Arsenal OUTS 2023 😞 : Page 18 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Arsenal OUTS 2023 😞

Clrnc

goon rice haven't shown himself to be that kind of player both for Whu and England yet. That said Ramsdale didn't show his passing abilities at all before joining us too bar that 2 selected clips

Meatwad

Clrnc
weren't there videos of rams constantly picking out sheffield players in midfield? i know that's what people were talking about on r/gunners, hey he can pick out a pass.

Meatwad

JazzG
of course he wants to stay. he just doesn't want to stay to be eddie nketiah and he has more ambition than nelson. the only way we fuck this up is by not having a buy back clause of like 50-60m. a number like that in 2-3 years. if that sum is not seen as a bargain in 3 years then he didn't develop and nothing lost.

Ricky1985

Gazza M

I think the first 5 minutes of this video gives an idea of what some casual observers perhaps don't notice about Rice's game. I certainly didn't until I watched more closely.

We all know he has an off the charts defensive game, can hit those long switches of play, and has fantastic athleticism and running power in transition - that's easy to spot. But on looking more closely, I was surprised to see just how good his balance is, how aware he is before receiving, how he changes direction on a dime to open up passing angles, how reliable his first touch is and how good his close control is in tight areas, how well he can play cute one-twos around the corner off both feet, and play progressive, sharp passes with both feet, too.

I don't see a "stiff" player at all. Anything but, actually. I think he has the ability to receive and in much the same way Partey can, to spin either way and progress the play.

I remember back in January when we were first strongly linked with a move for him being really surprised how good his passing numbers were, and thinking maybe I'd got him wrong. And I really had. He's so much better than I thought he was.

I don't see a weakness in his game when I think about what an elite 6 should have. And I think he'll make us stronger next season in all phases of our play.

Gazza M

Ricky1985 agree with meaty. that shows lots of what I like about rice, but not the subversive, metronomic probing I like to have from our 6. you have to have a special feel for the game to play that way, and unfortunately few English mids really have that quality at an elite level. in any case, with the midfield makeover we're going to have there will be lots of changing responsibility. we don't need a like for like trade of parteys qualities as long as there's good ingredients in there wholistically. there's so much synergy with how arteta sets us up, that the ingredients in the backline and front line impacts how the 6 will be asked to play. if rice is indeed our 6, hopefully he's given license to drive forward with the ball. that's one of his qualities I'm most excited about. he can still potentially dominate and control midfield for us as a 6

Meatwad

the first 5 mins of that video is a lot of ball carrying and not quickly transitioning the ball. and in a compilation when it cuts away when his dribbling stops that means nothing good happened after that.

the first 5 min of that looks like abou diaby at anfield. hey maybe that's what we need in a 6, but trying to sell him as something even his best highlights don't show is ridiculous.

Ricky1985

Well, it's less impressive to put together a video of body feints, direction switches, ball manipulation, and quick give and goes etc., in the defensive third because they are more subtle and don't lead to chances or goals - they don't make highlight reels.

But the point was to try to show that he can do the things I'm saying he can do in terms of close control and body balance, and not being stiff and therefore limited to playing conservative, obvious passes because he can't work space for himself.

These two match comps show a little bit more of that:

HomeSteak

Pepe LeFrits

Decent fee. Take it.

JazzG

Needs to be at minimum what we paid for him, I'd argue even more.

Clrnc

Considering what Chelsea received from them, if we are good we will get 50m for him from the Saudis. A player in his absolute prime ffs

JazzG

Clrnc Exactly, not over the hill player. This guy will wipe the floor with most of that league.

Tam

Observation rather than criticism, but Rice has a weird gangly way of controlling and dribbling the ball. It's almost as if he chops at it rather than moves it, and it looks like he's almost always chasing a loose touch even where he isn't. There's a lot of body movement in all he does and it's not feints and balance issues, just a weird style he seems to have.

I remember commenting years ago about the difference between British and continental players, or more accurately players you'd consider to have good touch and control, and how they have a gracefulness about them that British players seemed to lack. That's no longer the case with players like Saka, Foden, Alexander-Arnold or Grealish for example who all stack up well against the traditionally well regarded technicians like the Spaniards or Italians, but Rice certainly doesn't fall into that category. I don't doubt his technical quality, but he's got this clumsy almost slapstick way about him.

lorddulaarsenal

Tam he’s very upright when he runs

goon

Not sure about that, he’s 30. One of the reasons I wanted to beef up the midfield is because I’m terrified he’s going to suddenly fall off a cliff like Fabinho.

lorddulaarsenal

Probably see Rice, Timber, Jorginho and Zinchenko used as the midfield options for the two screening the defence.

Maybe Lavia if we can sign him

Clrnc

Straight swap for Locatelli or Vlahovic.

Gazza M

like fuck we will. saudi Arabia or nothing thomas

Ricky1985

Yup, fuck right off with that.

QuincyAbeyie

If we hadn't bought Havertz I'd love a swap with Locatelli, but not sure where he'd fit in now.

Clrnc

QuincyAbeyie Locatelli has been playing as a 6 for Juve, Rabiot 8.

So Locatelli can be our pivot

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