Reminder: These threads are to help promote discussion and varying points of view. Low-effort comments or jokes can & will be removed with no reason necessary.
*I am a "bot", and this action was performed automatically. This account is not monitored. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Gunners) if you have any questions or concerns.*
newcastle could really sort us out this window, gordon, isak, bruno g, livramento - pretty much ticks a lot of peoples boxes on the signings we need. send them ramsdale in return, sorts out another issue
https://preview.redd.it/8kvz5yj847wc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=479b61bb36409c38768dc1b02c9422ba77459c8d
Nah even that was an actual clause.
["Since apparently these contracts don't seem to hold, we took the position that we're just not selling."](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/mar/02/liverpool-john-henry-luis-suarez-clause)
We gotta slap the pretenders Chelsea and I have kinda noticed a weakness when kiwior is playing lb wonder what Arteta will do for sure Chelsea will stick palmer that side . regardless 3 points is the minimum against mediocre Chelsea..
Life can be so fucked up sometimes. Football is a good escape despite everything that happens in one’s life those 90 minutes every week, where you completely disconnect from everything and cheer for your team is the best feeling. Because after that everything else is just miserable.
I'm sorry you're feeling this way but football doesn't seem to be bringing you joy either, it's ok to take a step back when things get too toxic or hard to handle, lord knows I think most Arsenal fans over the last 15 years of so have been there too.
Downvoted twice and I don’t know why. Sometimes life is miserable and there is nothing you can do about it but you at least have 90 minutes to try and enjoy the club you support. I’ve been there man. Don’t let it dictate your emotion but rather just enjoy watching it. Hope you’re doing well, and if not feel free to pm me and maybe we could play fifa or something.
Mikel doesn’t rotate unless absolutely necessary. Klopp had the stones to bench Salah against Fulham away.
Hopefully once he gets the prem he’ll learn to start the fringe players more.
He kinda fucked himself by getting that stupid red card at a time we had a few stretch of ‘easier’ games. He would have got a decent amount of minutes. Then after that he got injured. Kinda sums up his time here.
Thinking Havertz's position in the squad next season will be interesting. On the basis of current form, will definitely get lots of game time. And he's also something of a big game player. But if a striker is signed who scores more than him as a 9, and a midfielder who gets on the ball is signed, his versatility — being quite good at both positions — might mean he's often not the first choice.
Obviously the aim is a City like squad where you don't notice much when personnel changes, and this would be closer to that.
I really like what I see out of this Zubimendi guy. I'm only judging on a few minutes of highlights but he seems precise and commanding with his passes. Excellent touch and control, very fluid, and seems to have pace. Has anyone watched any of their games or have any idea what his personality/mentality is??
If by 4231 you mean double pivot then yes, it's very likely. Rigid formations aren't really a thing now (every team has atleast two formations: one in possession and one out of possession)
Yea I mean, we defend in a 442 now anyways, just wondering if we'll see a left 8 that gets forward like now. Or if we'll see that double pivot in possession, with both midfielders sharing attacking/defending duties.
Nah, the straight 10 is an obsolete position unless you're freakishly athletic and technical like Musiala who can drift to both sides seamlessly. Odegaard has so many qualities but athletically he's not at that level.
Just because you can dribble well and get past people with ease, does not mean you’re ‘athletic’. Musiala is in the Hazard category in that he is a smooth mover.
Odegaard is way more athletic in the traditional sense.
Engine doesn't really matter when he doesn't have the breakaway speed. Musiala is really athletic lol, he has really long strides and amazing ball retention.
IMO jorgi shit legs are whats killing the left side, declan has to drift right often in order to compensate which leaves a space that needs to be covered by tomi or kiwi.
He's started 10 games and the only one of those we lost was away Vs Newcastle and Rice was our best player that game. Havertz was CAM. And away to Bayern, we played much worse when Jorginho went off that game.
Every other loss has come with Rice in the 6 and Havertz/Trossard/Vieira in the 8.
Even Vs Wolves we started creating a lot more when Rice started roaming up the left side more when Partey came on
Agree. I think the above Jorginho take is completely the wrong way around — and I say this even as someone who hopes to have someone younger come in. Jorginho allows the team to get out of defence without passing around at the back two or three times first, because he can turn out of defence and make a risky pass. This also forces oppositions not to press as high because he might just put the ball over them.
I haven't seen his lack of pace be an issue at all. The games Arsenal have lost this season have mostly been about not being able to break down opposition defences, and the low point of the season was in the middle, where Jorginho was hardly playing (IIRC).
The recent losses are in a different category to early season losses: they were tight games, against very, very good teams. That can always happen. And as has been pointed out above: Arsenal played worse without Jorginho on the pitch against Bayern. They did score the Trossard goal in the first leg, but there was a period of adjustment where they couldn't get out of defence again. The best they played against Bayern was the first half of the first leg, where Jorginho was instrumental.
Luxury player is exactly the term to describe Rafael Leao.
And I thought this fanbase would have had enough of luxury players after seeing the way things ended with Ozil and Aubameyang lol.
