Hello fellow Gooners! by Luci
We’ve reached the half way point of what looked to be a promising season. Whilst we’re not quite on the ropes we do seem to have lost our spark, which is concerning given the finances spent and promises of improvements made pre-season. It feels like we’ve become a tad transparent tactically, predictable in how we ‘switch things up’ and our players seem tired or out of ideas. The transfer window is now upon us but additions won’t be easy.
Something(s) clearly need to change…
I’d love us to buy a prolific CF, an understudy to Saka, a stronger option at LCM, and a versatile defender, possibly even a GK given our new predicament. Sadly, we don’t have enough money available according to FFP but we can still get creative with what we have, it just means a few tweaks.
Here’s some possibilities:
Recall Tierney – we should have arguably never loaned him out. If we play him once a week to keep him in good shape it’ll let others rest and recuperate. Instead have our RB step in to help Rice, this could be an ideal role for White who isn’t as impressive as Tierney in the final third but is assured defensively, and let KT return to his brilliant marauding left-sided role. It’s important to remember his class; Tierney when fit has attracted admiring glances from many top coachs across Europe. This could also allow Zinchenko to play LCM at times.
Manage Partey/Jorginho better – Our midfield looks lost without Partey. Rice whilst awesome is overworked and will eventually buckle. As TP won’t be going to AFCON and now has no suitors, we need to integrate him when fit, but not overdo it. Each week give Partey the most important match CL/PL/Cup, and Jorginho the other. This will give Rice more freedom in the LCM role and potentially time to rest.
Recall Norton-Cuffy – now is a great time to not only learn from current experience in the squad but also make a push into regular first team game time. He’s been working his way up the leagues on loan and now may be the ideal chance to unleash him. He’s a handful and desperate to impress, maybe slightly raw but surely a potential option?
Move Martinelli into CF – if Tierney returns we need a guy who can meet his crosses, which GM11 instantly proved himself at when he joined. The push up front may help him rediscover his lethality in front of goal – he often seems to be looking too hard to create a goal rather than score one currently, this could improve his decision making.
Move Jesus to the wing – He’s an incredible creator in the final third, but not instinctual enough to play as the 9. Having him rival Trossard and Saka could help find a better balance within attack and allow Martinelli and Havertz more time in the 9 role. We could even try Saka as a false 9, he’s strong, hard to tackle, creative and lethal, plus his LW role of moving inside to shoot for the back post is becoming very predictable, this could teach him new tricks.
Reinstate Ramsdale – Whilst Raya has improved we’re playing without confidence as we know just one or two shots on goal will result in a deficit. Last season AR gave the outfield players enough confidence to press on without worrying about what was behind them. We need that back, though I worry he’s lost too much confidence.
Use Havertz correctly – Whilst like Raya he has improved, he just simply isn’t what we need in midfield. Use him to give Odegaard a break when needed as thats his correct role, alternatively use him as a target man 9 in certain games.
Show faith in Emile Smith-Rowe – We’ve played awfully recently but the one shining light has been ESR when he’s come on late in matches. Simply put, he makes things happen, good things. Like Partey and Tierney we should manage his reintegration better. He can play any of Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka or Jesus’ (false 9) roles. He carries the ball better than most in the PL, he’s always willing to track back and put a tackle in, has a great eye for important, often game-changing, goals and assists. Coaching him well and playing safe injury-wise could unlock an absolute gem of a player.
Let Kiwior start at CB occasionally – Gabriel is an absolute rock but if he gets injured who’s prepared to step in? Tomiyasu and Saliba can play there but may well be needed elsewhere. Kiwior is a natural left-sided CB with huge potential, so let’s use that from time to time or we risk leaving it too late and him no longer feeling comfortable there.
Try to unload players that simply aren’t cutting it – Nelson and Nketiah are both young and English and have potential to help other teams, but simply aren’t managing to provide any magic for us at present. Big contracts, but not impossible to move on. We could certainly command a half decent fee from either that could be better reinvested. Elneny is pretty much 50/50, he does a decent basic job and is happy on a low contract, he’d not bring in much money but would free up a spot at least. Vieira simply doesn’t seem to have any place in the squad and there’s still foreign clubs that see his potential, either loan him out and get him to work on his strength, or sell him before he loses value. Cedric barely gets a chance, if Arteta doesn’t value him anymore than a total emergency sub, we should let him move on too.
