Building For The Future

Thank you for changing it up in terms of Patreon content. It’s not that I don’t like the rewatches but I’m in listen only mode in my car 99% of the time and listening to a rewatching doesn’t have the same effect.

I like the balance at the moment. I think we underestimate the security we get with Xhaka and Laca. Perhaps we might get more athletic ability with The Smith and Sambi, but that balance of youth and experience needs to be just right. Interesting to see who we’ll sign in the summer. I would also love to see Pepe more centrally at some stage. I think Arteta is trying to use him as a sprinter a bit too much. He will look more dynamic as a 9/10 where he can go either way.

Xhaka and Lacazette are like earth and moon turning around the sun in our creative players. Their mindset is focused on facilitating them. Let them have creative freedom. Sambi is too busy developing too be in this sober role. The balance is right and not to be disturbed.

I agree on the profile tho with his wages not sure. But he's a damn good player 👍

For whatever reason, I can’t just get Pogba in the xhaka role out of my head. I just think he takes us to another level and replace the popularity and personality that laca has in the dressing room. He’s also available for free….

On ESR, you loose defense and some structure. He doesn't have the nous for it yet. He just doesn't. Him being wide limits his lack of experience and ability at this point on reading the game. I think he will develop it but he's not who I want this that role of 8 yet. Not yet. I think he can get there but I also think he might be a great winger. Tricky, quick thinking in creativity and a sublime carrier of the ball. He needs to be closer to goal and I don't think the role of that 8 is that quite.

Something I don't see mentioned a lot is and wonder about is... Will Saka end up being an 8? He actually played there when Arteta first came before he ditched his 4-3-3 for the back 3. Think he could be an incredible 8 and has shown his ability to go in both directions having previously played at left back for Arsenal and England youth teams. You'd be breaking up the great right hand partnership between Odegaard and Saka but even if he played there sometimes it'd be so hard to prepare as a coach when you don't know where Saka is gonna be, an 8 one week, left or right wing, think he could do it all and understands space so well.

Jack Barnes

If we put Saka on the left and Martinelli on the right, would we feel more comfortable with ESR on the left 8?

Gnabry conspired to reduce the transfer fee Arsenal received for him. And now he's using Arsenal to try and get his new contract. Forget him.

Jake Walker

What evidence is there for Smith-Rowe's positional sense defensively as a cm? I haven't seen it. It doesn't mean he won't become a cm when it's all said and done, but it will take time and patience to turn him into a hybrid 6/8. He is not there yet and we'd need a more defensive right 8 to replace Ode if we want to try Emile in that role.