Yeah, I'm not going to be pessimistic just yet. I think we can just about cope and that Dr. Raj guy predicts he'll be out probably 6 weeks. So maybe we'll see him on the bench against Liverpool. Arteta being vague, as usual. If there’s moderate (~grade 2) ligament damage, looking at 3-4 weeks. If there’s a rupture (full tear) in one of the ligaments, typical return is 4-6 weeks.If multiple ruptures, can be 6+ weeks. No fracture which can be 8+ weeksBased on… https://t.co/dzjOioN8oT— Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbPerformance) September 18, 2024
I think we can cope with Kai at left 8, provided Gabby J is ready. we will miss Odegaard’s leadership, but if I’m being honest he not in my top five for most important players. The football may be a little uglier, but we won’t need him against City for instance.
We're going to need Odegaard a lot. On/Off can be noisy but Arsenal with Odegaard are +1.05 goal difference better per 90 and +0.8 xG difference better per 90 when he plays vs when he hasn’t. I expect it might not be that drastic in this stretch but it does hint at the magnitude of the player. He’s very good, the…— Scott Willis (@scottjwillis) September 18, 2024
I don't know if I'd go that far, but he has an enormous amount of responsibility in the current setup. We're going to have a really difficult time creating chances without him.
Yeah, that's why I said "just about cope." Longer than a couple of months, we're in trouble as far as the title is concerned.
Kai is hella important because he is our only tall attacker and he moves and is a tactical Swiss Army knife. And he can score goals. Rice is a big reason why we are monsters off the ball now since he can cover so much. We have a no name back up to Raya. We can mitigate for Odegaard, but idk if we can as well as the others.
Kai's ability to be dangerous is directly proportionate to MO8's ability to demand the attention of every centerback in the league. Without Martin, teams can sit 5-10 yards further back with no consequence. At times, Saka can create the same advantage on one side, but not both.
I was thinking we might be able to absorb a month without Martin, as long as a little luck comes our way. But two months or more? I’m fairly pessimistic.
Depends on the opposition, right? Unfortunately the opposition is super tough at this moment, but it eases in the league after City until the liverbirds at the end of October. I think we’ll be okay.
I’m not tryna disrespect Odegaard, but he not a goal threat so I don’t think what you are saying about CBs fearing him is as true as Kai’s ability to pop up anywhere scares them.
Just love how FIFA jampacked the fixtures with nothing internationals which should be cut back, and then they wonder why everyone looked tired at the World Cup and they didn't have the quality of players or matches like in previous tournaments. International fixtures 3 rounds into a season is ********ing atrocious but then FIFA couldn't organise a shag in a brother with no limit credit card so I am not surprised they struggle with managing International Football.
Ode is our most important player he’s one of the reasons Saka succeeds, his work rate and play making is elite and he’s a leader on the pitch @DaPrince84 have u been smoking cali weed!?
Shoutout to @BIGHMW who I just ran into at Port Townsend Safeway. PT is a really lovely place I was driving through on vaca, so I had to look him up. See you back on BigSoccer man, maybe soon?
Crazy that I've been thinking about this for days, since @cooper7d7 posted it and @DaPrince84 affirmed it. I agree with this list as well, but the fact that our 2 most critical players are 1) Saka--who is home grown and just waltzed into Arteta's hands--and 2) Saliba--who nobody saw the level of talent he possessed or we wouldn't have loaned him for 2 years before giving him a chance--is kind of crazy. I give the organization full credit for handling the Raya / Ramsdale situation, (I wasn't a fan, but have come around) as well as the Kai and Rice signings. But what is likely to be the best business this regime has been able to pull off since Arteta's arrival is the loan and eventual signing of our captain, MO8 from Madrid.