Category Archives: Arsenal

Is signing versatile players really an Arteta flaw?

This morning when scrolling through Twitter, I spat out my tea at something I read:

Arsene Wenger built a dynasty on signing players and converting them into something else – Emmanuel Petit from central defender to defensive midfielder, Lauren from defensive midfielder to right back, Thierry Henry to winger back to a striker and Robert Pires from attacking midfielder to winter. I would not say Mikel Arteta has a similar reputation, and to claim it is his biggest flaw is simply disengenous.

Now before people claim “pile on” and “ignore social media”, it was tweeted out by an account with nearly 27,000 followers. These sort of “micro influencers” have a duty of care to get things right. But we all know they simply spend their days telling mistruths to earn their advertising revenue.

So lets look a little deeper into what was said. The accusation that Arteta’s biggest flaw is that Arteta signs centre backs and plays them at right back or left back, signs wingers and turns them into central midfielders and vice versa.

Now I presume in defence, “Ifeoluwani” is talking about Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Ricardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie

Jurrien Timber

Signed from Ajax with the intention of him becoming our first choice right back, Timber had played nearly two thirds of his pre-Arsenal career at full back. He has since gone on to become one of the best right backs in world football. He is also fantastic cover at centre back and left back. Could probably also play defensive midfielder. Did someone say Dutch total footballer?

Ben White

In Ben White’s first season at Arsenal (21/22), he struggled at centre back. In 22/23 he was moved by Arteta to right back and became one of the best in the league, forming a brilliant partnership with Bukayo Saka as Arsenal launched an unpredictable title challenge. He would have got a lot more caps for England at right back were it not for England being stacked with options at that time and a fall out with Steve Holland.

Had he been fit this summer, Ben White would have been England’s first choice right back and we might have won the World Cup.

Ricardo Calafiori

Before joining, Calafiori had played 41 senior games at centre back, 44 games at left back. Signed as our first choice left back, and also someone that could cover centre back if needed. Most recognise Calafiori as a unicorn player who can dominate wherever he is on the pitch. A success (when fit).

Piero Hincapie

Over two thirds of his appearances for Bayer Leverkusen came at either left back or left midfield. One of the best left backs in the Premier League.

What is clear is that Mikel Arteta has a preference – he likes his left backs to also be comfortable playing inside. In Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Ricardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie he has 4 full back options who play the game exactly he wants it. This is not a flaw. This is a clarity in thinking and successful recruitment,.. You would struggle to find anyone who would criticise any of the 4’s signings. Excluding the odd online attention seeker.

Moving into the midfield, we have Leandro Trossard and Eberechi Eze. These are the only two that you could make a case for that Arteta has tried to “change their position”

Leandro Trossard

What a signing Trossard has been. There is no debate. And he has contributed at Arsenal on both flanks, more centrally and further upfront. Trossard’s versatility is an asset, not a flaw. And he has changed so many games for us playing left wing.

Eberechi Eze

Removing the debate as to whether Eze has been a flop or not, Arteta has not changed his position.

Like Trossard, Eze is a versatile attacked. Whilst his preference to play centrally, he has spent much of his career on the wings. And he has continued that at Arsenal.

In summary, the only flaw I see is from an individual deciding to moan that Arteta attempts to change players positions. He does not. Hr just likes versatile players who are comfortable no matter where they are on the pitch.

Football has moved passed rigid 442. Almost every team now looks to recruit “total footballers” where centre backs can play out wide, full backs can cover centrally, defenders can push into midfield, midfielders can play out wide to help overload, and so on.

It really is just a load of attention seeking old waffle. But hey, she got her $3 from Elon and a bit of attention from London’s biggest Arsenal blog. So she will see that as a success (I am assuming gender here).

And ultimately, all players mentioned above, Eze aside, excelled last season and have been fantastic signings.

Keenos

Manchester City and England legend ready to step up for Arsenal

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So William Saliba’s back finally gave way on Tuesday during the game against Spain.

Arsenal medical staff had been currently monitoring William Saliba’s back condition.

It was well reported that the Frenchman had been managing a debilitating lower back and sciatic nerve issue and had been playing with the help of pain-relief injections in recent months. Against Spain he could not take it anymore, and he is now set to go under the knife.

What is now fairly obvious is that Saliba will not be fit for the start of the season, and the type of surgery he likely needs on his lower discs could sideline him for up to 4 months. We will be lucky to see him before Christmas.

