Will never understand how he was allowed to go all of those years dangerously backing under players leaping for a ball and risking head and spine trauma. And the diving for fouls and penalties.
Can’t even put it all down to just being England captain anymore, as we’ve just seen Rice (England captain in waiting) get fucked by refs.
It's funny when some people can't have a go against Partey now are saying Ode is not good enough. You just can't satisfy these bunch of "fans". Ode is absolutely a gem and easily walks into any top team in Europe. End of discussion.
Nobody is looking at Partey as a long term Arsenal player. I'm defending him for what he gives us now, in the situation we are in and against posters and Pedro being vastly disrespectful to literally our best midfielder since the start of the season. Things like "I don't want to see him in an Arsenal shirt ever again" and this from Pedro "Thomas Partey is killing us. He is the new Elneny, that’s where he should be now he’s done".
Partey is being underappreciated (vastly).
A huge chunk of the Arsenal fans think Odegaard is our best/most important player. Well, imo, this right now is the best Arsenal I've seen in about 15 years (at least). We've been spectacular to watch. Our attacks have been so varied, we are no longer lopsided (to Ode's right side), we are creating for fun (a record xG vs Leicester according to understatdotcom), we defend incredibly well, we are a menace in transition, Martinelli is back to his best, we just beat up a top European team and we played in 2nd gear. Without Odegaard in the team.
I am not gung-ho either way, but my take is that we can give credit to Arteta for figuring out how the team can cope with Odegaard's absence [no small feat considering how vital he is], while recognizing that there are s few players whose absence may impact the team more than him - Saliba, Magalhaes, Saka, Havertz - and Rice. However, my hope is that Arteta has a plan for any of those five - and I think he does.
I have a simple way of explaining my point. The way football has developed recently, all modern AMs can play almost equally well as wingers. That's how it is when you think about it.
You've got Foden, Eze, Olise, Wirtz, Musiala, Palmer, Simmons, Gibbs-White, Kudus, Olmo etc. David Silva.
Their physicality allows them to be so good on the wings as well.
Odegaard doesn't have that luxury. Just imagine him as a winger. Absolutely impossible.
The other way of playmaker is from CM like Bernardo, Gundogan, Paqueta, Mount, Cesc, Cazorla, De Bruyne etc. but Odegaard wants the spotlight too much to agree to be dropped that deep.
That's why I believe we need a different profile going forward. Odegaard is not a modern AM. His physicality is a deal breaker.
Ode is not a glory seeker, can’t even seriously consider that take. We have definitely been off on attacking balance right v left for some time but surely that’s a coaching choice, no? The imbalance in the team after Xhaka left (an imbalance that was perhaps not fully envisioned), combined with Timber, Califiori, and Merino injuries has delayed something that Tets has been cooking for a while and is just starting to bear fruit now. Odes absence as the reason for that is pure confirmation bias and the confusion of correlation v causation.
I have never said Odegaard is irreplaceable. It can be done. Things that he gets blamed for is for not having Power and Pace like Yaya Toure or Debruyne. If he had that with his IQ, he wouldn't be at Arsenal and would be at Madrid. He has his limitations. But he is also one of the best players in world football at unlocking deep blocks. He also one of the best attacking midfielders in world football for pressing. The upgrade on him has to be a unicorn like Debruyne.
But selling one of your best players in the hope that someone else becomes your best midfielder is madness. Because you can't guarantee any new signing to work. The sensible thing is to add to your best players and possibly sell the ones that you move from the starting line up. That is what we did with Ramsdale, and that is what we are trying to do with Zinchenko and Jesus. Lift the Ceiling and then the new floor becomes the old Ceiling. if the players we had can't make the jump they will be benched.
If Nwaneri or a new signing like Writz comes in while Odegaard is still here and bench him because they are playing so much better, I can have a conversation about selling then. But as of right now Odegaard is one of 4 or 5 most important players in our team.
