Ramsdale, TURNER
RB: Tomy, Cedric
CB: White, Gabs, Saliba, Holding
LB: Tierney, Tavares
Seems that our two weaker points are our back-up RB and LB…Tierney has been injured a lot so we need a player that can fill in regularly…There is a lot of chat about L. Martinez but he has been mostly used as a LCB and then as a LB so let us see. He is a quality player know as the “Argentian/Ajax butcher” because of his rough tackles. As for the RB, I don’t hear much rumours but shall we start the year with the above-mentioned players, would you feel confident?
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At least two of the players in your weaker set won’t be there next season IMO – v surprised is Holding remains is Saliba comes in and wouldnt be surprised to see us sell Saliba for mega-money. Martinez may take Tiereny role, come in as CB when we are light but expect -with his passing -he might join midfield. Tomi can play CB v well if needed – as per national team.
Even if this Martinez is a really good player, it’s hard to see him as CB (1 m 75 cm). Left wing back, or defensive Midfield. It sounds good with this guy as an extra DM at Anfield or Ethiad. No more 0-5 games. Please. It hurts.
Happy with Cedric. I think Holding’s in his last year with us to be replaced by Trusty after a season on loan. Tavares needs experience, but as long as the other 21 players are sufficient, I think we can carry one.
Holding is until 2024 so we have him for the upcoming season and next one as well…I think he will extend his stay with us,
Martinez would only be used as LB or DM, indeed.
As for Cedric and Tavares, hard to say if they will stay…There is also a certain AMN coming back to us and he could play RB and LB so…
Would AMN even want to stay heard one of the promoted sides was interested
That is the question Fred…I d like for AMN to stay but not sure he is interested…
I don’t mind Cedric but he is not great…we need an upgrade
Looks like Martinez is more than a rumour. He’s well rated and has got to be more mobile than Xhaka, so if it’s reported that he plays left dm, he’s got to be worth a shot. Agree he may be small for a CB but apparently that’s where he plays. White is no giant, nor T Silva plus many not so tall players over the years that played well at CB (Kolo!!). I wonder if his signing might be the end for Saliba, but I’m more inclined to say Holding. If MA is building a young, hungry squad, Saliba fits better than Holding, plus as much as I love him, Rob just doesn’t look up to the demands of the modern day striker. Who knows, but Martinez brings MA a lot of options. We will have many games to play this season where we could mix and match players, depending on the opposition and I think that’s the way Arteta want to do it. I hope we get him.
I think Cedric is horrible, he was a great player at Southampton but has really dropped off since he came to us
Imagine if AMN was so stuck on playing in midfield the amount of games he would have gotten last season
I don’t think Cedric has ever been great Fred. Maybe above average at Soton but really where are we going here? He is/was a stop gap imho, better that Bellerin because he isn’t a prima dona and gives 100% every game. We’re still in transition next season so he may stay but he has no long term future imho. Maitland Niles is similar. These guys will not take us to the level of competing with City, Liverpool or even Chavs, period. We should continue to look for much better quality players, without trying to be disrespectful to those guys. As I said about Holding, he’s one of my favourite players but he’s probably just not good enough. Same goes for Xhaka and Pepe to name just two more. We have others.
One more season of Soares whilst bringing on Norton Cuffy and into the squad with a few run outs depending on how he impresses Arteta In pre-season. We can’t do everything at once, but compare this present squad with what it looked like when Arteta arrived and the turnover is impressive.
Would be just like AFC to let Saliba go, and then he stars for France, and PSG, Madrid and the likes for a decade, while we keep White or Holding because, well, just because.
Get a replacement for Xhaka, another winger up top, a back up for Partey and we can close shop.
But, we need to sell so many players to make this happen, Tor, Bel, AMN, Mari, Holding, others??, and Xhaka- that will be the day.
Upside on incoming for sure if we get Jesus!
I think Soares will and should stay.
He is contracted with us till 2024 – so 2 years more. He has no resale value whatsoever, so he will not be sold any time soon. But He is not that bad as feared, he had some great games with us, he is not card prone, and as Kevin pointed out above he could be a great mentor to Norton-Cuffy, who can/should inherit the backup RB position from him in 2 years.
