Despite spending nearly 200 million this summer (and I don’t think we are finished yet), Arsenal still haven’t solved an issue they first encountered In January …. a plan B if anything happens to Jesus.
Given that we had the resources to buy Havertz and potentially a keeper we don’t need, it’s criminal that we might be starting the season with Eddie Nketiah as our number one striker.
There was a poll on YouTube which asked -could the 24-year-old score more than 10 League goals- this campaign?
Over 80 per cent said yes, which shows we have some who think the definition of being a supporter is to say everything about your club is wonderful.
In reality, it’s unlikely that Eddie will score double figures in the Prem …. he’s only scored 14 period.
He played in 30 Prem fixtures last season and only scored 4 times.
Some Gooners will continue to defend his record, saying not all of those opportunities were starts.
Some of my peers think you are less of a fan if you acknowledge that Eddie is not good enough.
To others it sums up their sense of entitlement.
In my opinion, 131 games is enough chances to prove yourself. It’s enough time to gauge an opinion. Yet some still make excuses for the player.
He hasn’t started enough, etc.
Yet this is professional sport, it’s not a charity.
If a youngster is being scouted, you should act like that chance is your last, you shouldn’t expect another 100 tries.
If an actor goes to an audition, they treat that meeting like they might never be invited back.
The line between success and failure are small.
Sometimes timing is everything. Making your opportunity count as a failure to get noticed on your first try can be the difference maker.
Only in 2023 can a player play 131 games for Arsenal, and it be claimed he hasn’t had enough chances.
It’s been 6 years since Eddie made his debut so he can no longer hide behind youth.
Yet he still acts like he’s a competition winner, grateful to be involved instead of someone who believes he belongs on this stage.
His goalscoring record wouldn’t matter if he offered more than just being a goal poacher. Lots of forwards do so much more than just be a ‘fox in the box’.
For example, we can forgive Jesus for not being a natural finisher because he will go wide, come deep to collect the ball, hold up the ball, etc.
When Eddie came on in the title race, it was like we went down to 10 men because if the ball isn’t falling to him in the penalty area, he’s not involved in the game.
In many ways Eddie’s an old-fashioned striker who suits the sport from another era.
It’s worth noting that before his injury he had been dropped by Arteta for one League goal in 8 games. Again, that stat wouldn’t be so bad if he offered anything else.
When he was dropped for Trossard, our front three became more flexible.
With the Belgian as a false 9, he would swap positions with Martinelli, almost having a free role, harder to mark then someone who’s movement exists within the six-yard box.
Think back to Craven Cottage, when Trossard was allowed free reign to roam around the river Thames.
Given his form in preseason, as good as anyone else’s this summer, Jesus’s injury should be a way to get Trossard and Martinelli in the same line up.
This is where our manager lacks consistency in his ‘non negotiables’.
Some talent the Spaniard will wash his hands of, the moment he feels they don’t suit his ethos, others he gives countless chances to.
Two years ago, he trusted Eddie ahead of Aubameyang to fire us into the Champions League, this year from January – March he was our sole forward in a title race.
He failed both times.
We have the evidence that tells us he’s not good enough, so why expect anything different?
Would Eddie get in Man City’s 11?
Isn’t that the level we should be comparing ourselves too?
In fact, I don’t think Eddie starts for many clubs in the topflight?
For Tierney’s and Ramsdale’s futures to be in jeopardy but Eddie to be potentially starting next weekend, that just seems wrong.
To be Champions you have to be ruthless. Playing an Eddie Nketiah could cost us being Champions.
Dan
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
I think that’s the only department that Arteta hasn’t learned from you need a 25-30 goal striker in the line up really believe if we had that would win the prem league as it stands we will still fall short because of this!
Very true Nketiah is average player why cant Arteta sign top striker?
And i dont think we can win the league with Jesus as our no9.
These posts are the main reasons decent fans don’t contribute to the site and don’t form a loyal, constructive community.
Care to reply to the post?
Don’t know mate , it gets lots of views this site
We recently been asked to review Arteta new book before it’s released and were invited to mr wengers film premiere so …..its done okay
I agree. The article yet another negative article with unnecessary superciliousness which caters to a fringe group of fans.
There are a number of people who have contributed to the site from time to time to provide some balance. However, some have indicated that they find it tiresome to repeatedly debate with people who only contribute to find things wrong with various players and the manager.
