"The journey continues" - Mikel signs extension until 2025: Page 53 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

"The journey continues" - Mikel signs extension until 2025

Sicario2 - Tier 1

If we signed a proper player than Vieria or at least an all ready made player we would be in a much better position right now.

Vieria was an awful signing for such an important player (effectively first midfield sub).

The guy plays like a 12 year old kid.

RocktheCasbah

Sicario2 - Tier 1 Smith Rowe?

And, I think the point about Vieira was not that he was going to be ready this year, but in taking him when they did Arsenal were trying to save millions by picking him before he exploded a la - ooh, pick a random example... Mudryk.

I agree he looks terribly lightweight, to the point that Reiss Nelson was sent out from the bench instead of him when we played Forest just before the World Cup. But I don't think Arteta was planning for over half a season without Smith Rowe.

Tam

I've seen it mentioned a few times now recently, and plenty going further back , but can someone clue me in as to why Martinelli would be a good option up front?

I genuinely can't see it.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

Tam

At least he opens his eyes when he heads the ball unlike Eddie

Don Pacifico

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert but you've acknowledged Vieira has yet to impress - trying something different for the sake of it is not the right approach to be taking.

That being said, I think the legitimate criticism here is that we should be rotating more to give our squaddies more minutes so they're ready when we need them. That isn't happening at the moment and is my biggest concern for the rest of the season.

QuincyAbeyie

Don Pacifico but you've acknowledged Vieira has yet to impress - trying something different for the sake of it is not the right approach to be taking.

In that case the signing of him should be criticized. Whether he's good enough and doesn't get to play or isn't good enough to play yet are both scenarios worthy of criticism.

Tam

Sicario2 - Tier 1 SO the argument for trying Martinelli up front is aerial prowess? Or are you just wanting to bash Nketiah?

I'd genuinely like to know what people think Martinello can offer there and what I'm missing from his game that suggests he's be a success there.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

Tam

Look at Martinelli when he first started under Emery, he was scoring flying headers right, left and centre

Don Pacifico

QuincyAbeyie I'm not debating transfer policy, I'm disagreeing with the notion that as things stand, we have readily available options to supplant Xhaka and that Arteta is making errors in his team selection by keeping him in the team.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Sicario2 - Tier 1 I think one of those games was Tierney's debut - he was putting in mint crosses.

Weird that Martinelli has never really played up front since that period.

Burnwinter

I haven't had a major issue with us signing Vieira. I think he's got great potential and I don't want him brought in to spell Xhaka. All these things can be true. I just don't particularly think Fabio is gonna offer more than Granit in the next few months—he should contribute in the Europa, playing there will give someone a rest.

It's true Vieira's disturbingly skinny and light for this league, but that also means our strength programme will level him up. It's also true that Mendes sold him to us and he might have had his price a bit inflated, but not by too much in the end ...

Clrnc

I have to say I have never gotten the Vieira criticism. Pure scapegoating out of nothing.

You can't blame the club and say they don't gamble on signing talented players and when we do, blame the young players for not adapting fast enough to the new league when he was hardly given any sort of run at all

QuincyAbeyie

Nobody's criticizing the Marquinhos gamble, it all has to do with our midfield still being paper-thin in regards to quality.

Clrnc

QuincyAbeyie Because he only played once for us. I'm sure if we are subbing Marquinhos in and he does nothing of note the knives will be out for him

Wasn't too long ago Vieira started against Brentford and absolutely nailed it

Gurgen

Vieira barely gets minutes. How is he supposed to impress? He was quite decent at the start of the season and is clearly very talented. Let's give him some time. Better players have struggled in their first season here.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

Gurgen

You can tell instantly he is not cut out for this league (yet). Physically he is just not there.

It’s just an unnecessary gamble when buying this kind of player if we knew he would be getting so many mins.

Buy him fine, but either put him way down the pecking order or put on loan if he is for the ‘future’.

We needed a ready now player and he simply not up to task in 2023. This is more blame on Artera than the player but now his confidence is at a all time low (check the free kick v Brentford) why keep playing him?

RocktheCasbah

It's fair point.

We'd all have been battering Bobby Pires if this forum had existed in the year 2000 (won't it be strange when we're all fully grown?), but he got time to adjust, improve and eventually, shine. Vieira hasn't really had that. It's a little paradoxical I guess, but I wonder if he would have featured more had our start to the season not seen us flying. That said, its usually accepted a start like ours is the best time to try and bed a youngster in.

Burnwinter

But he's been getting basically every minute in the Europa to impress. His advocates tend to talk like that hasn't happened because, with a few exceptions, he hasn't been that impressive ...

Why not let him earn his promotion like everyone else? I'd probably give Smith Rowe a start before him if fit.

Gurgen

Burnwinter When was the last Europa league game?

RocktheCasbah

Burnwinter Why not let him earn his promotion like everyone else? I'd probably give Smith Rowe a start before him if fit.

As would I, 100%.

But, I'm also wary of judging anyone by what they've done in the Europa League this season. I know Nketiah disappointed everyone last night, but he's generally been a level above (in his general performance) of anything he showed in the EL this season. Plus, as Gurgen says, we haven't played in the El for what 3-4 months now?

JazzG

Imagine the stick even Henry would have got when he first joined.

He's young and just needs some time to find his feet here, for foreign players I'll always judge them on Season 2.

Burnwinter

Gurgen November prior to the World Cup. Makes no difference to the argument, though.

People say "Oh he'd look better with better players around him"—so does every player.

It bemuses me to think anyone is arguing Vieira should take one of the 8s in Arsenal's first XI, on his less favoured side, more or less because we're out of ideas. I'm not even certain he's put in a single complete two-way midfield performance in our shirt at any level. Nothing against him, but he can earn a place like anyone else, surely. Smith Rowe, Xhaka, Trossard or Zinchenko, it'd be reasonable to prefer all four to Vieira in that left 8 position, and Øde has the right locked down.

What'd be really good would be if Vieira could play well enough in the remaining Europa matches that Xhaka, Øde or Saka gets 90 minutes rest. He'd be doing a great job for us then.

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