This post is different to usual. I think the positives, needs and all the other stuff is somewhat irrelevant after Fulham. There is one clear issue to discuss. As ever, I attempt to find a solution.
**_Group 1._**
Showing up for work at the time I’m supposed to.
A modern day comedy film.
Orange juice in my fridge.
A politician answering the actual question they were asked.
Remembering that your wife doesn’t always want you to fix her problem, but just listen instead.
**_Group 2._**
My Mum always saved me from a visit to the chiropractor when I went to see her because her hugs would crack my back.
My wife looks gorgeous every day no matter what.
David Seaman smiles even when he doesn’t want to.
Offer me the chance to pick the restaurant and I’ll choose Italian
The news rarely tells us the news. They tell us what they want us to know or think.
_What’s on earth is all this about?_
Well, group one is a list of things that ‘could’ happen.
There is a chance that I might show up for work on time, but probably not.
I have this hope that somebody has actually made a funny comedy film that I’m about to watch, but I don’t really believe this. That particular genre should win awards but never does because the whole point of the movie is humour and the jokes aren’t funny.
Finding an orange juice carton with actual orange juice in it in my fridge doesn’t often happen. I’m really not sure why my son refuses to put an empty orange juice carton in the bin, but hey ho. Pick your battles, I suppose.
I am most certainly pleasantly surprised when a politician is asked a question and they answer it at all. Occasionally, they might sort of answer it in a way that doesn’t get them in trouble, but not the answer that the public is looking for. My expectation is that they are going to either lie, deceive, distract or simply answer a question that they weren’t asked.
The last one is the male instinct. Always wanting to fix my wife and daughter’s problems. Then feeling inadequate as you don’t want to just listen, which you think you are supposed to do, then find out that on this occasion they actually want you to fix it. I’m actually pretty poor at this whole world, especially with my daughter, LivyLea.
Group 2 is a list of things that I think ‘will’ happen. That is my anticipation.
My mother, when she was alive, would always hug me and others as if she was competing in the worlds strongest woman competition.
I am biased, of course, but I think that my wife is drop dead gorgeous whether she’s put her makeup on or not, brushed her hair or not or ready to go. She was certainly at the front of the line when God gave out natural beauty.
I’ve seen David Seaman interviewed after Arsenal have lost or when he’s had a bad performance on that ballroom dancing show and he smiles regardless.
I have an addiction… fresh Italian food. The freshly made, melt in your mouth donuts at Sotto in Cincinnati might be the best thing I’ve ever eaten. That’s after eating their fresh pasta and after I’ve watched the guy make it through the pasta window in his little pasta making room with his fancy pasta rolling machine thingy. Italian, every time.
I remember when my dad told me not to believe what you hear on the news. We only remember a handful of things from our youth and for some reason I remember this. I remember that we were on a drive from Hertfordshire to North London where he worked and we were in that fancy neighbourhood where Wenger lives. I forget it’s name but it sounds like Tottenham and so I’ve never understood why he chose to live there, but maybe he’s not as psycho as me. My dad told me that even though the news readers on the BBC and ITV seem like the world’s most trustworthy people, they were trying to form their narrative and my opinion. It kind of rocked my world. I’m now to the point where I don’t understand how they are allowed to call ‘news shows’ news shows. They should be called ‘narrative shows’ as the actual news of what’s going on in the world and our community is hidden from us, I’ve found.
_So, what on earth does this have to do with Fulham versus Arsenal or more to the point, our season as a whole?_
Well, let’s start here…
We are striving to do elite things. That stat is not heading in that direction. We need to change this as we are making too many games too hard.
I sat there watching the game and having the feeling that I get on an irregular basis whilst watching this fantastic group of players. The feeling that my feelings are more valuable than going to the wonderful Orbinho on Twitter to find out the actual statistics. **I believe that the biggest on field issue at Arsenal Football Club is the need to create simpler goal scoring chances and therefore to have at least one more attacker that gives us the feeling that I get from group two and not group one.**
I trust my feelings when I’m watching football because I’ve watched it all my life. Having played it to a fairly high-level and then coached it at almost every level, it is the one thing in my life that I feel most sure about. When Thierry Henry cut inside on his right foot, I expected him to score. He didn’t always, and I knew that, but it still gave me the expectation of’ ‘will.’ When the ball came to Dennis Bergkamp at any height or speed, I expected him to control it immaculately. When Andre Santos had the opportunity to delay his winger, I thought he might, but expected him to unnecessarily lunge in. When Spurs went 2–0 up on Sunday, I did not expect their defense to keep Chelsea out.
