Who has the highest ceiling - take II - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Who has the highest ceiling - take II

goon

Was talking about this with a friend and it reminded me of this thread from a couple of years back:

http://onemoreinthetolly.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4320

Martinelli won by a landslide back then, with Saka a distant second and ESR/Nelson in join third.

Since then we've seen Saka race ahead while Martinelli ended up in the wilderness. ESR then came in last December and staked a claim before Martinelli's recent re-emergence. Nelson sadly has completely dropped off, but 3/4 isn't bad.

But yeah, limiting it to just these three now, who do we reckon will have the best/biggest career?

It's incredibly tough to call, but for me I'm swinging back around to my original prediction of Martinelli. Since then I think his all around game has come on leaps and bounds but mostly it's that feeling that he will end up being a goal scoring machine. He has that very rare ice cold killer instinct in front of goal. All three look destined for very good careers though, which is great news for us.

Shady

I've always thought Martinelli. He'll also be the hardest to keep here in my opinion.

Qwiss

Same answer I gave last time, Saka.

Shout out to Captain, Klaus and Sicario who all said Nelson.

Clrnc

I really want to stick to my initial opinion of ESR, but how Martinelli developed surprise me. And he has pure will.

I still feel ESR is the most talented naturally but his injury record might count against him.

IBL

I went for Martinelli before but I think I'd put Saka ahead slightly now mainly because I fear Marti will get injured and his progress will suffer again because of it. Saka has been pretty injury free and kept a high level since the euroes, his progress has been incremental rather than explosive, his consistency has been solid. I always expect him to be our best attacker in any game.

Esr has been a real pleasant surprise, I can't see how he's going to reach the next level though other than being consistent which he has done in the most part.

Ray

Martinelli - Henry
ESR - Bergkamp
Saka - Pires
Odegaard - Ljungberg

Coombs

Weird how it's come full circle. Just as before, I think it's Martinelli but feel wrong not voting for Saka. ESR still my personal favorite of the 3.

Klaus

Gotta go with Saka.

I still think Nelson has a ceiling as high as him though. It's not talent he's lacking, it's the important stuff.

invisibleman18

Saka for me.
He's currently presenting a Brit award with Ian Wright bizarrely.

Mirth

Saka's ahead on the curve but if Martinelli lives up to his potential then he's going to be a once in a generation talent. Smith Rowe has a similar ceiling to Saka, albeit in a different role.

goon

Thought Saka raised the stakes today with his performance, aside from a superb all around game there were some Ozilesque touches too.

Coombs

Saka was genuinely awe inspiring. We're watching one of the greats.

KurtEisner

I'm not sure who has the higher ceiling between Saka and Martinelli, but Saka is a much safer bet to actually reach that ceiling. Unbelievable how he has performed this season after missing the deciding penalty against Italy.

Sicario

Kurt Eisner wrote:
I'm not sure who has the higher ceiling between Saka and Martinelli, but Saka is a much safer bet to actually reach that ceiling. Unbelievable how he has performed this season after missing the deciding penalty against Italy.

Good that Martinelli scored though. His first of 2022.

Saka is an unreal player, I even think he’s a still a bit underrated (outside of Arsenal fans).

Ricky1985

Coombs wrote:
Saka was genuinely awe inspiring. We're watching one of the greats.

I felt exactly the same. It was a similar kind of experience watching Fabregas in the 2007/08 season. Saka is jaw-droppingly good. I can't really believe just how good if I'm honest.

Ricky1985

Also, he's maturing off the pitch at a crazy rate of knots too:

He was s teenager until a few months ago! He's such a smart and impressive young man.

The fact that he came through Hale End and will represent the face of Arsenal for years to come... absolutely incredible. We are a blessed club right at this moment.

banduan

goon wrote:
But yeah, limiting it to just these three now, who do we reckon will have the best/biggest career?

But that's not necessarily the ceiling is it?

ESR's ceiling is way up there alongside the other two but he looks the least likely to reach it cos he seems to have a bit of the Wilsheres.

Qwiss

goon wrote:
Thought Saka raised the stakes today with his performance, aside from a superb all around game there were some Ozilesque touches too.

Martinelli and ESR are potentially world class players. Saka is already there and he's the youngest of the 3. He's added a lot to his game this season and I think its inevitable goals will come more and more too. When he starts banging them in regularly he'll become the biggest name in English football.

Qwiss

banduan wrote:
goon wrote:
But yeah, limiting it to just these three now, who do we reckon will have the best/biggest career?

But that's not necessarily the ceiling is it?

ESR's ceiling is way up there alongside the other two but he looks the least likely to reach it cos he seems to have a bit of the Wilsheres.

ESR hasn't missed that much football through injury and I don't think he's a party boy like Jack.

Burnwinter

Think Smith Rowe being ever so slightly behind the other two in the rate at which he's selected is more to do with his talents being a little more generalist, subtle and ambiguous, reading the game, creating, scoring in specific situations etc.

Saka and Martinelli both have clear "weapons" in their currently assigned wide roles, such as the capacity to beat a man and finish reliably. Saka has really advanced physically as well. Those weapons are keeping Smith Rowe out of the first XI half the time, as well as giving those two the chance to develop fast.