Furthermore Arteta sees Cedric as a leader as well as the most senior player, who might continue his career in youth coaching. So instead of terminating his contract or banishing him from the first team let’s give the guy the games to deputize/rotate Tomiyasu, and appreciate his off-pitch support an his lack of competitive expectations.
I don’t mind keeping Soares too much but I d like us to either promote Norton-Cuffy or get another RB like Livramento, Cash, Aarons, Lamptey, Frimpong…Soares would then be a “utility player” rather than an actual back-up RB/LB…
Find that statement a bit contradicting, players like lamptey etc wouldn’t be utility player dey would be definite starters IMO so is it that you proposing tomi now be the backup RB
All the name list besides cuffy are better than tomi imo
So for me it either you stick with soares or get rid of cause if we buy we now have 3 players for that position
Haven’t seen a full season of a fit Tomi yet but from what I have seen, he’s way better than any of the names above. If for nothing else than his defensive heading. The signing of Vieira says that we are going to buck the trend in the PL of wing backs creating the bulk of our chances and go straight for a front 5 with support from whoever happens to be in the vicinity at the time – the Pep model that shouldn’t surprise anyone. An attacking overlapping wing back would be nice, but we have to learn how to defend first. Maybe I’m wrong but I think that’s Arteta’s plan. In that respect Tomi wins imho
Irrespective of the preference it wouldn’t make sense to keep senior and expensive players for #3. Academy could come in handy in such rare cases.
By the way, Tierney and Tavares have vastly different playing profiles – same applies to Elneny and Lokonga – so a smart manager would not base his line-up decision based on the actual pecking order or the result of the last game, but would take the opposition into consideration and tailor the line-up and tactics accordingly. Something Arteta still needs to learn.
After the cock up this week with the Burnley transfer, good to see Daniel Ballard is going to Sunderland. In another era he could have been useful for us, IMO.
I can’t help feeling that Ballard has missed a great opportunity to work and develop his skills with a great centre half at Turf Moor and also miss the chance to work within a squad that has a much higher technical level than he’ll find at Sunderland.
Last season I think he just had one full back going forward in Tierney and tomi staying back and the injury kinda screwed it up a bit
Ballard has had so many successful loan spell can’t wait to see him play for us
Agree with the Tierney observation Fred. However that may have been more down to lack of options as well. Although Cedric got forward, he wasn’t very effective. But that’s my point on Tomi, he adds defensive stability no matter how he does going forward. He had his moments (when he was fit!!) in the attacking third, but I see him as a defender first and foremost. At this time that’s what we need, not an attacking FB.
As far as Ballard – He’s gone – permanent transfer not loan. The only way he plays for us again is if we re-sign him. Probably unlikely but you never know.
Mike,
Thought that is why Burnley deal fell through, buy back and sell on clauses.
If Ballard has the right stuff, you can bet, well, count on AFC doing something intelligent with our transfer business!
Saw the video of Jesus wearing no 9 walking the turf.
Now that is something to be excited about.
This guy can be HUGE for AFC!!
Aaron, you could be right, not sure on Ballard details but you’d hope if we were thinking he’s good enough that we’d have kept him or loaned him. Like you said, who knows!!!
Interesting that many of our supposed “major targets” in this window seem to be being snapped up by Spuds and Chavs??!! Bissouma, Richarlison, Raphina to name the obvious ones. The only reason I’m commenting is that I didn’t really want to see any of them at Arsenal. I know that’s probably not universally popular with most fans but my opinion is that all three can be loose cannons on the field. Richarlison and Raphina seem sultry and unhappy most of the time (similar thing could be said of Jesus in a way – seems happier generally but seems to whine a lot !!) and Bissouma is just flat out dirty. I’m not certain of my point here but is there any way MA and Edu threw up some potential smokescreens so we could get our preferred targets?
