Tommy T: Page 23 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Tommy T

est

I love this guy so much. Wish that he can stay healthy forever.

Qwiss

Can't believe how good he looks right now. He's playing the Zinchenko role like peak Zinky but with added defensive stability. Just hope he stays fit now.

goon

Qwiss

Definitely not like peak Zinchenko. He literally ran the game for us at times last season. I also don't think he plays the role in exactly the same way, he ended up much higher up the pitch at times.

Tomi is more like another White on the left side.

Doc

Really like what he has shown in the last couple of games. Also like what Arteta has done tactically between him and Rice. Rice at the 8 role looks to be more defensive now, almost like an old school box to box midfielder with Tomi having much more of a licence to go forward. Definitely think it's the way to go, think that could be the end game, gets the best out of Rice and gives more variation to our play.

Having said that, replace Tomi with Timber and we will go up levels in terms of our attacking play.. Hopefully he can suprise us and come back early..

Pepe LeFrits

Wasn't that impressed tbh.

Clrnc

MOTM

Qwiss

goon you never see White pop up in the left 8 spot but last night I seen Tomi there. You're right about him getting into more advanced positions though, he's been popping up in the box too.

Pepe LeFrits

Defensively he's great, but I find him rather clunky technically. Think it's a bit of an issue when we're already struggling with ball progression through the absence of Xhaka and Partey

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Pepe LeFrits yes. He has a touch of Tierney about him on the ball in advanced positions, but he's more two footed.

Doc

Pepe LeFrits

I kind of agree but seems like we want to change that role (or at least have a different option) from someone like Zinchenko who can sit at the base of midfield and dictate the play & 8 in front of him to having our DM be the dictator (Jorginho/Partey) while the fullback gets forward more and Rice covers. He is not ideal for it but has done a good job of moving it to the right areas. Timber would excel there.

lorddulaarsenal

Pepe LeFrits agree. He has a paint by numbers approach to football. Good athlete and fantastic attitude and work rate but ultimately too rigid on the ball for the type of football we aspire to play

Gazza M

I've been holding a candle for tomi to find his way back into the 11. brings so many great qualities to the table

goon

Qwiss

Yeah I meant he's like White stylistically in terms of his passing, athleticism, defensive ability and even in the final third. Zinchenko is more an artsy playmaker, Partey type.

Clrnc

goon Yeah Tomi kept offering himself in the box as a 2nd striker at times.

I think the balance is right with him in the team

Mirth

It’s funny because you’d think Zinchenko would be perfect for the role but I guess he doesn’t show enough defensively

Burnwinter

Mirth That clearance where Tomi runs the length of the pitch to get between our centre halves and disrupt a scoring opportunity is something where we wouldn't even have criticised Zinchenko, because he would've been fifty plus yards away ...

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Hope he goes from strength to strength, and stays fit.

Tam

He presents the same problem Zinchenko does. It's such a specific and niche way of playing the position that others can't replicate it, and when he's inevitably not available, we'll go to shit as a result. As we did with Zinchenko.

We used to be on Wenger's back because of the perception that he wanted to prove himself and the team good enough without 'spending big' - that was his thing. This is becoming Arteta's thing - a desire to be innovative that manifests in a series of individual and highly specialised roles which work for Plan A, but which fall apart with dire consequences for the team when nobody can step in and perform in the same way.

goon

Tam

It's not as niche as you think. De Zebri does it. Pep does it. Klopp started doing it sometimes. Tottenham do it with both full backs. All of these guys are incredibly innovative and borrow from each other too, it's why they're at the top clubs.

Qwiss

Tam He presents the same problem Zinchenko does. It's such a specific and niche way of playing the position that others can't replicate it, and when he's inevitably not available, we'll go to shit as a result. As we did with Zinchenko.

Don't forget about Timber. I think he can potentially do it at an even higher level than Tomi. If we had both rotating we'd be very healthy a left back. That leaves us with questions about Zinny, I'd say try him in midfield or let him go.

Clrnc

goon As Henry pointed out, almost every team now builds with a 2-3-5, just using different players in the 3.

Ancelotti does it in the most conventional way, the 3 midfielders is still the 3 midfielders, the 5 makes up both rampaging fullbacks.

goon

Clrnc

Yup,

It basically comes down to where you want your two 8's attacking or your two fullbacks. Or you can use one of each.

Tomi and Rice seemed like they took turns to attack and protect against Sevilla.

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