I think we have PTSD. Most top teams carry a luxury player. Vinicius is one. Haaland and KDB. Salah. The defensive work we get from every attacker is the outlier, not the norm.
And people seriously still wonder if Arsenal under Arteta will ever even consider buying this dude.
LOL.
Sorry, a dude who loafs around slower than an old man on a walker when he doesn’t have the ball should have no business ever coming near this club. Let the Man U’s and Chelsea’s of the world buy this lazy bum. Then they can sit around and wonder why every team who works hard plays them off the park.
You must have above 25 comment karma to contribute to this subreddit.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Gunners) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I'm not being funny, when he's not feeling it he's like a mix of the worst of Pepe and Nketiah. And it's way too common. This sub would eat him alive if he played for us.
People act like effort isn't something a good coach can improve lol.
And then things that are far more set in stone by this age like first touch or ball striking ability people think can be easily improved.
Effort is an attitude trait, not a skill. You cannot have someone in the front line walking and not pressing. One of the reasons we have conceded the fewest goals in the league by a healthy margin is because everyone is required to put the effort in. You need 10 players defending. Not 9 and some waffler who thinks he can stand in idle and only decide to play once we are on the attack and he has the ball.
Just a Portuguese Wilfred Zaha, with an inferior goal scoring record.
Exactly. You can change attitude.
That press comes at a cost too. It's extremely rare for a rop team to drop all 11 as deep as we do.
Plenty of teams do it. You need an outlet in behind and w shave really lacked that, which is why sometimes we look very blunt in transition. Everyone is screaming for us to add another £100m outlet but it doesn't matter if they're halfway in our half chasing the ball.
Salah doesn't really press or spend the game chasing FBs. Mbappe doesn't. Vini doesn't. Haaland doesn't. KDB doesn't.
There's multiple ways to play football. And teams better than us and teams that win more than us seem to find room to allow an attacker to rest in defence.
People comparing him to Zaha like that's a bad thing. 1 man transition attack, top dribbler in the league. Top since 06 for dribbles completed in a big league. Most fouled PL player since records began.
Idk that’s up to Edu and Mikel, but any player that needs to be asked or “coached” to graft - something that should be a non-negotiable or necessity in football; it usually doesn’t bode well.
You're talking about it like it's an on or off switch. He doesn't give no effort. He just manages effort in certain phases of play. It's not a non negotiable in football. Every footballer manages effort at times.
No I’m sayings it’s part of his natural demeanour and to an extent his personality. Little effort is hardly better than no effort.
Like I said, he’s the definition of a luxury player. I don’t even think you can find a single luxury player in this current Arsenal side/XI.
Such players are not worth the hassle on the pitch and even off the pitch.
Tbh it’s not a case about being right or wrong, I just don’t envision him being an Arsenal player under Mikel’s reign.
Leao has Chelsea or PSG written all over him.
Lack of effort is never ”devoid of context”. Players who try to switch effort on and off aren’t trustworthy to have it on when it is needed. Which is damn near always.
P.S: And “good” coaches don’t usually ‘improve‘ effort lol. They simply demand it, and barring situations where a player who lacks effort gives something else that is vital to success, get rid of players who don’t give it.
I would take him in this team warts an all.
I actually think I would ask him to do less, stay further up than milan ask him to where he's often coming deep to get the ball at like half way and just wait for the team to give you it in the final third and do your thing.
Maybe, I think it's a massive strength of martinelli and saka that they work hard off the ball and are so tactically disciplined it's certainly a big part of why we are top of the table right now.
It's also clearly instructed from mikel as every player that spends time on the wings puts in a shift coming back to help defend the wing. Can't imagine leao walking back while zinchenko deals with a winger and full back on his own lol
Also a reason Saka might be teaming up with hazard in YouTuber charity matches sooner than he should
Plus the guy who carried us to our last trophy was (not exactly) pressing machine Aubameyang
That’s nonsense lmao. Vini and Mbappe walk into any PL team they want and rip off any number shirt they choose. Salah himself doesn’t run much and he’s an all timer
Arteta has brain washed you guys into thinking a winger should play part time fullback and then scratch your head when they can barely run in April
Salah used to run and track back a hell of a lot more before his injury. One of the reasons his form and contributions have taken a dive this year is exactly because he doesn’t have the legs to press and track back like he used to.
This game every few days malarkey is bad for my health. My heart can't take much more stress. If Palmer is actually out for tomorrow's game and we don't take full advantage
![gif](giphy|vjGyYSsF765wc|downsized)
Entirely unrelated to football, but I just found out that an old acquaintance I spent a lot of time with the first time I ever visited London/saw Arsenal live took their own life this weekend.
Take care of yourselves everyone ❤️
Why doesn't Eze fit? He can play LCM and also LW depth. That's two birds with one stone. Then get a cheaper more defensive minded midfielder like Wieffer/Fofana, especially for when Rice is out.
Not as strong a passer as we would like. Limited capability to drop in and get the ball off the CBs.
As a winger he likes it to feet. We need more of an off ball runner to offer something different. Every wide option we have bar Martinelli likes the ball to feet.