On the flip side I’ll give Bissouma his due, he’s decent in his position but along with the other two, they all seem to be contrary to what Arteta has said we’re looking for – players who can stay on the field for 90 mins. But what do Spuds gain from Richarlison? you can only play 3 of Kane, Son, Kulasevski, Moura nad Richarlison at any one time. 60m for an impact sub? Good luck. Is Raphina better than Mount, Pulisic, Ziyech, Werner? Not sure but imho, they can have him. His petulant display after Ayling could’ve ended Marinelli’s career with a disgusting tackle (remember Dan Smith on Diaby) was pathetic and tells me all I need to know. Wonder how he would have reacted if he were on the end of that tackle?
Anyone else feel similar???
Or can be willian 2.0 who knows
To answer your question Mike yes raphina is better than Werner in his current form
I’m with you Mike M on everything except Bissouma. ( I would also compare Ballard with Holding, and as I said previously, at another time, would have been a useful addition to squad).
I don’t think Richalison or Raphina are consistentlly better than Saka or better than any of the Chelski mob. (Mount is a different class all together for me, as I’ve said before, and I would have him over Foden, in fact).
But the reason I propounded Bissouma so often, is because I believed he would be the making of Partey, who I believe has even more attacking potential to come. I understand your ” dirty” concerns and th chance we might not be able to keep him on the pitch for 90 mins, but wanted to try.
( He is of course now dead to me).
Richarlison, Kane, Son, Kulusevski, Lucas…
Bissouma, Bentancur, Holjberg, Winks…
Conte putting together some tough players – they will be hard to play against…
RC, hope he plays them all together !! I think Winks is out fairly soon. They will be good next season for sure but who’s going to be happy to be left out from the front four (don’t count Lucas because he’s already shown he’s happy on the bench). Will be interesting to see if Conte can handle that. maybe he’ll have an “emotional breakdown” Ha ha !!! You can only use so many of those. It’s a massive season for those Spuds and a lot of pressure. Can’t wait to see it all come tumbling down. Conte isn’t the man to do it I guarantee it. In fact I wonder if anyone can !! They’ll never overcome their fan base’s over-expectation and next season, they’ll be expecting to win it all. The atmosphere in the toilet bowl will be toxic when things start to go wrong…..IMHO !!!
Of course they could go unbeaten and will the quadruple. HAHA HA !
What’s the hold up on announcing Jesus? Are the doing a walk on water test or something?
Mike M
I had it confirmed on Wednesday, before the walk round the pitch, with a photo then in the No9, from someone inside that it’s done. Sworn to secrecy then, but don’t know why announcement has not been made since.
Farewell Douzi. Trust you will have a good future career and we don’t need to discuss you again in the future.
Wtf – Vieira injured already. God must be a frustrated Totteringham fan!
Vieira assures Gooners, no need to worry, his protective boot was a precaution not an injury. Phew!
I know that it was just a friendly but beating a team comfortably 5-1 when you really should be beating them 5-1 is always welcome.
Nice pass by Matt Smith for the Balogun goal.
Were did u see highlights allez
Try these Fred
https://www.arsenal.com/news/watch-highlights-our-5-1-win-over-ipswich
Gabriel Jesus has officially joined us
Noticeable in the Ipswich game was the through balls splitting midfield and defence from Thomas Partey. I believe, if we can keep him fit w will see and even better player this season.
who was wearing no 5, was it AMN?
Fred
Partey was wearing No 5 as per squad numbers for this season.
Ok for some reason thought was AMN, yea he made some brilliant passing
You weren’t exactly wrong Fred. Commentator kept calling Partey AMN and AMN AMN !!! Looks like AMN got 3 assists but really only had one (ish). Partey had 2 (ish). I guess he couldn’t tell the difference between 5 and 15. Really excited about Jesus !!! On a purely technical note, will we play him as a conventional #9 or will we paly the Pep way with no #9? I think when Laca played we played more like that but when Eddie played he was more “conventional”. I guess it shows we can do both??
Mike M
And that is the sixty four million dollar question. I personally would like to see him playing on the shoulder of the last central defender. I think he is quicker than Laca and those very balls evident in the Ipswich game inside a defender are his forte to run on to. Never understood why Laca played with back to defender and then tried to turn him if the ball stuck. Receiving the ball on the run/ half turn enables it to be more easily ” protected” and allows a snap shot. Eddie will carry on using space and pace, but both need Saka/Martinelli/ Smith-Rowe gambling in closer contact if we are to get 30 more goals ( needed) this season.