I’m not always right, but that really isn’t the point. We will never get to a point in football where we are 100% sure that a player is going to score because football is complicated by the presence of the opposite team as well as emotion, nervousness, which foot they use, balance and the physical pressure they are under.
I suppose that what I’m saying is that this team is littered with elite and potentially elite players and it deserves to have an attacker who makes us feel as certain as Henry made us feel and not ‘a little surprised’ when we score. This thought is seen by two goal scoring moments that Arsenal are currently involved in. When Saka is inside the box and in a goalscoring position and cuts inside on his left foot, I’m now at the point where I believe he will score. I’m surprised when he doesn’t even though I know that the chances he scores from are hardly ever easy. It’s the same way with Arsenal and corners right now. This should really be such a low XG opportunity as it is for everybody else in the world, but it’s now got to the point where I kind of expect Arsenal to at least have a goal scoring opportunity from almost every corner because this is where they are at. I can tell that I feel this way because I’m somewhat surprised when we don’t at least get the first header.
Kai Havertz is most certainly improved in front of goal. I don’t think that he’s the problem. I also don’t think that Martinelli or Trossard are the problem either. **To expand on Arsenal’s biggest problem, we see that beyond Saka shooting inside the box and corner kicks we are a team that has so much of the ball, and therefore has the opportunity to create so many chances, but none of our attackers have finishing and desire to finish as their ‘best’ quality.** Do we need this in every game? Absolutely not. The games that we have won have seen a plethora of different players scoring as I mentioned in my last blog. These thoughts are not based on just the Fulham game, either. Prior to that game we are the top scorers in the league over the previous four games. This problem happens only once in a while, but unfortunately in order to do what Arsenal are trying to do, you can’t keep repeating this habit. We are very close to reaching our limit of games where we dominate yet rarely create simple chances. The problem becomes that I think that Havertz, Martinelli and Trossard ‘could’ score, but I’m a little surprised when they do, and that isn’t quite good enough for a club who is capable of winning every trophy that we are chasing, including the Champions League. This might be a little harsh on Trossard in particular because he is a good finisher, but that’s not worth much if you are one of the three attackers and you can go whole games without putting yourself in a position to score a goal.
Trossard actually becomes the perfect example of the training session that needs to happen and be repeated. Arsenal aren’t missing howler’s and Arsenal aren’t missing the target any more than anybody else. **The issue is that we are so dominant yet creating so few chances to even miss.** Havertz has improved his finishing which was greatly needed as it was probably his biggest weakness. It’s not his biggest strength yet which is fine because he offers so much to the team. This cannot however excuse the fact that this means that the team needs an option of having a striker who makes you feel like he ‘will’ score when the ball is about to be crossed in and around the 6 yard box. Martinelli has the potential to do better but his general game is summed up by inconsistency and uncertainty and has been for the last couple of seasons. Both of these two are absolutely worth keeping and worth working with because they are both potentially elite. There are just too many games like the one on Sunday where we are relying on players who are not making the right runs or in the right spaces for us to get the one goal that would change the whole mood.
This player could be the winger we need or a second centre forward. The modern game has wide attackers often at the top of the scoring charts as the striker is used more as a pivot or a distraction. At Liverpool, Salah is comfortably their top scorer each year and I couldn’t even tell you who plays the most minutes for them at striker as it changes so often.
To heal the problem the **details** have to be the focus of the improvement of new signing. Those details are;
1. The positioning of our attackers is too predictable. Instead of going to specific positions every time they need to get a balance between the general area and the available space or passing lane. I understand that a winger has very little time to look up and having players in certain areas offers the winger and importance predictability. What’s more important however, is recognizing that the opponent will almost always have more defenders in the box than you have attackers, and they are not finding it very difficult to cover all of the zones that our players are in. This case stand unpredictable locations that offer clear parking lanes and the first chance to get your foot on the ball becomes more important as does communication with the winger so he knows to look for you when he has his 1/2 second to look up.
