Pedro, if Jota,Gakpo or Cunha are presented with the same chances Kai has gotten, would they score more than him?
I also don't get this argument that Kai gets in the best position. Well, that's because he's been coached to do that - it's part of the tactics. If we get another person we'll find a way to fit him in. Our problem right now is getting the ball in the net and Kai doesn't do that as often as the team would want.
PSG play 4 top teams while Celtic play 0.5 of a top team in Dortmund.
Celtic are on 12 points, guaranteed progress into the next round, literally 1 point behind 8th placed Leverkusen. Despite getting trounced by the only decent team they've faced - Dortmund, a 7-1 loss.
PSG are on 10 points and will need points to guarantee their progress.
Not that I'm worried about PSG, just feels unfair and next time it might be us to get fucked by a draw that imo is supposed to be way more balanced than that.
Same is valid for other clubs like Villa who got easier games and have qualified because of that luck.
Like, Arsenal, Atletico and Milan are in pot 2 same as Shakthar, Brugge and Benfica. Huh?
From what I understand, it was the top European clubs who pushed for this new format, they can charge more for visiting big name teams. Celtic getting easy schedule doesn't make system unfair, it was just luck of the draw.
I wonder if Havertz might work better in a classic 442 with Saka and someone like Williams or Cunha on the wings and a Sesko up top, Rice and Zubimendi in the middle. I realize this would mean sacrificing Ode much of the time but can’t help but think that would let us batter those deep blocks. Can’t see Mikel going for that though, although I think it would be effective.
Some people slated his arrival and just want to be vindicated. They’d rather we fail with him than with him. Very sad
It’s what’s around him Thats the problem. He will never be a lethal finisher but he will always he dangerous around the box
Again, very happy to see martinelli and trossard are combing back to from woth Kai and Odegaard just at the right time. Add Ethan and a signing or two into the mix and maybe we might win a major trophy
No, he scored goals at levekusen and he’s scoring goals here
Didnt say dont get a lethal finisher but I’m not going to pretend Kai isn’t scoring goals when he quite obviously is. It’s you trying to make out his goals dont count because you claim the opposition aren’t good enough or some old council estate bollocks
So rather than get in a proper striker you suggest better players around him? I mean sure maybe that was the problem at Leverkusen and Chelsea as well... others not him
Borussia Dortmund are ready to move for Oleksandr Zinchenko with left-back expected to leave Arsenal before the transfer window shuts.
Dortmund are in the market for a new left-back and are believed to have put Zinchenko at the top of their wanted list after missing out on Chelsea’s Renato Veiga.
This week Dortmund sacked manager Nuri Sahin and have been linked with making former Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag his replacement.
It's hard not to point fingers at the people responsible for not selling all three of Tomiyasu, Zinchenko and Jesus and say it wasn't so, so easy to predict how they would be nearly useless to us while occupying potential transfer income, wages and a slot in the squad.
I think Jesus had a streak of 7 starts + 2 subs in 9 games before the injury. In hindsight, Arteta shouldn't have given him 6 starts in total over August, September, October and November, to then start him 7 times + 2 subs in 30 days.
Then again, if a player has to be rested every other game so they don't break, with no guarantee that they won't get injured regardless, it's probably a player you're better off without.
Any sale we do from now on, will be too late. Last summer was the perfect moment.
As I said yesterday if you look at the surface Havertz is scoring and we don't need a striker but a little bit of looking into him and you see that he mostly scores at home and against poorer opposition and never in big games or when we really need someone to step up like during that Christmas period where we just couldn't get a result when Liverpool dropped points.
Basically it's very easy for people to forgive and forget but we still need him replaced.
Current Sesko has physicality going on for him and nothing much else. He needs to become a top predator similar to Haaland to be worth it as he's quite limited outside of scoring and apparently he isn't even scoring that often (14 goals in total - 8 in Bundesliga).
He might become the next Haaland or Lewandowski, he's young and he might start scoring at a rate that justifies his spot on the pitch, but if we go for him and he fails to reach a way superior level to the current one he's showing right now, he'll be a failed transfer for us.
Samu Omorodion (now Aghehowa) is the CF I wanted in the summer.
Obviously, Isak is up there but so many complications around him like injury record and the ultra price he'll cost - possibly an EPL transfer record.
Samu moved to Porto for paltry £12m + 50% sell-on clause. Unbelievable talent. 193 cm tall. 20 years old.
He's already banging them in like there's no tomorrow - 18 goals, 2 assists in roughly 20 games, including 2 goals against Manure in Europa League.
Young, part of the Spanish U23 that won the Olympic gold.
He failed a medical with the Chavs just 6 months ago because of a small injury that didn't allow him to play in the Olympic final. They missed a giga talent for £35m.
That team should have been us as we would have been able to slowly introduce him to the squad as we've already got a top option there. It was always my thinking - Havertz + a younger CF that we can develop into a superstar.
