I think the head loss has to do with Calafiori being an unnecessary signing to begin with. We needed a striker last summer more than another CB.
The frustration is compounded by the fact that he can’t even stay fit.
Calafiori did not prevent us from signing a striker last summer. We had the money (bid on Sesko) and just didn’t do it because there were no targets we liked. Blame Edu or Arteta for that.
And we did badly need a left sided defender last summer who could play both LB and LCB. Our CL campaign blew up in substantial part because Kiwior wasn’t at the level. And we had no idea MLS could become a serious starting LB option this quickly.
That doesn’t make Calafiori specifically a good signing but we needed somebody with his profile.
4 Likes
Yeah. I feel a lot of resentment over the Calafiori and Merino deals is misplaced.
Money was there. We tried to sign Watkins in January. We even tried to get Zubimendi in early. The club considered going for Mbeumo before signing Sterling according to Mokbel.
Blame the club for putting all their chips on Sesko and Williams last summer.
1 Like
Some of that is true but we already had depth at LB. Whether inadequate or not we had Kiwior, Zinchenko, MLS and Timber who could play there.
And it’s not even like his injury proness was a mystery before we got him.
Other than the worldy against City he has been defensively unimpressive. Kiwior seems to have surpassed him as a defender.
MLS was just an 18-year-old academy midfielder at this point. Timber was coming off an ACL injury and his main role was an the right hand side. A huge amount of the discourse around the team in spring 2024 was how our LB options were inadequate, with Zinchenko a huge liability and Kiwior not a LB.
Especially given the horror season we just had, I really don’t understand opposition to the idea that we should strive to have two good players in each position. That’s what the Calafiori and Merino signings were meant to help achieve. And neither one of them prevented us from signing a forward that summer. We had the money, missed the main targets, and just didn’t pull the trigger on backup targets.
3 Likes
Nah Cala was fine merino was unnecessary.
Either way would’ve rather had those two ‘holes’ and had a striker or lw in first.
The latter ending up playing up front and that being his better games is just the irony to top it off.
The issue with Cala besides his injury is the fact that he can’t even defend when in LB anyway.
Got skinned, god knows how many times last season.
Seems like he’s better in CB - his natural position, no? But can’t even stay fit there either.
£42m for another Tomiyasu, when will the club learn?
1 Like
He absolutely was worth the risk he’s a quality player. Its so frustrating for him and us he can’t get an injury free run
2 Likes
Much like Tierney he had injury problems before the club spent big on them and you just knew with our history of injury problems it would come back to haunt us
His absence was certainly felt today. He simply gives us a whole different dimension when attacking, even as a defender.
I hope he’s fit soon.
4 Likes
Must be the 4th time I’ve caught “@SRCJJ typing…” today but not posting whatever that was.
What are you thinking big man? Is it about the left back situation?
I think he’s quite comfortably the best defender we have in attacking situations and that’s why I never understood people’s insistence that MLS should be a nailed on starter at LB.
But his injury issues are genuinely going to have to improve this season. We really need him he’s pivotal to our system.
I much prefer him at CB but he’s our best option at LB too but we’re just never getting the chance to see it.
4 Likes
Calafiori injured?!? That’s shocking news, man
2 Likes
Arteta said it was minor tbh
Water is wet, sky is blue.
1 Like
Starting to get bored of Calafiori. He’s in the bracket just below ESR (when he were here) and Martinelli as favourite Gunners. He’s two moves from going on the wishlist out.
I need some new favourites. Let’s go Timber, Eze and Gyokeres. Don’t let me down lads
If he could stay fit, he’d walk into the LB slot. But it’s not looking good for his fitness right now.
2 Likes
Taking a long shot here, but if he can stay fit, he’ll easily be the best LB in the league imo.
Am I missing something? Am a fan of Cala, but he’s been pretty average at left back so far. Timber and MLS were both better last season.
4 Likes