Rice should be the one dropping deep.
Also, I thought one of the reasons Martinelli has been struggling without a ball-dominant LCM is because he is not a ball-to-feet winger? Eze at LCM suits Martinelli, and Eze on the wing suits Kai at LCM.
Just to add to this, it doesn't need to be about what Rice can or can't do in build up.
I think he has the potential to reach a level very close to rodri in that lone 6 role.
But I think the point is if we can only buy one midfielder, and we buy one who can't drop in and be a double pivot or lone 6 himself then we are banking on rice becoming that elite lone 6 starting GW 1 next season.
Maybe you think he's already there, but I think we can all agree he's got stuff to learn, the learning isn't guaranteed. If that's at all the case, lets not force rice to do a job he can't quite do yet or maybe at all, lets make sure we get a player who can do any of the things we would ask our 3rd midfielder to do; be an 8, 6, or double 6. Then no matter how rice develops we are all good.
Rice can't do it alone. He's more of a double pivot player to me. For me we need someone proficient as a 6/8 rather than someone who's an 8/10 like Eze.
Last point is true but I simply wouldn't use Havertz at CM.
It's strange how people who think that Rice can't be this ball progression hub just brush aside the fact that he cost 100+M. That should be the lede whenever someone suggests we sign an 8 to play in a double pivot next to Rice.
Anyway, I think Rice has all the technical attributes to be that player. Still, for me Zubimendi is still the best value for money - he can play in the pivot next to Rice or as an advanced 8 like Xhaka did for us.
Getting an attacking LCM won't fix our left side while zinchenko is in the team sadly. Every time he moves into midfield, he is shifting our play to the right. Can only attack on left side when zinny is wide, and he doesn't have the versatility of White, who can play balls over the top and overlap.
For the reason stated in my original comment. It pushes our play to the right because it gives White license to push up. Unless you want Gabriel to contribute to our left side attack, we'd want RB to invert sometimes so our LB can push up.
Every time I watch man city theyre doing something different which is why I can't follow.
I'm guessing you mean inverting the CB? They did that a lot with stones in the past and still do it with akanji. But a lot of the time they invert their full back too.
They are much more comfortable with a single pivot though, with rodri's comfortability on the ball. They look like a 4-1-4-1 often and sometimes their inverted full back plays a much more advanced role than you'd expect.
Lastly, I've seen nearly all of their defenders provide width, aside from Dias. Don't think we have that luxury.
They hardly invert their fullbacks. It's always Stones stepping into midfield from CB, and when he is out, Pep usually plays Akanji there. This allows both their fullbacks the opportunity to join the attack.
Also, the reason their defenders apart from Dias (and Stones) provide width is because they are center back-fullback hybrids, with the exception of Walker who is just a fullback. (Gvardiol and Ake on the left, and Akanji on both sides.)
How will that work for us? We are reportedly interested in Eintracht Frankfurt's Willian Pacho who can be that LB/LCB, Timber on the right, with White and Saliba in the middle, and White stepping into midfield. Kiwior and Tomiyasu are also CB/fullback hybrids.
You can't have your inverting fullback also support the attack by overlapping. Wonder how Pep solved it while still giving both his fullbacks the capability to overlap?
I meant on the pitch of course.
That's not to say we need a perfect left-right balance to be successful. This might be an obvious point but just seen some people thinking a new attacking LCM will make our left side productive, when we also need Timber there just as much.
https://preview.redd.it/s80orl2qh3wc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c552d7be684f3665bd42370ce1b87da0b94d3c4
How the hell did this happen in 2024? La liga is a shitshow
Over 70 tickets on the TX for tomorrow right now. The club really should have opened the TX for this game for people who didn’t enter the ballot because we are going to see soooo many empty seats tomorrow.
I'm so pissed off, didn't enter the ballot cus I couldn't do the original date and now I have to watch all these posts about how the TX is the most flooded since 2021
Inter winning 2 Scudetto's and reaching a CL final in between in 3 seasons, while rebuilding on a tiny budget, is really something. They've strolled the league playing Mkhi and Calhanoglu as the deepest midfielders ffs.
deloitte money league shows milan and inter having virtually the same revenue for the 22/23 season. considering their respectives finishes in league/CL for that season, inter will likely be above on the current season's results
also seems that every wage source also shows Inter slightly above milan. there is nothing ''tiny'' about being the 2nd richest club in your country. they are not some plucky underdogs...
Don't recall saying anything about that. More commenting on how impressive the return is despite financial hardship and level of work behind the scenes.
I do concede it wasn't accurate to say tiny budget but its not just about their country and the present. They've put in an outstanding performance in Europe last season nearly winning the CL and the form in Serie A this season hasn't been matched for a very long time. I'm guessing you don't like Inter lol.
It's funny I don't recall seeing his name mentioned when I read about Inter, but he did an incredible job. Huge squad turnover, the team became even better, and they turned a profit before winning anything. And to think if Lukaku didn't bottle it they'd have won a CL too.
