If Cala is good going forward then play him in MF, part of a wing back's job is to defend, anyone actually watching him try and defend at LB should be quickly able to see that he can't do it
Funnily enough Saka actually did a good job at LB when he played there, but clearly that's not where we should be playing him
Calafiori started as a left back, that’s where he played for Italy but he can also play at centre back because he’s versatile. So evidently you’re stating you can see something that coaches in Italy and Switzerland as well as Arteta can’t see. I think at times he’s proven to be clumsy but to outright claim he can’t play there is evidence of your asserting your opinion as fact, and especially hypocritical given your irritation at what you claim I do.
As I say, it’s your opinion that we need defensive cover. It’s mine that we don’t.
So the update on the Gyokores/Sesko saga is apparently both clubs have climbed down and both players are available for the same price tag of €70m (this is less than Mbuemo currently)
Gyokores remains eager but seems to be getting frustrated at how long this is taking while Our Highness Seko, also seems to be a bit more sober.
I think both clubs and players just want this deal wrapped up next week so everyone can move on with their plans (as 1/2 of preseason is almost gone already).
Its now up to our seasoned team of brilliant professionals to make the next move.
https://www.teamtalk.com/arsenal/tra...o-double-boost
Last edited by 21_GOONER_SALUTE; 28-06-2025 at 02:34 PM.
there's no irritation from me, simply a pointing out that it's a fact that having no-one who can regularly cover for Saliba in a meaningful way is a weakness, likewise not replacing two DMsOriginally Posted by HCZ_Reborn
I can only say again,we saw Gabriel get injured and Saliba lose his head a bit towards the end of last season which is clear evidence they need more support than is already present.
Arteta will want to be competing in all comps as usual and tends to play over-strength teams a lot of the time, so given we are unlikely to shake him from that, then this is the solution - I'm trying to work with Arteta's faults here
Also your attitude to Rice and where he should play is simply borne from the fact you nailed your colours to the mast early, got proved wrong and so are trying to dig yourself out by somehow claiming he doesn't help our attack which is absurd
Last edited by Mac76; 28-06-2025 at 03:39 PM.
Well we're all getting fed up with Berta's game-playing, let's go for Gyok or if Arteta insists then Sesko but just one of them please ffs
Sigh yes
Once again, people can only ever disagree with you in bad faith
Never mind that been screaming for an extra creative player for ages at no8, but yes it’s just because of an obsessive hatred for Rice
Its actually got nothing to do with Rice. Rice is playing a more typical box to box role rather than his starting position as a defensive midfielder. That position for me doesn’t work against mid-low block teams. I think in these situations you need a defensive midfielder behind two creative players. Rice has done ok but I don’t believe you need more than one defensive/holding player call it what you will against most mid table sides and in fact it’s become detrimental to our ability to create chances.
That’s not blaming Rice at all, it’s a situation that isn’t helped by Odegaard having a dreadful situation which puts all the pressure on Rice to be our chance creator and I don’t think that’s good enough for a player for whom that isn’t their primary function.
I think there’s been maybe two games this season where I’ve criticised Rice’s performances. So again, maybe just try and understand that people have a legitimate difference of opinion from you
And we have got two players who can cover for Saliba on the right hand side of defence. Three players covering two positions is more than adequate cover. Arteta has signed defender after defender after defender for the past five and a half years, it’s time to stop.
Last edited by HCZ_Reborn; 28-06-2025 at 04:25 PM.
except a good few of them weren't defenders - Zin is no kind of defender, Cala is suspect especially at LB and Kiwior can only really play in one position
again, we have good cover at RB with White and Timber, but unless we want to overstretch them in the multiple games we need to pay, we need one more who can play in the CB positions as apparently Christian whatisname can
and you're ignoring the fact that this could be a precursor to Kiwior leaving, as he will probably want more first team football then we can give him
jump on the bandwagon if you want but there is sense to it
I’m not jumping on a bandwagon, Ive been clear for ages no more defenders
Despite your insistence to the contrary Calafiori is a defender so therefore we have Timber, White, Gabriel, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori. Seven players is sufficient. I wouldn’t support selling Kiwior either
In my view we don’t need a defender and we don’t need a defensive midfielder (my preference would have been to keep Partey and sell Merino but even without him we are covered)
We are only going back and forth here because as I’ve observed loads of times you’re either unable or unwilling to acknowledge the difference between your opinion and fact.
It's too simplistic to say it's 7 players for 4 positions becauae, as I.keep trying to explain, not all of the players can play all of the positions
I maintain Cala is not up to defending at LB and Kiwior can only defend properly at LCB, and may be leaving (i'd keep him too but as i tried to explain, he may wish to go elsewhere and if I were him I would)
The point of Christian whatisname is to be more comprehensive cover, it's only one player ffs
And the DMs are replacing players which have left, I didn't see you saying we had too many DMs last season unless you said it about Merino but who the eff knows why we bought him anyway
Again what you maintain and what is are not one and the same thing
For the right side of defence and central defence we have three players - Saliba, White and Timber…and should he ever come back from injury Tomiyasu (hardly likely we will sell him this summer)
On the left side we have Gabriel, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori
You don’t need to explain anything, you don’t need to maintain anything. Your belief (and that’s all it is) is that we need another defender and mine is that we don’t.
Jorginho hardly played. We had Rice and Partey who were sufficient, now Partey is gone and Zubimendi replaces him. I don’t think Norgaard is by itself a bad signing but it’s an unnecessary one (unless we get rid of Merino).
I stated very clearly that my preference was to keep Partey and get rid of Merino because even with Jorginho going we had too many players for one position and I think at least 50% of the time an attacking player should be at 8.
I don’t care if you agree or not, anymore than I care for your unnecessary explanations as if somehow I needed you to tell me what options we had in defence or what you maintain to be the case about Calafiori
The only thing I’ve done is sought to point out that you either can’t or choose not to distinguish fact from your opinion.
In my opinion we needed neither a centre back or a defensive midfielder, which adds up to 26 million that would have been better spent in more offensive signings. You don’t agree…plus ca change. I suppose to your intractable mindset it’s another indefensible position?
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