08 Sep 2026 08:33:16
So many saying Wirtz and Grav etc have to play as on big wages or transfer fees.
This was Arsenals mid Bs Chelsea - Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Odegard. On bench Bruno, Zubimendi, Merino and Eze.
It's about management. No one is happy on the bench but I bet Arteta has them all ready to go whenever needed.
This is why we need more midfielders and should not be worried about rotation and squad management. That's why the bosses get paid £Ms as it's a key part of their job.
08 Sep 2026 09:20:15
No one should ever feel like their place is guaranteed.
08 Sep 2026 09:24:12
I’ve a feeling Iraola likes to work with a more ‘lean’ squad. He’s not selecting players based on wages either.
08 Sep 2026 09:50:29
Iraola never managed a CL team though, Ron. When you have 1 game a week you need a smaller squad. We might have 2 games a week now until the new year. Let's hope our paper-thin squad can cope.
08 Sep 2026 09:57:20
The players are doing less training on game days. It’s like a rest day for them. ?
08 Sep 2026 11:01:46
1jj, I haven't seen people saying both players need to play cos of their fees/wages esp. since Grav. has been holding bench for the past 2 games.
In any case, anyone saying that needs to go somewhere else with that.
08 Sep 2026 13:45:29
Haven't seen a single person claim Wirtz or Grav "have to play" because of wages or transfer fees.
I've seen people, me included, cite the fees/wages as an indicator that the club's intent is for them to be regular starters, or as a reason they should be playing better.
They're two very different things.