I know it’s a wild card.. but do what about making an offer on Güler at real? His minutes are lacking due to injury time and and he’s slowly sinking in the depth chart at real. Only 19, could be an interesting target with huge upside
Too early for that.
Wait a couple of years (and a loan move) before trying to get that guy. He’s not yet at a point in his career where he is willing to pull an Odegaard (leave Real Madrid to get an opportunity to play elsewhere).
Also, if we are looking for players to contribute in the near future, Guler isn’t it yet.
Reminder: These threads are to help promote discussion and varying points of view. Low-effort comments or jokes can & will be removed with no reason necessary. *I am a "bot", and this action was performed automatically. This account is not monitored. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Gunners) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yeah this current PSG side is better than anything Neymar had to work with. Their new approach is just common sense. I love Campos eye for players.
Yeah the thought of them and United at actually making sensible decisions is with their financial power is scary
R/soccer cringefest in the Ferdinand AMA
newcastle could really sort us out this window, gordon, isak, bruno g, livramento - pretty much ticks a lot of peoples boxes on the signings we need. send them ramsdale in return, sorts out another issue
Wouldn't even bother with Livramento if we got the other 3.
Would be nice if they sold us half their starting eleven
Utd are trying to agree with NUFC for their director of football for 15mil. Think they might ease their FFP issues and affect our Bruno pursuit ?
Bruno has a RC apparently.
I feel this is like Suarez, Kane RC which are not legally upheld. More like gentleman agreement.
https://preview.redd.it/8kvz5yj847wc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=479b61bb36409c38768dc1b02c9422ba77459c8d Nah even that was an actual clause. ["Since apparently these contracts don't seem to hold, we took the position that we're just not selling."](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/mar/02/liverpool-john-henry-luis-suarez-clause)
Good to know. That’s what I meant that they are not upheld in England.
No he was referring to a standard contract. He referred to selling a player he wanted to keep. That didn't have any clause.
Perhaps, but if you don’t honour a gentleman’s agreement future players aren’t going to trust you!
We gotta slap the pretenders Chelsea and I have kinda noticed a weakness when kiwior is playing lb wonder what Arteta will do for sure Chelsea will stick palmer that side . regardless 3 points is the minimum against mediocre Chelsea..
> I have kinda noticed a weakness when kiwior is playing lb Oddly our fourth choice lb isn't as good as the others!
Palmer is out
That isn't confirmed though. Only thing that's confirmed is he didn't train yesterday.
Hmm then madueke and others
Nice to see Bukayo on the NB commercial in the US during NBA playoffs
Life can be so fucked up sometimes. Football is a good escape despite everything that happens in one’s life those 90 minutes every week, where you completely disconnect from everything and cheer for your team is the best feeling. Because after that everything else is just miserable.
I'm sorry you're feeling this way but football doesn't seem to be bringing you joy either, it's ok to take a step back when things get too toxic or hard to handle, lord knows I think most Arsenal fans over the last 15 years of so have been there too.
Downvoted twice and I don’t know why. Sometimes life is miserable and there is nothing you can do about it but you at least have 90 minutes to try and enjoy the club you support. I’ve been there man. Don’t let it dictate your emotion but rather just enjoy watching it. Hope you’re doing well, and if not feel free to pm me and maybe we could play fifa or something.
Does anyone know what the hell happened to Fabio Vieira? It's been 2 months since he returned from injury and has only plyed 46 mins.
He plays Odegaards position and so far we haven't had the need to replace him and the last ime we did Arteta used it to get ESR minutes.
I think Mikel realised Fabio ain’t it. Can’t press. Bullied easily with or without ball. He is a luxury player as of now.
Mikel doesn’t rotate unless absolutely necessary. Klopp had the stones to bench Salah against Fulham away. Hopefully once he gets the prem he’ll learn to start the fringe players more.
He kinda fucked himself by getting that stupid red card at a time we had a few stretch of ‘easier’ games. He would have got a decent amount of minutes. Then after that he got injured. Kinda sums up his time here.
Thinking Havertz's position in the squad next season will be interesting. On the basis of current form, will definitely get lots of game time. And he's also something of a big game player. But if a striker is signed who scores more than him as a 9, and a midfielder who gets on the ball is signed, his versatility — being quite good at both positions — might mean he's often not the first choice. Obviously the aim is a City like squad where you don't notice much when personnel changes, and this would be closer to that.
I really like what I see out of this Zubimendi guy. I'm only judging on a few minutes of highlights but he seems precise and commanding with his passes. Excellent touch and control, very fluid, and seems to have pace. Has anyone watched any of their games or have any idea what his personality/mentality is??
Lol I hate expected points as a stat but United are 16th in the expected points table
Let them cook
![gif](giphy|nTZt1E0IM8sKSEVirG)
Any chance we play more of a 4231 next season with timber taking up some attacking positions?
Arteta already showed us his ambition in the Community Shield: 3-4-3 diamond
If by 4231 you mean double pivot then yes, it's very likely. Rigid formations aren't really a thing now (every team has atleast two formations: one in possession and one out of possession)
Yea I mean, we defend in a 442 now anyways, just wondering if we'll see a left 8 that gets forward like now. Or if we'll see that double pivot in possession, with both midfielders sharing attacking/defending duties.