2. The runs themselves have to be significantly more elusive. Every player in and around the box should always make two movements. Fight left, go right or perhaps head to the near post before zigzaging to the back post.
3. I think Arsenal are in a place where they are not seeing any wide open options and so our wingers are often trying to smash it at the inside leg of the closest defender in the hope that he will send it out for a corner kick. **Also, that is now a decent option, but also speaks to the main point. Even though we are better at corner kicks than everybody else, they aren’t simple chances and there will always be easier ways to score.**
4. Picking on Kai Havertz is somewhat unfair to him. He’s quite possibly a world class player and he checks so many boxes that not only a modern striker needs, but that worked perfectly in our set up. As I said earlier, he has improved his finishing, but the issue is that he is not a naturally aggressive striker. Again, regardless of who Arsenal sign, Havertz needs to play. Thankfully, with way too many games of football these days our club really should not be overly concerned about upsetting Havertz and not giving him enough game time. I’m sure after the season was done Havertz would agree that playing 35 games was plenty and better for the team and his body also. I know that players want to please their coach and play every minute of every game, but often they need to be saved from their own desires, which are largely selfish. There are becoming more and more games where an aggressive striker is needed in order to match up to the increasing frequency that we play against low blocks that contain all 11 of their players behind the ball. **Many of them don’t have the same skill as Arsenal, but they do have the same aggression and so we have no choice, but to respect that and to match that.** As an example, Calvin Bassey will likely never play for Arsenal or an elite club. He is a good Premier league center back and has found his level at Fulham. He was probably the man of the match on Sunday because the game suited him more than it did our current selection of strikers. Arsenal need a striker that attracts two centre backs that can be pulled around leaving others open. A striker that is at least equally strong and determined as players like Calvin Bassey. If not, then they have to be elusive so they get the first chance.
5. If my first choice pick of Viktor Gyokeres is not what the club wants to spend a lot of money on then finding someone similar to Olivier Giroud would be perfect. An aggressive player with great movement who particularly loves the front post. As I say frequently, Arsenal is not using the front post. Tactically, this might be our attackers’ single biggest flaw. I would imagine that at least 50% of every cross on every team is touched by the defender or attacker at the front post first. If that statistic is correct then common sense will tell you that you need at least one player challenging for that first contact. It doesn’t have to be your striker, but ideally needs to be because he should be the one with the best opportunity to get there. I often wonder why Martinelli does not score enough goals from Saka’s crosses as he is a good finisher and very good in the air for a winner. He is most certainly under utilized in this regard. When was the last time you saw Martinelli even head the ball let alone score header? If Havertz would attack the front post that would leave the back post open for Martinelli and the penalty spot open for a later arriving midfielder.
6. This brings me onto the next point. Not only do you need players who are hungry, elusive, and aggressive you need to ideally put players in the location they feel most confident to score in. Kai is a one touch finisher and so he would see success if he attacked the near post. Martinelli has all the tools for the back post. Trossard is better cutting into the central area. Rice and Merino could attack the space between the edge of the box and the penalty area in the air. This has yet to be explored and would be a free header or a one touch finish. Odegaard would fit perfectly on the top of the box for the rebound or cut back. There you go! I fixed it!
7. If we wanted to choose a winger or inside attacker to offer the missing threat, then I believe we need a player with devastation. Somebody that is ideally lightning fast and direct. Martinelli is certainly fast but much like Saka, he tends to slow the game down in order for others to get into position. A different option would be nice. One that defenders are petrified of touching in the penalty area because they run so fast into it. I would also like a left footed winger to play on the left and take advantage of crossing on their strong foot and the additional height that we now have in our team and therefore aerial ability in the box.
I would imagine that Arsenal are looking for a striker and winger who is 24 and below. The pursuit of Sesko suggests this. A player that would be ok with sharing game time with Havertz or even being second choice and playing games like Sunday’s game where the contest is more suited to them than Kai.
