Over the last few weeks, there’s been a conversation about how Gabriel Jesus is not a reliable option for Arsenal’s attack. After his return from injury, he has yet to be as productive as before the World Cup.
In December 2022, when it was confirmed that Jesus would be sidelined for months, many believed Arsenal would struggle, but did they? They didn’t suffer without him; they still picked up results and efficiently attacked. The arrival of Leandro Trossard in January was a wise move after our expensive move for Mudryk fell through, especially as we didn’t have to win multiple jackpots on Syndicate Casino no deposit bonus websites to pay the reasonable transfer fee (especially when compared to the 100million for Mudryk!)
His purchase has proved to be an excellent decision while Jesus was injured, as after settling in, he was given the nod to lead Arsenal’s attack, playing the No. 9 role.
So far this year, Arsenal has played some beautiful attacking football when Trossard plays the number 9 role with Martinelli and Saka in the wings. In five games (between February 25th and March 19th), they managed 15 goals. The Belgian playing as the striker saw him step up so that even if he didn’t score, he would quickly assist his teammates (hence his ten assists for Arsenal since joining).
While Trossard was getting comfortable leading Arsenal’s attack, Jesus returned from injury, and in April, Arteta made a decision that possibly denied Arsenal a chance to win the PL crown. Arteta abandoned the effective attacking set-up of Martinelli-Trossard-Saka and reinstated Jesus in attack from the Liverpool game onwards, after which Arsenal went on to be winless in four games.
Jesus showed a glimpse of brilliance in his first two games since returning, getting a goal in each, but as games kept piling up, his form dwindled, and he wasn’t sharp in games like the Southampton 3-3 draw, only scoring again against a struggling Chelsea.
His poor form gave birth to the idea of Arsenal’s need to sign a physical striker. We won’t discuss which striker Arteta needs to target; what we will discuss is: don’t you think Arteta should have just continued with the Martinelli-Trossard-Saka as his forward line, as it worked and used Jesus as a super sub for him to regain his form, and be ready to recapture his role through pre-season to next season?
One might argue Trossard has been given minutes even after Jesus’ return, but those chances have not been him playing the No. 9 role; they’ve been in the wings where Saka and Martinelli have been too good; hence it is hard to see anyone impressing as much as them there, although he hasn’t stopped him providing assists.
The 2022–23 season has ended; we won’t live on ‘what if’. Let’s look forward to a fresh start next season after a great summer transfer window where Arteta will sort out all the weaknesses that saw him narrowly fail to win the league.
Arteta deserves a lot of credit for our improvement this season, but to my mind he overplayed Martinelli and Saka at the expense of Trossard, ESR,Nelson and last but not least, Nketiah.In my opinion we played our most attractive football when EN was in for the injured Jesus and our results during that period were excellent..The thing is, Jesus is not, and never has been a conventional C.F and he has mostly played on the right wing for Brazil.Trossard, who has never been able to hold down a position in what is an aging Belgium side, is undoubtedly a very useful and versatile forward, but he too is basically a winger.In essence, we currently have no fewer than six wide players in contention for a position in our front three along with Nketiah who is our only natural centre forward.This imbalance needs to be addressed and it will be interesting to see who Edu brings in ,if it is considered to be essential.Based on the above , the clamour to acquire a back up for Saka seems to me unnecessary given our current sufficiency of wingers.
Jesus and Nketiah are both natural central strikers imo, but would be more at home in a front two – however, that’s been long dead at arsenal. I always thought Walcott was a victim of that change as well.
Having said that, I thought jesus was great as a cf before his injury. It wasn’t a problem earlier in the season, so it seems wrong to say he shouldn’t play there now.
Grandad But the clubs thinking , which I see as being wise,is that right now, SAKA and MARINELLI,apart, we have no other wingers of TOP TOP CLASS.
The others you mention all have some ability but NONE remotely approach our regular two in sheer proven quality. And MA, Edu also know that, hence their interest in NEW, would be top class, wingers.
I applaud them both for aiming only for the very TOP level imports.
Fair enough Jon but personally I consider ESR to be as talented as Martinelli and Saka.You then have to ask yourself why did we give a lucrative contract to Nketiah and are apparently about to do the same with Nelson when Arteta rarely uses them?
Grandad, but where is the evidence for your view? SAKA and Martinelli were consistent goal scorers and assist makers. ESR, promising as he was the previous season, has not been reliably fit for many months and even when finally fit, was not picked by MA, who sees him daily intraining and so he has scarcely featured this season.
I suggest we need to trust our managers judgement; I THINK HE DESERVES THAT, AT LEAST, AFTER THE SEASON HE HAS GIVEN US.
It is your opinion, well and fine, but opinions, to carry any weight, need evidence, or else they are just personal hunches, in my view.
As for your NKETIAH QUESTION, I have no idea why.
It is my contention that I RESERVE FINAL JUDGEMENT ON ANY PLAYERS ABILITY, UNTIL HE HAS PROVED IT IN GAMES, FOR A SUSTAINED PERIOD TOO.
I don’t know how much difference it would have made but yesterday was the first time I’ve seen jesus looking remotely like he did before his injury. Trossard should have kept his place, or simply played more than he did in the CF role. On one hand, that’s easy to say with hindsight, but on the other, jesus didn’t play well for many games in succession – a change was necessary at some point during that run. Arteta wasn’t ruthless with jesus when he should have been.
We must admit that the addition of Jesus, Zinchenko and Trossard brought the taste for more than a lone-goal winning streaks for Arsenal. However, while it was possible that guarantee of game time made it possible to land Jesus in Arsenal squad, game-time could be split 50-50 between Jesus and Trossard with start-replacement switched also. Jesus is good but Trossard has more power in his legs and is smarter with timing and choices of whether to score or assist with the ball.
Am I the only one who feels we might not be in this position next season?
Anyway, if Arteta continues to pick favourites just because they are favourites, then I don’t know what would be the story by this time next season
@dgr8xt
Exactly. It seems to matter little of who we bring in, if Arteta continues to go with playing a core 11/15 players, neglecting the rest until it’s too late, once again…Jus sayin.
Arteta’s tactics are not suited for a typical 9 up front, or a 20 goal striker.
His tenure at Arsenal has shown the evidence he prefers to attack, create, and score from the wings; just look at our play and transfers.
Martinelli leading scorer, Saka double digit goals/assists, and Jesus as a 9 to press and interchange on the wing (where Jesus is more suited as Pep thought).
That’s why Pepe is finished for us, Trossard came in and not a 9, and why we have constantly been chasing wingers every window.
Arteta’s focus on the wings has brought success no doubt, but we have become predictable and I wish we would be more flexible and adapt in our attack.
Agree Durand, that is why we have to change the way we play.
To the title. 100% yes!!!!!