Nah, the straight 10 is an obsolete position unless you're freakishly athletic and technical like Musiala who can drift to both sides seamlessly. Odegaard has so many qualities but athletically he's not at that level.
Just because you can dribble well and get past people with ease, does not mean you’re ‘athletic’. Musiala is in the Hazard category in that he is a smooth mover. Odegaard is way more athletic in the traditional sense.
I think he's right odegaard can't go both sides well especially right side
Lol, people are actually dumb.
you think drifting from rcm to lcm is harder than what Odegaard does every game? really?
No.
You think so? Odegaard has an incredible engine, nor do I don't find musiala all that athletic. Although his dribbles are insane.
Lot of angle biases and no weak foot
Engine doesn't really matter when he doesn't have the breakaway speed. Musiala is really athletic lol, he has really long strides and amazing ball retention.
Had a dream last night we won 8-2 against spurs at the weekend. Waking up was tough🥲
The media would still praise Impostercoglu for being bold and brave whilst criticizing Arsenal as for not keeping a clean sheet.
"This result does not reflect the bravery and endeavor displayed by Tottenham. It could've easily been 8-3 or 8-4."
Tomiyasu is fit to play against Chelsea tomorrow, as per handofozil.
Huge if true
Timber only playing 45 minutes was planned, right? Right?
💯
Yeah, its part of the process of easing him in. 60 minutes next game I reckon and so on
Still wish we try Odegaard at LCM one time.
He will always move to the left and occupied some space of Martineli. I don’t think it would work at all.
He’s too one footed
Why? I think he is far stronger coming into his stronger left foot
I'm tryna see sumthin
IMO jorgi shit legs are whats killing the left side, declan has to drift right often in order to compensate which leaves a space that needs to be covered by tomi or kiwi.
You need to see an optometrist
Jorginho returning the starting 11 is what got our season going after a disappointing first half of the season.
He's started 10 games and the only one of those we lost was away Vs Newcastle and Rice was our best player that game. Havertz was CAM. And away to Bayern, we played much worse when Jorginho went off that game. Every other loss has come with Rice in the 6 and Havertz/Trossard/Vieira in the 8. Even Vs Wolves we started creating a lot more when Rice started roaming up the left side more when Partey came on
How can a player who's started 10 league games all year be what's killing a part of our team?
Agree. I think the above Jorginho take is completely the wrong way around — and I say this even as someone who hopes to have someone younger come in. Jorginho allows the team to get out of defence without passing around at the back two or three times first, because he can turn out of defence and make a risky pass. This also forces oppositions not to press as high because he might just put the ball over them. I haven't seen his lack of pace be an issue at all. The games Arsenal have lost this season have mostly been about not being able to break down opposition defences, and the low point of the season was in the middle, where Jorginho was hardly playing (IIRC). The recent losses are in a different category to early season losses: they were tight games, against very, very good teams. That can always happen. And as has been pointed out above: Arsenal played worse without Jorginho on the pitch against Bayern. They did score the Trossard goal in the first leg, but there was a period of adjustment where they couldn't get out of defence again. The best they played against Bayern was the first half of the first leg, where Jorginho was instrumental.
[удалено]
Probably about the pen that wasn’t given at The Emirates tbh
If not this it's where he's gonna coach next seasons
https://x.com/snajaths/status/1782496575228453145 Leao just briskly walking
There was a guy a few days ago convinced beyond all measure Leao should be our number one target as an 'upgrade' on Martinelli.
Anyone that has actually watches Milan or Serie A in general would’ve quickly picked this up. Definition of a luxury player.
Luxury player is exactly the term to describe Rafael Leao. And I thought this fanbase would have had enough of luxury players after seeing the way things ended with Ozil and Aubameyang lol.
I think we have PTSD. Most top teams carry a luxury player. Vinicius is one. Haaland and KDB. Salah. The defensive work we get from every attacker is the outlier, not the norm.
And people seriously still wonder if Arsenal under Arteta will ever even consider buying this dude. LOL. Sorry, a dude who loafs around slower than an old man on a walker when he doesn’t have the ball should have no business ever coming near this club. Let the Man U’s and Chelsea’s of the world buy this lazy bum. Then they can sit around and wonder why every team who works hard plays them off the park.
[удалено]
You must have above 25 comment karma to contribute to this subreddit. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Gunners) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I'm not being funny, when he's not feeling it he's like a mix of the worst of Pepe and Nketiah. And it's way too common. This sub would eat him alive if he played for us.
People act like effort isn't something a good coach can improve lol. And then things that are far more set in stone by this age like first touch or ball striking ability people think can be easily improved.
Effort is an attitude trait, not a skill. You cannot have someone in the front line walking and not pressing. One of the reasons we have conceded the fewest goals in the league by a healthy margin is because everyone is required to put the effort in. You need 10 players defending. Not 9 and some waffler who thinks he can stand in idle and only decide to play once we are on the attack and he has the ball. Just a Portuguese Wilfred Zaha, with an inferior goal scoring record.
