Arsenal need at least one more forward player by Konstantin Mitov
Well lovely Arsenal people, we’ve started the season well. The away game to Villa was a test, even in GW2, because every dropped point against City hurts. The funny thing is last season we played much better against them in both games, than we did this time, yet we exited as 2:0 winners.
At 0:0 we hadn’t really created a lot of chances, with the best falling to Villa. Thankfully Raya finally showed he can be a good shot-stopper as well and produced some great saves, but up front we were really lacking ideas and the question was; what’s on the bench?
The answer was Trossard. The literally only option we had, and he delivered. He changed the game by scoring with his first touch and playing a key role in our second goal. Here’s the problem, what if we need another player who can change the game? The truth is, currently Martinelli and Trossard on the left is the only position of the front 4 which actually can rotate.
This is the issue with 1 player covering multiple positions. Jesus is supposed to be our backup striker to Havertz and also our backup to Saka. This will the be the 5th season where Bukayo has no real backup. That’s negligence on the highest level from a manager who signed another CB saying we were lucky at the back with injuries. Saka already has 2 assists and a goal and has been our top scorer for a few years. What happens if he is out?
Liverpool signed Chiesa for 11 million, surely we could’ve spared such money on a decent backup for Saka? Eddie is exiting, ESR was sold and Vieira is out, and there’s Reiss. But be honest, we didn’t really trust those players anyway. There are 2 extra CL games this year, I hope we make a better cup run, because we’ve been atrocious in the League cup and FA cup in recent years. There’s a desperate need for a striker/winger, ideally both, which of course is not happening.
Instead we’re signing another goalkeeper! Ramsdale is reportedly exiting to Southampton and we’re bringing in Espanyol’s goalkeeper. I’m just baffled why Mikel doesn’t like forward players. During his tenure we’ve signed Willian, Kai, Trossard and Jesus. If you ask me the jury is out on Jesus and Kai, Willian was a disaster, which leaves Trossard as the biggest success and he was our plan B, we wanted Mudryk remember?
We’re promoting Nwanieri, cool, but we’re short up front. Given how long it took us to make transfers which the players clearly wanted, like Calafiori and Merino.
I don’t expect a last minute forward signing. The next injury to a forward player means Trossard comes in and there’s nothing from the bench. Nobody speaks on Odegaard, because his fitness has been incredible, but if he gets an injury, are we going to play Zinny as a number 10? With Calafiori and Timber I don’t see him stepping into LB any time soon in a game of significance.
We may get away with it against Brighton which will be a tougher game than people expect, but Spurs and City away could be tight games that really need game changers from the bench. I’m worried there aren’t any. Going 6 points behind City at this stage could already mean curtains for our title hopes.
Is the squad good enough for a top 4 spot, sure, but winning the title? We need more bodies.
Konstantin
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Well said. I don’t get loaning Vieira out if we’re not getting a replacement for him. If it was selling him outright it’d make sense, but a loan just baffles me. It was quite unnecessary imo. If we don’t sign a foward we’ll actually be shorter than last season which is just crazy to think.
I thought the days of us messing around in the transfer window were behind us but alas. We’d always do this thing where we were one or two players away from being a serious team (a striker, DM, GK etc) but yet failed to sign. I hope Edu is cooking something
The loan is to give him guaranteed playing time that will suit both us and him.
If it means at the expense of our squad I’d rather keep him. The loan doesn’t benefit us at all.. If Ode were to get injured or lose form we’d have a problem. Nwaneri is still young and I’m not sure if Arteta trusts him
I’ve actually missed your doom and gloom posts from you.
Agree I would also like a forward player but who can play across the front 3 rather then an out and out CF
IMO getting an out and out striker will change the dynamics of how we play and possibly the team will stop sharing the goals out
Man city have done it but they are a far more mature team them us and have an exceptional manager
Year on year we have scored more goals and the players we have brought in again IMO have been an upgrade who will give the current player holding that position a run for there money in retaining that position which is all we are asking
I have great faith that this team will give city a run for the money again and either win it or push them close.
Onwards and upwards
Ps
Forgot to say
Chin up and keep believing, you never know where it may lead
Top heavy at the back and light upfront , if Eddie goes we will have no striker in our squad ,Kai, jesus and trossard are not strikers ,if we have got 30 million to waste on yet another keeper we have money for a forward or part of .
Completely miffed at why a section of our fan base are so against us reinforcing our forward line .
OT – kind of – Away to Sporting in the CL – Is Gyokeres signed yet?
We have ridiculous depth in defense and def midfield but are alarmingly short in attack. Assuming Calafiori and Merino are 1st choice at LB and LCM, our bench is Timber, Tomiyasu, kiwior, zinchenko, Partey and Jorginho.
In attack we only have Trossard and Jesus who can’t stay fit right now which is terrible as he could cover both havertz and Saka. Odeggard has no backup with ESR and Vieira gone.
I have thought, and still think, we do. We can’t/shouldn’t rely solely on Havertz, and we can’t really rely on Jesus at all.
There’s too much at stake this season not to try to strengthen the forward players be it a striker or winger – I’d go for the former. Toney’s name appears to be featuring in reports today, whatever that’s worth.
What happens in this window could determine where the title ends up. Of course, City may still also go into the market as well. If Arsenal should get to May having fallen short, then let’s at least ensure that everything was done now that could be done – not “if only …”.
I see a mention of Nwaneri or Myles-Skelly, but are we really going to depend on a 17 and 18 year old with little to no PL reps to manage an injury crisis?
We are heavy in depth at the back (Tierney still here and Zinchenko likely behind Timber, Califiori, Tomiyasu, as LB choice.)
We are also about to bring in a 6th GK! that’s right 6th! Leno, Martinez, Ramsdale, Turner, Raya, and the new Spanish as possible transfer.
5th year with no backup/competition for Saka!
Only Martinelli has competition on the LW with Trossard.
Havertz plays as a CF, Jesus and Trossard are wingers who can step in but would you trust them to play striker/CF while others are out injured for a long stretch fighting for the title?
Sure Edu has brought in 2 good players in Calafiori and Merino, but we have hardly any depth on the front line; Trossard and Jesus covering both winger and striker positions.
Short-sightedness in my opinion, and I really hope Saka or Havertz do not get injured, because we are likely done if they miss a stretch of games.
You forgot Runarsson Durand .
And you and others were the one asking who Arteta has promoted from the academy couple of months ago. Where do you stand Durand?
You are right, IF someone was promoted earlier when Arteta took charge maybe there would not be a concern, maybe there still would be, we will never know.
Cedric and Elneny filling roster spots contributing little to nothing. An academy player could have been developing and gaining experience, seeing first hand if they could contribute or not.
I have read Edu and Artea mentioning internal solutions, but have yet to see any actions taken.
Please sign Toney and get rid of Nketiah
Definitely we need another forward player, Jesus and Nelson have injury problems. It will also help when Odegard gets Injured, then Havertz can slot in his position but for now we have to trust in Nwaneri to get some few minutes in between, in that no.10 position when the situation allows.
It seems Neto will be our 2nd GK, with Hillson still around as the 3rd choice. Really we don’t need to buy a new keeper with Hein still on loan
For now lets wait and see what happens between now and the deadline time.