Arsenal have come a long way to the squad we currently have. The last genuine good squad we had was probably in the 15/16 season, but nothing is left of that squad.
I really like this squad from top to bottom. I do not think I have to go in-depth, but Ramsdale seems to be a gem and the White/Gabriel partnership seems to have real potential. We have talented Fullbacks although I could see Arsenal getting a RB at some point that has more offensive potential than Tomiyasu but not to diminish him in any way. Saliba will add healthy competition (when Arteta decides to finally use him). We have lots of talent in midfield and attack which you’ll know without me mentioning them.
The two missing puzzle pieces so to say are a marquee striker and probably a midfield partner for Partey or this is at least what most people think. I agree 100% and those are the areas we should improve first. There are lots of great articles covering this topic explaining and analyzing many different options for both positions, so go and read them. I highly recommend them. My personal choice for midfield would probably be Bruno Guimarães of Lyon and for the striker position, I’d go for Vlahovic, Isak, or maybe Ibrahimovic…
Relax guys, it was a joke. Yeah, the one you’re thinking…Haha
Now I think there is another player/position we need to fill which is also very important in elevating this squad. But it is not just a position, it is a player type, or you could also call it a character trait. It is a player with an edge, who sometimes has an unorthodox approach to the game that can at any time tip a close tie in our favor.
I’ll explain it with an example and there is no one better than Alexis Sanchez that reminds me of it. Arsenal fans won’t need to be reminded of how good he was. He had everything in him Goals, assists, creativity, dribbling, hard-working and an unrivalled mentality to win. He was a brilliant footballer, but he wasn’t just that. Alexis Sanchez had this aura where he would take the ball and produce miracles. He had what we like to call “cojones” but mixed with flair and a brilliant eye for goal in the final third. He was a player that could take a game by its throat and say (insert Thanos voice): “Fine. I’ll do it myself”!
Oh man, I loved every time he did that. Remember when he chipped a penalty in the 97th minute against Burnley? He also did that against Argentina in the Copa America final in the deciding penalty. That takes balls of steel, especially when he wasn’t even a ruthless penalty taker.
I think Saka, and ESR also are both brilliant young footballers with so much potential. They are brave, technically clean, and tactically adept but I don’t think neither of them is the Alexis Sanchez type. If Saka can continue to grow, he’ll need to increase his output in terms of goals and assists which he has the potential to do. I think he can model a prime Sterling and I know people like to hate on Sterling especially in the last 12 months, but a prime Sterling must be acknowledged. He had multiple seasons netting in double figures (17,18 and 20 goals) in the league. But it was his speed dribbling that was so effective.
However, Sterling also wasn’t that Alexis Sanchez-type player. In fact, I think Man City could also do with a player like that. ESR already has done so much this season having 4 goals and 2 assists to his name already. But I believe ESR’s biggest strength is his ball-carrying ability and his combinations with the surrounding players to create chances for him and his teammates. A Grealish-type player.
But both are more system players and I do not mean that in any negative way. It is actually a compliment. They carry out orders well and have the discipline to defend and occupy the spaces they are told to and are brilliant at that. But sometimes especially in close games, you need that player that thinks: “You know what? I’ll just shoot from here or maybe I won’t pass the ball this time but just dribble into the box recklessly and be amazing at that!” Salah is that player for Liverpool. CR7 for ManU and all the other teams he played at. I see that also in Haaland in a different manner. Sometimes these players frustrate you and so did Alexis at times when he was reckless with the ball, but he produced brilliant moments that more than makeup for that.
Now I know what some Arsenal fans think. Nicolas Pepe… Our lovely £72 million record signing. He is unorthodox and has an eye for goal…Once every 25 games at most.
Let’s be honest guys, he isn’t that player, and he never will. He just isn’t good enough to be the X-Factor, nor does he have the tactical and technical awareness like Saka and ESR. When I first saw him against Liverpool in his first season. He had that moment where he ran towards the goal dribbling past Robertson like a practice cone and then missed the 1v1. I thought to myself, that was very interesting. If he just improves some aspects of his game, then he might be… But no. He is what he is and whatever that is, it isn’t good enough. I have nothing against him, he seems to be a good lad with a good attitude in training, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Now then the question remains who that player could be?
Now the Ronaldo’s, Salah’s and Haaland’s aren’t realistic. And we do not know what player eventually develops that X-Factor, Alexis at 20 wasn’t that player was he? I’d like to give two shouts. I’d like that player to be a winger for Arsenal as Arsenal also only have one good winger in Saka. I think we need a creative dribbler that runs at defences and wreaks havoc with that X-Factor.
The first one is Antony of Ajax. Now I won’t act like I have watched hours of gameplay of him, but I did see the recent demolition of Dortmund from Ajax in the CL. Antony is a 21-year-old left-footed RW with his natural ability being mostly instinctive. He is Brazilian and his dribbling and flair is just spectacular with his self-belief clearly also being high. He likes to cut in the half-spaces and deliver balls or shoot himself. He clearly is a very decisive player, and he knows what he wants to do with the ball. Dribblers with his natural abilities are rare to find and I am sure when he can develop other aspects of his game, he can become an absolute nightmare to play against. I am sure he’ll be snatched sooner rather than later by a big club. Arsenal should definitely have a look at him.
The second player is Raphinha of Leeds. He is very similar to Antony in that he also is a left-footed RW that loves to dribble out of tight spaces and create something in the final third. Under Bielsa, he learned how to play in a high-intensity system, and I think he is Leeds best offensive player. With time he can only improve. My hunch says that the Liverpool rumours aren’t false like the Pepe rumors back in 2019 that made the great Sanfuckyouhelli pay £72 million for Pepe. I think Liverpool considers him as a Mane replacement.
The big problem I see with these players is that they both occupy the same space as our Starboy Saka. Putting Saka back on the left wing is something I wouldn’t want as he also is clearly better on the right. But if I had the right answer to fit them in the system, I should be paid millions to coach the team so yeah…
Vinicius Junior is also someone I always thought could become that. Now, I do not know what they fed him in the summer, but he already has surpassed my expectations and there is no way in hell we can get him now.
Pep Guardiola once said that it is his job to bring the ball to the final third but in the final third the creativity of the players is the biggest factor for the outcome (I’m paraphrasing). Arsenal has the players to build up and bring the ball forward starting with Ramsdale, White, Partey, and also Odegaard and ESR, dropping deeper at times to pick up the ball and carry it high up the pitch. When you occupy the final third with 5 or more players the tricky part starts which is actually scoring goals. Crossing the ball, a quadrillion time isn’t the answer. The only player that drives into the box currently is Saka and that is way too much pressure on one player. Odegaard is more of a passer looking for runs and Aubameyang doesn’t do much with the ball in possession. He is more of a runner that can deliver in open spaces.
I definitely think that “Cojones-player” (I’ll call it that from now on) is something that every team needs, and I think a natural creative dribbler is the version of that player Arsenal need.
Let me know your thoughts.
COYG!