I wanted to evaluate some names.
Here are those that I think are the best options based on our specific need…
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**Viktor Gyokeres:**
You are probably bored of me talking about him. He is without a doubt the best option. The only concern is whether he can play with similar effectiveness against deep blocks as Sporting seem to play in Portuguese basketball games. He has everything that a striker would want and everything that Arsenal currently need. I also think that he has the potential to be the best striker in the world as players like Messi, Ronaldo and Lewandowski slide away from the scene. I’m also scared that if we don’t, then somebody else in our league will, and he will tip the difference in their favour meaning we will not fulfill our trophy winning potential because another team bought a player who ends up being the best striker in world football. He has everything that a striker would want. Everything. He even has extra. Beyond what is expected nowadays. He is genuinely two footed and can create his own goals out of nothing. There must be a striker creating video game somewhere. If there is Gyokeres is the player you’d create if the game gave you free rein to pick any and all the qualities you want.
**Victor Osimhen:**
Surely he won’t stay in Turkey very long? Although he is maybe a little older than Arsenal would like, he is the profile that we are looking for. He has that sense of inevitability about him and hunger in the box. If I go back to my first thought in this piece, Osimhen certainly gives vibes of a striker who makes you think that he ‘will’ score.
**Evan Ferguson:**
Only makes sense as a loan which apparently he is available for. His injury record is pretty horrific, but his ceiling is very high. In form and fit he is the monster type striker that we need.
**Dusan Vlahovic:**
We’ve targeted him before, and he may see Arsenal as an opportunity to step up a level and be first choice. Juventus to Arsenal these days is a step up thanks to the stellar work done at AFC over the last 5 years.
**Benjamin Sesko:**
Has unbelievable shooting ability and fantastic in the air, but still largely improving at the top level. Will probably be half the price of Arsenal target Isak, which might appeal to the club as they likely still see Kai as first choice striker. I’m sure it’s doubtful that Leipzig would want to sell after only having him for a few months.
**Erling Haaland:**
Hear me out. This is all based on City potentially getting relegated by the FA. The best option and we did keep our powder dry/saved money in the summer. Perhaps unlikely even if City do get relegated because he went after Arteta post City game.
_Here are other options, perhaps not so suited to our need, but potentially able to fulfill the need with coaching:_
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**Jhon Duran:**
A quite spectacular striker. Can play as a nine or as a ten or on the wing. As he is only 21, in a couple of days, he would probably be worth the large investment that Aston Villa would want. The 75 million they are asking for is almost double what he is currently worth considering he’s not first choice and never has been at a top club, so I doubt we would go that high.
**Endrick (loan):**
I don’t see the hype personally. Arguably, the most overhyped player of this generation, in my opinion. He’s extremely young so I could easily be way off, but I don’t think I am. There has been talk of a loan as he is not getting to play much in Madrid so purely due to his availability I put him on this list even though I don’t think we have any interest.
**Johnathan David:**
Many think he is not good enough for the elite level and they may be right. He does have the nasty habit of continually scoring goals every season after people suggest that he is not going to do so.
**Darwin Nunez:**
Not for me, but possibly a possibility. Too inconsistent/frustrating. He does fit the profile, though.
**Santiago Gimenez:**
The Feyenoord striker has not played at a big club, but consistently scored lots of goals. Would fit the profile and would probably be happy being second choice. Arsenal could probably manage with Kai playing 2/3 of the games and a rotational option playing 1/3 to give him a rest and play the games that are more suited to another striker. His current injury rules him out until the end of the year, so any suitor would probably want to see him back playing before taking a risk on a player coming back from injury.
**Ivan Toney:**
Like Nunez, unlikely. His age is probably prohibitive, even though his profile is closer to what we are looking at. I only include him because it seems like most of the players that go to Saudi Arabia don’t want to stay there. If occupying two centre backs and being aggressive against Premier League defenders is what you want then he would be hard to beat. Would likely be a cheaper option than most now, but would he be satisfied with taking a huge cut in wages?