Yeah, that is my point. You will need a complete player like Debruyne who does everything Odegaard does and more becaue he has p and p. It is easier said than done. Eze, Writz and the like are all top players. But they too have bad form at times. And when we face low blocks they aren't better at unlocking them than Odegaard. They do thrive on space more than Odegaard. But they aren't players who win the ball in the final third more than him either.
So you are looking at players who aren't unicorns in that they have everything. Most players have limitations. So selling a player who is integeral to your team to get a new player who has p and p but has other limitations would be peak idiocy.
Football is a team sport and even the greatest of footballers excel in association with their teammates.
We've successfully navigated very tough matches without our amiable captain, but that doesn't nullify the view that we missed a huge chunk of our mesmeric outlook or play.
As lustrous as Saliba is at the back for us, he can never be sleek enough to bring the flair Ode contributes to our midfield if played there.
So, no player is unimportant!
Let us learn how to appreciate every single member of our team.
It's sad seeing how Partey being maligned in some recent games, but thankfully, he once again reminded all yesterday that class is permanent with one of his best outings since he came to the Emirates.
I love Rice to the marrows but I am yet to be convinced he possesses the range of passes that has distinguished the Ghanian pass master.
What a save emi Martinez and what a job Emery has done for them over there, big result that one
This Duran guy might actually be the next superstar striker.
Villa's scouting has been super duper elite
Duran for 14 million with add-ons
Rodgers for 8 million, with add ons
Both are serious good players.
I expect that all four of the premier league's clubs in the CL will advance
Same for Spurs and United in the EL
Chelsea will win the conference league
The PL's coefficient will be high enough to get that 5th PL spot for next season.
English Blood & Thunder versus a German Machine. This game is on a boiling pot
How does Kane always get away with stuff.
That’s a tackle a rugby player would be proud of … and they don’t even show him a yellow.
Last season he got away with a blatant elbow to Gabriel that would’ve seen anyone else cop a straight red
Will never understand how he was allowed to go all of those years dangerously backing under players leaping for a ball and risking head and spine trauma. And the diving for fouls and penalties.
Can’t even put it all down to just being England captain anymore, as we’ve just seen Rice (England captain in waiting) get fucked by refs.
Playing for Arsenal cancels that out I guess.
This Bayern - Villa game is a decent watch.
Gnabry went for glory instead of passing to Kane …. Loved seeing how angry that made him lol
Villa ahead v Bayern lol.
Never mind. Offside.
No
Villa and Bayern playing very suicidal high lines
If Ode was truly a 2 footer he would be a class up. I get Monreal vibes when he only uses that left peg. 90 percent of time.
we do need another CAM beside Ode. We are make shifting now, but who is his real understudy? is it Nwaneri?
Feynoord winning at Girona. No excuses for us not to. And we have to win the Shakatar game after the international break as well.
It's funny when some people can't have a go against Partey now are saying Ode is not good enough. You just can't satisfy these bunch of "fans". Ode is absolutely a gem and easily walks into any top team in Europe. End of discussion.
Nobody is looking at Partey as a long term Arsenal player. I'm defending him for what he gives us now, in the situation we are in and against posters and Pedro being vastly disrespectful to literally our best midfielder since the start of the season. Things like "I don't want to see him in an Arsenal shirt ever again" and this from Pedro "Thomas Partey is killing us. He is the new Elneny, that’s where he should be now he’s done".
Partey is being underappreciated (vastly).
A huge chunk of the Arsenal fans think Odegaard is our best/most important player. Well, imo, this right now is the best Arsenal I've seen in about 15 years (at least). We've been spectacular to watch. Our attacks have been so varied, we are no longer lopsided (to Ode's right side), we are creating for fun (a record xG vs Leicester according to understatdotcom), we defend incredibly well, we are a menace in transition, Martinelli is back to his best, we just beat up a top European team and we played in 2nd gear. Without Odegaard in the team.
Odegaard is being overappreciated (vastly).
I hope I explained myself well.
