I think Martinelli is as likely to play RW as Mudyrk. He’s done nicely there in limited minutes, and I think he’d combine well with White and Odegaard.

I would also imagine ESR is feeling the heat. He needs to find a role in this team soon, and it feels more likely it will be as an 8. Could see him being moved if Mudyrk settles well.

    Don Pacifico
    Yeah that list really underscores a sense of skew! I thought we may be looking to loan Marquinhos, which would make that RW option list even smaller.
    MistaT
    Agree, Martinelli and Nelson could potentially be deployed there for any rotation but feel like we're having to think creatively and in the dark a bit. Don't think that vid Pepe just posted had a single highlight of Mudryk from the right side.

    Around the last time we saw Smith-Rowe in the streamed U21s game, he was playing midfield and doing a great job. May his role loops back around a bit and we'll see him slot into midfield more often, pending availability and circumstance. Great that we may be on the brink of procuring a skilled speed assassin; Smith-Rowe is no slouch though. He must have one of the higher speeds with the ball in the league, boosted by his smooth control.

        MistaT and that would be fine, because he should be second only to Xhaka (who's in his 30s now) at LCM, if he can ever get fit and adapt to the role like I think he can.

        Lokonga will probably be sold and Vieira is more right-sided.

          Both Martinelli and Mudryk is capable of playing RW, no worries about that at all. They are as versatile as they come

          • goon replied to this.

            Looks excellent with both feet doesn't he.

            Clrnc yeah I think all you really need to ask yourself is how would you feel if you saw Martinelli and Mudryk lining up on either wing and I don't think anyone would be worried. Having inverted wingers isn't really a key feature of our style.

              Pepe LeFrits Since Theo we’ve not had someone with that kind of speed in the team. His ball control is far superior and think he could be lethal on the counter. He seriously looks Mbappe kind of speed.

              Main thing is we can’t rely on Saka/Martinelli to last the whole season. Hopefully we will secure CL football and then we are going to need our squad options to be of a much higher level. This window isn’t just about this season but building for the next season.

                Imagine Martinelli and Mudryk swapping starter/sub slots in the PL and CL, competing for numbers and driving each other on. Great days ahead.

                  Pepe LeFrits the miss on 50 seconds in that compilation is outstanding. Gervinho level.

                    Coombs I reckon Martinelli's going to go super-Saiyan if his starting position gets challenged. He's got another level or two in him.

                        GooneriC
                        Chelsea are allegedly monitoring in case we don’t get the deal done. Not worried about them. They are scatterbrained

                            Clrnc Agree with you on the face of it. However to me Martinelli's gung-ho bulldog energy stands out even in this high energy Arsenal side. Obviously he was well marked and lacked support and space vs Newcastle.

                            It'll be very interesting to see how the two compare overall if Mudryk comes … 🙏

                              Martinelli’s dribbling is fine. It’s just a stylistic thing. He looks brutish, but he’s effective. Think back to the previous game. Saka’s goal, Nketiah‘a goal and Martinelli‘a goals all came from this brutish dribbling.

                                Claudius his dribbling is futsal style. Works better when there's space. Not saying it isn't good but there's another level to it.

                                  He's in control of the football now which wasn't often the case two years ago when I couldn't stand watching him out wide.

                                  I still think we need someone on another level, one vs one-wise when we struggle to break a team down like last night. Mudryk would appear to be that guy.