Arsenal - 2024/25

[WeePat]

Semenyo would be nice, Elanga a lot less. How about a surprise Nkunku move ? Bit worried about his injuries but would add goals, Maresca doesn't seem to rate him that high especially if you go big for a striker.

We can't loan anyone in, we're already at the limit with Sterling and Neto. We'd have to buy Neto (doable) or Sterling (hell nah).

I think Maresca rates him highly, just doesn’t see him as a great fit for his system. I don’t think Arsenal would be a good move for him tbh. He’s not a winger, so can’t really replace Saka. He could play the 10, if you slide Odegaard back to 8. That could in theory be a very dynamic and attacking midfield, but it’s not really a pressing need Arsenal need to address in January. I don’t think Chelsea would sanction a move to Arsenal anyway, unless the money offered was too good to turn down.

 

[Monmouthshire Red]

This injury to Saka has been on the cards. Arteta has run him into the ground.

 

[Daydreamer]

This injury to Saka has been on the cards. Arteta has run him into the ground.

The moments that seriously perplex me are when we bench him for domestic cup games or dead rubber games in the CL… and then bring him on as sub for 25 mins.

Or keep him on the pitch when we’re 3+ goals up, as we’ve been several times in the last couple seasons.

We’ve put additional minutes in his legs for no reason.

 

[Irwin99]

I would almost put a bet on Rashford at this stage. They need someone and I think they will gamble on him being another case of a good player at a mess of a club.

I would see them looking at a 30 million fee and fancying the throw of the dice, especially now.

Arteta has quite an ego and would love the idea of reinvigorating Rashford and the media attention that would get.

I think he's worth another 10 million but it's an interesting scenario. There's no doubt for me Rashford would go there and do well (for a time) but Arsenal fans would be on his back a lot quicker than United fans have been if he puts in any of the performances we've seen in the past year or more. It'd be risky for them but it could be worth a gamble.

Us buying RvP from them was actually kind of risky in some ways as I believe his last year at Arsenal was practically his only season with them that was injury free. It was worth it though for that one season.

 

[Powderfinger]

The moments that seriously perplex me are when we bench him for domestic cup games or dead rubber games in the CL… and then bring him on as sub for 25 mins.

In these situations players are often on a schedule where they're going to do some kind of high intensity workout that day if they don't play, so playing 20-25 minutes or doing the workout makes little difference.

We have definitely overplayed Saka over the last couple years though. Injuries tend to cascade through a side. Once Odegaard went out Saka was always going to be pushed to play more as our second most creative player and other left footed set piece taker.

Every once in a while you have a cursed season where everything goes wrong - injuries, decisions, small margin moments within matches - and that's basically Arsenal's situation this year. At the end of the day the important thing is not to it derail the broader project. Finishing 2nd or 3rd and winning a cup or two would make this a reasonably successful year given the circumstances. Then go huge on an attacker in the summer and storm the league next year.

 

[awop]

I think he's worth another 10 million but it's an interesting scenario. There's no doubt for me Rashford would go there and do well (for a time) but Arsenal fans would be on his back a lot quicker than United fans have been if he puts in any of the performances we've seen in the past year or more. It'd be risky for them but it could be worth a gamble.

Us buying RvP from them was actually kind of risky in some ways as I believe his last year at Arsenal was practically his only season with them that was injury free. It was worth it though for that one season.

Who is bidding 40 millions for Rashford ? He's not going to Germany, Real or Barcelona. I don't think even PSG are dumb enough to take a punt. Arsenal would be braindead to think about him. We're already in trouble at LB to waste money on a guy that does 0 defensive work. As bad as Martinelli has been, he'd be ahead of him every day of the week.