I am not gung-ho either way, but my take is that we can give credit to Arteta for figuring out how the team can cope with Odegaard's absence [no small feat considering how vital he is], while recognizing that there are s few players whose absence may impact the team more than him - Saliba, Magalhaes, Saka, Havertz - and Rice. However, my hope is that Arteta has a plan for any of those five - and I think he does.
This is it really.
The problem with Odegaard is, he cant slap errant team mates with his longstuff. Thats why his country man was tapping Generationals backside
You really are a fucking bore Sidney.
I have a simple way of explaining my point. The way football has developed recently, all modern AMs can play almost equally well as wingers. That's how it is when you think about it.
You've got Foden, Eze, Olise, Wirtz, Musiala, Palmer, Simmons, Gibbs-White, Kudus, Olmo etc. David Silva.
Their physicality allows them to be so good on the wings as well.
Odegaard doesn't have that luxury. Just imagine him as a winger. Absolutely impossible.
The other way of playmaker is from CM like Bernardo, Gundogan, Paqueta, Mount, Cesc, Cazorla, De Bruyne etc. but Odegaard wants the spotlight too much to agree to be dropped that deep.
That's why I believe we need a different profile going forward. Odegaard is not a modern AM. His physicality is a deal breaker.
but Odegaard wants the spotlight too much to agree to be dropped that deep
-------------------------------------------------------------
lol. Attitude problems with Odegaard.
Ode is not a glory seeker, can’t even seriously consider that take. We have definitely been off on attacking balance right v left for some time but surely that’s a coaching choice, no? The imbalance in the team after Xhaka left (an imbalance that was perhaps not fully envisioned), combined with Timber, Califiori, and Merino injuries has delayed something that Tets has been cooking for a while and is just starting to bear fruit now. Odes absence as the reason for that is pure confirmation bias and the confusion of correlation v causation.
I have never said Odegaard is irreplaceable. It can be done. Things that he gets blamed for is for not having Power and Pace like Yaya Toure or Debruyne. If he had that with his IQ, he wouldn't be at Arsenal and would be at Madrid. He has his limitations. But he is also one of the best players in world football at unlocking deep blocks. He also one of the best attacking midfielders in world football for pressing. The upgrade on him has to be a unicorn like Debruyne.
But selling one of your best players in the hope that someone else becomes your best midfielder is madness. Because you can't guarantee any new signing to work. The sensible thing is to add to your best players and possibly sell the ones that you move from the starting line up. That is what we did with Ramsdale, and that is what we are trying to do with Zinchenko and Jesus. Lift the Ceiling and then the new floor becomes the old Ceiling. if the players we had can't make the jump they will be benched.
If Nwaneri or a new signing like Writz comes in while Odegaard is still here and bench him because they are playing so much better, I can have a conversation about selling then. But as of right now Odegaard is one of 4 or 5 most important players in our team.
Yeah, that is my point. You will need a complete player like Debruyne who does everything Odegaard does and more becaue he has p and p. It is easier said than done. Eze, Writz and the like are all top players. But they too have bad form at times. And when we face low blocks they aren't better at unlocking them than Odegaard. They do thrive on space more than Odegaard. But they aren't players who win the ball in the final third more than him either.
So you are looking at players who aren't unicorns in that they have everything. Most players have limitations. So selling a player who is integeral to your team to get a new player who has p and p but has other limitations would be peak idiocy.
KDB has no pace. a sprint will do his hammies or whatever
Rap
Football is a team sport and even the greatest of footballers excel in association with their teammates.
We've successfully navigated very tough matches without our amiable captain, but that doesn't nullify the view that we missed a huge chunk of our mesmeric outlook or play.
As lustrous as Saliba is at the back for us, he can never be sleek enough to bring the flair Ode contributes to our midfield if played there.
So, no player is unimportant!
Let us learn how to appreciate every single member of our team.
It's sad seeing how Partey being maligned in some recent games, but thankfully, he once again reminded all yesterday that class is permanent with one of his best outings since he came to the Emirates.
I love Rice to the marrows but I am yet to be convinced he possesses the range of passes that has distinguished the Ghanian pass master.