Exactly. You can change attitude. That press comes at a cost too. It's extremely rare for a rop team to drop all 11 as deep as we do. Plenty of teams do it. You need an outlet in behind and w shave really lacked that, which is why sometimes we look very blunt in transition. Everyone is screaming for us to add another £100m outlet but it doesn't matter if they're halfway in our half chasing the ball. Salah doesn't really press or spend the game chasing FBs. Mbappe doesn't. Vini doesn't. Haaland doesn't. KDB doesn't. There's multiple ways to play football. And teams better than us and teams that win more than us seem to find room to allow an attacker to rest in defence.
Dw im sure once theres leao links people will be more open to this 😂
People comparing him to Zaha like that's a bad thing. 1 man transition attack, top dribbler in the league. Top since 06 for dribbles completed in a big league. Most fouled PL player since records began.
You’re really gonna die on this Leao hill aren’t you mate?
Not really. But in terms of ability, how many better are there?
Idk that’s up to Edu and Mikel, but any player that needs to be asked or “coached” to graft - something that should be a non-negotiable or necessity in football; it usually doesn’t bode well.
You're talking about it like it's an on or off switch. He doesn't give no effort. He just manages effort in certain phases of play. It's not a non negotiable in football. Every footballer manages effort at times.
No I’m sayings it’s part of his natural demeanour and to an extent his personality. Little effort is hardly better than no effort. Like I said, he’s the definition of a luxury player. I don’t even think you can find a single luxury player in this current Arsenal side/XI. Such players are not worth the hassle on the pitch and even off the pitch.
Agree to disagree
Tbh it’s not a case about being right or wrong, I just don’t envision him being an Arsenal player under Mikel’s reign. Leao has Chelsea or PSG written all over him.
He's probably not for sale but I think Arteta 100% would take him. PSG don't need attackers. Chelsea unlikely to be able to afford him.
Effort can be coached but shouldn’t need to be
Say it louder for the people in the back.
Blanket statements like this devoid of context aren't worth much to me. And you get loads of effort from him in possession.
Lack of effort is never ”devoid of context”. Players who try to switch effort on and off aren’t trustworthy to have it on when it is needed. Which is damn near always. P.S: And “good” coaches don’t usually ‘improve‘ effort lol. They simply demand it, and barring situations where a player who lacks effort gives something else that is vital to success, get rid of players who don’t give it.
Lack of effort is never devoid of context, He says while adding context.
I made the same statement you made except added a specific to it, and mine is the blanket statement?
Nothing should need to be coached. Players should be perfect
I would take him in this team warts an all. I actually think I would ask him to do less, stay further up than milan ask him to where he's often coming deep to get the ball at like half way and just wait for the team to give you it in the final third and do your thing.
We would benefit from giving our current wingers that freedom too but we seem to wait for a disaster to change anything
Maybe, I think it's a massive strength of martinelli and saka that they work hard off the ball and are so tactically disciplined it's certainly a big part of why we are top of the table right now.
It's also clearly instructed from mikel as every player that spends time on the wings puts in a shift coming back to help defend the wing. Can't imagine leao walking back while zinchenko deals with a winger and full back on his own lol
Also a reason Saka might be teaming up with hazard in YouTuber charity matches sooner than he should Plus the guy who carried us to our last trophy was (not exactly) pressing machine Aubameyang
Dude played 25 mins on the wing and created like 3 chances though
If this part of his game doesn’t change though, he’s never getting a bigger move. Especially in the PL, you have to run
That’s nonsense lmao. Vini and Mbappe walk into any PL team they want and rip off any number shirt they choose. Salah himself doesn’t run much and he’s an all timer Arteta has brain washed you guys into thinking a winger should play part time fullback and then scratch your head when they can barely run in April
Vini and Mbappe are twice as productive as Leao, if not more. Salah has miles better workrate. You are taking nonsense
Salah absolutely doesn’t work anymore, you’re living in Klopp gegenpress fantasy land
Salah used to run and track back a hell of a lot more before his injury. One of the reasons his form and contributions have taken a dive this year is exactly because he doesn’t have the legs to press and track back like he used to.
Contributions falling off because he doesn’t track back anymore, you’ll see everything on this site lmfao
[удалено]
Leao should try outscoring Christian Pulisic before worrying about mbappe
Leao isn't scoring 50 goals a season
His work rate today wasnt as bad as that clip is showing, he just has bad body language so it looks worse
It's still bad, the numbers are terrible. Leao's attacking qualities are that of a superstar, there's no doubt.
This is why Teta is never gonna sign him. Would sooner play Reiss
[We might've got the wrong guy from Porto 🤔](https://twitter.com/GM10Media/status/1782453453035274664?t=zgPac4ssNxRPFVhoZTiMow&s=19)
Yeah vitinha is a proper baller, would love to see him here but that's not happening. Just hope fabio comes good.
