Not Definitively no
But when Arteta was asked to comment about it and stated that he seemed to be unhappy for not starting games, it would be quite the coincidence if he was just simply being nonchalant in a Thierry Henry esque manner
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Long term I think of Trossard as an impact sub rather than a starter. My brother who I almost never agree with on anything compared him in that vein to Ole Gunner Solksjaer and I think that’s a reasonable comparison. Martinelli has been disappointing for a long time now, but I think as clearly Arteta does that he is a superior player to Trossard. But he hasn’t shown it, and actually for me it’s now on Martinelli to prove his worth from the bench much in the way Trossard has had to
Yes I’ve seen this. I’d be ok with this as he can play anywhere along the front three and really with an attacking signing it’s as much about adding squad depth. This individual who is going to singularly give us 25+ goals a season is not happening in this window and I remain unconvinced that there was anyone realistic we could have signed to fill that role.
I’d rather this be a loan signing as long term would maybe consider using our summer budget for 2025 to go for the one big attacking player (Openda is the one we are meant to be looking at). That’s assuming Arteta can stop his habbit of purchasing defenders like they are Faberge Eggs
I can't agree with this, are we saying that there is no striker in the entire footballing world, that doesn't have enough talent to get on the end of a crossed ball, be in the right place at the right time, and put the ball in the back of the net?
I highly doubt it.
We create so many chances, they would only have to be half decent and probably be able to elevate themselves to grab a hat full of goals throughout the season.
Every player doesn't have to be world class to do a job, just better than what we have, which currently is:
Trossard - great off the bench but not sure he can do it consistently over 90 mins (plus potential injury time)
Havertz - maybe 20 goals this season, but not 100% nailed on (plus potential injury time)
Saka - gets found out by most teams now, 2 man marking almost every time (plus potential injury time)
Martinelli - Needs to get his head straight, hasn't been a complete attacking threat for a long time now (plus potential injury time)
Jesus - Nowhere near the player he was before the injury, hardly scores at all now (plus guaranteed injury time)
That's it, apart from the odd goals from Odegaard and the odd random goals from defenders and other players.
We only have to have one of those players get an injury and the attack is decimated, with no options off the bench.
But I do think there’s a qualitative difference between having options up front in terms of numbers which I agree we lack and taking the Goldilocks approach to getting the right player. For me it’s not an either or. I don’t want us to be short of options across the front three (and thus why I think bringing in Kingsley Coman would be a good signing) and I don’t want to bring in just any striker who doesn’t fit in with how we play, doesn’t necessarily add anything else (outside of players like Haaland top clinical strikers are at a premium) and is a burden to bringing in someone better further down the line
But that's the thing, I don't think we necessarily need a player that 'fits in' to how we play.
I think we should be going for something slightly different to mix things up when required, or it's just more of the same. We really need some form of game changer for the hard to break down teams.
Not entirely sold on Coman either as he has been very injury prone in the last season or two.