It's still early with Zinchenko but he's a pretty poor 1v1 defender. Tavares is quicker, I'm hoping Zinchenko has better positioning and isn't prone to silly mistakes, but it's still early. With White or Tomiyasu at RB, I think Arteta is valuing build-up play over defensive work when Zinchenko starts. The question is whether Tavares can also play the inverted role or if Arteta wants to compliment Zinchenko with a better defensive LB option (which Tierney is right now). My guess is that Tavares won't fit want Arteta wants moving forward so the best outcome is what @chjoak said, a productive loan with a sale next summer. If he goes for 15-20m, he'll still be one of Arsenal's better signings over the last 7-8 years.
I think it is also coming from fans who want Tielemans. If Vieira is mostly a wing, there is still a need at CM. But if Vieira is mostly an 8/10, there isn't a need for Tielemans unless someone else like Xhaka or Sambi leaves, which seems very unlikely.
He wasn't defensively good at ManC either, so I can only assume the club knew that when they purchased him.
I didn't notice any 1v1 issues against CP (feels like they focused most of their attack down the left (Zaha vs White)) but I did notice several plays where Xhaka was covering LB and Zinchenko's recover run showed a lack of effort. Maybe he was tired? Something to keep an eye on.
Héctor Bellerín’s agent is in London today as he met with Arsenal board, been told meeting took place in the morning. Discussions ongoing to terminate the contract. 🚨⚪️🔴 #AFCBellerín asked to return to Real Betis as soon as possible, it’s his priority. 🟢 pic.twitter.com/5ujSD32jDF— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 9, 2022 News from Spain is that the meeting this morning did not go as Bellerin hoped. Supposedly the board is insisting no receiving a fee for his exit.
I don't know why he thought we would give him away for free. Betis are paying transfer fees for their other signings. If they don't value Bellerin enough to pay a fee for him, he should take it up with them, or lower his salary demands.
Don’t get pino when we have a greater need at the 6 for a quality player Pino plays rw, vieira mainly played there and we have Saka, Marquinhos and Pepe unless Pepe is leaving? Reiss Nelsinho is a better rw too than lw the lw position is much less healthy with only 2 genuine inside forwards in esr and martinelli Unless pino plays lw well also and cuts in on his right? I would be surprised if vieira is the answer at lcm
I think they punt on fixing CM this window. Elneny is 30, Xhaka turns 30 next month, Partey turns 30 next summer. They will roll with those 3 plus Sambi - for better or for worse - and then address that area of the pitch next summer. Rumor today is that Arsenal is willing to wait until next summer on Tielemans and sign him on a free. There is risk in that he prefers to go to Spain but we'll also find out if last season's dip in form was a one-off or a reflection of declining abilities. This is an important season for Sambi. He turns 23 in October, what is his future? Is he starter material, a squad player, or not good enough? What is his best position?
I think the way they see it is that a true Partey replacement will cost too much to be a backup if Partey is available. I still think Pepe goes, probably on loan. I kind of agree here, Martinelli showed up at RW a few times in preseason. You could make an argument that a LW is preferable to a RW who is going to be stuck behind Saka - who needs cover but will still play a lot. I think everyone is inferring RW as the priority since the interest in Raphinha was pretty well confirmed.
Partey's backup isn't going to be a backup for very long. The guy could get charged any day now, and then you are stuck playing Elneny as #6 all season, with no one else for that role if Elneny is injured. Neither Xhaka or Sambi can play there. You have to plan for Partey not being available, and if somehow he is, dump him next summer anyway.
I think we end up with Tielemans because I don't think they want to risk us being short on players like we were last season. I think we see TP5 charged in the next 2 months pre-world cup and we will be ********ed if he is gone and no replacement.
Tielemans is not a 6, he’s as slow as Xhaka. If Arteta wants to continue to play with a single pivot, he needs to find a relatively young player with power and pace. Lokonga might be that player in a year or two, but probably not this season. Recently Arsenal have been linked with Tonali, he could be a fit, but the fee would probably be prohibitive, even assuming he would be willing to leave Italy.
nelson is probably more comfortable on the left where he can cut in and attack. that's where he played for feyenoord when he was doing well.