**Mateo Retegui:**
You may or may not be aware that at Atalanta are top of the Serie A in Italy. This striker is one of the main reasons. Fifteen goals and assists so far the season. Not a young player anymore, so I’d be less concerned about a young Italian missing their mother as they have a tendency to do. I just wonder if his goal scoring capabilities are a good season or a trend.
**Ollie Watkins:**
There is something about Watkins that I’m not sure about. I can’t even come close to putting my finger on it and it’s probably unjustified. He would jump at the opportunity being an Arsenal fan and perhaps Villa would sell as at some point they are going to have to find a way to pacify Duran, if he stays. My reservation might simply be because he is English. I don’t often get excited about English strikers and don’t tend to trust them as we haven’t had many good ones beyond Harry Kane over the last 10 years.
_Here are wide attackers who play inside/strikers who can play wide. Capable of not having to wait for loss of form/injury but flexible enough to offer the team at least two options:_
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**Bryan Mbuemo:**
If the plan is for goals to come from wide areas than he is proving to be an option right now. He has almost 10 goals on the season playing for an average team. Fits what Arteta wants in a player as he is super hard-working and a high energy presser. Technically secure and very creative as well as having a wonderful left foot. Not a fashionable choice or a big name, but one that I suggest you start considering as I think he is a very real option. Personally, I would go for a striker specialist over a winger as our priority, but I’m very interested in him if we go for a second signing.
**Diogo Jota:**
Why would he leave Liverpool? He probably won’t this January but there have been rumors before. Like many top players he wants to be first choice and has been a rotational option at Liverpool when he is fit. I put him in this list because I think Arsenal are interested in him as a goal scoring wide player or number nine and as a versatile option.
**Alexander Isak:**
He would be a wonderful choice as our second most important signing. A goalscoring winger. I say that because I think that he is not a natural striker with the potential to score 20+ goals and this is the number one priority. Isak has never scored 20+, with injuries being a factor too..
Kai needs a rest even if he is scoring and Jesus is way out of form and probably out of the club in January. Even though we need a winger, we do have enough players who can play those positions and Nwaneri has not even really been tried there yet, but could be a good alternative. Isak is going to offer the versatility to be the striker or Martinelli replacement and would be a great second signing. I’m not sure that he would offer much different to what Kai offers at striker apart from the opportunity to rest and rotate. Again, I think we need a different profile of striker.
**Lois Openda:**
A winger/striker option who is having a very good season. Also, offers the devastation that Sane does with his speed but questions are there about his finishing capabilities.
**Raphael Leao:**
It’s hard to not like him as a player when he is in form, but I think he is too laid-back to ever be consistent at Arsenal. Defensively he is lazy, which would never see him join Arteta’s squad unless the coach felt he could change his attitude. He is a quite glorious player when on form. A player that makes the sport look very easy when he’s flying, and he does offer the ability to play left-wing and striker. Comes across as the scorer of great goals rather than a great goalscorer, though.
**Matheus Cunha:**
A player who is playing on a team beneath him so he can be hard to judge. A highly technical and strong player who is currently playing more centrally, but can also play on the wing.
**Randal Kolo Muani:**
As is often the case, January signings often end up being loan signings. Just a cheeky prediction, but I have a feeling that Arsenal may go for Kolo Muani. He would solve both of our issues as he can play as a left sided attacker and as a striker. The four month trial period would give him, and us, the opportunity to check it out. He can be a little sporadic, but does have elite potential hence his transfer to PSG and his performance at the last World Cup. Dangerous, fast and a good idea, especially if it is a loan.
**Omar Marmoush:**
A player that is flying right now for Frankfurt. So many goals and assists this season and a player that I’m sure will be wanting to step up a level. Very exciting, in form option but might be seen as a risk compared to other options.
**Marcus Rashford:**
Can’t see it. I think he’s fallen out of love with football. Shame. Elite potential.
**Other notable options:**
Karim Konate, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Mathys Tel
_Goal scoring wingers. Players with potential to impact with similar numbers to Saka:_
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**Leroy Sane:**
Not necessarily a striker, but certainly a versatile attacker who can win games by himself. Has more composure than most players with his level of speed and has experienced every high level. He’s wages might make him prohibitive, but would certainly offer the devastation and would take attention away from others on the field.
