Kai Havertz has picked up an injury in Dubai. We had a front 3 of Martinelli, Saka and Havertz – all of those are injured. We are left with Nwaneri (an 18 year old), Trossard and Sterling (who is on loan). It was clear 2 seasons ago that we needed enforcement in attack and we ignored it completely. I don’t care if it’s the manager or the technical director or the club stopping such a move, I know the money was there and we spent it all on defenders. We have this approach of making sure to cover all ifs and buts in the defense while praying for the god if something happens in attack. And the pryaer didn’t work, so we are going to pay the price!
Kai Havertz is out for the season. Not that he was a prolific striker but we lack even the half decent options in attack and him missing at this season puts our season in jeopardy. Ultimately, Sterling will play on one side, Nwaneri on the other and Trossard in the middle. It doesn’t give me confidence at all.
I’m not sure if anyone had given attention to the attack, at all! Gabriel Jesus is an injury prone player, everyone knew that when he was at City. Havertz was brought as a midfielder who is covering the CF position, but it’s not like he is a TH14 incarnation whom we have moved from the wings to the middle. We needed a striker and we didn’t have one since Aubameyang left. It’s such a pathetic condition that if the twitter ITKs spread the rumours that we are in the market for Eddie Nketiah, I will feel happy!
All this crap of ‘titles are won in the defence’ makes sense when you have Mustafi in your line-up. Not when you have a 17 year keeping the likes of Zinchenko (45m), Calafiori (35m) away from the starting line up. You, at this level, should have identified that talent, stopped yourself from spending 40 odd millions in the defence and used that money to get a CF. We were ready to pay 40m for Ollie Watkins, Villa were asking for 60. 60million GBP for a decent striker at 29 years of age is YES any day when you have Jesus and Havertz to pick from. If you were out of money, you should have sold Zinchenko, or shouldn’t have bought Calafiori and used some of that money to fix the main problem.
I’m frustrated. Havertz is injured for the season and we have no one to fix this problem. We did nothing in the transfer window.
You know what Mikel will do? He will try to fix it by playing Merino or Trossard in that position. Be brave enough, accept your mistake and develop someone in that role from the academy. You got MLS, Saka, Nwaneri who is saving your arse, go and develop someone for a change rather than crying in every press conference. If you can’t do that and the only thing you know is spending 100m to fix a problem, you are just Pep without trophies.
Right, a short rant today. Hope you are doing well.
Normally after a Dubai session we are on fire.
Can Arteta’s half time team talk include a section on the offside rule for Sterling?
Bet MA wishes we didn’t sell our goal scoring machine to Manure. Just think if MA had given the kid minutes as it might have made the difference Nwaneri and Skelly are making.
Now we have the slow thinking and paced Tushy Duck playing the Thais call Sterling.
If only w had kept Chido Obi Martin. It just goes to show how we don’t value our own. Every player that we create in our academy are priceless. All this nonsense not good enough is employ blusters. Surely he would be better than Sterling or show more ambition than him.
That’s asking a bit much Marc.
One shot on target against Leicester is very poor in 38 minutes but par for the course for us
Tony
I have standards – not many but I do have them!
What were we doing sell Nketiah if we weren’t going to bring in another body?
He may not be a great option but he’s better than nothing.
Junior just said we haven’t had scored from a direct free kick since the beginning of last season. That is some negative stat record surely.
Marc
Eddie can’t get a start for palace. Has been poor like he was for us.
Our entire backline is up and Raya is halfway up. Explains what mediocrity we up against.
And just a single shot at the goal
Marc
Absolutely brilliant 😂😂🙏
Again, Trossard can’t score if his life depended on it. And all our hopes are on him.
Sterling trying to make a record of being offside most in a game?
And now, sterling can’t keep the ball IN on the sideline.
We’e got zero threat up top. Midget Trossard is marked by 4 defenders twice his height and we put a cross in.
Ambarish
You know MA loves his negative records
That miracle we were hoping for seems to be getting much bigger and more elusive
TRVL going to go fucking apeshit when he watches this – he’s going to need some of Kroenke’s special “medication”.
Tony
I’m not suggesting Nketiah is a long term option but he’s at least a striker with some basic instincts in front of goal which would give some of the players supporting him a bit more space.
Of course what we should have done is buy a real striker but the only person who doesn’t seem to realise that was the only priority is shit for brains.
TRVL
“Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes the accumulation of long-term injuries experienced by some clubs is an “accident waiting to happen” because of the increased demands on players in a congested soccer calendar”
Great post says it all.
We need Jorginho who can add tempo and Ode as false 9 to give us more impetus keep Sterling hugging the line to pull a defender out left
Would be my half time talk
Tony
Mine would be “STOP BUNCHING”
Sterling lacks vision with the ball at his feet. Earlier Rice was his left pass but all he did was look at the ball then fluff his shot as per usual.
He can’t think and run n with the ball.
Wally Walcott was the better player and that’s saying something.
I have been saying we need an upgrade on Odegaard.
Marc
Yep, at this stage we would be cheering if the club decides to spend 30M on a striker called Eddie Nketiah. Such a poor state of affairs in the attack.
Marc
We are too narrow for sure. Hence Sterling hugging the line.
MA to scared to make the right changes. Sterling has no right playing the 2nd half.
Sterling is Leicester’s best player. 🙄
Ambarish
Odegaard is one of those players who needs top players around him to shine – put Saka, a properly managed Martinelli and a real striker around him and you’d see a different player.
Tony Walcott got 100 goals for us. Imagine 100 goals and it’s not a joke. Sometimes we underestimate our own players. Everyone seems to not good enough for us.
Marc
Agreed Ode is special and needs his quality around him.
MA doesn’t understand that.
Its like Sterlings got a 5 second delay between events and his brain kicking in.