Interesting article about Haaland contract and why it makes sense financially for mancheaty to commit for so long.
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“Our models suggest that a world’s top-10 striker or winger is worth around five points a season over an average Premier League starter, the biggest gap of all positions,” Chaudhuri says. “But the drop off isn’t as steep as the prices paid for players might suggest. Top central midfielders are worth about 4.5 points over an average Premier League starter. And centre-backs and full-backs between three and four points.”
That might sound absurd. But think of it this way: last season City finished on 91 points, 43 points clear of Brighton, who were 11th. That’s less than four points per starting player on average."
Feels like we need Wissa than Mbuemo. Someone that can do striker things like strike the ball on target, hold the ball and actually try and have presence in the box for a cross.
Our transfer priority must be a CF and of those available my preference from what little I know is Sesko does seem to fit the bill in terms of ability and age profile.
We need a rapid LW as no 2 priority. Will probably be a summer signing. If Williams is priced out then can Semenyo play that role -
he is pretty fast but he mostly plays RW although he is right footed and so under Arteta system would work in theory on LW. We don’t need a Saka understudy if that is where Ethan will now play. Not seen enough of him to know more.
Like the idea of Nypan so long as it doesn’t block Nwaneri and later Dowman. Imagine all 3 playing for us in 5 years time!
Great post Pedro. Arsenal as a club are on the right trajectory still provided they stick to the strategy of buying younger players. When we have deviated from this it doesn’t go well - David Luiz; Willian; Mikel Merino etc
Whether Arteta is still the right man for the job will need to be looked at in the Summer but last years unimpressive TW must lie at the feet of Edu first and foremost. Hard to tell from the outside whether it was bungling or he was too handicapped by boards view of PSR
Concern with Arteta is lack of variation in our game play. I realise losing players like Saka and Nwaneri hasn’t helped but the painfully slow football we play 100% of time is making us predictable and clogging up the opponents goal area. No wonder our goals have dried up. Is this fatigue or strategic?
Most arsenal fans take a begrudging interest at what goes on there, if only to help deal with a general anxiety that spurs might actually become good one day.
Well, Managers at that club seem to enter the footballing equivalent of the last 40 minutes of apocalypse now. The bits downriver with Kurtz and the Dennis Hopper character.
Something is seriously wrong there, illustrated by how well some of their former managers are doing in other jobs : conte at napoli, nuno at forest and pocchettino for the US team - I'm sure they'll do well.
The players played admiringly and were unlucky to drop the points, when it is hard and the team bare bones, Arteta make always the wrong decision, he has no imagination and is stubborn and predictable, that will come eventually to haunt him, he could have tried many other options like playing Kwior in defence or Rice, he sticks to the tried and failed and damaging Partey in RB and we all face the music and it is the same old rubbish, he can not change unfortunately !!
Mbuemo is not a central forward. He played his most successful spells either together with Toney or now with Wissa. His position is on the right - where I agree we should develop Ethan .
Semenyo is good physically, but also misses quite some chances that the brilliant Bournemouth system creates for him
Cunha sounds the best option right now, given we have no cover at 9 and 10. However, his work rate without the ball might stop Arteta. What I will say though - he was suspended for two games and then against Newcastle he was fresh and started on the bench. Doesn’t look like a player that committed a long term deal to the club.
P.S. Iraola with budget is a really scary combination. The only question - can he handle nasty characters?
Going through very rough times. So watching Arsenal play this way for the past few weeks only makes me feel worse.
I'd love to take a break, but still find myself tunning in. I wonder how much of elasticity I've got.
This crash would have been averted if the club had addressed three key things only, during the last summer transfer window.
1. A proper striker
2. A cover for Saka
3. A cover for Odegaard if Nwaneri wasn't deemed ready (Yes, Arteta didn't play him when Odegaard was injured)
If we played better (esp during Odegaard's absence), converted chances and moved up the table, the pressure and subsequent injuries to Saka in particular would have been averted (Yes, I say so).
Low energy is bad in top level sports. It can ripple through a lot of things and create chaos.
Interesting article about Haaland contract and why it makes sense financially for mancheaty to commit for so long.
--------
“Our models suggest that a world’s top-10 striker or winger is worth around five points a season over an average Premier League starter, the biggest gap of all positions,” Chaudhuri says. “But the drop off isn’t as steep as the prices paid for players might suggest. Top central midfielders are worth about 4.5 points over an average Premier League starter. And centre-backs and full-backs between three and four points.”