But Samu looks more complete than Sesko. He's also a giant but a flexible one. His technique is superior. Reminds me of an upgraded in every way Danny Welbeck.
Thanks for bringing up this Samu guy. Some Nigerian folks I know keep mentioning him but I’ve never paid him no heed. I think he’s in Portugal now, was previously on the books of Athletico Madrid.
God, you are so jarring. You talk as if you have seen Sesko play for years. He has been a 1 in 2 striker for Lepzig in the Bundesliga. Even this season, his 8 goals have come in 17 apps in a struggling Leipzig side. That is very good for a 21 year old who is in a top 5 league like Germany instead of Portuguese league (something that goes against Gyokeres).
Plus he isn't limited. He is far from that. He is nimble and quick, can dribble at times. Look at the variety of goals he scores.
What he needs to get better at is to develop his overall game so that he wouldn't lose the ball as much. Other than that he also needs to develop a more ruthless streak. There is a reason he has been highly rated since his days of Salzburg. If he keeps developing the way he has, he will be the next big striker.
Sesko is as nimble as Haaland. Never mind, I think Haaland has faster reactions in the box now that I think about it.
He's got flat speed cause of his long legs but he's so cumbersome. Nowhere near the flexibility that Samu has (also a giant). His technique is nothing to write home about. Barely there if there's any at all.
Nimble - light in motion. He's anything but. Cumbersome is the word.
Haaland is a nimble big striker. Nimble doesn't mean he takes on players like Isak. He can create his own space to take shots. Havertz now isn't nimble.
And his technique in keeping the ball is something he needs to work on. But the technique to strike the ball with both feet is fantastic. This is why hast generalizations are crap. You just said his technique is poor.
And I am not shitting on that Samu guy by the way. He has looked good the 2 games I have watched him. I haven't seen enough to judge him.
Shitting on Sesko just doesn't make sense to me if you have seen him play.
Don't want to get personal but your favorite is Gyokeres who is a West Ham level of striker (imo).
You're very aware I'm not talking about shooting technique but technique with the ball - touch, precise control, fast work-rate, that should translate into dribbling.
If Martinelli is a head-down merchant, wait till you see Sesko. He literally has a hunchback from looking at the ball while moving the ball with his feet.
Jesus christ. I am pretty sure you haven't seen him. He is nimble and quick for a guy who is 1.93m. I have seen him plenty, including in the Euros, multiple UCL games. I have seen him our run very quick defenders in counter attacks.
What he is poor at is infact keeping the ball at all times. He needs to be stronger in duels too. But he is still a 21 year old.
No those players are dribbling superstars. They have low center of gravity too. You can't judge 6ft + players with Aguero and Sanchez. Haaland is nimble and quick because he can shift the ball to strike it.
I have seen Lepzig games a few times. Yes.
I have seen Williams too. Kid is good. But he still needs time. He isn't the level raiser people think he is.
I am not saying Sesko is either. But he has attributes that can grow to be that.
You said the something with Partey without watching one game all those years ago.
You are just shitting on anything Arteta does because you are on a shit negative spiral.
You can’t be slow at top level premier league and score the goals he does
Sesko is faster
Hes more skilful and more able to score a variety of goals with both feet
Better at link up
But as a goal scorer nobody in the world compares
You bring Sesko and Isak to this team and it’s a totally different animal
Get wirtz and we are the best team in the world
I know it’s championship manager shite but those 3 players are game changers for any team and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be signing at that level now
Can't know but they would want to almost triple their money probably. I doubt it would be under £60m in the form that he is. It could be around there but it's a blind guess.
Batshit crazy he was available for £35m, Chavs got the right idea but backed off in the last second due to the tiniest of injuries (missed just the first league game for Porto).
Yeah, we could do that in the shape of - winger (Mbeumo, Semenyo) or AM (Wirtz) or CF (Samu/Isak) or some mix like Cunha. Plenty of options but most are summer transfers.
Cunha just fits wonderfully the profile to get a lot of minutes regardless of the availability of the other players. You can always find a spot for him.
CF would arguably do the same thing, as Havertz can always drop in advanced midfield role.
AM would be a direct upgrade on Odegaard but obviously fans adore him.
A winger would be direct competition to Martinelli, Trossard and I guess Nwaneri as Saka isn't losing his spot unless he's moved to AM which I don't think Arteta will ever try.
I like Mbeumo as an option but can we move him to the other flank when Saka is healthy? Saka at AM, Mbeumo at RW would be insane but it's not happening. So where does Mbeumo go when Saka is healthy? A pair of Havertz+Mbeumo maybe? I know Semenyo can play on both wings. And Cunha can play everywhere.
Martinelli was on top note-brilliant game. Our captain looked relieved rather than pleased to have scored his goal. Nwaneri is a peach of a player-Sterling must look at him and realise his time is up-that young lad has set a new standard.
I believe one of the reasons we didn’t get Sesko in the summer was because he sought assurances that he would be the head honcho striker and none was forthcoming so he chose to remain at Leipzig to continue his development.
