I've been shocked how physically ready he is for the EPL too. He's got that build like Moussa Dembele where players just bounce off him and he knows how to use his body very well. I think he got moved to LB this season for two reasons- 1) necessity since its clear we can't trust the health of Calafiori (at the moment) or Zinchenko and Tierney is a different profile and 2) its an easier introduction to the EPL since there's a bit less responsibility as well as having more immediate opportunities in our team until Partey/Jorginho move this summer.

Coombs

Agreed.. I don't really consider 30 million as 'cheap'.

Pretty sure MLS has been playing as inverted LB at lower level a fair few times recently too tbf

This is what Arteta just said in a press conference:

on whether Mikel was involved in changing Myles Lewis-Skelly to a left-back:
When I saw him, to give him a chance and with the project that we had in the academy the moment that I saw him, the only way I could think was to change his position. I spoke to him and said I think this is where you’re going to have it, because I think it fits a lot of his qualities, the way that we play and it fits because we had necessities in the position, so we started to work on that. He got into it straight away with the personality that he has. I think it’s very obvious and now he’s doing it.

That reads to me like Arteta sees inverted fullback as MLS's best position, and the position where he can find a role at Arsenal.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/every-word-artetas-pre-aston-villa-presser-0

    CPM That reads to me like Arteta sees inverted fullback as MLS's best position,

    what? That's not what that says at all!

    The new golden boy, I want to play him as a CM, bet money he is a baller there as well.
    Califiori does not get back into this team, the left back position is his.

    Switch him to DM. Toss Unnamed Player off the bridge and stick Timber or Cala on the left.

      Keep MLS where he is. No need to disrupt his development.

      BTW, I’ll be surprised if he’s not included in the next England team.

        Claudius No need to disrupt his development.

        Developing players is nice and all, but it isn't our raison d'etre.

        Sicario2 - Tier 1 So good!

        Popped up in midfield loads and made things happen. I really hope the long term plan with MLS is to play him in midfield.

        Moreso than the execution was the vision to see it and disguise it the way he did, great reading the of overall play.

        Yes, it's the guile that interests me so much. Always love these kind of players.

        • IBL likes this.

        both he and Nwaneri are exactly the kinds of players we don't have enough of. Players who are able to take on opponents, but also do it with real speed. Saka and Odegaard are basically the only guy who does that consistently with security. Otherwise we are highly dependent on ball movement for beating men. So I really like both guys, and it's clear Arteta values this quality as well