11-13 games in 6 weeks will stretch our squad, so it is something that may happen.
However, Xhaka and Ceballos are our first choice.

I dont rate him in midfield at all, ironically probably because of his pace. In one of his interviews for the club he said he very much prefers to play on the wing, mainly because he wants to run at players and beat them on pace.
From what I have seen so far, I don't think he will ever develop the mindset and foundation to play at the top level in midfield. That being said, Wijnaldum once debuted as a unpredictable lightweight winger with zero end product on the right wing, and is now one of the best solid on the ball and allround midfielders in the game.
So I hope he surprises us all, because I do like his character.

Completely forgot about Ceballos

AMN is a bit lazy with the ball, something you can't afford in MF. Saying that it's something Xhaka does constantly.

Just think he could give is something in MF which we don't have at the moment

Arteta has only had something like 15 games in charge.

He took over a club that was drifting dangerously close to the unthinkable, and has done a decent job at steadying the ship.

The best thing he could do right now is use the 10 remaining games as a sort of preseason. Give everybody a go and make up his mind on which players to keep or ship out. Especially in midfield.

I also wouldn't waste my time playing Ceballos, Mari and Soares as they already have one foot out the door.

Mari is almost guaranteed to sign.

Just don't think he's good enough on the ball or spatially aware enough to make it in midfield. Maybe in a defensive set up or lower down the league/in the championship.

The lad could be a really good RB though. He did more there under Arteta than Bellerin has for years imo (I'm not even talking about injuries).

AMN does have the game for it and Wenger believed that he would settle in that position.

I remember the Southampton game in the FA cup where he was exceptional, with Jeff and Oxo.

The problem I think has been his attitude off the pitch. I wonder if Areteta has used the time to get to know AMN better. Would save us a packet if he was able to sort his life out.

comment by Giröulski Alt-153 and Alt-160 forever (U14971)
posted 2 hours, 56 minutes ago
Mari is almost guaranteed to sign.
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That would certainly be a first.

Our record of making loan deals with the option of an extension has been rather disappointing in recent years. From Denis Suarez, all the way back to Junichi Inamoto.

Think Mari was a loan to buy. So his time here was an extended trial. Seems to have impressed so I would think we will sign him. As I remember it, it was only £12m. A bargain tbh.

comment by Tu Meke - He'sGotRedHair! (U3732)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
Just don't think he's good enough on the ball or spatially aware enough to make it in midfield. Maybe in a defensive set up or lower down the league/in the championship.

The lad could be a really good RB though. He did more there under Arteta than Bellerin has for years imo (I'm not even talking about injuries).
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That's the issue, he can be a bit suspect with the ball. However, with the trash we currently have in MF, I wouldn't be against the idea of AMN in MF

comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 57 seconds ago
comment by Tu Meke - He'sGotRedHair! (U3732)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
Just don't think he's good enough on the ball or spatially aware enough to make it in midfield. Maybe in a defensive set up or lower down the league/in the championship.

The lad could be a really good RB though. He did more there under Arteta than Bellerin has for years imo (I'm not even talking about injuries).
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That's the issue, he can be a bit suspect with the ball. However, with the trash we currently have in MF, I wouldn't be against the idea of AMN in MF
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That would probably be quite a painfull learning periode though with lots of ups and downs. Ideally you would play him in RB for 2-3 full seasons in a possesion based team and slowly learn the fundamentals for a midfield role like Lahm, Alaba, TAA, Alves, who were like playmakers for the winger playing in front of them.
I would actually start him ahead of Bellerin when both are fit.

Bellerin ahead of AMN for me every time. But definitely wouldn’t be against AMN getting a run in CM. It’s not like our other options are inspiring

He's the new Oxlade Chamberlain. Did fairly well out wide but wants to move infield. Will push for a place there, not make it and will then be sold. I dont see him going on to join a team doing as well as Liverpool are at the moment though.

I've always thought he should be a central MF. He's just too good off either foot, with the ball and too talented a ball carrier, to be wasted in the WB/WF roles. Since Cazorla got injured, we've had zero ability to RUN the ball through MF, when teams sit behind the ball closing lanes. Everyone knows, close the lanes, neutral Ozil and we're done. Xhaka is too slow to move through MF that way and Ozil is too gutless to do it. So it's uphill all game. AMN is the type of intelligent player, you can teach any aspect of the game that can be taught. I don't see him having much trouble picking up on the finer points of playing CM/CAM, like which release is best and where to be when he hasn't got the ball. The ability to switch either way, on the move at pace, with pretty much the same level of quality is a serious weapon to pack in a CM arsenal and something out MF desperately needs.

That said, assuming we're keeping Gwen, I don't see where he can get game time. Certainly not whilst we continue flogging dead Ozil horse. I'd not pick him over Gwen at this point. Wouldn't mind seeing a MF 3 of Gwen, AMN and Torreira. Would be the most agile and mobile MF we'd had since the Wenger Babies arrived. If AMN wants a MF role, I think he deserves a fair shot to see if it can work. Not alot to lose in trying but one hell of alot to gain if it succeeds. Personally I think it would, pretty quickly too. Because in God given talent, he's one of the best youngsters to ever to come out of this country.

*Biggest factor to consider here is what does the player want and would another big team, give him a crack at it if we won't. if Pep is staying at City then the answer to the second question is yes. Pep has already given the compliments that come shortly before he taps up a player, he'll happily come and take him off our hands if we're stupid enough to tell the kid "No you have to stay RB."

Everyone should remember that AMN was getting his MF opportunity and doing well (if with things to learn), when Bellerin got injured. It's what he was MEANT to be doing but got lumbered covering. So it is us being unfair/unreasonable, telling him no, if he asks for MF back now Bellerin is fit.

AMN playing in MF in training

The third goal we conceded today is a good example why AMN should stick to RB.