No top striker is coming to Arsenal to be backup up to Haverz so sort that shit out first; is he your big gun or not?
When they make up their mind, then they can decide if they are to spend major money for a starter or back-up striker money.
If they consider themselves good enough, they will fancy their chances of displacing a striker that half the fan base thinks isn't even a CF (you included).
Havertz can always play as AM in a mixture of a CM and a SS. He's been banging them in consistently in any role he's given.
If a CF (Sesko is an example) is so scared of Havertz, they did/are doing right not joining us.
Look, yes. I was the first one to flame Arteta and at the time I was an avid Arteta out poster.
He fucked up not trusting Saliba at the start but he eventually saw the light.
But you say how Arteta is the Arsenal hierarchy. Fullstop. Yet, you think he'll get his guy but won't play him cause he won't fancy him? What kind of logic is that? He's going to war for Sesko, means he'll give him plenty of chances, no?!
I agree with you, the boys deserve thumps up as far the UCL is concerned - they've been fantastic so far this season. I don't think Arsenal will have any cause playing the knockouts.
Yes, also agree with you that Arsenal's 'number 9 right now has more goals than Mbuemo, Cunha, Williams, and Semenyo'. That's true. But shouldn't we be talking about Liverpool, not Brentford or Wolves? Liverpool have a proven prolific goal poacher in Mo Salah who's already banged in 18 goal in the EPL alone this season (Kai has 14 across all competitions). The goals that Salah, Diaz, Nunez and Gapko contribute is keeping Liverpool at the top of the EPL and UCL tables and they're still in the FA and EFL. Without Salah, Liverpool would most likely not be where they currently sit on those tables. Obviously, Kai isn't the elite forward an ambitious club like Arsenal should rely on. You can keep Kai, but you certainly need something better. Mbuemo, Cunha, Williams, Jota, Diaz, Semenyo won't solve Arsenal's striker problem. It's something better that Arsenal need.
Nothing big is expected to happen this January and I can understand. We stick to what we have. We can cause some trouble to anybody in the UCL with or without a proven natural forward this month (but we'll lose out in the EPL). I still think Arsenal can get to last four in the UCL, or even the final. Their record shows this season is gonna be better than last.
Our number 9 right now has more goals than Mbuemo, Cunha, Williams, and Semenyo
---------------
This right here is the problem. We already know those players are a bit better. Mbumemo, Cunha and Semenyo are dojng what they are doing in much worse teams. This is too much dip in the chip.
People go two ways with Havertz. Either he is top class or he is shit. And that is the problem. He is right in the middle. Good player, can contribute a lot. But we still need better. If he was signed for £25m less and half the wages, he would have been a hit.
Apart from Saka, no one has made sure they should have their spot as a starter in that front three this season. All they are proving is who can be the better backup. Even Odegaard has struggled this season.
Rice has been back to his great self for the past month now. He has been dragging us through some games too
Loved the performance from Martinelli last night too. Created the openings for the two goals. He needs to keep that up.
"This right here is the problem. We already know those players are a bit better. "
Are they really better though?
The one CF I'm sure will do good for us is a crock and will cost a fortune, plus his team won't sell him. I'm not sure about any other CF we've been connected to that is better than Havertz. And even if he's better than Havertz skill wise, he isn't better than him when he's out injured (we know Arsenal's luck with injuries) which is an obvious bonus in Havertz' favor and has to be mentioned and put in perspective.
The players Pedro mentions and you say are better, are actually wingers/second strikers. They won't come to Arsenal to take Havertz' spot, they will play on either flank of him or next to him in a pair.
When I say I want Cunha or Mbeumo or Semenyo, it's never to put Havertz on the bench or as a rotate option. It's to play with Havertz in a capacity according to Arteta's will.
If we're talking about Sesko (Gyokeres is Spurs quality at best) - sure, he'll be competition for Havertz, even if they can also play in a pair, when we're chasing the game for example.
Cunha, for example, is a second striker/attacking midfielder/inside forward (a little less than a standard winger).
Mbeumo and Semenyo are similar to Saka with a bit more explosiveness and a little less finesse.
They will be competition for our wingers/attacking midfielders. There's no reason not to play them together with Havertz.
You rate Havertz too highly. I don't think every player is better than him. But there is space for upgrades. Having a player that is better technically can help us be better on the ground. I don't even necessarily think we need the player that is going to come in to be miles better right now. We just need another option that can grow to be that player. That is why I like Sesko. I prefer someone that can solve it straight away though. I don't agree with your Gyokeres jab. He is quality infront of goal. And if he came in, he would offer something different to help us win now.
The problem with Havertz has been the fact that his lows are too low. When he loses confidence he looks like a championship player. That is why people get on him. If he didn't have that horrendous week were he was very poor plus where he missed sitter after sitter, his whole season wouldn't be looked as bad by some fans. It was the same last season when he was average for 6 months. He just needs to raise the level he plays at when he is in poor form.
