Arteta’s Transfer Targets: Summer 2024

[Sebastes]

Not that I disagree with winger and CF but they are so far below a CM for me it’s not even a joke.

And I just don’t see the CM links.

Rice needs to be at 6 and we need a credible b2b midfielder alongside him to play lcm that can help knit play between our first and third phases, which frees up Ødegaard to be a menace at the edge of the opposition box.

We have 2 reliable borderline WC players in Rice (at breaking up counters and sweeping) and Ødegaard (at orchestrating attack). We need to build around this reality and that means we need to pair them with another midfielder. I don’t want to see Rice having to push up where he just isn’t as good, or Ødegaard have to drop deep where he isn’t as effective.

Everything else is negotiable but this isn’t, not for me anyways.

I agree but I think Rice is sort of a problem tbh. He’s borderline WC at what you say, if not already WC, but he still lacks a lot in terms of overall play because of his lack of agility and his risk minimizing. We’ve played our best football this season with him at 8.

Defensively you want him at 6 and when we have established possession in the opp half/final third you really want him there because of his break up and cover ability (although I think he’s been doing pretty good as 8 in attack as well). But in build up you really don’t want to rely on Rice.

I still think we’re better off with a Jorginho like player at 6 as we get that player and Øde orchestrating play in different areas of the pitch. Frenkie de Jong or Vitinha (not that it’s ever happening), maybe Luiz. With those you get players that could play as dlp but also could switch with Rice and play as 8… I think for me that’d be ideal. More so than the profile I’ve been clamoring for so far as top prio (your Barella and my Paqueta).

All that said, it wouldn’t be enough with just one midfield signing.

 

[CannonBals]

Not that I disagree with winger and CF but they are so far below a CM for me it’s not even a joke.

And I just don’t see the CM links.

Rice needs to be at 6 and we need a credible b2b midfielder alongside him to play lcm that can help knit play between our first and third phases, which frees up Ødegaard to be a menace at the edge of the opposition box.

We have 2 reliable borderline WC players in Rice (at breaking up counters and sweeping) and Ødegaard (at orchestrating attack). We need to build around this reality and that means we need to pair them with another midfielder. I don’t want to see Rice having to push up where he just isn’t as good, or Ødegaard have to drop deep where he isn’t as effective.

Everything else is negotiable but this isn’t, not for me anyways.

The problem is Rice for all his qualities is neither good enough to play as lone 6 like Partey as he does not play as a pivot. His ball progression is not good enough. When he plays as a 6 he plays outside the opposition pressing structure as his does not have the close control and spatial awareness of Partey. Thus whenever he plays as lone 6 we suffer.
He is not as expansive as we would want our LCM. So when he plays as LCM aswell we suffer. He is a runner, ball carrier with great defensive nous.

So in our current setup he works in neither position. He desperately needs help currently from inverted FBs for buildup. But they have their own issues and I am generally against this. Even then any inverted FBs are workarounds. None of them are good enough to affect buildup on their own.

The only way Rice works for me is if we abandon the 4-3-3. Get a specialist DLP and a flying attacking LB and move to 4-2-3-1. Although its a big change. To some extent we are already seeing this when Jorginho plays and Kiwior doesn't overlap. But currently the back4+Rice+Jorginho offer little in final third. We need a FB like Davies/Frimpong to make it balanced again.

 

[Sebastes]

I also think you can’t really win things without some big personalities in the team. Just look at Raya compared to Ederson and Allison. Nevermind quality, but it’s a different air over those guys. It’s such a damn shame Arteta couldn’t just say what Martinez wanted to hear, he’s definitely that kind of personality.

Even Xhaka despite not really having winning experience was a much needed presence in the team.

But it’s hard to see where we could get it from now. Not one of the links we’ve seen is that kind of player and I struggle to see anyone out there that is.

 

[LookingForEric]

Not that I disagree with winger and CF but they are so far below a CM for me it’s not even a joke.

And I just don’t see the CM links.

Rice needs to be at 6 and we need a credible b2b midfielder alongside him to play lcm that can help knit play between our first and third phases, which frees up Ødegaard to be a menace at the edge of the opposition box.

We have 2 reliable borderline WC players in Rice (at breaking up counters and sweeping) and Ødegaard (at orchestrating attack). We need to build around this reality and that means we need to pair them with another midfielder. I don’t want to see Rice having to push up where he just isn’t as good, or Ødegaard have to drop deep where he isn’t as effective.

