-------------------Leno
Bellerin--Holding--Gabriel--Tierney
--‐----------------Partey
------Smith-Rowe---Odegaard
Saka----------Lacazette-----Aubameyang

Would love to see this.

The Holding-Gabriel-Partey fulcrum looks really good on paper in terms shackling that area down. The wide lines just seem a little weak to me and I think Martinelli becomes a non-negotiable starter.

Getting excited about this now though. Hope he brings good fitness levels and robustness to support such formations.

I like how both Bellerin and Tierney have the capability to tuck in and make up the numbers in midfield if the 8/10s make forward runs to break the lines. Odegaard looks very good a bit deeper. Press resistant on the ball and the vision to make a pass. ESR can break forward a bit more to support Laca/Saka and play pin ball wizard.

Martinelli feels more and more like the natural successor to Aubameyang, to me.

Also, we can always go 4231 as necessary, whether during the game or when we know we'll be forced deeper and can benefit from the double-pivot.

If we manage to do this then we should see a better indication of what Arteta wants us to become in terms of shape and roles - do we stick with the 4231 or do we switch to a 433 and become more like 'MC/Barca lite'.

Odegaard is the better CAM/#10 ahead of ESR at this point, but can also play effectively as CMA and from the flank. ESR can also play from the flank at least so we could have a very flexible 3 of Saka - Odegaard - ESR if we retain the 4231. If also gives us depth of the bench if we retain both Laca and PEA as starters, which then alleviates our concerns regarding player burn-out/injuries re Saka and ESR.

Because Odegaard can play as CM and is strong defensively, it also opens up the prospects of switching to a 433. Again whilst the 'ideal' scenario may be for both Odegaard and ESR to start alongside each other, it may be more effective to look to rotate them with each other to begin with at least until Odegaard gets match fit. Alternatively if we are to consider depth/burn-out etc then again we could see a rotation of ESR/Saka/Odegaard across both the inverted winger/hybrid #8/10 positions.

EDIT - the idea of Odegaard joining the likes of Tierney, Saka, ESR, Martinelli, PEA, Partey, Gabriel even on loan should be very exciting. Not only to us supporters but also to the players and other potential signings in the summer.

I know we probably won't get him on a permanent basis, but I don’t think we should underestimate what a good experience could do for his preferences after having a bad time in Madrid for the second time. This season even after having played well in La Liga for Sociedad he still didn't get to play regularly. If we're lucky he'll want to stay like Kovacic.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

————-Aubameyang
—-ESR———————Saka
—————Odegaard
———-Xhaka—-Partey
Tierney-Gabriel—Holding—Cedric
———-——-Leno

I like it

You like Cedric now?

Qwiss! wrote:

Yeah I think so. We are wasting our time giving minutes to a Real Madrid player. This is the sort of short term thinking that is plaguing the club right now. The idea of this guy taking minutes from young Arsenal players and then going back to Madrid is really annoying, and for what? So we can finish 9th instead of 11th? If he's a back up option fine but I don't think he's coming here for that.

I agree with your point about it being a waste as we are essentially training one of their players likewise the club doesn’t seem to have a coherent long term approach as of yet. However on the other hand what if ESR gets injured or loses form, we have nobody to come in and we go back to where we were a few months ago.

He’d be strengthening the squad and worse case if he does leave he won’t cost us much and in the summer we can make a move for a more long term solution. The market seems dead this window and we need to address that position.

Like I mentioned if the stories of having 12 month left on his contract are true then it does put us in a decent position to do a deal in the summer. Hopefully though we will push to include an option, unlike Ceballos who has a long term deal if does have little time on his contract they’ll be more open to negotiate.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

————-Aubameyang
—-ESR———————Saka
—————Odegaard
———-Xhaka—-Partey
Tierney-Gabriel—Holding—Cedric
———-——-Leno

I like it

Leno

Cedric Holding Gabriel Tierney

Partey Odegaard

Saka ESR Martinelli

Auba

Kel Varnsen wrote:
@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

————-Aubameyang
—-ESR———————Saka
—————Odegaard
———-Xhaka—-Partey
Tierney-Gabriel—Holding—Cedric
———-——-Leno

I like it

You like Cedric now?

No but he’s the least rubbo

Can't be a year and a half unless Real are stupid. His contract finishes summer 2022.

Oh didnt know his contract end next year, in that case there is a significant chance that he could sold... makes it a bit more appealing

If he is that good (not massivly convinced by the youtube clips), maybe we can 'manage' his minutes so that he is useful but not get shafted if we were to makr a bid in the summer.

Nah, he extended for a year before his last loan, ends 2023.

Arteta said nothing new on the deal since yesterday, will make some calls today to see how it progresses. So strange to have a manager that talks so open about transfers, so different to Wenger. Not saying it's bad, but I'm just not used to it.

In fairness he didn't mention Odegaard, just said no updates since yesterday, will have a few calls to get updates on every deal. Only difference between him and Wenger is he's much more open about what the team needs, vs Wenger who was always keen to stress he's happy with what he has.

Nah, Wenger always say he is not interested in the player only to sign him 2 days later 😆 Or he will say he never heard of him before.

Arteta is extremely transparent once the deal is close, but give the I cant comment on other team players most of the time on rumours. He is also straightforward when he says No to players that are obviously false.

The only thing Arteta constantly lies about is regarding our own players, as to protect them mainly from abuse I feel. Like with Runarsson, Saliba, Willian etc.

I really don't wanna get hyped over this. Not only because the loan might not come through but because he might turn up and not be able to adapt.

goon wrote:

In fairness he didn't mention Odegaard, just said no updates since yesterday, will have a few calls to get updates on every deal. Only difference between him and Wenger is he's much more open about what the team needs, vs Wenger who was always keen to stress he's happy with what he has.

We are happy with the squad and we only go into the market for super, super quality.... signs Silvestre