So all it took to change your mind was defeating a small Croatian team that’s rusty from a winter break,
Have you considered that a proper striker in our set up unlocks/activates the entire front line and also gets a lot better numbers.
Imagine if Josh Kroenke was thinking like you, maybe he agrees with you and won’t sanction a purchase.
Havertz is a very good footballer, in the mould of a very good jack of many trades. I’m sure he’s also a good friend to his team mates and good partner to his girl friend…but a striker for a league winning side he ain’t.
He also works super hard and he’s as healthy as Xhaka.
He doesn’t move like a striker, obviously doesn’t think like one, doesn’t run the typical channels and clearly lacks the finishing.
Who knows though, maybe that’s what Mikel’s football vision is
He isn't a Championship winning striker. But he can be a good option for one. And his movement in the box is one of the best in Europe. That is why he scores so many tap ins or goals in the box.
But the probelm has always been when he is poor, he is shocking. Plus he isn't ruthless even on form.
But he is the only other player that has a spot next season apart from Saka in that forward line. Not as a starter but as an option.
Hope Sterling never plays for us again. What a shit imposter of a footballer he's been since he joined. Play someone from our youth team, or the tea lady, they could hardly do worse. Just send him back if possible. The one negative of a good display yesterday, although I was thinking back to the Shaktar match where we nearly threw it away at the end, having failed to add to our one goal. Thankfully the two late goals dispelled such anxieties.
‘Last night, he took his goal tally to 14 for the season. That’s more goals than Jota, Dias, Nunez, and Gakpo have managed’
This is one of those stats that make you feel all fuzzy and warm until you dig a bit deeper.
For starters the four Pool players mentioned have played way less minutes, so their goals per minutes stats blow Havertz’s out of the water.
Additionally, all four are on less than half the wages Havertz is on, and in case of Diaz ( his agent must be in a coma or something) a staggering 1/5.
Havertz will always attract ridicule because his first touch is usually one of a rapist ( nice cushioned set up for Rice though) and his shooting technique isn’t great.
But what he’ll give you is the effort and durability alongside his more than decent g/a tally.
Pedro, if Jota,Gakpo or Cunha are presented with the same chances Kai has gotten, would they score more than him?
I also don't get this argument that Kai gets in the best position. Well, that's because he's been coached to do that - it's part of the tactics. If we get another person we'll find a way to fit him in. Our problem right now is getting the ball in the net and Kai doesn't do that as often as the team would want.
To be honest, I don't really like how random the CL match ups feel to me.
PSG had to play Bayern, Man City, Atletico and Arsenal in their first 4 games.
Celtic drew Slovan, Dortmund, Atalanta, Leipzig, Brugge, Dinamo Z, Young Boys, Villa.
Like, the two draws are absolutely incomparable.
PSG play 4 top teams while Celtic play 0.5 of a top team in Dortmund.
Celtic are on 12 points, guaranteed progress into the next round, literally 1 point behind 8th placed Leverkusen. Despite getting trounced by the only decent team they've faced - Dortmund, a 7-1 loss.
PSG are on 10 points and will need points to guarantee their progress.
Not that I'm worried about PSG, just feels unfair and next time it might be us to get fucked by a draw that imo is supposed to be way more balanced than that.
Same is valid for other clubs like Villa who got easier games and have qualified because of that luck.
Like, Arsenal, Atletico and Milan are in pot 2 same as Shakthar, Brugge and Benfica. Huh?
Isn’t that better? Random is better
Like the old days when too teams didnt load up the odds in their favour
From what I understand, it was the top European clubs who pushed for this new format, they can charge more for visiting big name teams. Celtic getting easy schedule doesn't make system unfair, it was just luck of the draw.
I wonder if Havertz might work better in a classic 442 with Saka and someone like Williams or Cunha on the wings and a Sesko up top, Rice and Zubimendi in the middle. I realize this would mean sacrificing Ode much of the time but can’t help but think that would let us batter those deep blocks. Can’t see Mikel going for that though, although I think it would be effective.
He kind of does operate as part of a front two frequently
Totally agree regarding Havertz
Some people slated his arrival and just want to be vindicated. They’d rather we fail with him than with him. Very sad
It’s what’s around him Thats the problem. He will never be a lethal finisher but he will always he dangerous around the box
Again, very happy to see martinelli and trossard are combing back to from woth Kai and Odegaard just at the right time. Add Ethan and a signing or two into the mix and maybe we might win a major trophy
No, he scored goals at levekusen and he’s scoring goals here
Didnt say dont get a lethal finisher but I’m not going to pretend Kai isn’t scoring goals when he quite obviously is. It’s you trying to make out his goals dont count because you claim the opposition aren’t good enough or some old council estate bollocks
It’s what’s around him Thats the problem.
