Really good question. Arsenal Vision podcast was speculating that the way this works is if Willian plays on the left (backed up by Martinelli and Saka - who can also play as an 8 or LWB), Auba and Eddie play centrally and Pepe/Nelson stay on the right, and Laca is sold. But given Arteta's reluctance to play Aubameyang centrally, even when Lacazette was unavailable, can we make that assumption? He never played PEA centrally, but now that is going to be his primary position?
If Arsenal win the league in the next two years, then I have always supported Sanllehi and KSE, just as we have always been at war with Eastasia.
If the team improved over the next two years and got younger, I'd consider changing my tune. But the process that's been executed seems counter to that (and it seems like getting rid of the scouting and analytics people is a power play by Raul/Kia that's been a long time coming). Let me put it this way: Arsenal, like all football clubs, are a talent business in many ways: they're in the business of acquiring talent (almost like how PE shops acquire companies). Now, most companies have internal strategy divisions that do things like evaluate acquisitions and adjust internal strategy. That is, at its core, what scouting and analytics is supposed to be. Being able to evaluate talent is and should be one of the core competencies of a football club. You don't outsource that.
I think most the PEA to ST speculation is based on a combination of his scoring and the fact that unless he moves central we really don't need a winger. If you look at things from purely a depth perspective, current players that can play W when healthy... Pepe, Saka, Nelson, Martinelli, PEA, Willian (assuming he signs), ESR (if we don't loan him back out), Willock (not ideal but can do it) and AMN (again not ideal but can do it). With the young guys holding their own and a big dollar signing in Pepe, why sign Willian if you plan to continue playing PEA on the wing? Yes WIllian can potentially play #10 role as well but the signing simply doesn't make sense if PEA stays out wide.
Ted apparently spoke to Arsenal Vision about this today. Never have I waited for a podcast with such anticipation, and never will I do so again.
I'm of the impression playing Auba wide and Laca in the middle was simply Arteta's compromise for getting both on the field at the same time, which obviously wouldn't be effective with the two switching positions. But doing this approach allowed Laca to have some positive moments while Auba still proved capable of scoring. Given the new season begins next month we won't have to wait too long to find out if that's true.
Who wants to get started on this Petition: People’s petition to have Edu’s Invincible medal taken off him and given to Ray Parlour, so Ray can have two.— Michael Keshani (@MichaelKeshani) August 6, 2020
So was Danny Karbasiyoon caught in this scouting RIF? I haven't seen his name mentioned so far, and I would assume so, but selfishly hope not, as he seemed to be a truly good guy. That said, when was the last time Danny identified a notable prospect from North America since Gedion Zelalem? In general, I'm assuming the scouting staff reductions are to "clean house" and that replacements (in substantially fewer numbers) will eventually come, and that will likely be directly heavily by stats and data analysis. The jaded (realistic?) part of me says it's needed since we've had far more "misses" than "hits" over the last 10-15 years.
one of the speculations on the handbrake off podcast (for the reluctance to move aubameyang inside to ST) is that he is looking for something specific from that position which takes that player away from goal and scoring position. they were basing it on the fact that (specifically after the restart, because they could actually hear the things being shouted on the pitch), they would hear arteta yelling at/for lacazette and nketiah a good bit and they were often sent to either chase down the ball or dropping deeper to help connect the midfield.
I think the style is for the "center forward" to really play more like the point of a diamond and the wide forwards come in from the sides to play like a front pair.
Seeing claims that Edu is negotiating the Gabriel deal with Lille. Supposedly Lille is asking for 18m up front + 9m in add-ons.
I'm curious if this is the desired scheme or if this was a necessity thing. Seems like that was due to an absence of a #10 but would be unnecessary if we were running a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.
No, it actually won’t. The issue is that saving £3m or whatever has no bearing on improving the squad. This is purely to cost less money for Kroenke while wrapping it in a hamfisted statement claiming that it’s for the fans. Kroenke, whose wealth has increased during the pandemic, could fund three years of these people’s salaries out of his own pocket with one tenth of one percent of his net worth. That’s if he brings in zero income for three years. Fvck this club. I hope Arteta moves elsewhere and wins everything.
Also, we’re apparently selling Maitland-Niles, which in a vacuum I wouldn’t have a problem with. But doing so in order to fund mediocre injured right backs and 32 year old attackers is ridiculous.
Seeing a report that Emi has stated that he isn't willing to go back to the bench. Wants to play or move on. Looks like we are gonna have to make a decision.
I don't think it's purely a money saving move - I think it's a power play by Raul/Kia. They basically gutted scouting in Europe, but left South America intact.
I mean Auba's nominal position doesn't really matter so much as where he scores goals from? And he does seem to score a lot from the channel in my totally unscientific opinion. I am guessing this is because it is the best way for him to use his pace to beat the defence, or to get on the end of a diagonal. He doesn't really do any of the work a modern 9 would do. But nor does he really play like a winger.
This is exactly what Ozil's agent warned about in his interview with Honigstein The players broadly understood both in England and Germany that some form of salary reset would be necessary. However the situation of individual clubs and owners was different, and any pay cut needed to be based on actual financial plans and data presented by the club. That is why deferment made most sense. Instead the club used Arteta to pressure the players into a cut (not fair when they rely on Arteta for playing time). And now we discover that Kroenke is essentially taking none of the hit.