That might sound absurd. But think of it this way: last season City finished on 91 points, 43 points clear of Brighton, who were 11th. That’s less than four points per starting player on average."
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jan/20/erling-haaland-salary-manchester-city-makes-sense
Feels like we need Wissa than Mbuemo. Someone that can do striker things like strike the ball on target, hold the ball and actually try and have presence in the box for a cross.
Our transfer priority must be a CF and of those available my preference from what little I know is Sesko does seem to fit the bill in terms of ability and age profile.
We need a rapid LW as no 2 priority. Will probably be a summer signing. If Williams is priced out then can Semenyo play that role -
he is pretty fast but he mostly plays RW although he is right footed and so under Arteta system would work in theory on LW. We don’t need a Saka understudy if that is where Ethan will now play. Not seen enough of him to know more.
Like the idea of Nypan so long as it doesn’t block Nwaneri and later Dowman. Imagine all 3 playing for us in 5 years time!
Great post Pedro. Arsenal as a club are on the right trajectory still provided they stick to the strategy of buying younger players. When we have deviated from this it doesn’t go well - David Luiz; Willian; Mikel Merino etc
Whether Arteta is still the right man for the job will need to be looked at in the Summer but last years unimpressive TW must lie at the feet of Edu first and foremost. Hard to tell from the outside whether it was bungling or he was too handicapped by boards view of PSR
Concern with Arteta is lack of variation in our game play. I realise losing players like Saka and Nwaneri hasn’t helped but the painfully slow football we play 100% of time is making us predictable and clogging up the opponents goal area. No wonder our goals have dried up. Is this fatigue or strategic?
'Values' again. I'm with you up to a point Pedro, but we've heard the 'values' shtick before.
Modern, successful clubs have to be ruthless, flexible and pragmatic.
Anything goes if it means winning.
That's the only 'value' you need.
So, if arsenal get an experienced striker in on loan this month who can bang in 10 goals before May I'd be happy with that.
Interesting on spurs.
Most arsenal fans take a begrudging interest at what goes on there, if only to help deal with a general anxiety that spurs might actually become good one day.
Well, Managers at that club seem to enter the footballing equivalent of the last 40 minutes of apocalypse now. The bits downriver with Kurtz and the Dennis Hopper character.
Something is seriously wrong there, illustrated by how well some of their former managers are doing in other jobs : conte at napoli, nuno at forest and pocchettino for the US team - I'm sure they'll do well.
Love your work Pedro
The players played admiringly and were unlucky to drop the points, when it is hard and the team bare bones, Arteta make always the wrong decision, he has no imagination and is stubborn and predictable, that will come eventually to haunt him, he could have tried many other options like playing Kwior in defence or Rice, he sticks to the tried and failed and damaging Partey in RB and we all face the music and it is the same old rubbish, he can not change unfortunately !!
Great piece Pedro, thank-you
We need a Sesko AND one of the others to be honest.
Mbuemo is not a central forward. He played his most successful spells either together with Toney or now with Wissa. His position is on the right - where I agree we should develop Ethan .
Semenyo is good physically, but also misses quite some chances that the brilliant Bournemouth system creates for him
Cunha sounds the best option right now, given we have no cover at 9 and 10. However, his work rate without the ball might stop Arteta. What I will say though - he was suspended for two games and then against Newcastle he was fresh and started on the bench. Doesn’t look like a player that committed a long term deal to the club.
P.S. Iraola with budget is a really scary combination. The only question - can he handle nasty characters?
Going through very rough times. So watching Arsenal play this way for the past few weeks only makes me feel worse.
I'd love to take a break, but still find myself tunning in. I wonder how much of elasticity I've got.
This crash would have been averted if the club had addressed three key things only, during the last summer transfer window.
1. A proper striker
2. A cover for Saka
3. A cover for Odegaard if Nwaneri wasn't deemed ready (Yes, Arteta didn't play him when Odegaard was injured)
If we played better (esp during Odegaard's absence), converted chances and moved up the table, the pressure and subsequent injuries to Saka in particular would have been averted (Yes, I say so).
Low energy is bad in top level sports. It can ripple through a lot of things and create chaos.
1st