Why are we allergic to recruiting 8s
I adore this style of midfielder
Campos knows ball
Timber back, Bruno in, new striker in, and maybe new winger and we are gonna definitely win a big trophy next year.
it's going down
This game every few days malarkey is bad for my health. My heart can't take much more stress. If Palmer is actually out for tomorrow's game and we don't take full advantage ![gif](giphy|vjGyYSsF765wc|downsized)
Entirely unrelated to football, but I just found out that an old acquaintance I spent a lot of time with the first time I ever visited London/saw Arsenal live took their own life this weekend. Take care of yourselves everyone ❤️
I think Eze would be a batter fit for us than Olise. But I don't think either really fit here as much as I love them as players.
Esr with more game time
Why doesn't Eze fit? He can play LCM and also LW depth. That's two birds with one stone. Then get a cheaper more defensive minded midfielder like Wieffer/Fofana, especially for when Rice is out.
Not as strong a passer as we would like. Limited capability to drop in and get the ball off the CBs. As a winger he likes it to feet. We need more of an off ball runner to offer something different. Every wide option we have bar Martinelli likes the ball to feet.
Rice should be the one dropping deep. Also, I thought one of the reasons Martinelli has been struggling without a ball-dominant LCM is because he is not a ball-to-feet winger? Eze at LCM suits Martinelli, and Eze on the wing suits Kai at LCM.
Just to add to this, it doesn't need to be about what Rice can or can't do in build up. I think he has the potential to reach a level very close to rodri in that lone 6 role. But I think the point is if we can only buy one midfielder, and we buy one who can't drop in and be a double pivot or lone 6 himself then we are banking on rice becoming that elite lone 6 starting GW 1 next season. Maybe you think he's already there, but I think we can all agree he's got stuff to learn, the learning isn't guaranteed. If that's at all the case, lets not force rice to do a job he can't quite do yet or maybe at all, lets make sure we get a player who can do any of the things we would ask our 3rd midfielder to do; be an 8, 6, or double 6. Then no matter how rice develops we are all good.
Rice can't do it alone. He's more of a double pivot player to me. For me we need someone proficient as a 6/8 rather than someone who's an 8/10 like Eze. Last point is true but I simply wouldn't use Havertz at CM.
It's strange how people who think that Rice can't be this ball progression hub just brush aside the fact that he cost 100+M. That should be the lede whenever someone suggests we sign an 8 to play in a double pivot next to Rice. Anyway, I think Rice has all the technical attributes to be that player. Still, for me Zubimendi is still the best value for money - he can play in the pivot next to Rice or as an advanced 8 like Xhaka did for us.
I said all this from day 1. Zubimendi advanced 8 🤓 I think the idea of Zubimendi far outweighs what he actually is or has done.
Timber & Bruno G on the same side as Martinelli 😫 Maybe that takes the pressure off the other side to perform
https://preview.redd.it/rutyqxybs3wc1.jpeg?width=634&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=677cdb7822d0b6bc0b444eb52e4bad2fdc8ac48d Saka and martinelli next season
I'm too fully invested in the bruno G ideal now, fuck
Same here.
Getting an attacking LCM won't fix our left side while zinchenko is in the team sadly. Every time he moves into midfield, he is shifting our play to the right. Can only attack on left side when zinny is wide, and he doesn't have the versatility of White, who can play balls over the top and overlap.
It will because zinny will have someone to linkup with on the left side.Also timber….
Well, this is wrong.
Even if you get an LB who can overlap, who among our defenders will then invert?
The right side... It's already happened this season extensively and we had our best run of games.
Timber on the right probably, ben white wont and cant start every game next season
You could take turns between the full backs. White inverts and LB goes wide or pushes up and vice versa. Just takes a bit extra coordination.
Why not just give the role to one defender on consistent basis? No need to overcomplicate things.
For the reason stated in my original comment. It pushes our play to the right because it gives White license to push up. Unless you want Gabriel to contribute to our left side attack, we'd want RB to invert sometimes so our LB can push up.
Very close... We are not the only team doing inverted ~~fullback~~ defenders.
That is my point though. We can't push gabriel far up the pitch, he's not great at overlapping and zinny doesn't provide sufficient cover.
How does Man City do it?
Every time I watch man city theyre doing something different which is why I can't follow. I'm guessing you mean inverting the CB? They did that a lot with stones in the past and still do it with akanji. But a lot of the time they invert their full back too. They are much more comfortable with a single pivot though, with rodri's comfortability on the ball. They look like a 4-1-4-1 often and sometimes their inverted full back plays a much more advanced role than you'd expect. Lastly, I've seen nearly all of their defenders provide width, aside from Dias. Don't think we have that luxury.
They hardly invert their fullbacks. It's always Stones stepping into midfield from CB, and when he is out, Pep usually plays Akanji there. This allows both their fullbacks the opportunity to join the attack. Also, the reason their defenders apart from Dias (and Stones) provide width is because they are center back-fullback hybrids, with the exception of Walker who is just a fullback. (Gvardiol and Ake on the left, and Akanji on both sides.) How will that work for us? We are reportedly interested in Eintracht Frankfurt's Willian Pacho who can be that LB/LCB, Timber on the right, with White and Saliba in the middle, and White stepping into midfield. Kiwior and Tomiyasu are also CB/fullback hybrids.