So rather than get in a proper striker you suggest better players around him? I mean sure maybe that was the problem at Leverkusen and Chelsea as well... others not him
Matt Law, Daily Telegraph
Borussia Dortmund are ready to move for Oleksandr Zinchenko with left-back expected to leave Arsenal before the transfer window shuts.
Dortmund are in the market for a new left-back and are believed to have put Zinchenko at the top of their wanted list after missing out on Chelsea’s Renato Veiga.
This week Dortmund sacked manager Nuri Sahin and have been linked with making former Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag his replacement.
He needs to stop playing Zinchenko and just get him prepped for that transfer.
He's surplus to requirements already.
A club with a proper director of football would have sold him last summer.
It's hard not to point fingers at the people responsible for not selling all three of Tomiyasu, Zinchenko and Jesus and say it wasn't so, so easy to predict how they would be nearly useless to us while occupying potential transfer income, wages and a slot in the squad.
I think Jesus had a streak of 7 starts + 2 subs in 9 games before the injury. In hindsight, Arteta shouldn't have given him 6 starts in total over August, September, October and November, to then start him 7 times + 2 subs in 30 days.
Then again, if a player has to be rested every other game so they don't break, with no guarantee that they won't get injured regardless, it's probably a player you're better off without.
Any sale we do from now on, will be too late. Last summer was the perfect moment.
Agreed on Stirling. It looks like it's not going to work out which is a shame.
I'd say Arteta should play him more but we're already at the 'every game's a cup final' end of the season, so it's tricky.
Different topic, but my god, man City made a huge error leering Alvarez go to athletico. Beast of a player.
They had little choice though
Like you said, he's beast of a player and is too good to be number two to anyone, even to Haaland.
He wanted to be his own man and who can blame him.
As I said yesterday if you look at the surface Havertz is scoring and we don't need a striker but a little bit of looking into him and you see that he mostly scores at home and against poorer opposition and never in big games or when we really need someone to step up like during that Christmas period where we just couldn't get a result when Liverpool dropped points.
Basically it's very easy for people to forgive and forget but we still need him replaced.
You said he can’t score against big teams
Clearly he can
Scored against Liverpool and was wrongly ruled out
Scored v psg
Last season got 2 v Chelsea and 1 v spurs.
Who cares about last season. And bringing up a goal ruled out against Liverpool? Yeah I don't think that counts
Whoever thought up this new champions league format is a bloody genius.
Better matchups, better quality and thank God for the officiating.
Some big guns are on the verge of not making the last 16 and that’s mental.
https://arseblog.news/2025/01/arsenal-break-revenue-record-to-climb-deloitte-money-league-rankings/
Good news on the commercial front?
Current Sesko has physicality going on for him and nothing much else. He needs to become a top predator similar to Haaland to be worth it as he's quite limited outside of scoring and apparently he isn't even scoring that often (14 goals in total - 8 in Bundesliga).
He might become the next Haaland or Lewandowski, he's young and he might start scoring at a rate that justifies his spot on the pitch, but if we go for him and he fails to reach a way superior level to the current one he's showing right now, he'll be a failed transfer for us.
Samu Omorodion (now Aghehowa) is the CF I wanted in the summer.
Obviously, Isak is up there but so many complications around him like injury record and the ultra price he'll cost - possibly an EPL transfer record.
Samu moved to Porto for paltry £12m + 50% sell-on clause. Unbelievable talent. 193 cm tall. 20 years old.
He's already banging them in like there's no tomorrow - 18 goals, 2 assists in roughly 20 games, including 2 goals against Manure in Europa League.
Young, part of the Spanish U23 that won the Olympic gold.
He failed a medical with the Chavs just 6 months ago because of a small injury that didn't allow him to play in the Olympic final. They missed a giga talent for £35m.
That team should have been us as we would have been able to slowly introduce him to the squad as we've already got a top option there. It was always my thinking - Havertz + a younger CF that we can develop into a superstar.
But Samu looks more complete than Sesko. He's also a giant but a flexible one. His technique is superior. Reminds me of an upgraded in every way Danny Welbeck.
Thanks for bringing up this Samu guy. Some Nigerian folks I know keep mentioning him but I’ve never paid him no heed. I think he’s in Portugal now, was previously on the books of Athletico Madrid.
God, you are so jarring. You talk as if you have seen Sesko play for years. He has been a 1 in 2 striker for Lepzig in the Bundesliga. Even this season, his 8 goals have come in 17 apps in a struggling Leipzig side. That is very good for a 21 year old who is in a top 5 league like Germany instead of Portuguese league (something that goes against Gyokeres).
Plus he isn't limited. He is far from that. He is nimble and quick, can dribble at times. Look at the variety of goals he scores.
What he needs to get better at is to develop his overall game so that he wouldn't lose the ball as much. Other than that he also needs to develop a more ruthless streak. There is a reason he has been highly rated since his days of Salzburg. If he keeps developing the way he has, he will be the next big striker.