**Ademola Lookman:**
Not a striker but full of goals from the wing. If Arsenal wants to keep Havertz and Jesus as their main to strikers, but want a goal scoring winger, then Lookman could be the best option. Has experienced the Premier League, even though he was not particularly successful. Having said that he did not play for the higher level teams, so wouldn’t have had as many opportunities to create and score. You might remember him scoring a hat trick in the Europa League final in May and he has continued that form for top of the league Atalanta.
**Mo Kudus:**
Premier League ready. Capable of filling three of our needs. Good age. Fair price at around 70M. I could see the club doing this and giving them first refusal on Zinchenko, as West Ham need to modernize their tactics and an inverted full back/ midfielder would fit them.
**Antonio Nusa:**
The new Leipzig signing would be unlikely to leave so quickly after joining and showing his worth. I would imagine though that Odegaard has kept Arteta aware of his development in the Norwegian national team. Nusa’s superpower is his elusive, direct dribbling ability. He is up there with Jeremy Doku in ability to deceive a full back. Not quite yet the goal scoring threat of Saka, but something different from what we have and a player capable of playing on both wings.
**Kvicha Kvaratskhelia:**
Napoli are having a much better season in Italy and I’m sure that if Kvara wants to leave then it would be this summer. Apart from experience in England, he sure looks like he offers everything you would want from a winger, especially if we want to go with a right footed player on the left. Consistently has high-level statistics and probably has a strong desire to play at the highest level as he will not be able to get there with his national team, Georgia.
**Riyad Mahrez:**
Much like Ivan Toney I’m not sure that he wants to come back from Saudi Arabia. If he was persuaded to let’s not forget that he wanted to play for Arsenal under Wenger. His age is probably prohibitive for us, but if quality is at the top of the list then it’s hard to find a better winger than Mahrez. Like I’ve mentioned with others, he gives you the impression of inevitability when he gets the ball.
**Ferran Torres:**
I think he is an option because having played for both Manchester City and Barcelona, he has never been considered as first choice. I’ve always wondered if he wants to locate a team that will give him that opportunity. He covers both the right wing and striker positions, but it would be left wing where he would have to break through. Never been prolific but a very good rotational option, if that is what the club wants.
**Desire Doue:**
Very doubtful as he has just arrived in Paris, but it hasn’t started super well for him and I wonder if we could snag him on loan.
**Anthony Gordon:**
If we wait until the summer then I think he comes into the equation. Having said that, I’m going to argue with myself because I’ve just remembered that Eddie Howe was talking about how Newcastle have to sell to buy, but surely they’d be mad to get rid of Gordon in January? Certainly offers blistering pace that we don’t have in abundance and versatility to play anywhere across the front line. Can only see him getting better, also. Funny looking chap though and most Arsenal players are handsome so make of that what you want.
**Antoine Semenyo:**
I would be excited if we got him. I doubt he will be at Bournemouth next season. I can see a club like Boris Dortmund going for him as they seem to sell a winner each season. Offers versatility to play on both wings, but what is unique compared to other options is the power that he brings. Looks like he could become unstoppable. Lots of upside.
**Karim Adeyemi:**
Frightening pace, but predictably unpredictable in front of goal.
**Rayan Cherki:**
Lyon have put their whole squad up for sale for financial reasons. Cherki will be the player that attracts the most attention in January, maybe out of all European players, simply because they have to sell, and he is their biggest talent. The price will probably be reduced, also. A technical genius, but perhaps more of a 10 or 8 than a winger/scorer.
**Julien Duranville:**
One of the youngest and most promising upcoming talents. This Belgian talent is eighteen years old and getting minutes at Dortmund. If we want a project with huge upside and a fair price, then he would be on the list. Also, the spitting image of Juan Cuadrado.
**Jamal Musiala:**
A very cheeky choice. I convinced myself in the summer that we were interested in him. We may have been and kept it quiet as I wouldn’t be surprised at all. He’s still in contractual renewal talks, and has not yet committed so I would imagine that many of Europe’s best clubs are asking questions. I’ve always assumed that he would want to come back to where he grew up and prove that he can play in England. Not necessarily a left-winger but plays there as well as number 10. I do wonder that if he becomes available that Arsenal might go for it and worry about which area of the field he plays in as a second thought. A stupid thing to say, I know, but sometimes when one of the best raises his hand, you just upgrade because the upgrade is a 1.0 to 4.0 version. Clearly, one of the most talented young players in the whole world and his price would also be below value as he is running down his contract. Almost too good to be true, so I’ll stop now.