Then don’t engage In the topic
Your basically saying can we only write what you agree with ?
Can you not see how arrogant that is ?
Very shallow and disrespectful but he isnt on his own there.
This person just hates Nketiah although I am not sure why! If the the whole team is doing well and Nketiah is the only weakest link, would there be a problem?
You are not the first holier than though fan here. They all left with their self importance but the site is still going strong.
If you are so intelligent a poster and would like others to do same why don’t you engage and direct them in that direction? Lead by example as John has suggested?
Be influential if it’s that easy.
I am sure we will not win the League if the Manager persists in playing guys out of position in his obsession with “inversion”.As usual, Nketiah gets the flak when last season we lost the League because of our defensive weaknesses .Along with Partey, Nketiah was our best player against Monaco but that of course will never be acknowledged by those who see only what they want to see.
I’m not concerned about his goal tally, because Firmino and Vucinic won major trophies as the main CFs of their teams without scoring many goals
Ronaldo scored a lot of goals for Man United, yet his inability to press high up the pitch made the defense of his teams suffer
I’m more worried about Nketiah’s strength and hold-up ability. He is pretty skilled, has a good finishing ability and works his socks off to press, but his inability to become our front-line anchor often killed our attacks
Did they score more then 14 league goals in 5 years ?
Yes. But they were the main CFs of their teams, whereas Nketiah is just a backup
Still needs to score more then 14 league goals in 5 years
Dan I agree with you.
18 year old Martinelli scored 10 goals his first year under Emery. He was new to Arsenal AND England for that matter.
ESR scored 10 goals as a super sub before his injury.
Nketiah is championship level, with plenty of years and chances to prove it.
I would ask what improvement Nketiah has shown over last 5 years?
1. Improved holdup? No
2. Improved technique? No
3. Improved finishing? No
4. Improved creativity? No
5. Improved versatility? No
Neither can we win the league with Gabriel Jesus. Both are not the best options when it come to the number 9 role. Nketiah, not good enough for the role, just average and not exactly what a team that is dream to win the EPL should have as a top 9, while as for Gabriel Jesus, he’s impressed me more as a winger and not as a number 9. For the much I’ve seen of him, the guy has played his best football coming from the wing and not as a striker. Sometimes, I wonder if Arteta ever learns or he just prefers to be stubborn. Arsenal needs a top class number 9. A real finisher and one who can only be described as DEADLY FINISHER. I wish Arteta needs to stand up and put an end to his stubbornness
What a long whinning and unnecessary post, time wasted already i’m out of here.
And then you wasted more of your time by commenting ?
Nketiah is a decent squad player, but if we want to win trophies, we need a striker that is ruthless, one that can convert those half chances in big games, one that can fashion out a chance in those tough games where chances are hard to come by. Nketiah does not tick any of the above boxes despite been given numerous chances to prove his mettle. That’s why we must upgrade in the striking department if we want to touch silverware this season.
I think some of the things said in the article are a bit harsh and over the top – he’s not just a fox in the box, he does contribute in other ways – but I fear the conclusion may be accurate. He maybe isn’t quite good enough to lead the line for a prolonged period, if we want to win the title. I could see him getting there in the longer term, but i think he’d be better off playing regularly somewhere else at this point in his career because he’s lacking some polish from his game imo. He’s also less likely to get to the level he wants by staying and playing mostly from the bench as well, imo.
Dan I have to agree with you 100%.
We needed a real striker next to Jesus, but we didn’t go out and buy one.
A year ago we seemed to waste good money on Vieira who didn’t seem to address an obvious and immediate need. I am afraid that this season we spend a boat load of dosh on Havertz, who seems neither an obvious replacement for Xhaka nor a top striker.
Perhaps the Havertz funds should have been spent on a decent striker? or a more obvious midfield player.
I keep my fingers crossed that we see Trossard as striker until Jesus is back, but that is still a suboptimal solution.
Agree with Dan 100%. Yes, Eddie stepped-up ok in a few games last season, but he wasn’t, isn’t, and won’t be an adequate solution to Arsenal’s Centre-Forward needs. Don’t get why anybody thinks he still could be after so long.
Playing Nketia reduces us to 10 against 11 and more importantly Martinelli and Saka loose the needed support and we become like 9 against 11. We cannot win something with Nketia. I think Arteta is well informed…
Think the simple question is, does Arsenal deserve to have a top quality striker?