Everything else is negotiable but this isn’t, not for me anyways.

Very well articulated point and I can’t really disagree with you.

On the positive side we’ve seen links stating we do want a CM and will be signing one.

I like that we don’t have any strong links to anyone in particular. I’d like us to sign someone who is a 10/10 for CM.

What do you think we need? In my opinion we need a Thomas Partey type of player. Or even an athletic version of Xhaka.

 

[OnlyOne]

Can some please explain ‘x-factor’ to me? What does this term mean?

 

[LookingForEric]

Can some please explain ‘x-factor’ to me? What does this term mean?

Alexis Sanchez vibes.

Create something out of nothing, create your own chances etc. Saka does it, Ødegaard does it, but not consistently enough.

 

[OnlyOne]

Alexis Sanchez vibes.

Create something out of nothing, create your own chances etc. Saka does it, Ødegaard does it, but not consistently enough.

Who in the premier league do you think fits this tho?

 

[LookingForEric]

Who in the premier league do you think fits this tho?

Who’s currently playing?

For Liverpool up until recently it’s been Salah. For City it’s KDB.

I don’t think we have one of those guys that give you that little extra in big moments on a consistent basis.

Our players will get there eventually, they’re just still very young.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Another 2 millions for Edu @A_G
Now from Leno deal. Elite!

 

[OnlyOne]

Who’s currently playing?

For Liverpool up until recently it’s been Salah. For City it’s KDB.

I don’t think we have one of those guys that give you that little extra in big moments on a consistent basis.

Our players will get there eventually, they’re just still very young.

So you’re really just saying one of the best players in the world?

 

[Nunowoolmez]

Can some please explain ‘x-factor’ to me? What does this term mean ?

Seriously ? Have you been living under a rock ?

 

[Nunowoolmez]

So you’re really just saying one of the best players in the world?

No it's not necessarily that. Difference makers, game changers, players who rescue games with sheer ability & moments of magic.

 

[OnlyOne]

No it's not necessarily that. Difference makers, game changers, players who rescue games with sheer ability & moments of magic.

Like who?

 

[North5]

Not that I disagree with winger and CF but they are so far below a CM for me it’s not even a joke.

And I just don’t see the CM links.

Rice needs to be at 6 and we need a credible b2b midfielder alongside him to play lcm that can help knit play between our first and third phases, which frees up Ødegaard to be a menace at the edge of the opposition box.

We have 2 reliable borderline WC players in Rice (at breaking up counters and sweeping) and Ødegaard (at orchestrating attack). We need to build around this reality and that means we need to pair them with another midfielder. I don’t want to see Rice having to push up where he just isn’t as good, or Ødegaard have to drop deep where he isn’t as effective.

Everything else is negotiable but this isn’t, not for me anyways.

100% , our left side has been a mess since Xhaka left.

CM8>>>>>>>winger>CF>Lb

 

[Nunowoolmez]

Like who?

Well, for Arsenal in the past you can say Ian Wright, Henry, Bergkamp, Pires, Cesc, Özil, Rosicky, Sanchez.

*Edit - Add Overmars & maybe Anelka to that list

Now it's Ode & *edit* possibly Saka.

Özil & Rosicky much less because of other factors (injuries etc), but they had it.

 

[LookingForEric]

So you’re really just saying one of the best players in the world?

Pretty much. Or a younger player who is on the cusp of that.

 

[A_G]

Can some please explain ‘x-factor’ to me? What does this term mean?

 

[Nunowoolmez]

View attachment 23640

I still don't think he'll understand. Maybe when he grows up.

 

[LookingForEric]

I still don't think he'll understand. Maybe when he grows.

This is very harsh @OnlyOne

 

[CannonBals]

Like who?

Basically a chaos creater works aswell. Liverpool plays a system which allows for chaos on its own. But Artetas system is too structured. In a low block even someone like Doku can create Chaos although he is a high risk player and rarely clicks.

This is unless you can get a player like Özil/KDB/Salah/Mahrez/TAA(?)/Vini/Mbappe/Musiala who can unlock defences individually with a skill or pass consistently.

Saka/Ødegaard has potential to reach that but are not there yet.