Deadline Day 2025: Page 5 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Deadline Day 2025

MistaT

I think Liverpool's attack is well ahead of ours as they have the edge in (attacking) system and players.

Gakpo has scored 16 and 18 goals over the last two seasons. He may be average elsewhere, but he knows where the net is and he's far more influential than Martinelli currently. Maybe we get the best out of Eze but even then he'll struggle to match those numbers from left wing in Arteta's sytem.

Isak is surely ahead of Gyokeres, and I would imagine the only way Gyokeres outscores him is if Isak is hurt. There's a decent chance of Isak being laid up for 10-20 games but they have Ekitike who very well could outshine Gyokeres.

Finally we get to the wonder boys - I absolutely love Saka but I would wager money on Salah outscoring him. We have to hope Saka stays fit (already an issue) while Salah slumps due to PED overuse and/or AFCON.

I don't see a way for us to outscore them as Liverpool will likely match us on goals from midfield too. Wirtz and MacAllister (combined) will likely score more than Odegaard. Rice may claw back some of the goals for us, but hard to say if his ~ 7 goals will come in the league or elsewhere.

Don Pacifico

MistaT I don't want to agree with this but I think I kinda do. Or at least it articulates the fear I have about our business vs Liverpool's.

flobaba

We are staking this title run on a slightly improved offence, a steady defence, and a more robust squad. But defence is our calling card. This is where we might have the advantage, especially considering that Liverpool failed to bring in Guehi.

MistaT

flobaba -- well said, but I'm not sure that's enough unless those factors transfer into a better record vs Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City.

When I look at Liverpool I see a flat track bully - even if suffering from a shallow squad - that will take more points vs small teams than we will. The only way we'll make up the difference is vs the top teams and we're already down 3 points there.

GooneriC

That attack Liverpool now has will make their defensive weakness look redundant

lorddulaarsenal

I think they’re weaker in attack compared to last season. Two key reasons - Trent, who was the catalyst, has gone. They have top players but they now attack in a far more conventional way which teams will be able to stifle far more than they could previously.

Salah looks to be slowing down.

They’ll miss Nunez and Diaz’s raw physicality and directness.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

lorddulaarsenal I think you might be right tbf. I'm just not convinced we'll be much more purring in attack than last season, despite the additions. Arteta has a lot to prove.

Qwiss

lorddulaarsenal Isak will help them cover for Salah goals but the creativity has dropped off. Salah was far more than just a goal scorer, he was creative, he turned up in clutch moments. Not sure their new players can match that. And as you point out Trent was really the only reason they got away with such a lack of creativity in midfield.

flobaba

Plus it's not like they're really bulldozing teams at this point. Vs Newcastle, they needed a last minute winner against a team that played an entire half a man down. Basically a hail Mary play. Vs us, they needed a worldie free kick.

You can't keep creating these sorts of moments. That's why they broke the bank for Isak. It was unsustainable. Also, let's see how they do when they come to the carpet. I anticipate it will be a different ball game if we are still in the chat at that point in the season.

lorddulaarsenal

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert hmm just have to wait and see. Positives to point to are Eze will add magic, and Gyokeres will add goals once he’s fit and adjusted. We are more equipped to handle absences.

Don’t forget we were smashing teams posts the mid winter sun tour the season before last, and that was with lesser able personnel

Panda

Qwiss They've been playing Gravenberch, McAllister and Wirtz as first choice midfield with Szoboszlai as first player in no matter which 1 of them is missing. Then they have Jones and Endo. We have Nwaneri, Merino and Norgaard. I'd rather Szoboszlai over those 3 at this moment in time.

I really don't think there is much between ours and theirs. McAllister and Gravenberch proved last season they are a strong duo. I'm sure Rice and Zubi will be too. Odegaard and Wirtz are both capable of more than they're showing atm.

If you include Eze and MLS in our depth then we have better depth options for sure but that's about it for me and no guarantee Arteta will play either of those 2 in midfield but hopefully he will.

