I wanted rid of Elneny especially if we got CL football because in rotation three games.a week the CL games are not easy even in group stages.
It’s similar here, as we only have EL football I am fine with having Eddie because he will at least have game time in those matches, and to build confidence and keep developing.
So we are only going to get one striker now and only a replacement for Pepe if we can sell Pepe. The problem with Gabriel Jesus as the only striker we sign then is we aren’t really improving aerial power in the overall mix. I’ve wanted Osimhen but without CL that is unlikely to happen.
In some ways, combining this with Elneny, we are seeing consequences of only getting EL instead of CL, and so of course there is going to be let down compared to things people were thinking about for the transfer window just a few weeks back. I wouldn’t be surprised now if our spend on players was closer to 100m rather than 150m, before sales, net spend around 50m. I wouldn’t be happy, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
So Martinez was a terrible shit goalkeeper because he didnt see gametime for 90% of his entire Arsenal career? Yet fans wanted him to stay after his covid game streak. You logic is flawed im affraid. Also the fact that Eddie is 21/22 and not 29.
The same with ESR and Saka.
I don’t think they were part of his project, it’s more that Arteta had these young players forced on him.
Although at least they have proved they are worth their place in the team.
No one except @BigWeng_4LYFE can predict the future. I cant proof that Nketiah has the level to be a good 2. striker option and you cant proof that it will all end in a disaster.
What I know is that our coach rates the player and therefore chooses him to be a part of the squad going forward. I trust in Artetas judgement here and for what I have seen of Eddie so far im am not worried going into a new season with him as 2. option.
I actually agree with you on this. Last summer when ppl were ripping the White signing I was defending them. The manager needs to spend the funds he has on what players he thinks are going to help the team. Arteta’s summer was good last year mostly all yhe signings performed. I also have faith in Eddie I think he coupd be a gpod forward and score 15 goals at least under the right conditions.
The place u lose me is when u want me to believe Arteta can get our team playing nice attacking football and scoring goals. He’s been here 3 years and our goal output has been mediocre at best, and he’s never gotten the CF/Striker to be scoring goals the entire time he’s been here.
The goal output has been mediocre yes. My big hope is that a top class striker will help in this department. We have seen how big a difference it makes to go from no movement in Laca to movement in Eddie.
Very excited to see what our big marquee striker signing will be this summer. Would prefer Osimhen but Jesus will do also.
I believe the risk of just signing Jesus/top striker with Eddie extension is, the club is hoping for another breakout season from Saka, Martinelli, ESR and Ode.
Kind of makes sense to me if we have better output from them… but the risk is pretty high IF Jesus/top striker got injured and then we are doomed. Need Eddie (or not productive Martinelli) to lead the line for long period of time…
I still think the priority focus has to be on foundations of a solid backline and spine, and really that’s all Emery and Arteta mainly have been orientated around for the last few years, still not there, because of botched transfer windows and cutting corners in transfer windows.
The way the PL is, with a solid backline and spine, combined with what we have up front even now, we would be solid in the mix to compete for Top 4. The attacking stuff on top of those foundations helps to try to break up the Top 2 (City, Liverpool).
… so you cold remain frustrated even next season, esp. if it is Gabriel Jesus we are getting, while a lot of us will be relatively content shooting for Top 4. It’s an interesting dynamic to be prepared for, and also why I myself am far more focused on upgrading CM and strengthening full back cover, to help with reducing goals leaked than I am with getting “nice attacking football” for next season.
In some ways I am with you in what amounts to doubts with Arteta being the manager to get us into the Top 2, but that isn’t the target for another season at least.
I’d agree the dynamic of the midfield is huge for any transition in this team.
In isolation we can perform well especially if teams sit back.
Any form of press though and we go under. Defensively our midfield needs to be more accountable and it enables us to field our weaker choices at fullback easier.
Also needs a tweak progressive wise to because there’s not a distinctive enough link at times with the attack.
This will be the key to the team going into next season.
It would be very easy for a manager to come in and say he wants nice attacking football to get the fans on their side and bring memories of Wenger. To me it seems like a shortcut when the foundations of the structure are still shaky.
If Partey and Tierney were not injured so much we would be nearly there, but now we have to ensure we aren’t so reliant on either. If we get the foundations right I do think it is possible to have a club that has a chance for a CL or PL trophy or two within five years. If we don’t have the foundations right and go straight to “nice attacking football” we will be more or less back to much of the later Arsene Emirates era.
If we can restrict Gabriel Jesus to closer to 40m we then should still have good money available to get a solid CM and backup full-back. Ideally replace Xhaka too, but that’s unlikely to happen. Your point about DLP in the CM is very important also.
Having a day to reflect, I have to say I do feel quite underwhelmed.
The numbers of 100k and 5m signing fee translates to a cost of £31m over the contract. That’s not expensive given a replacement player of a similar profile would cost £20m in fee alone. So I’ll accept the cost.
He came in against Southampton and went on to score 5 goals in 8 starts. Was it a purple patch? Possibly, and we’ll find out next season.
I suppose my wider question is - did he elevate the team, or was he simply an adequate performer? Probably the latter and I have reservations about him being a reliable scorer, when again, he will be second choice.
I hope we shift Pépé and are able to buy Jesus + 1 more. The attack needs sprucing up.
Once a player has signed on a contract a manager can do anything, but they do need to keep that player happy. You have to wonder about what was said during negotiations. Wouldn’t you say it is likely Eddie got assurances we were only going to sign one striker this summer and not two, for him to agree to sign onto the contract? Might well be disappointing, but it is what it is.
The only thing I’ll say about the Nketiah contract figures being thrown about is how often do we as football fans ever look at that kind of number as being something significant?
Ben White has a contract worth over £30million too over the 5 years but nobody would ever look at him as being an £80 million signing
To me the benefit of keeping Nketiah comes at the cost of about £5 million a year. If he can be handy and chip in goals this coming season then he justifies the £5 million it’ll keep to cost him for another year. But I don’t really see it as being a £31m reinvestment
For benefit of posters baulking at the wage, it needs to be considered he is a free agent and so where-ever he signs he will get either a decent signing on bonus and/or higher wages. Overall package wont be dissimilar to what he would get for leaving and going to Palace or whoever else is looking to sign him
I’ve seen quite some uproar about this on social media.
I think it’s sensible, we’re thin on the ground and he’s shown he can come in and do a job. I’m ok with this as long as he’s not relied on to be a main point of attack.
We’ve got another competition to add to our PL, FA Cup and league Cup fixtures so having players like this doesn’t hurt at all.
When you give a long term contract and then you wish to sell and he doesn’t want to take a wage cut then what? It isn’t just £5m flier in that instance
Have we not been in such a situation before, so how does one not see the possibility of it developing again?
Why has he signed on again if not for the money? So if the club wants to cut ties he’s just gonna say cool I’m leaving it on the table?