"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

awooga83

My worry is about the development, when he came here was not very good at subs and reacting and changing to things and I still don't think he is. Wet should have switched things up before this Martinelli just hasn't been effective for a long time and we still haven't rotated. Even in matches when it's been clear it's not working he's to slow

Don Pacifico

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert Fucking drop Xhaka. He's playing like shit again and I'm back to being sick of him. We need agility and deftness in addition to machine like athleticism in that role.

I disagree with a lot of what you've said, I think it's a bit melodramatic to be honest. You can't look at the progress we've made this season and say Arteta doesn't learn...

But the bit quoted above in particular - who is this alternative to Xhaka that is ready to play? You can critique the decision not to buy a replacement but realistically, there isn't anyone else currently available to do that job.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Don Pacifico Vieira. I am not impressed with what I've seen of him but he signed him and for fairly big money. Use your squad.

Obviously that means we're lightweight as hell with him, Odegaard and Jorginho but something needs to be different.

Maybe Trossard for Eddie and Nelson on the left.

And yes it's melodramatic but I'm pissed off at seeing the same issues when we're off the boil.

Coombs

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert Has our recruitment been overrated?

Just incomplete.

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.

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

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.

« Previous Page Next Page »