Rating the summer window: Page 8 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Rating the summer window

Panda

The only dodgy signings we made for me are Madueke and Norgaard but Norgaard gets a pass because of his cost and Prem experience and short term contract.

Madueke has the same issues as always - skips past a couple players and then 0 end product but thankfully Eze come in so he is now rotation which is fine.

Tam

USArsenal I think each game will have different personnel depending on what Arteta thinks the game needs.

This is my point though - virtually nothing in Arteta's management career suggests this would be his approach. He has his vision, he has his players, and that tend to be what he sticks with come hell or high water. I have a hard time getting on board with the view that he now has multiple weapons at his disposal and he will pick accordingly depending on what battlefield he is going in to. That's just not Arteta.

Which does make me question how much of it is on Arteta's demand? I've no doubt he wanted more players, but this year the word was we pivoted from Sesko to Gyokeres on Berta's say so. It is possible Arteta would have taken either, but they are different profile of player. Prior to this year I think most of us have been under the common understanding that Arteta's influence and desire has been increasing through his time here. Berta coming in, changing targets, and operating in such a formidable manner would suggest he's coming in with a lot more influence than Edu departed with. Has that knocked Arteta down a peg or two?

USArsenal Madueke is a maverick, a wild-card. He can dribble direct, go at a defender and creates chaos in and around the box.

I can only imagine that Arteta would visibly cringe and audibly gasp at that sentence.

Burnwinter

Tam The Gyokeres, Madueke and Hincapie signings just leave me scratching my head a bit when I try to understand what Arteta’s vision is, other than pure quantity.

Guess the plausible theory would be what was implied (not sure if it was directly stated, but seemed to have been briefed to the Athletic at least) through the preseason and the first couple of match days.

The claim is we're trying to set up with a tactical plan B which is more direct. Makes sense since three of these signings are highly mobile. Hincapie is a centre half who can do this:

Gyökeres is a classic, direct, hard-running 9 who is a fairly stark contrast to Havertz. Madueke is a very mobile, direct running Saka backup who can play both wings.

Tam He’s not shown any great capacity for deviation from his favoured approach before, but we’ve now suddenly got a few players who don’t really fit that.

With Saka, Ødegaard and Havertz simultaneously injured from moment one, I doubt we'll see anything optimal for quite a while. I also worry the lack of Saka will hinder the plan with Gyökeres.

But we do seem to be attempting transition football with a greater emphasis on ball-carrying, and probably to sharpen the edge of the horseshoe of doom with a bit more 1-on-1 quality. During one match in preseason we saw Ødegaard try to beat the first man forward of him every single time he got on the ball. We'll see that from Eze as well.

Tam I’m struggling to see how it all comes together just now, and that’s before even considering how Arteta manages to keep them all happy and engaged.

Can't see this being too disastrous unless our results are. The players follow Arteta's rule without dissent. That said, we'd benefit from deep FA and Carabao cup runs with this many warm bodies.

To me there's not much headless chook about the signings. They've all aimed at specific areas we were seen as deficient. Even the latest luxury defender Hincapie has a clear squad role covering LB and LCB with Kiwior departing.

Mirth

Tam The Gyokeres, Madueke and Hincapie signings just leave me scratching my head a bit when I try to understand what Arteta’s vision is, other than pure quantity.

To me it feels like we have a squad that is also adaptable for any future manager's needs. I'd argue that Eze is the biggest step outside of Arteta's comfort zone - he's not really shown much inclination to sign a player of that profile before and, arguably, would not have signed him if Eze did not make clear his desperation to join us. If you look at all the wingers Arteta has coached at Arsenal and, also in his previous life at Man City, Eze stands out.

RowJimmy

Mirth If you look at all the wingers Arteta has coached at Arsenal and, also in his previous life at Man City, Eze stands out.

Probably because he's not a winger.

Mirth

RowJimmy not a winger and not a typical Arteta central player either.

CPM

Looking at Zubimendi, Mosquera, and Hincapie we just seem to do a better job of recruiting more defensive signings. Physical, technical, instinctive defenders. Up front it's more mixed. I love Eze but still a bit dubious on Gyökeres. I do wonder why we didn't even look at Ekitike. Would we be better off with Isak than the combo of Gyökeres and Madueke?

USArsenal

CPM Would we be better off with Isak than the combo of Gyökeres and Madueke?

Well, i think Gyokeres and Madueke would be available a hell of a lot more time than Isak would be, so by simple availability, i would rather have those 2 players. (and Isak STILL costs more than that)

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