Eze: Page 11 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Eze

Mirth

And they would have known that Noni needs a couple of weeks off following the CWC.

Qwiss

Gazza M seems to be a growing consensus that this one isn't going to happen. Not sure if that means we are done or we've moved onto someone else.

USArsenal

Qwiss Not sure if that means we are done or we've moved onto someone else

Dont think we're done. Perhaps we are still waiting to see if Rodrygo is going to change his mind for the 11th time this summer.

JazzG

Qwiss I think it is the club putting pressure on Palace to be a bit more flexible.

Segway

I know I'm in the minority but don't think Eze would move the needle much for us. Just have a hunch that he wouldn't cut it at a big club despite his ability. I also struggle to see where he would fit in the team. He's more a midfielder than an attacker and if we're looking at replacing Trossard, I would prefer a proper left winger.

JazzG

Segway I get what you are saying but we do have a big problem with attacks from the centre, Odegaard likes linking but he has been rubbish for a while and he does have an annoying habit of slowing everything down through the middle. We need a decisive player in the middle, someone who can create something out of nothing when he is on the pitch. We've got some great system players but we need someone with that bit of x factor who can dribble past players especially in those games where we have desperately been chasing a goal and we have nothing.

Last season we drew 14 games, the season before we drew 5 and the season before that we drew 6.

Lukazan

I am also not that hot on Eze and quite surprised at the level of excitement at the prospect of him coming in but maybe that just says more about the general opinion of our squad. Also, perhaps I've missed things but also a bit confused about the level of certainty that this is going to happen?

awooga83

Lukazan I can see this, I don't think eze necessarily helps with the left wing but it doesn't look like we are doing anything meaningful there and as a player he has some individual quality to potentially change games which is something I do think we are missing maybe only Saka has that and he still isn't getting the goal numbers that would allow him to carry that alone.

Don Pacifico

Lukazan but maybe that just says more about the general opinion of our squad.

Think that's it to be honest. Team is crying out for another baller.

Gazza M

Lukazan its mainly been Romano thats been pretty explicit that eze is our major remaining target

Segway

And Clrnc.

Segway

JazzG I agree we need that sort of player. I'm just highly sceptical Eze is that guy.

Qwiss

My want for Eze comes from his versatility and especially that it would allow him to cover for Odegaard. I actually think in a Wenger led team that wouldn't be an issue because he'd use Ethan and Max when he needed to but with Arteta my fear is if Odegaard is out again instead of using Ethan, which is the obvious, natural and balanced replacement, we'd see midfielders with Zubi, Rice and one of Havertz or Merino instead. At least if we bought Eze I'd trust Arteta to use him centrally if something happened to Ode.

JazzG

Qwiss Agreed, I know this view isn't popular here but we also need to keep a close eye on Odegaard this season. He got injured last season and clearly never got back to his best but some injuries players never recover from. Also with Zubimendi we need Odegaard higher up the pitch and he has a habit of dropping deep. We need someone who can receive the ball high and make things happen.

Tam

Qwiss At least if we bought Eze I'd trust Arteta to use him centrally if something happened to Ode.

Agreed on the probably reluctance to use Nwaneri in Odegaard's place - but would you trust he'd turn to Eze ahead of the others? I just can't see Arteta putting a relative maverick like Eze in such a central role ahead of players like Merino or Havertz who would offer more physicality and control.

Qwiss

JazzG Also with Zubimendi we need Odegaard higher up the pitch and he has a habit of dropping deep. We need someone who can receive the ball high and make things happen.

Fully agree with this but thats on Arteta more than Odegaard. Ode will do what he's told. I think it makes a lot more sense to push Ode up now that we have Zubi, maybe Arteta wont want to do it until he feels Zubi is bedded into the league first though.

Tam

JazzG Agreed, I know this view isn't popular here but we also need to keep a close eye on Odegaard this season.

That's not true at all. The view that isn't popular is that we need to ship a two-time player of the year out after one poor season where he suffered a significant injury and came back to an injury ravaged squad clearly not at a good level of fitness himself.

Even as an Odegaard fan I'd say we need to see how he returns. I fully expect we'll see him back to his best if we manage him back properly and surround him with players of the same quality who he can help lift some of the burden that's placed squarely on his shoulders.

I'm not going to compare the levels of expectation placed on Saka and Odegaard but there is a significant difference. There's an expectation Saka will produce some magic and be our star man. With Odegaard there's an expectation he will gel the team together and make everyone around him better.

Qwiss

Tam yeah maybe. I'm just going on the assumption that he wants Eze for that reason among others.

JazzG

Tam That's not true at all. The view that isn't popular is that we need to ship a two-time player of the year out after one poor season where he suffered a significant injury and came back to an injury ravaged squad clearly not at a good level of fitness himself.

Hence why I said my view isn't popular. A couple years ago Zinchenko was one of the key players in how our team played and now we are looking to get rid, times change and I'm not saying that will happen to Odegaard but if we change how we play Odegaard is the one who needs to fit, he simply is not good enough for us to build our entire attack around him, the only person who is good enough for us to build around is Saka.

Tam surround him with players of the same quality who he can help lift some of the burden that's placed squarely on his shoulders.

Maybe he needs to elevate himself rather than having other players do the lifting with him? The vast majority of the attacking burden is on Saka and he has risen to the occasion in our team, those are the type of players we need. Look at Bruno at Man Utd, surrounded by shite last season and rolled his sleeves up and elevated his own game.

Tam

JazzG Hence why I said my view isn't popular.

I'm not saying your view isn't popular, I'm saying your perception that your view isn't popular is wrong. You're painting a target on your back where there mostly isn't one. Most of us would agree that if Odegaard has another season like last year questions need to be asked about his future.

Of course he needs to elevate himself. Back to the levels he did in 22/23 and 23/24 when he was consecutive player of the year and carried much of the creative and tempo-setting burden of the team.

If we get to a point where Odegaard starts to emulate Bruno we'll no doubt switch sides. You'll be arguing that he stays and I'll be wanting him gone.

JazzG

I've shared my concerns about Odegaard in the past and my opinion doesn't seem very popular on this forum. Even when he was on form he still takes too many touches on the ball, misses good runs and generally slows us down too.

His intensity, link play and organisation skills are very good but he needs to take control of games and do more. He currently links up well with Saka but he needs to operate

Tam If we get to a point where Odegaard starts to emulate Bruno we'll no doubt switch sides. You'll be arguing that he stays and I'll be wanting him gone.

So you'll want Odegaard out if he scored 19 goals and had 19 assists? Or are you referring to his antics on the pitch? Bruno acts like a dick but there is no doubt that on the pitch he is a difference maker.

Burnwinter

JazzG I've shared my concerns about Odegaard in the past and my opinion doesn't seem very popular on this forum.

Ødegaard shouldn't be above criticism but his best periods at the club go along with sharing the pitch with Saka, White and a fit and firing Havertz or Jesus. He's spent way too much time rolling back for build-up to help us beat the press, or lacking the space to cook in the past season.

If he can't produce with better fitness and conditions we will get rid, but that'd be to admit he wasn't coming back right from injury. I also think Ødegaard's progress is existential for Arteta's whole project, certainly to date. If Arteta goes Ødegaard's days might be numbered and vice versa.

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