yep.
I don't get his insistence on it though and I hope we don't focus on that position and neglect the most important one ffs.
edit the only way it makes sense is if we do a surprise sale in addition to Lo Soso and Skipp leaving.
We all want a 1v1 specialist, I think we've all convinced ourselves that this is a priority, me included. But if you look at our biggest weakness then it is by far and away dealing with oppo transitions, when they happen it's like a knife through butter.
Last season (so before our recent signings) we created the 4th most "big chances" in the league (more than Woolwich) and I can't recall with accuracy but I think 2nd or 3rd in total chances per 90 but played most of the season without a Centre Forward, seeing as we've just addressed this with Solonke there is hope now that a higher % of those chances can be turned into goals if Solanke gets up and running fast. This alone keeps the oppo pinned back and turns some of the games we drew or lost into wins.
As much as I like him for his energy and work rate I think Sarr is currently an issue in how we control games (control midfield), IMO he's not well-rounded enough especially when we are on the ball, without the ball he great at winning the ball high up the pitch but is often nowhere to be seen in oppo transitions (this could be as a result of Ange's system committing numbers up the pitch) and I think he makes some good 3rd man runs but his execution is woeful when those runs are picked out.
Having more rounded number #8 makes a lot of sense to me someone who has the same energy levels as Sarr but is better on the ball, links play from Biss to forwards, keeps possession better and is more effective in smashing the fuck out of the oppo if they transition on us, we need a technical fouler in the middle of the park who can break up oppo transitions before they start (there's a possibility that Bentancur could do this, in fact, he can and has done).
So, the question is will we win more games by scoring more goals from the chances we create? Yes, we will and I think we've addressed this with Solonke (big fingers crossed here). Also, will we win more games if we fix our oppo transition issue? Yes, absofuckinlutely (Will also be transformative if we scored more set pieces and conceded less at set pieces).
1v1 dribbly wingers yes please, I still want and we still need and they are fun to watch but we conceded 61 goals last year this has to be our priority. (Under Ange we will concede more goals than lots of teams so I'm not expecting shut outs) If we improve just by 20 goals less conceded then that moves the needle and puts us as a top 3 contender.