Sesko is as nimble as Haaland. Never mind, I think Haaland has faster reactions in the box now that I think about it.
He's got flat speed cause of his long legs but he's so cumbersome. Nowhere near the flexibility that Samu has (also a giant). His technique is nothing to write home about. Barely there if there's any at all.
Nimble - light in motion. He's anything but. Cumbersome is the word.
"can dribble at times"
You actually put it perfectly.
Haaland is a nimble big striker. Nimble doesn't mean he takes on players like Isak. He can create his own space to take shots. Havertz now isn't nimble.
And his technique in keeping the ball is something he needs to work on. But the technique to strike the ball with both feet is fantastic. This is why hast generalizations are crap. You just said his technique is poor.
And I am not shitting on that Samu guy by the way. He has looked good the 2 games I have watched him. I haven't seen enough to judge him.
Shitting on Sesko just doesn't make sense to me if you have seen him play.
Don't want to get personal but your favorite is Gyokeres who is a West Ham level of striker (imo).
You're very aware I'm not talking about shooting technique but technique with the ball - touch, precise control, fast work-rate, that should translate into dribbling.
If Martinelli is a head-down merchant, wait till you see Sesko. He literally has a hunchback from looking at the ball while moving the ball with his feet.
Sesko is everything but “nimble and quick”
Do you ever watch full games for any of the players you hype up?
You come across as one who makes observations from 5 mins YouTube comps.
Same for Niko Williams
Watch two full games for Leipzig or Bilbao , then come back
Jesus christ. I am pretty sure you haven't seen him. He is nimble and quick for a guy who is 1.93m. I have seen him plenty, including in the Euros, multiple UCL games. I have seen him our run very quick defenders in counter attacks.
What he is poor at is infact keeping the ball at all times. He needs to be stronger in duels too. But he is still a 21 year old.
Like raptora said he’s a similar profile to Haaland, that’s why they call him Haaland lite
You really didn’t answer the question, have you seen a full Bundesliga game if Leipzig with Sesko playing
Or Niko Williams at Bilbao?
“Nimble and quick”, is what you would use for the likes of prime Alexis Sanchez and Aguero , not for effing sesko.
No those players are dribbling superstars. They have low center of gravity too. You can't judge 6ft + players with Aguero and Sanchez. Haaland is nimble and quick because he can shift the ball to strike it.
I have seen Lepzig games a few times. Yes.
I have seen Williams too. Kid is good. But he still needs time. He isn't the level raiser people think he is.
I am not saying Sesko is either. But he has attributes that can grow to be that.
You said the something with Partey without watching one game all those years ago.
You are just shitting on anything Arteta does because you are on a shit negative spiral.
Haaland is fast
Not Owen Henry fast but fast
You can’t be slow at top level premier league and score the goals he does
Sesko is faster
Hes more skilful and more able to score a variety of goals with both feet
Better at link up
But as a goal scorer nobody in the world compares
You bring Sesko and Isak to this team and it’s a totally different animal
Get wirtz and we are the best team in the world
I know it’s championship manager shite but those 3 players are game changers for any team and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be signing at that level now
Only Madrid and city can out compete us
If we offer £50 milllion for him in the summer, do you think they sell
He’s on a glorified loan at Porto though, Atletico added that 50% sell on clause which will drive up the fee.
Sesko is like seeking almond milk because you are lactose intolerant.
That’s is who Arteta wants, same way he wanted Jesus.
Neither of them will get you the consistent output
It is what it is, that’s th4 Arteta way.
Can't know but they would want to almost triple their money probably. I doubt it would be under £60m in the form that he is. It could be around there but it's a blind guess.
Batshit crazy he was available for £35m, Chavs got the right idea but backed off in the last second due to the tiniest of injuries (missed just the first league game for Porto).
I don't think anybody would be against another similar profile of player - Samu looks good also from the initial look.
I am sure there should be a couple of prospective forwards in Europe that could grow into proper machines.
What we need is for the club to get a new profile in our team. At minimum to bring in a new tool in our toolbox.
Yeah, we could do that in the shape of - winger (Mbeumo, Semenyo) or AM (Wirtz) or CF (Samu/Isak) or some mix like Cunha. Plenty of options but most are summer transfers.
Cunha just fits wonderfully the profile to get a lot of minutes regardless of the availability of the other players. You can always find a spot for him.
CF would arguably do the same thing, as Havertz can always drop in advanced midfield role.
AM would be a direct upgrade on Odegaard but obviously fans adore him.
A winger would be direct competition to Martinelli, Trossard and I guess Nwaneri as Saka isn't losing his spot unless he's moved to AM which I don't think Arteta will ever try.
I like Mbeumo as an option but can we move him to the other flank when Saka is healthy? Saka at AM, Mbeumo at RW would be insane but it's not happening. So where does Mbeumo go when Saka is healthy? A pair of Havertz+Mbeumo maybe? I know Semenyo can play on both wings. And Cunha can play everywhere.