RE the wing discussion... We need 3 strong guys for our starting rotation and a couple for cups. Right now we have... Saka - starting at RW Martinelli - starting at LW ESR - played a good bit at LW last season. Arteta has mentioned him as being in the mix at LCM. Has also had several nagging muscle injuries. Pepe - staff doesnt trust him. Will be moved if we can find a taker. Nelson - Arteta looking to move him. If he stays he is likely a cup player only. Marquinhos - new to squad & young. Likely a cup guy until he proves ready for more. So... 2 starters 1 rotational starter that may also play LCM and has injuries 2 on their way out 1 inexperienced The fact that we are pushing for a W tells me something about ESR... Either a) he is gonna see more time at LCM than some expect or b) the staff is worried about his injuries.
A young backup/replacement for Partey is hard. Cant play with a typical #6 as most arent good enough passers. The several young options out there that would likely be good fits either wont leave their current club/league (Tonali, Locatelli) or recently moved (Bissouma, Tchouameni, Bruno). Doesn't fit the "young" category (atleast is younger) but I still contend that Mikel Merino would be an exceptional option.
They must have something in mind I can't recall being link for so long with a player and it not being a "where theres smoke theres fire" situation. I wouldn't think we would go for a tactical switch now the season has started, but I can't think of any press resistant 6 players we could get.
I don't think you buy a Partey unless there are exceptional communication circumstances. You ride your Fabinho/Fernandinho into the ground and train up a Rodri type player with a good base skillset, lumps, bumps and time.
I’ve always viewed the Tielemen’s links somewhat skeptically. Arteta has gone to the mattresses for Xhaka, convincing him to stay twice. Since neither Xhaka and Tielemens is flexible or athletic enough to be the single pivot Arteta’s 4-3-3 requires, they would both be looking to fill the same role at Arsenal, a box to box midfielder, ie, the mythical left 8. Leaving one position for the two of them to fight over, but both are used to running the midfield at the club and international levels, so how does Arteta allocate their minutes to keep both happy. Many of us, including me, would love to see Arsenal less reliant on Xhaka but we’re not filling out the lineup card. This is further complicated by the fact that Partey is the single point of failure in the 4-3-3. Arsenal’s collapse at the end off last season is attributable to injuries to Partey, Tomiyasu, and Tierney and while they have signed Zinchenko to strengthen at left back and Saliba’s arrival allows White to provide cover at right back, they haven’t done anything to cover Partey, he remains a single point of failure. So younger player who may be a little more patient about game time, and who has the skill and athleticism to play as both a single pivot and as the left 8 would be a better option. As I suggested above Sandro Tonali would be a good option and there have been links to him in the last couple of days. I also think Kephren Thuram who has thrived more as an 8 would be athletic enough to play as a single pivot.
Honestly strikes me as a massive failure of a manager though that your system completely shits the bed if you suffer one injury to a player. We won games without Henry. United won games without Rooney. Barca often suffered without Messi. United were terrible without Ronaldo. We are awful without Partey. And there is no way he doesn't cop an injury this season, let alone get fired/suspended for other reasons.
🚨| Pablo Marí is travelling to Italy today to complete his loan move to A.C. Monza from Arsenal as reported by @DiMarzio. There is an obligation to purchase for around €5m should the Serie A club stay up this season.— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) August 10, 2022
Report from Spain... no offer has been made for Pino. Arsenal made an inquiry and are currently the only team that has expressed interest to Villareal. Villareal are said to be asking 40-50m euro.
Was hoping for a permanent deal but the odds makers have Monza favored to stay up as they have made a ton of signings, with a lot of them like Mari loans-that-become-permanent if they stay up. Rumor on twitter linked Sambi to Milan which would obviously change the equation with Tielemans. But another journalist shot it down, said Milan won't sign a CM unless then sell first, that Sambi wants to stay and Arteta wants to keep him, and that Milan are focused on signing a defender.