Summa 26 TW: Page 29 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Summa 26 TW

awooga83

Claudius I think if you're getting into multiple seasons of injury in crucial positions then that's where I would prioritise. Havertz is on big money and just not really at the right level for the forward contribution we need I think. Odegaard plays in an important position but had struggled with consistency. Jesus has no role to play anymore so I would just move him on.

Burnwinter

Dom He should own it, like the Brazilian legend Falcao.

I agree. Cold Palmer's days are numbered. Bring on Bald Palmer, who trademarks a celebration in which he polishes his ultra-shiny dome

Tactics

I’m not sure why this keeps being repeated, but absolutely no one has mentioned rebuilding the team as a whole. I specifically mentioned rebuilding the attack (which is not tantamount to rebuilding the entire team). It shouldn’t IMO be controversial to anyone who has watched us over the years that our attacking options on the left wing and at CF, need to be upgraded (I am also ignoring the mediocrity of a certain Noni Madueke on the right wing here, but at least Dowman is coming through and will soon take over). Bringing in 2 quality forwards could elevate this team to a completely different level.

I dunno if people are still riding the high from recent results or have collectively forgotten how mediocre our attacking options are, but our attack has proven time and again that it is the weakest link in the team.

Tam

Tactics but our attack has proven time and again that it is the weakest link in the team.

Certainly a disconnect between our strength in defence and attack, but I’m not entirely sure that gulf is solely down to the quality of the players we have. I think there’s just as much to be gained by playing to certain strengths we have in the squad more too.

Claudius

I will counter you. The attacking options aren’t mediocre. We have most goals Europe, 2nd in England. The biggest issue has been the combinations of players available.

While I am very critical of Gyokeres, Martinelli and Madueke, they are the very profiles that fans have been calling for - fast, direct players. The problem isn’t that they’re terrible, it’s that they’ve often found themselves without enough of the playmakers around them who can feed them. At various points all of Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Trossard. Eze, Jesus, etc have been injured/out of form. The trick for me is to fix that group of players with healthier options. So take out Jesus and Trossard for example, and replace with Alvarez and Barcola. And bring back Ethan.

Tactics

Claudius I suspect the “total goals scored” column has been the main reason why we still have substandard options in attack. I think the board just looks at the numbers and goes, “Wow, our attack is great — we’ve scored X number of goals this season.” We can score a lot of goals under specific circumstances or game states, but there are too many matches where our attack is found wanting.

I don’t think a lack of playmakers is the reason we often see Madueke dribble past three players only to inexplicably run the ball out of play. Nor is it the reason Martinelli looks clueless against a packed defence, or the reason for Gyökeres’ substandard technique. Saying that, I have a lot of time for Gyokeres after his recent performances and I'd certainly keep him

Tactics

Tam I think certain players are more suited to underdog tactics (we sit deeper with a lot of space in front of them to run into) - Gyokeres and Martinelli fall into this category. We don't play this way and we can't really because we are a title challenging team.

There are others that are suited to our style of players and can play in confined spaces but are not good enough to be starters IMO - Trossard, Havertz etc fall into this category. Havertz's all round game is really good but this guy can simply not be trusted in front of goal.

Phil

I'd take Alvarez and settle without anyone else in attack. Really need to jump a level at CF and reduce the overdependence on Saka.

Qwiss

Phil 8 goals in La Liga this season. Overall his scoring has a touch of the Martinellis about in when and where he gets his goals. I'd take him but I don't think he's at the sort of level where he'd transform us. Definitely wouldn't be happy with a summer where he's our only signing.

Qwiss

Claudius at least 3 of those. Jesus obviously. Then White as while I think he's a good player I just think its a choice between him and Timber as they are both crocks and we need at least one stable, reliably fit RB. I'd keep Cala another year as Hincapie doesn't have any of those issues (touch wood) and thats what we need at RB.

Then we are into the tough choice. I think at least one of Ode, Havertz and Merino should go. I think Merinos injury is so far a one off and he might recover to remain fit so I'm taking him out. Then its between Ode and Havetz, both had been out long term coming into the season and both have missed way too much of this season. To me that's a long term pattern and a huge issue for 2 of top earners and most important squad members. A lot of people contend that if he was fit Havertz is our first choice striker, Odegaard is undoubtedly first choice when fit. We can't have that given their issues. I'd rather sell Havertz as Ode is more influential and IMO just the better player but I'd be listening to offers for both because I'm not sure anyone would take Havertz on his current deal.

Tam

Qwiss I’m not clear on White v Timber. Long standing White fan, but his level has been questionable this season (recent games aside). If it’s a toss up between them on injury history though I can’t see how Timber would be the one we keep. I just had a look at his stats and he’s played something like 90ish games here and missed 55-60 through injury. That’s a no brainer if robustness is the determining factor.

Also a huge Odegaard fan but he also has it all to prove in terms of creativity and consistency. Regardless of his form we’re generally a better team in terms of shape and pressing when he’s in, so that’s a big factor Arteta would need to adjust to long term without Odegaard’s influence.

Claudius

Qwiss I can get behind this thinking. Text Berta with your plan

Qwiss

Tam Timber missed a whole year. It's since he's come back where we decide how injury prone he is. Anyway the determining factor for me with those 2 is quality. Timbers just much, much better. We just need someone he can rotate with.

Sort of agree on Ode but I'd give him another year to see if he can get it back.

RowJimmy

All these plans about selling players because they're injured too often seem to assume that other clubs are unaware of their injury histories. The only way Jesus leaves the club, for example, is if we buy out his contract (or if he wants to leave and go somewhere he might actually play so much that he agrees to cancel the remainder of the contract). We would need players like Odegaard, Havertz and White to re-establish health and form before we could sell them for anything other than peanuts.

I would like to see us try to get a ceiling raiser in the forward line, keeping in mind that it has to be someone who can handle Arteta's demands for workrate and positional discipline. Anyone who leaves will be someone who asks to leave so that they can get more playing time.

QuincyAbeyie

Selling Timber now would be ridiculous. Might happen eventually if he has a lot of relapses though.

Mirth

Of all the crocks in the squad, Timber and Calafiori are the ones I’d roll the dice on for another year

Klaus

Mirth Both are top three players in the world in their position and barely in their mid-20s, we definitely can't get rid of them. We need to replace White though because the dropoff is insane on that flank. We need to get the rightsided Hincapie this summer.

Irishgunner

I don’t think we should be making wholesale changes - we are on the verge of the club’s best season in 2 decades

Incremental improvements are what we need

Burnwinter

Do business on our wingers as and how we can: Martinelli, Trossard, Madueke all need consideration. Sign a world class young talent in attacking midfield who's got physical levels. Find a better backup to Raya. Have a real think about whether White and Timber are too broken to continue playing at our level, probably need to move on at least one of the two.

Klaus

Burnwinter I'd personally keep Trossard until his legs fall off (which, to be fair, might just be half a year from now). We don't have any backup for his profile in the squad. Him, Gyökeres and Saka should be untouchable this summer imo. The rest of the attack can be tinkered with to Mikel's heart's content though.

Our one piece of bad business last summer has turned out to be Madueke, and he's the one we should replace imo. I don't really think we need to get rid of anyone else. He has some good points and I was hoping for a big progression from him, but having a fucking winger who can't keep any sort of width is such a handicap. We turn into Liverpool when he plays.

Meatwad

madueke's agent needs to find "an arsenal" so that we can move him. finding one of those is very hard though, we are unique in the marketplace.

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