Martinelli was on top note-brilliant game. Our captain looked relieved rather than pleased to have scored his goal. Nwaneri is a peach of a player-Sterling must look at him and realise his time is up-that young lad has set a new standard.
I believe one of the reasons we didn’t get Sesko in the summer was because he sought assurances that he would be the head honcho striker and none was forthcoming so he chose to remain at Leipzig to continue his development.
No top striker is coming to Arsenal to be backup up to Haverz so sort that shit out first; is he your big gun or not?
When they make up their mind, then they can decide if they are to spend major money for a starter or back-up striker money.
If they consider themselves good enough, they will fancy their chances of displacing a striker that half the fan base thinks isn't even a CF (you included).
Havertz can always play as AM in a mixture of a CM and a SS. He's been banging them in consistently in any role he's given.
If a CF (Sesko is an example) is so scared of Havertz, they did/are doing right not joining us.
If Arteta prefers Harvertz there's nothing anyone can do,he preferred Mustafi/Sokratis to Saliba or have you forgotten???
@raptora
If a CF Sesko is so scared of Harvertz
Sesko might not be scared of Harvertz but will need to be guaranteed first team as Arteta might decide to play whoever he chooses to play
Hope you get the Mustafi Sokratis comparison
Are Mustafi and Sokratis still at Arsenal?
Is Saliba? There's your answer.
Why ship out your best defensive talent on loan so that you can work with the crap⁉️⁉️⁉️
Why pay £55 million [club record for defender] for a player in that position when that best defensive talent was doing so well away on loan ⁉️⁉️⁉️
Truth is Arteta never knew Saliba was that good
He glanced at him in that Covid summer [when the lad was rusty because the French league shut dow] and dismissed him.
Sure it was £29m no team plays a teenager at centre back in the top half of the prem
Lol
So he preferred to play absolute dogshite nonentities defenders who were 100% worse?
Remember effing Pablo Mari,
Saliba would have developed nicely, same way Saka matured.
Cream always rises to the surface
Look, yes. I was the first one to flame Arteta and at the time I was an avid Arteta out poster.
He fucked up not trusting Saliba at the start but he eventually saw the light.
But you say how Arteta is the Arsenal hierarchy. Fullstop. Yet, you think he'll get his guy but won't play him cause he won't fancy him? What kind of logic is that? He's going to war for Sesko, means he'll give him plenty of chances, no?!
Glad that we agreed on this but there are many that have revised the history.
In the end, all is well that ends well so it’s an academic discussion.
People forget that Arteta was a rookie manager coming into a club that wasn’t properly run, with changing backroom behind him.
He effed up that summer regarding Saliba, glad he manned up to realize his mistake eventually.
Havertz is a decent side piece option as striker, he’s not the one you give the ring to.
However he’s not good as an attacking midfielder, he’s actually poor at that.
I think he played 3 games in advanced midfielder role in total (can't say as a second striker cause he helps so much in defence).
All 3 with Jesus ahead of him and exchanging roles with him.
3 games, 2 goals.
3 games for the German NT at AM.
3 games, 2 goals, 2 assists.
If that's what you call poor.
I agree with you, the boys deserve thumps up as far the UCL is concerned - they've been fantastic so far this season. I don't think Arsenal will have any cause playing the knockouts.
Yes, also agree with you that Arsenal's 'number 9 right now has more goals than Mbuemo, Cunha, Williams, and Semenyo'. That's true. But shouldn't we be talking about Liverpool, not Brentford or Wolves? Liverpool have a proven prolific goal poacher in Mo Salah who's already banged in 18 goal in the EPL alone this season (Kai has 14 across all competitions). The goals that Salah, Diaz, Nunez and Gapko contribute is keeping Liverpool at the top of the EPL and UCL tables and they're still in the FA and EFL. Without Salah, Liverpool would most likely not be where they currently sit on those tables. Obviously, Kai isn't the elite forward an ambitious club like Arsenal should rely on. You can keep Kai, but you certainly need something better. Mbuemo, Cunha, Williams, Jota, Diaz, Semenyo won't solve Arsenal's striker problem. It's something better that Arsenal need.
Nothing big is expected to happen this January and I can understand. We stick to what we have. We can cause some trouble to anybody in the UCL with or without a proven natural forward this month (but we'll lose out in the EPL). I still think Arsenal can get to last four in the UCL, or even the final. Their record shows this season is gonna be better than last.
Our number 9 right now has more goals than Mbuemo, Cunha, Williams, and Semenyo
---------------
This right here is the problem. We already know those players are a bit better. Mbumemo, Cunha and Semenyo are dojng what they are doing in much worse teams. This is too much dip in the chip.
People go two ways with Havertz. Either he is top class or he is shit. And that is the problem. He is right in the middle. Good player, can contribute a lot. But we still need better. If he was signed for £25m less and half the wages, he would have been a hit.