This could generate enough finances to get one or two players in, hopefully. Guirrasy at just £15m could be a shrewd move, pop him on a release clause of £25m ish then if it doesn’t work out he’ll still have suitors in Germany come the summer and we make a tidy profit that can go to a different CF. Whilst a loan or loan with option/obligation to buy could help us bring in another player or two in different positions.
There’s also some more leftfield possibilities in bringing back the likes of Mika Biereth who has been in stunning form, or fast-tracking the increasingly impressive younger generations, the likes of Walters and Nwaneri in particular.
Obviously I’m not saying we’ll do all of these steps (or any!) but they do prove we still have options and need not yet press the panic button. There’s still light at the end of the tunnel Gooners!
Personally, I do rate Arteta highly, I just can’t agree with a few decisions he’s made, especially this season. I hope he learns to swallow his pride more in the future, or it could be his undoing. Coming into this season we were supposed to work on quality in depth, as that’s what arguably cost us the title last season, yet we still have no proper back ups/alternatives for Partey, Saka, Jesus, or Saliba, and I honestly can’t understand why. Realistically, I think we’re still one or two transfer windows from truly competing with the likes of City and Europe’s finest. So let’s remind ourselves we may have been slightly overachieving for the past 18months. It’s important to remember where we were just a few seasons ago.
… But at the same time, falling short last season still hurts, so frustrations are understandable.
What do you think Gooners? Are any of these suggestions worthwhile, or do you have your own? If so, fill the comment section with them! 😃
All the best,
L
There are some really good suggestions here and these options have been available for a long time already but simply not used.
Understudy for Saka….we have Nelson, Marquinos and the brilliant Cozier-Duberry but MA doesn’t rotate Saka.
ESR isn’t getting enough time as we all know, should be getting 15-25 mins a game to work on fitness and not thrown in as a starter out of the blue like what’s happened in the past. He’s also our biggest goal threat from midfield.
Jesus should get a run at left wing and then Martinelli or Trossard can play up front.
Also our wings never swop sides, I know that’s down to the overly rigid system we have but they really should. Saka on the left could drive hard to the line and put in some great balls.
Havertz is a good player and is definitely improving, but that doesn’t mean he automatically suits the system we have and the longer he’s played the slower our midfield has gotten. Not having a dig at him so calm down but it’s just true. A good/great player isn’t always good for the team play.
Some great talents in our academy but we have yet to see MA promote even 1 academy player to the first team and get game time from my knowledge. I know many on here can’t seem to think long term but this will slowly mean that young prospects don’t want to come to play for us due to lack of opportunity.
Really well thought out article. What is clear is that many teams have found us out and double up on Saka and Martinelli. Havertz and Raya were the beginning of Arteta’s delusion and have lowered the spirit of the team. Ramsdale was infectious, Havertz is simply not good enough, a waste of £65 million. Without an Ivann Toney/Oliver Giroud style player we are stuck in Plan A football, which many teams have ‘found us out’. We need ONE player….Ivan Toney or Dusan Vlahovic….then we can play Plan A or Plan B and make it harder for teams to suss us out. We have become a snore bore.
We have a management problem created by thes o called FFP issue and especailly the arrivals of Raya and Kai Havertz.
But it’s not late. Some of the suggestions here are very good such as recalling Cuffy and bringing in Guirassy but will Arteta and Kroenke listen.
Partey needs to get back but he’s always a doubt. So Norton Cuffy should be the option if there are no funds to bring in someone to back up or replace Partey
Interesting note: Ramsdale now has the highest transfer value of any GK in world football according to CIES
Only two people showing comments PJ-SA and Sean Williams, why are only two viewers. Is this manually filtered by the editor or is this only local region based views on display? Only two viewers opinions! My view only shows up when on the website, but when I come back to the website later, my view has disappeared and there is only the original two views showing from PJ-SA and Sean Williams. It’s as though the rest of the viewers opinions are falsely accepted but not shown just to increase the websites position with “news now”!
