Squad Management 2022/23: Page 20 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Squad Management 2022/23

Claudius

JazzG it was a massive transfer window, which is why it is so surprising that it was so derided initially.
Kai Havertz is turning into a phenomenal player. He's our best 9 since RVP. The guy does so many things well. The way he holds up the ball, his workrate in both directions for 100 minutes every game. And also the way he works defenders is great, pulling them out of position. Part of the reason we can survive without Rice and Odegaard and a down game from Saka is how this guy has stepped up as a pillar

goon

Kai is brilliant. I think the role he’s played in our form in 2024 probably hasn’t quite clicked with people.

Segway

Yep. Didn't see it coming but Kai has been sensational.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

He’s been great but needs to score more. Even yesterday he should have done better with that header.

Next Sunday we may not get that many opportunities so he needs to be clinical if the chance(s) present themselves.

1 goal this season is a bit poor for an Arsenal number 9 but I get he’s very important to our system but strikers are judged on output.

RocktheCasbah

Sicario2 - Tier 1 well, he's got 2 goals this season, so that should make you feel a bit better. Especially as we've had to play one half of football with ten men and then just done a man the barricades effort at Spurs.

I do understand what you're saying, but saying he needs to be more clinical on here isn't going to make him so. Besides which, I'm not really sure he's noticeably missed anything easy this season, has he? You think he should have done better with the header, maybe, but it was a good save as well.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

RocktheCasbah
Felt he should have scored v Brighton as well. Yes, he created it himself, yes, it was a good save but still needed to put it away.

I think he could and should have scored a 2nd v Wolves as well. He needs to be dumping on these shit teams, braces and hattricks. Needs to be a flat track bully and be more cut throat in front of goal.

It doesn’t help that his rival is scoring hattricks every game. But that should elevate Kai and make him be better just like Ronaldo and Messi used to push each other on.

Freak or not, Haaland is the benchmark for a title winning side.

daredevil

Sicario2 - Tier 1

There is no one in world football who is doing what Haaland is doing in terms of scoring goals. Not even Kylian Mbappe is matching him, so there's no striker that is going to live up to that expectation. He almost scored 3 hattricks in a row, I don't think even Ronaldo and Messi ever managed that.

If you're going to compare him to Haaland, which is not unfair, we could have Lewandowski or Mbappe and you will still be disappointed.

I can tell you right now, Havertz is not going to be the Ronaldo to Haaland's Messi.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

daredevil
Put Kai on penalties and it’s no reason why he
can’t score 25 goals a season in the league.

Haaland is the benchmark, always good to aim high. Then if you fall short you still have very good numbers. I mean has Haaland ever scored in a CL final ? 😜

I mean we are City’s closest rivals so a comparison between the top 2 strikers will naturally be made.

Next one is Saliba v Ruben Dias and I think the former is getting a lot closer to him. Just needs medals.

goon

If you're going to compare him to Haaland, you should also compare everything else that Kai contributes to our play vs the former.

Rohit

Love Kai right now. Has to be the hardest working number 9 out there. I just wish he makes passing look less difficult than it is.

Meatwad

i wish he would make getting clean contact look less complicated.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

Don Pacifico

This Odegaard injury has put a magnifying glass to our transfer window. Should have signed a Odegaard replacement or kept ESR.

You live and die by your decisions and this one could be costly. Fine margins etc.

Ode is one of the few players that we can’t replace in the current squad (Ethan is too young to deputise).

JazzG

Sicario2 - Tier 1 Ode is one of the few players that we can’t replace in the current squad

I think we will see a change of system. If Jesus can get fit wonder if we could play Havertz there?

banduan

Sicario2 - Tier 1 Ode is one of the few players that we can’t replace in the current squad (Ethan is too young to deputise).

there are no replacements for Ode, not one who'd be happy to be a squaddie. The closest we have is also on the treatment table.

Qwiss

Sicario2 - Tier 1 depends how serious we are on giving Nwaneri a real chance. If he doesn't start any CL or PL games while Odegaard is out then I'll agree with you.

JazzG Jesus up front and Havertz in the middle has been tried before and its not a good system. We were very blunt when we played like that last season. I'd expect us to struggle again if thats our plan to cover Odegaards injury.

DiabyKungFu

I reckon we'll just stick with the Simeone 4-4-2 from the Tottenham game for the most part.

JazzG

DiabyKungFu Agreed

Qwiss JazzG Jesus up front and Havertz in the middle has been tried before and its not a good system. We were very blunt when we played like that last season. I'd expect us to struggle again if thats our plan to cover Odegaards injury.

I don't think we've tried Havertz as our No 10, mostly as our 8.

TambourineMan

Hopefully we get him back for Liverpool at the end of October but I fear we won't see him again until at least December meaning he'll miss Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A) and Chelsea (A).

Need to stay within touching distance of City during this time.

Don Pacifico

I think the issue is less about having a direct Odegaard replacement and more that currently it would seem that our game plan is contingent on him being available. Now Arteta may prove otherwise in the next few weeks (and his general approach to squad-building seems oriented to not relying on individuals, it's just that Ode is a pretty unique player!) but we've yet to really see what an Ode-less team looks like on a regular basis.

Big Willie

Qwiss Jesus up front and Havertz in the middle has been tried before and its not a good system. We were very blunt when we played like that last season. I'd expect us to struggle again if thats our plan to cover Odegaards injury

Yeah if anything I'd rather a Trossard/Havertz combo instead. Jesus and Havertz together at once ends up with both dropping too deep and limiting our ability to score. Trossard is the opposite in that he actually looks like he doesn't really want to come back to defend and is being forced instead of being allowed to play high and centrally where he can score/assist.

Qwiss

Big Willie I think people are forgetting how every time Jesus comes back and takes Trossards spot we are worse for it too. Trossard is just the better option at the moment. Plus we need a striker off the bench and Jesus is fine for that.

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