Apart from Saka, no one has made sure they should have their spot as a starter in that front three this season. All they are proving is who can be the better backup. Even Odegaard has struggled this season.
Rice has been back to his great self for the past month now. He has been dragging us through some games too
Loved the performance from Martinelli last night too. Created the openings for the two goals. He needs to keep that up.
"This right here is the problem. We already know those players are a bit better. "
Are they really better though?
The one CF I'm sure will do good for us is a crock and will cost a fortune, plus his team won't sell him. I'm not sure about any other CF we've been connected to that is better than Havertz. And even if he's better than Havertz skill wise, he isn't better than him when he's out injured (we know Arsenal's luck with injuries) which is an obvious bonus in Havertz' favor and has to be mentioned and put in perspective.
The players Pedro mentions and you say are better, are actually wingers/second strikers. They won't come to Arsenal to take Havertz' spot, they will play on either flank of him or next to him in a pair.
When I say I want Cunha or Mbeumo or Semenyo, it's never to put Havertz on the bench or as a rotate option. It's to play with Havertz in a capacity according to Arteta's will.
If we're talking about Sesko (Gyokeres is Spurs quality at best) - sure, he'll be competition for Havertz, even if they can also play in a pair, when we're chasing the game for example.
Cunha, for example, is a second striker/attacking midfielder/inside forward (a little less than a standard winger).
Mbeumo and Semenyo are similar to Saka with a bit more explosiveness and a little less finesse.
They will be competition for our wingers/attacking midfielders. There's no reason not to play them together with Havertz.
Cunha played most of last season as the main striker.
It is this season that the Norwegian fella is playing up top and Cunha is supporting him.
You rate Havertz too highly. I don't think every player is better than him. But there is space for upgrades. Having a player that is better technically can help us be better on the ground. I don't even necessarily think we need the player that is going to come in to be miles better right now. We just need another option that can grow to be that player. That is why I like Sesko. I prefer someone that can solve it straight away though. I don't agree with your Gyokeres jab. He is quality infront of goal. And if he came in, he would offer something different to help us win now.
The problem with Havertz has been the fact that his lows are too low. When he loses confidence he looks like a championship player. That is why people get on him. If he didn't have that horrendous week were he was very poor plus where he missed sitter after sitter, his whole season wouldn't be looked as bad by some fans. It was the same last season when he was average for 6 months. He just needs to raise the level he plays at when he is in poor form.
I have it on good authority Cunha is being looked at as a fifth option for a left back
So all it took to change your mind was defeating a small Croatian team that’s rusty from a winter break,
Have you considered that a proper striker in our set up unlocks/activates the entire front line and also gets a lot better numbers.
Imagine if Josh Kroenke was thinking like you, maybe he agrees with you and won’t sanction a purchase.
Havertz is a very good footballer, in the mould of a very good jack of many trades. I’m sure he’s also a good friend to his team mates and good partner to his girl friend…but a striker for a league winning side he ain’t.
He also works super hard and he’s as healthy as Xhaka.
He doesn’t move like a striker, obviously doesn’t think like one, doesn’t run the typical channels and clearly lacks the finishing.
Who knows though, maybe that’s what Mikel’s football vision is
It is what it is.
He isn't a Championship winning striker. But he can be a good option for one. And his movement in the box is one of the best in Europe. That is why he scores so many tap ins or goals in the box.
But the probelm has always been when he is poor, he is shocking. Plus he isn't ruthless even on form.
But he is the only other player that has a spot next season apart from Saka in that forward line. Not as a starter but as an option.
The reason Havertz is so durable is because his limbs movement is hydraulic based, as opposed to muscle based.
That’s why he’s awkward in front of goal.
Upside…..he’ll never pull a hammy.
🎶🎶🎶All we need is engine grease🎵🎵🎵 (sung to the tune of the Beatles (all you need is love)
Small Croatian side?!
How dare you Diss?
€87m (Transfermarkt )worth of squad full of rough diamonds , I’m sure.
Hope Sterling never plays for us again. What a shit imposter of a footballer he's been since he joined. Play someone from our youth team, or the tea lady, they could hardly do worse. Just send him back if possible. The one negative of a good display yesterday, although I was thinking back to the Shaktar match where we nearly threw it away at the end, having failed to add to our one goal. Thankfully the two late goals dispelled such anxieties.
‘Last night, he took his goal tally to 14 for the season. That’s more goals than Jota, Dias, Nunez, and Gakpo have managed’
This is one of those stats that make you feel all fuzzy and warm until you dig a bit deeper.
For starters the four Pool players mentioned have played way less minutes, so their goals per minutes stats blow Havertz’s out of the water.
Additionally, all four are on less than half the wages Havertz is on, and in case of Diaz ( his agent must be in a coma or something) a staggering 1/5.
Havertz will always attract ridicule because his first touch is usually one of a rapist ( nice cushioned set up for Rice though) and his shooting technique isn’t great.
But what he’ll give you is the effort and durability alongside his more than decent g/a tally.