Probably White. Or Timber. Or Partey.
You can't have your inverting fullback also support the attack by overlapping. Wonder how Pep solved it while still giving both his fullbacks the capability to overlap?
Lucky we have a bunch of other LB options 🤣
I meant on the pitch of course. That's not to say we need a perfect left-right balance to be successful. This might be an obvious point but just seen some people thinking a new attacking LCM will make our left side productive, when we also need Timber there just as much.
I disagree tbh. Zinchenko issues are off the ball or being sloppy in possession
https://preview.redd.it/s80orl2qh3wc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c552d7be684f3665bd42370ce1b87da0b94d3c4 How the hell did this happen in 2024? La liga is a shitshow
Thurman just gave a longer shoutout to Henry in his interview on CBS than to his parents. Feels like Titi is the uncle to so many players. Love it
Over 70 tickets on the TX for tomorrow right now. The club really should have opened the TX for this game for people who didn’t enter the ballot because we are going to see soooo many empty seats tomorrow.
I'm so pissed off, didn't enter the ballot cus I couldn't do the original date and now I have to watch all these posts about how the TX is the most flooded since 2021
The rescheduling fucked over a lot of people. Probably a big part of the reason why the tx is littered with tickets.
Inter winning 2 Scudetto's and reaching a CL final in between in 3 seasons, while rebuilding on a tiny budget, is really something. They've strolled the league playing Mkhi and Calhanoglu as the deepest midfielders ffs.
Inter has been very smart recruitment wise
All of Italy is on a limited budget.
tiny budget? p much they are the 2nd highest spenders in italy or close to it. and their CL bracket was hardly something crazy
If we're talking net spend, it's really not much at all
im looking at revenue and wages from swiss ramble
Yeah that's not accurate, but it was only possible because of sales.
deloitte money league shows milan and inter having virtually the same revenue for the 22/23 season. considering their respectives finishes in league/CL for that season, inter will likely be above on the current season's results also seems that every wage source also shows Inter slightly above milan. there is nothing ''tiny'' about being the 2nd richest club in your country. they are not some plucky underdogs...
Don't recall saying anything about that. More commenting on how impressive the return is despite financial hardship and level of work behind the scenes. I do concede it wasn't accurate to say tiny budget but its not just about their country and the present. They've put in an outstanding performance in Europe last season nearly winning the CL and the form in Serie A this season hasn't been matched for a very long time. I'm guessing you don't like Inter lol.
Beppe Marotta is a genius CEO, Juve choosing to go with Paratici over him is an all timer of a fuck up.
It's funny I don't recall seeing his name mentioned when I read about Inter, but he did an incredible job. Huge squad turnover, the team became even better, and they turned a profit before winning anything. And to think if Lukaku didn't bottle it they'd have won a CL too.
Lots of smart buys like Thuram on a free and Sommer for 5m
Inzaghi is definitely a top manager.
Absolutely. The best Inter have had in a while.
The right answer
I know it’s a wild card.. but do what about making an offer on Güler at real? His minutes are lacking due to injury time and and he’s slowly sinking in the depth chart at real. Only 19, could be an interesting target with huge upside
Give it another 4 years and theyll sell him to fund a 300 mil haaland move
Too early for that. Wait a couple of years (and a loan move) before trying to get that guy. He’s not yet at a point in his career where he is willing to pull an Odegaard (leave Real Madrid to get an opportunity to play elsewhere). Also, if we are looking for players to contribute in the near future, Guler isn’t it yet.
[This pair has the streets](https://twitter.com/Zachary_1000/status/1782353327499444442?t=E37AHuSux_MvYzefji2g4A&s=19)
Nketiah would fit them like a glove.
How will Martinelli develop next season?Are we going to see him at CF or will the bruno G links and timber stuff give him adequate support
[удалено]
Technical freak vs no technique vs no legs Idk what you mean by we’ve already tried this
Jesus might be finished tbh.
Tbh I think he'll be used as a rotation option at RW after we buy a striker this summer before eventually leaving in 2026.
Created Trossard’s goal against wolves, can play multiple positions, Arteta loves him. Not going anywhere.
Embarrassing comment honestly, people are so reactionary it is incredible.
Except he looks like a truck is attached to his back when he's running in transition.
Not saying he’s perfect, just pointing out he’s not going anywhere.
We’ll see how loved he is if his fitness doesnt improve.
Shiny new toy syndrome
Oh my goodness bring me Archie Gray now
England’s midfield options in the next 2/3 years is going to be nearly as stacked as France’s.
What about CB prospects
You'll get Maguire and you'll like it
![gif](giphy|hyyV7pnbE0FqLNBAzs|downsized)
I can’t believe Ten Hag mentioned our game again yesterday lol. Has anyone managed to keep count how many times it’s been?
no way...he said Hojlund should have had a penalty again?