**Arda Guler:**
Apparently, Real Madrid are not interested in loaning him. He reminds me of Michael Olise. Very similar level of talent that you would assume would have a big impact in Spain if he was patient enough to wait a few years. If you think about how Odegaard came to Arsenal, sometimes if you want to sign a player, but his club don’t want to sell, then a loan can persuade the player to push his club hard. Such a gifted player.
**Jamie Gittens:**
One of the in form wingers in Europe. Another player that might want to come back to his home country particularly because he is yet to catch the eye of the national team.
**Nico Williams:**
We were clearly interested in the summer as were other clubs. How long does he want to stay at Bilbao? Statistically he is yet to hit the heights of his talent, but that might be because he plays for a mid-level club.
**Other options:**
Viktor Tsygankov, Edon Zhegrova, Leon Bailey, Takefusa Kubo, Xavi Simons, Yeremy Pino
**Three creative options:**
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**Jeremie Frimpong:**
He predominantly plays right wing back but alongside Hakimi, he is the most productive attacking full back in world football. This is a silly choice for many reasons. Firstly, because it sounds like he is going to Liverpool in the summer and that the deal is almost done. Secondly, because he’s not a winger! If you watch him play though, he absolutely thrives in the area that wingers play in and I’m sure that he could make the switch comfortably. Incredibly fast and hugely dangerous in front of goal for a player in his position. Has played on the left as well as the right so I’d imagine he could play on both wings.
**Nuno Tavares:**
Just like Frimpong, he is a wing back at best. Always made me think that he could be an option as a left-winger because he is so powerful and dangerous in the final third. I think our viewpoint of him is clouded by his poor defensive qualities, which makes me think that he is a player that has been mis-positioned. We don’t play with wingbacks but it is at least worth considering a player that belongs to your club anyway. He has better goals and assists statistics than any other player in his position in world football this season. Perhaps if we do not get our target by the end of the window and need a left-wing option, then the club might consider this. I think that his attitude will probably prohibit him from coming back under Arteta, though.
**Reiss Nelson:**
Much like Nuno, I wonder if we bring him back in late January if we need to. I think the argument at the club would be is there a winger available who is better than him in the short term anyway. Personally, I’d love for him to make a success of his Arsenal career because there is a top player in there.
**Unpopular option:**
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**Mykhailo Mudryk:**
Simply put, I think Arteta could bring the best out of a player that most of us were begging for last January. Perhaps a short term loan to double check because when he’s been bad, he’s been awful. He is just the profile that we need though, and there are very few players with his profile who are as quick on and off the ball.
_The in-house options:_
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**Gabriel Martinelli:**
Many including me have suggested that Martinelli actually profiles better as a striker than a left sided attacker. His goal scoring opportunities for a player with somewhat of a gift in front of goal are limited because we stretch the field so wide. This finds him too far from goal, too often. If there was actually time between games for extra training sessions, then Arcata would possibly work with him to see if it is a realistic possibility. I feel for Arteta and his coaches because they only have enough time to do what has to be done rather than what they would probably like to do. I would be tempted to play Martinelli in these Christmas fixtures as striker just to see if it would work out. These fixtures should not be ones that Arsenal struggle to win whilst making an experiment with just one player. It would also be good timing with the January transfer window coming up if we found out that Martinelli could be our other striker option and that we could invest biggly on a left-winger.
**Leo Trossard:**
Not going to offer the aerial threat or out ball but scoring headers and attempting to transition aren’t our main problems. If you need this, you play Kai. Trossard’s best quality is probably his intelligence. I would imagine it wouldn’t take too much training to show him what the team lacks in certain occasions. I would imagine he could be quite a dynamic front post finisher, in particular. Messi has expertly shown over many years you don’t have to be big to score more goals than anybody else. You just need composure, excellent technique and game intelligence. Leo Trossard may not be Leo Messi, but he does possess these three qualities, if to a lesser level.