The club were already scouring world football to find someone who could cover for Saliba’s absence. Ezri Konsa’s name was the one they seemingly landed on with the Englishman able to sufficiently cover for both Saliba and Jurrien Timber, replacing Ben White. But there is another man we need to be looking at. John Stones.

Stones is a Manchester City legend. Played nearly 300 games for them. 6 league titles, 3 FA Cups, the Champions League and plenty of other minor honours. He is also closing in on 100-caps for England.

Still only 32, Stones still has plenty to give on the pitch, and he has shown that for England when called upon during this World Cup.

Questions will rightly be raised about his fitness – Stones has never played more than 30 league games for City and has played 20+ just once in the last 5. Just 36 league appearances in the last 3-years should raise a concern.

But Stones could be the perfect short-term replacement for Saliba.

We could take inspiration from PSG who only seemed to roll out Marquinhos for Champions League and big Ligue 1 fixtures. We could play Stones on a Saturday in the Premier League. He is oven ready and can perform from day one. And then keep Cristhian Mosquera for the Champions League group stages, which actually throw up easier games than the English top division.

Stones would only need to get us through to December and Saliba return. At that point, we could ease Saliba back in, playing once a week, with either Stones or Mosquera playing the other game.

The kickr is Stones is available on a free transfer. So whilst he would likely command big wages, the deal is financially doable. And offering him another 2-years of playing league title chasing football may be enough to edge Arsenal ahead of any rivals in the chase for him.

Stones for 2-years would also allow us to continue the development of Mosquera without the need to expect the 22-year-old starlet to play twice a week. In the 20-30 games we will play before Christmas, you would basically have Stones playing in half, Mosquera playing in half. Stones, at his age, would also not impact Mosquera beyond 2027.

It just feels like a sensible deal to make. And one which would be quick to do once the World Cup is over.

Keep an eye on this one…

Keenos

French star plays himself out of Arsenal move

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Before the game, I did not really get why France were such big favourites. And nor did I understand why their defeat to Spain was such a big shock.

Yesterday’s game was actually an interesting watch.

In the French corner, you have players that are terrific athletes. Runners. Big, strong lads. Facing them was Spain. They sacrifice athleticism for control of the ball, for passing and technique.

The result answered the thoughts that man American’s have shared this summer: If our best athletes trained to be soccer players, we would be unbeatable. But this view always ignored that football is not just about being athletic. It is about having the technique to pass the ball, at the right time, at the right pace, to the exact right spot.

Top footballers are likely top golfers – they have an exact place they are aiming to get the ball too.

Golfers will aim the ball to land in around a meter or two of an area. For footballs it is not just about passing the ball to your teammate, but passing it to the correct foot, or into the correct space for them to run onto without breaking stride. And yesterday was the perfect example as to why being a top footballer is not just about being a top athlete.

Spain played like a team. They controlled the game and won the ball back at ease. France played as individuals, rarely putting together passages of play and looked like they were waiting for Spain to lose the ball rather than trying to win it. Result: Spain win.

One player to really struggle was Bradley Barcola.

Barcola is your typical athletic footballer. He is big, strong and quick. But he is not actually that great with the ball at his feet – crosses often go over the cross bar, shots tamely roll into the keepers gloves, and when in tight spaces with no where to run into, the ball gets stuck under his feet.

If you are now thinking “Barcola reminds me of someone”, you are right. Gabriel Martinelli.

Barcola is basically the French Martinelli. He has the same strengths and weaknesses, and for me is no better. And you can chuck Anthony Gordon and Rafael Leao into the same box.

All these players are the same profile. Fantastic runners, super quick. But rely on having space in behind to run into. Space that you do not get when playing for Arsenal.

Prior to this World Cup, I saw no point in selling Martinelli and signing Barcola. It all felt a little “Emperors new clothes”. This World Cup has reinforced me view.

Barcola would thrive at a mid-table team that plays on the counter attack. The likes of Aston Villa or Newcastle. But playing for a top team he would struggle. And anyone that watches PSG regularly will see that struggle. He only puts in the goals and assists he does in France because Ligue 1 is a hugely inferior team outside the top 1. In Europe, playing against better opposition, his output sinks quicker than West Ham.

If we are looking to replace Martinelli, the player coming in needs to provide the same electric pace and directness, but also have the addition of being composed on the ball and able to beat players in tight places. Beyond the top 2 or 3 left wingers in the world, others just have the same deficinies as Martinelli.

I would be surprised if any Arsenal fan still wants Barcola after this World Cup. And Liverpool are welcome to him.

Keenos