Even if we had a fit Saliba and went into the game in a rich vein of form, I think Man City would have been comfortable favourites anyway. Absolutely no one could present a believable case for Arsenal winning this game.
There is quite simply a gulf in class at the moment, not just with Arsenal but the rest of the league and possibly Europe too. I don’t respect anything they’ve achieved and will continue to achieve but it’s hard to question just how strong of a team they are.
Yeah the guy is the same as Holding. Just a good guy kept around for morale. Under no circumstances should he ever be considered an option unless it’s just some dead game where the outcome is of no consequence.Quote:
Originally Posted by mandela8
I think that gulf in class is largely in central midfield.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
I think if we agree our best defensive set up is Tierney, Gabriel, Saliba and White…now even allowing for the fact that White is not a right back I think person for person that’s just as good as any of City’s defenders.
Ederson is better than Ramsdale yes but wouldn’t say gulf in class there
Martinelli, Saka are just as good if not better than Grealish, Bernardo Silva
Partey is probably better than Rodri
But then we have Xhaka….ugh until we improve there it does make it a problem for any attempt to go toe to toe with City.
Yes even after that they’ve got that abominable freak of nature Haaland, and Odegaard as good as he’s been is never going to be at the level of Kevin de Bruyne (no slight on Odegaard, De Bruyne is one of the best players in the world)
But Saliba instead of Holding at centre back, and a proper central midfield…yeah I think we would have been competitive on Wednesday
ExactlyQuote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
We have finite resources and I don’t think room should be made on the wage bill for mascots. Holding and Elneny are by all accounts well liked…..and they do both seem humble and hard working. But humble and hard working are words that should be engraved on the rotary watch you’ve been given as a retirement present by the accounts firm you’ve worked at for 30 years. In football it means shit
ThisQuote:
Originally Posted by IBK
We already have a 3rd choice DCM in JorginhoQuote:
Originally Posted by Mac76
We have finite space on our wage bill and that should go to recruiting someone like Caicedo to make sure there isn’t a massive drop off in quality when Partey is injured.
Absolutely no justification for keeping him in my mind
Aye, this is the crux of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
Of our team, on its best day, not one single player gets in the City line up. Only Partey is close but Rodri is incredible.
That's a huge gulf. Frankly, I'm not sure anyone else even makes their bench. Odegaard, maybe.
don't agree, i think Martinelli, Saka (though he does tend to drift out of games), Saliba, Ram are worthy of consideration, hell I'd even make a case for TrossardQuote:
Originally Posted by mandela8
not Partey though, anyone who can dip that far in form isn't eligible
Fair enough if we recruit both Caceido and Rice but I'm extremely sceptical that we will do so while getting in the necessary top class CB; RB and striker. Jorginho was acquired to fill in for partey IIRC. Alls I'm saying is that behind Partey; Jarginho and (hopefully) Rice, I don't see how we are going to improve on Elneny as a bench warmer...Quote:
Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn
Ramsdale is not at Edersons level.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac76
Saliba possibly but Stones and Dias are extremely good.
Grealish and Mahrez are also beasts. Saka and Martinelli have mostly been great but there are levels to this here. You’re comparing players who’ve achieved the square root of nothing to proven winners.