites like these are where we can make comments. Of course the club are not going to sell & replace the players I mentioned, but in reality, none of these players would be considered good enough to be in the squads of the contenders for the PL & CL, so why do we persist with them? Incidentally, I only suggested selling/releasing 3 players, the other two were possibilities for replacement as they rarely play.
Can I ask both of you if you believe Flamini, Arteta and Monreal should be kept at the club and why? I don't accept the remark about Arteta being captain & a key member of the team. He is an ageing, increasingly injury prone, average premiership player who is being played out his natural position, as a holding midfield player. Can you imagine Chelsea, City, Barca, Bayern or Real having him in their squads?

{Ed025's Note - fair points there robbie..

6.) 12 Dec 2014
VDG - There is a reason we are in the position we are in and in my humble opinion it is down to the fact that we have players that are simply not good enough at the top level & desperately need 2 defenders & 2 holding midfield players. Hence my comments.
Instead of criticising me, please explain how the current squad will challenge for the title, without the improving the
squad. Do you seriously suggest the likes of Arteta, Monreal & Flamini have what it takes to win the PL or CL?

7.) 12 Dec 2014
Arteta might be good enough to be a back up player for team of champions when is used along side a much better players to cover injuries.
For us he is very much a main player who we rely on because he's all we got and that says a lot about why we are always chasing 4th place and the title race fight is beyond us

8.) 12 Dec 2014
VDG anb Robbie. you are both entitled to your opinions no need to have digs at each other, and you are both right.
arteta is not good enough to be our first choice CDM, however he is an experienced and strong character around the dressing room (i don't know him but guessing this is why he is captian) however to say that we should get rid if him is not right. he gives 100% effort and still is a good organised player while not at his best any more is dependable.
as you for comment about would he get into the utd, city Chelsea teams then no he would not however he would get into their squads.
they have people like Milner, Obi Mikel, Fletcher Man (UTD OF old) you need these types of players to make up a good squad full off quality and experience and reliabilty.
and let not forget this is the same squad that finished 7 points off the team that won the prem last season and won the fa cup and we have added sanchez and welbeck. now i'm not saying that we will win the league this season but we were not a million miles off last season ad bar the key injury's we got last season could have gone even closer. the first team needs a little more quality this is true, but I don't not feel a complete overhaul of the squad.

9.) 12 Dec 2014
I think Arteta has been well defended here so will leave it at that, except would add that some of our key players and more are heavily reliant on Spanish - Sanchez, Cazorla etc and Arteta seems to be the one who helps fit them into the squad - has to be someone they respect - he is an important player in many ways.

10.) 12 Dec 2014
But that's the point GUNB he's our first chioce not a squad player, I don't think anyone desperately wants him out at all people just don't wan him to be our best option and Flamini our second and last option.
Back up plan fine but leading the way he will only lead us to mediocrity and 4th at best

11.) 12 Dec 2014
Have to agree with Robbie and G62. If Arteta and Flamini signed for Hull in the morning they would be 4th and 5th choice midfielders as I would have Livermore, huddlestone and diame ahead of them. The fact that arteta is important for a team that is supposed to be challenging at the top of the division and would not be for a team that is in the relegation zone is exactly where the problem lies. I don't think either of them would come close to getting into chelseas or citys squad never mind being a the heart of there team. Matic was suspended for Chelsea last week and they recorded there first defeat of the season I just goes to show how important a player he is for them and what more how important a position it is in any team. Mourinho has realised this and Wenger hasnt