What a surprise, Merson wants Sterling AND…. Ronaldo for his Chelski!!
And why is he still being asked by Sky about us, surely they could get someone without an agenda! ” No excuses for Arsenal now…”
At last Pochetinno leaves PSG and we are now playing under C. Galtier, a man from Marseilles…lol
Galtier is a fine tactician and manages to get his teams set-up nicely and play cohesively. He has done well at St-Etienne, Lille and Nice and now he is taking the big step with us….He hinted at a back 3 set-up, which makes sense given our wing backs but a bit less given our forwards…let us see
Donnarumma – Marquinhos, Ramos, Kimpembe – Hakimi, Verratti, SANCHES, Nuno Mendes – Neymar – Messi, Mbappe
Apparently, PSG is trying to secure Scamacca but then that would surely mean dropping the back-3 or Neymar…
Anyways, the loser Pochetinno has left…what a relief!
I guess that Sky ask Merson about Arsenal because they can almost certainly guarantee that he’ll come up with some negative nonsense that’ll get Sky the thousands of clicks they’re looking for online. It’s all about advertising revenue…
Smith and Merson not always the best analysts when it comes to Arsenal but not the worse either…
I see that we’re being linked with a winger from Lille?
We will never learn
Gervinho pepe
Leno on his way to Fulham
As for 23yo Zhegrova from Lille, he is not a great target…and he plays on the right wing…He works hard but he is not very decisive….
If anyone we should look into Martin Terrier from Rennes but his profile is like an in-between Martinelli and ESR so not sure we need him…
So Jack Wilshere retires from footie. Loved him at his peak, almost as good as Cesc!
Trouble was that pushing the ball too far ahead, then pursuing into the tackle, where all the oppo thought ” this is my chance…”
Rc u don’t need to tell us lille right winger isn’t any good
They dubbed him “Little Hazard” but at the same age, Hazard was a far better player.
‘Arsenal don’t like it when you get in their face’ a convenient media driven euphemism for ‘Arsenal don’t like being kicked up in air while the officials allow it’ is what did for Jack, Abou and Eduardo to name but three. Jack should have been an absolute star for Arsenal and England, thanks PGMOL…
Well not the first half start to a new season we wanted. Too many “extras” playing together for the first time. New team for second 45 mins please Mikel, with a bomb up ’em.
Disgraceful tackle by Paddy McNair which didn’t even result in a foul, never mind a card which was undoubtedly a red. The Dan Smith tackle on Diaby was disgraceful and both Martin Taylor on Eduardo and Ryan Shawcross on Ramsey were just as bad. What did they all have in common? As Kev said, all on creative players who “didn’t like it up ’em” by “tough” journeymen losers who never made a significant contribution to the game. With injuries to players like Rosicky, Cazorla, Reyes, Hleb, Nasri, van Persie and being targeted relentlessly by thugs in a football kit, it’s no wonder we struggled to continue to build great teams. Everyone could see it including creative players who knew they’d get no protection from refs if they were in an Arsenal shirt. There are many more that resulted in injuries, just not career ending. Luckily Bergkamp, Henry, Pires and latterly Van Persie (once he’d put on 20 lbs of muscle) were too quick, strong and smart for those scumbags.
Very true Mike.
I think that Ruell Walters has done quite well for a youngster, he’s stood up quite well to the physicality. 2-2
Well, no-one can say it was a boring second half. First of many for our saviour!
Don’t want to sound like a Spuds fan (every signing they’ve ever made was going to be the one that makes them winners – when in fact it just makes them weiners !! ha ha !!!) but the two goals scored by GJ would probably not have been scored by our recent strikers. I say that with a caveat. The first one Laca might have scored but probably would have missed because he would have hit it just as hard, however it looks to me as if JG actually picks his spot and then hammers it into the net. The second one Auba might have scored because it was and Auba type finish. But to have one guy score both is fairly unprecedented since the days of RVP and then Alexis. Early days but very exciting.
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