Can Arsenal lift the big jug without a top striker?
For a club fighting for top honors, surely a top striker should be one of the main ingredients for any ambitious club.
Our style of play not overly reliant on any one player gives us a fighting chance of winning without a 25 goal striker.
What Arsenal really needs is a clinical striker plus all the attributes of a Gabriel Jesus all round play, the problem is finding that player?
Maybe Vlohovic or Cancelo Ramos? but these kind of player are not readily available, Arsenal needs to go back in the Brazilian market and invest, may not make it for phase 4, but could set the stage for that telling player to join us later on.
I have never rated Nketiah as a top finisher. He’s an honest and hardworking player but his end product is poor, when on loan to Leeds he was mostly on the bench with Bamford ahead of him. So what does MA see in him to warrant a new contract worth a reported £150k per week? The problem is where are you going to magic up a 20-30 goal striker who will cost upwards of £100m if one is available? Personally I don’t think MA wants a real No.9 he probably thinks he has sufficient collective firepower, not unlike Pep a couple of years ago until the Viking arrived!!!
Rather, I think that getting a back-up for SAKA should be prioritize than gettin’ a striker. Arsenal as a team isn’t one that is dependent on a single player getting us goals as we’ve seen last season. Remember that we’ve got a player in Trossard who can as well fill the striking role, Marty tooo… Arsenal should focus on getting a topnotch right winger, instead.
OTS,we already have plenty cover for Saka, in the shape of, Trossard, Nelson, ESR, Martinelli, Vieira, Marquinhos who are all capable of operating on the right wing.The fact that the Manager has rarely used any of them in that role is a concern as there were occasions last season when Saka was clearly in need of a rest.
Gabriel Jesus had 26 starts with 11 goals
Nketiah had 9 starts with 9 goals
Shouldn’t u re-write that article to “Arsenal can’t win title with Jesus as our main striker”
How come we pushed close to winning the title last season then ?
And we losing it seemed to be more related to:
Jesus coming from injury and taking Trosaard to the bench who was performing well
Or Arteta not Man-Managing the team properly
Or Arteta not having enough resources to Man-Manage properly
Yeah but we are not talking about goals in the Europa group stages or against a lower league side in the cup
We are talking about the highest level
In 30 league games last season’s he’s cored 4 goals !
Spot on! I couldn’t agree more! There are only handful of premier league clubs where he could potentially start! I doubt if any top 10 aspiring team would consider him as starting 11. City has Haaland and Alvares as a backup who has scored more than any other player last season, and we have Eddie as our starter for the foreseeable future with Jesus injured and no striker coming in – and we’re talking about wrestling the title away from them?! Wishful thinking?! But, I trust in what Arteta has been doing and he has shown he has few tricks up his sleeves and proved a lot of doubters wrong myself included. Let’s wait and see what he can do! Here’s to another memorable season!!! COYG!!!
Eddie does everything he can without question, I can never fault his effort or commitment…that being said he’s just not good enough and after around 130 1st team games he’s had a fair shot.
Man City are not finding it easy like they are used to. They should start forgetting about defending that title.
100% percenterinos I had this same thought when the news about Jesus broke.
Nketiah is not it and likely never will be good enough for the badge
eddie is at best,a championship player. he would start every game for a decent championship side. he is not a top quality striker, nor,will he ever be.i also agree that jesus is NOT the man to lead the line, not good enough either. dare i say it,but, man.city knew what they were doing letting jesus go along with zinchenko.neither of them have set the premiership alight.great win today nonetheless,and , without both former men. city players too !.am i reading too much into todays win, maybe !.
I think we need real competition for Jesus and Eddie is definitely not that. I think he is one of those players who are too good for the Championship but not good enough for the premiership.
For me it’s really sad that people get annoyed if the criticism is genuine and is only aiming to improve our club I don’t see something wrong with that, as the reality is that Nketiah is not good enough, what we should do say is good is that constructive either for club or player? Its literally a lose lose scenario as both club and players lose, If all the fans encourage players that at least in the moment are not good enough that’s not beneficial to anyone, we don’t know If let’s say we sell him and in some years down the road he become a decent striker, but that’s another story, the fact of the matter is that we need a good striker and we need him now not in a few years. Jesus is great player but he is injury prone therefore we cannot afford to not have a really good player as backup or additional option.