_Nothing to do with our problem, but a cheeky look to the summer:_
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**Johnathan Tah:**
Don’t worry. I haven’t gone insane and decided that Arsenal’s goalscoring issues need to be fixed by playing a centre back upfront. Just wanted to mention a couple of players that we might look at that are both on a free transfer in June. Tah would be an excellent back up for Saliba. I wonder if he could back up Gabriel?
**Joshua Kimmich:**
If Jorginho/Partey are leaving fairly soon, Kimmich on a free transfer would be the best experienced player to replace their quality and experience.
_**What do I think will happen?**_
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I don’t think we will sign a striker. This will ruin all my research 🙁
I think Arsenal will sign Brian Mbuemo. He is as you know, primarily a winger, and I think we will get him to back up Saka and potentially start on the left-wing. He has even played striker, which will appeal to Arsenal. I believe Arsenal thought about a late bid during the last two days of the summer transfer window.
What would I do?
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I would treat January as summer and vice versa. I’d spend the big money (if we have it and rules allow us to) in January and replace squad players and get a back up goalie in the summer. Why? Because we have an opportunity this season, even though we are not currently grabbing it. If Manchester City are not punished by the commission then they will likely bounce back and we will be back competing with them as a powerhouse again. Fix the problem now and try to win the league this season. Also, if the club feels like this season is a stretch, then bringing in the two main signings that you want for next season and give them four months or so to adapt so they hit the ground running in August seems smart.
If the summer needs a Jorginho or Partey replacement and perhaps a replacement for Kiwior and possibly Zinchenko, then the summer is a better time to do it. These players will not be as integral as a striker and winger.
It will come as no surprise to you that I would pay the release clause for Viktor Gyokeres. His clause sits somewhere in the 80M pound mark. I wouldn’t want to risk losing him to competition for 10 or 20 million, so I would pay it because I think he is worth it. 80M pounds for a player that might initially start on the bench might sound excessive but if we look at those that win the biggest trophies, they have players of this value on their bench as well as on the field. Arsenal can’t be too obtuse about this. The game is not about the starting 11 any more anyway. There are too many games and with five substitutions allowed it is about the best squad and who manages it the best.
I think that if you sign Gyokeres then there is less pressure on your winger signing to score more than 10 goals a season. You can focus more on the other needs in this area. Those are a need to rest Saka with somebody that the coach would trust. A player that can play on both wings. Also, a player that could potentially play as a dribbling eight.
Again, I would buy the winger in January. I am torn between Mo Kudus and Leroy Sané. Sane’s electric speed is the game changer that I think that we need, but his wages would be double that of Kudus and his contract would going into his 30’s when he may lose a step or two.
Apart from electric pace, Mo Kudus is the perfect option. He would be hugely motivated to play at a level that he has yet to attain but is capable of. He could start at left-wing and offer us a different type of cross. A cross that we are currently not utilizing, which would out swing towards the penalty spot and benefit two players like Merino and Rice’s who could score 5 each per season with their head. **We are currently under utilizing our left side and part of the reason is that the final ball is played always with a weak foot.** It would be nice to have the option of a left-winger crossing with his best foot. Kudus could also back up Saka admirably and is potentially of a similar level. Certainly good enough to feel like Saka could have a rest every once in a while. He has also played as an eight and could give us a dribbling option from that position. Many were interested in Eze and believe that Arsenal needs this option, also. I agree with them, but I don’t know if the club are going to buy a specialist for that position. If you buy Kudus and the game is needing a player to penetrate the goal from deeper, then you could utilize him as an eight to do that. Odegaard is a fantastic dribbler, but he dribbles to retain possession and not to penetrate the goal. Arsenal currently do not have this option from a more central area.
Thanks for reading!
Would love to hear your opinion in the comments.
Former Highbury regular. Moved to TN, USA in ’99. Married with 3 kids. Coached in UK and US for 27 years.
Mike McDonald Soccer Academy in Morristown TN, Olympic Development coach, Regional Premier League Champion.