It is your device that has a problem. ALL comments show up for everyone else (7 on this one)
If anything I would think Google and Newsnow would rate articles with more reader interaction, not less. I have no need or inclination to create “filters” for the comments. Surely I would encourage it. the more commentsv on view obviously generates more replies, no?
Nah mate, try a different device….
Actually Admin Pat, not ALL comments “show up”, as some of mine do not get published if I mention a certain Aussie article writer by her name. If that’s not filtering, I’d like to know what is.
Lesson learned😉
There are obviously many words that are put into moderation most of which you can guess. The extra name you mentioned was because a certain reader was extremely bullying on every article she wrote.
I dont allow personal abuse to other readers or my writers. Am i wrong?
I do have other words like nazi. racist and other obvious no nos. So yes you are right. I do filter but not to the level described mate…
You’re absolutely correct. Just thought I’d point it out.
Well thought out article with solid arguments made. However, Arteta has to accept his tactics are sussed, and that there are better choice than his preferred players in preferred roles.
Ramsdale at GK, ESR in midfield or rotate with Odegaard, and Martinelli or Havertz as striker.
The goal return of Jesus has been woeful, and Nketiah against Fulham proved yet again he can’t deliver.
Can’t always go straight to the checkbook Arteta, now it’s time to actually coach up and develop players. Use the resources available.
I echo your comments Durand and applaud an article which makes good reading and contains constructive ideas of how we can improve with what we have .
Excellent, if lengthy article L, which put a strain on my attention span, and I agree with most of it. At least you’re not suggesting we go out and cherry pick as we see fit, but sell to generate funds for imports, or recall some loaned out players, but that’s relying on selling our unwanted and complying with the loan arrangements.
I don’t see much action taking place before summer, and even then KSE must be getting a bit wary of Arteta’s demands.
You’ve captured Arsenal’s needs, and re-organisation strategy from within. these scenarios would work, if we had a sensible coach. He knows the team needs Partey, but I don’t think he buys into that. Moving one of the best performing MF’s from his position to LB was dumb, he will stubbornly argue players must be versatile. He knows he’s over working Saka, but insists he’s young and must play 55 games a season. He’s aware he’s pushing Rice too hard with a weakened MF, but insists Havertz is a great player.
Fans giving suggestions from the outside like they know better, lol. Anyway, welcome to 2024. COYG!!!
Good article that I largely agree with. Arteta is clearly a talented coach but has demonstrated a frustrating lack of managerial flexibility and a hugely damaging inability to effectively manage his playing staff properly.
A very good analysis of our team if applied, there may not be any need for January in- comings especially, as FFP won’t allow us.
The problem is buying into these suggestions. The team is faced with a very proud coach who believes he knows it all. And unless he swallowed his pride, the team would continue to struggle.
Right now, morale of players are very low. It seems other out field players don’t gel with Raya. If one remembers how happy they were with Ramsdale in a match against Brentford, you would know of a truth, that they are missing playing with him. Arteta destroyed the team by bringing on Harvertz and especially, replacing Ramsdale with Raya. If, he would ever listen, let him read the above article and apply the suggestions therein. It may no longer be a rumour that players are not happy with the coach. The only way they can show their frustration is by not giving out their best.
This new trend in the team is very dangerous if not checked
We really should have prioritized a top striker over Havertz and Raya during the summer
But what’s done is done
Let’s hope we can bring in someone who can improve us. If not we will need to deal with what we have
Joining the queue of those applauding the article. Thanks Luci, In light of last night’s result even more valid. With Jesus now out indefinitely one of those factors has been nullified. My own particular gripe is that White does not cut it as a wingback continuing to make defensive errors and not much help to Saka going forward but that’s an issue that needs to be resolved post season. At this stage it’s about making the best of what players are available and fighting for that top four spot. Will that be enough to justify retaining Arteta’s services? It’s the debate we need to have in June.