Well done the collective, four of our lads are in the PFA Team of the Year. It's a mark of the progress that's made us a preferred destination for big players.

Just had a look and the last Arsenal player to make the cut was Aubameyang in 19–20, then Bellerín in 15–16 and Sánchez in 14–15, then Van Persie in 11–12. In that sense you've gotta go back more than one decade of averageness to pull together the quality in our current squad.

Well done to those guys and no doubt they deserve it. Probably another 1 or 2 who could feel hard done by to not be included.

4 days later

Is there a "there" there? Wish we had a viable alternative to freshen up our right side. It's really bland.

Trossard/Nelson/Jesus - all talented players who could do a decent job on the right.

Hell I wouldn't mind seeing Havertz there - think he'd be capable of getting his noggin onto a few of those crosses Martinelli has been putting onto the back stick

    He’s definitely off form….a couple thoughts:

    Hopefully having White at RB helps him as that’s a more dynamic duo than Partey at RB.

    I also think it’s telling that Saka’s form has dipped when we’ve disrupted a great connection between Partey (at DM) and Odegaard. Partey had a massive influence on when/where Odegaard got on ball last season and it’s clear we’ve lost something there.

    Pepe LeFrits

    Yeah. If Eddie can continue show he is a viable option upfront. Jesus is a really good alternative for the right when we need to rotate Saka.

      Obviously I love Bukayo but he should be dropped, I feel. Absolutely awful, and blaming others for it is just grasping. Was as bad as Antony today.

      The funny thing about Saka is he has these visually weird games, but when you look at his numbers, he’s always very productive and in the thick of it. Yesterday he led in goal probability added, and was involved in the third most attacking sequences. So he’s doing smart, useful things.

        I disagree that Saka was awful. It was a terrible miss, granted, but we are just so used to Saka at his very best that anything short of it is seen as terrible. He was nowhere near as bad as Anthony, who was just functional.

        Anthony is just shit. Almost as bad as the Butcher who just quit on his team

        Saka's miss was probably his best moment yesterday.

          Claudius Its an expectation thing. If Havertz played like that people would defend him but we expect more from Saka because we've seen more from him. He's not at his best but he's still very useful. If he makes a proper connection with that late Jesus pass the narrative flips completely.

            Claudius

            People remember moments more than anything, unfortunately for Saka his notable moments were more bad than good, but the rest of his game was as reliable as ever.

                Dalot to be fair was very good against him. As we saw last season Ake defended well against him as well, right footed LBs are more difficult for Saka as he likes to cut in.

                  Coombs yep. He was pretty bad. No two ways about it. I think he's the sort to bounce back with a vengeance though.

                    JazzG yep, which is why I've been advocating for a while now that Saka needs to do the robben thing. Just go at them full blast before the double team has a chance to set up, and beat his man on the outside if needed. He becomes a bit too predictable and easier to mark once he slows down.

                      Yea, I was thinking about it yesterday. The opposition is so scared and always double-team Saka, but we never seem to profit from it. All it does is just make him give up possession and our attack goes somewhere else. Exactly what the defence wants.

                        goon true.
                        But I also recall exactly a year ago, Saka didn’t have an assist or goal to his name. And there were calls to drop him. He only went on to make PFA team and young player of the year. So again, plead patience.

                          est

                          We do profit from it - Martinelli gets his FB one-v-one over and over again because the opposition lopside their defence to stop Saka.

                            Yeah. When we're able to work it well it even creates space for Ode and White just inside or on the overlap.

                            • est replied to this.

                              goon This is more what I mean. We don't take advantage of this often enough. Switching the play to the other flank should be the last option.

                              To be fair, Odegaard works well and provides options for Saka, but we've been seriously lacking wide-support with Partey at RB. Hopefully this gets better with White there now.

                                  est

                                  Yeah, Partey doesn’t mesh well with Ode and Saka but to be fair it took White a while to build that synergy too.

                                    Nominated for Ballon Dor. Still got a few names to be announced, think Odegaard and Saliba/Martinelli will be on it.

                                      Clrnc Nominated for Ballon Dor. Still got a few names to be announced, think Odegaard and Saliba/Martinelli will be on it.

                                      Odegaard is on the list as well.

                                        8 days later

                                        Sounds like tendinitis. Tough one.

                                          banduan ya why tf is he being forced to play thru it?

                                          He's a professional at the top level and the best players in the world have to play 90 minutes every game, 2 or 3 times a week.

                                              i'm still pissed koscielny missed out on a world cup winners medal because we were trying to nurse him through the end of the season. these players should think about themselves and that alone. these clubs don't give a fuck about you, always remember that.

                                                Meatwad these players should think about themselves and that alone. these clubs don't give a fuck about you, always remember that.

                                                  maybe he left that way because we fucked him out of winning the world cup.

                                                  banduan it's not something that just goes away. If it's chronic, you have to learn to live with it. 3 weeks off might help, but it might just flare up again right away. Hopefully we see some management of his situation, but the "cure" might be surgical, and even then...

                                                    You guys worry too much imo. Arsenal fans have been waiting two years to say ‘I told you so’ when it comes to Saka. Maybe the kids one of those that can just take a high load without breaking down.