So how is this going to work. He wasn’t trusted (Some down to fitness, some down to choice). Logically we need to be adding players this summer. We’re also in the CL meaning the first team will be taking almost all of the bulk of those fixtures.
I like him but this ain’t all adding up.
Could slide into Granit’s position. Arsenal haven’t been linked with any attacking 8s so that would be my guess
The wide areas are stacked if we include Jesus as an option. ESR is fine as back up although he’ll be thinking he’s good enough to start.
There are plenty of games where ESR can start wide left for us if fit.
Back end of the season, coming into crunch games unfit, I can see why he didn’t get much action. That said, he was really underused.
Can’t remember him having any good games there for us. This could be the plan though.
Champions League isn’t really the experimentation ground for this though - I’d have been more confident in the Europa with ESR in the 8.
There really isn’t…
IMO, if he has a long term future its rotating between this role and Odegaard backup.
I think ESR in the left 8 position might be more viable if we are lining up like we did the last few games with Kiwior (or similar player) at LB and the RB (Partey or maybe White learns to do this) inverting into midfield when we have the ball. ESR left 8 and Zinchenko behind him is way too lightweight and suspect defensively on that side of the pitch.
Big clubs have big squads and I personally don’t see a huge problem with having guys like ESR or Vieira around the peripherals.
They’ll be there to be developed and relied upon in case of emergencies. It’s actually the kind of young depth I’d expect a CL club to be putting the time into developing without requiring their services every game
Madness. He started plenty last season and scored double digit goals. Let’s not act as if ESR is a forward version of Rob Holding.
One of the things Arteta needs to work on is his squad management. It feels like he is incredibly loyal to guys to the point they’re run into the ground or overexposed and also willing to ice guys out.
Partey was run into the ground and playing like shit but Jorginho wasn’t coming in.
Rob Holding was playing like shit but Kiwior wasn’t coming in.
Saka was running on fumes but Trossard or Nelson weren’t coming in.
ESR was allegedly fit but he wasn’t coming in.
We can add players without signing anyone simply by Artera getting better at juggling the guys who are already here.
The problem is when he is regarded as a key first teamer who is expected to start 30+ games in a season. If he isn’t available, the ceiling / output of the team is reduced massively.
If he’s regarded as a genuine luxury player, then fine. Keep him around for a few years and hope he overcomes his fitness issues.
But if he’s regarded as a proper first XI option and we rely upon that - we will suffer again.
Jorginho & Kiwior came in and we still lost to Brighton and Forest.
Look with this Saka thing. Definitely concern about his minutes but if Arteta benched him and we lost he would be getting pelters. Let’s keep it real.
ESR - This is my point, how is this going to work. He isn’t going to play if the squad get’s bigger lol. Which it should but his appearances are going to be limited. Which will turn inevitability into a conversation next season about ‘Why doesn’t he play’. Why would he?
@Truth_hurts I’m not acting as if anything. My argument is simple. Any player not playing much now isn’t going to getting more games going forward. I like ESR, got a lot of time for anyone who has the misfortune of being born in Croydon. But I don’t see the logic.
I think it’s pretty clear neither Vieira or ESR are considered proper first 11 players at the moment. At least not in the CL and EPL but there’s still a lot of other games to go around and a lot of opportunities for the two of them to show what they are made of next season.
I’m not overly fussed on Vieira but I’d like to believe he’s a lot better than what we’ve seen. And we’ve already seen what ESR is capable of as you said so well yourself.
There’s no doubt that if we’re sitting here at the end of next season and neither have made an impact at all that the conversation will go different, however as of right now, I’m content for them both to stay in the squad, train with the first 11 and look to take their chance. Although I have always been a sucker for players that look to have a high level of technical proficiency about them.
Damage was already done at that point. Fair to question why neither were given the green light against Southampton at home or West Ham away. Arteta persisted with an out of form Partey and a not fit for purpose Holding too long. And Kiwior coming in for that loss against Forrest with that inexcusable backline is hardly something I’d hold against him.
Oh come on.
You still going with this “Holding cost us the league” narrative, huh?
It’s more of the Saliba injury costing us the league.
I think the issue for us is, we actually rely on players like ESR and Fabio to be key contributors or otherwise we run our first eleven into the ground.
Fabio just seems miles off it.
ESR is a bit of a crock.
I hope next season if we show faith, both of them don’t let us down again like they did this season.
Well we need our squad to be much bigger and better regardless of whether those two are here or not imo.
Still fucking miffs me that we didn’t have a good enough squad to see us past fucking sporting. Ideally ESR/Vieira/Nelson are domestic cup level squaddies next season with a touch of group stage minutes thrown in.
My doubts are just as to if the club has the ambition / resources to make players like ESR and Fabio to be options say 17-20 in the squad and not in the top 16 for being relied upon.
I think Vieira will progress next season. If we’re going to succeed in the way we want to, we need improvement from players we already have as well as new additions. I think he’s one that could make the next step having had the first year to get acclimatised.