Qwiss

Panda They've been playing Gravenberch, McAllister and Wirtz as first choice midfield with Szoboszlai as first player in no matter which 1 of them is missing. Then they have Jones and Endo. We have Nwaneri, Merino and Norgaard. I'd rather Szoboszlai over those 3 at this moment in time.

We have Eze too who I'd take over Szboz in midfield any day. Endo and Jones aren't as good as our midfield back ups.

Their midfield doesn't come close to ours.

Tactics

Qwiss I think we should be cautious about writing off Salah. I thought he was done during Klopp's last season, I maintained throughout the season his stats were excellent but his all round game wasn't all that. Fast forward few months later, he looked a way better player and proceeded to probably have his season for Liverpool. Unfortunately, it looks like his career in his 30s will look more like Cristiano Ronaldo's than Wayne Rooney's.

In my humble opinion Liverpool's midfield 3 of Gravenberg-Mac Allister-Wirtz is more technical and creative than ours, I'd say ours is more robust/better defensively though. They have a very attacking midfield, even Gravenberg, who is their most defensive player is actually attack minded. Their midfield configuration reminds me of Barca's.

Trent will be a huge miss for them but they actually replaced him with one of the most productive fullbacks in Europe. I read somewhere Frimpong had 30 goals amd 44 assists in 190 matches for Leverkusen which are ridiculous numbers for a fullback. Of course there is no guarantee he will replicate that for Liverpool. I personally think they should play Szoboszlai at RB in the big games (which I hope they don't) he looks similar to Valverde when he plays there.

I am still gutted they got Isak in the end but ecstatic when I found out they couldn't complete the Guehi deal.

Panda

Qwiss Yeah I'd take Eze over Szobsz too but Arteta will only put him in midfield if Ode out and even then it's not guaranteed as we found out on Sunday.

I think both squads are the only ones capable of winning the league this season so let's see how it all plays out and hope for the best.

Tactics

Pepe LeFrits The difference is, Real lost the player (Kroos) who made them the best team in Europe, whilst Liverpool have upgraded their attacking midfield position (Wirtz for Jones/Szoboszlai), at least on paper.

At worst, Liverpool's midfield will be as good as it was last season, which was good enough to win the league and nearly got them past PSG. And If if they get Wirtz firing, it could take their midfield to another level in terms of goals and creativity.

QuincyAbeyie

Tactics I think you're underrating Trent who's somewhat of a unique player in world football, but then again maybe I'm still wrong and White is the better player.

Tactics

QuincyAbeyie I am not underrating him, there isn't a RB like him in terms of passing. However, on paper Liverpool's increased creativity in midfield could likely off set the loss of Trent's creativity. They also replaced him with Frimpong who is very creative, albeit in a different way - see the stats above.

Szoboszlai should be their go to RB in the big games IMO. He's the most similar to Trent in their squad when it comes to passing and he's also got an insane engine.

Burnwinter

Their squad is shallower and aging compared to ours. Studded with great individual talents but they look far from untouchable. They've got the luck and they've always got fawning support from the press.

Qwiss

Tactics In my humble opinion Liverpool's midfield 3 of Gravenberg-Mac Allister-Wirtz is more technical and creative than ours

I simply don't understand how anyone could think that. MacAllister is a pound shop Rice. Gravenberch has managed 4 good months in his career and isn't close to the technical level of Zubimendi. So I'm assuming you expect Wirtz to be even better in the PL than he was in the Bundesliga. He shown no signs of it so far. Not only do we have a better midfield than Liverpool, so do Chelsea.

Frimpong is a right sided Kolasinac.

flobaba

Their midfield is (was) more balanced/fluid than ours is, and every player performs their function intelligently, and very well. Remains to be seen how Wirtz impacts that balance and function this season.

Qwiss

flobaba Their midfield is (was) more balanced/fluid than ours is

I think its far less balanced. They got away with it last season because Salah was playing at an absolutely insane level and Arsenal and City both collapsed.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert They'd an 84 point season, we beat that the year before. We've added 8 players this summer and not lost anyone majorly significant apart from Partey who've replaced with top player who's probably better. I don't think Liverpool are better than us. It certainly can't be stated as fact 3 games into the season.

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