If the question is who should play in the #10 role if we go to a 4-2-3-1?
With the Mesut Ozil debate likely to put firmly to bed tomorrow with the PL squad submitted, we are now looking at Willian, Ceballos, maybe Emile Smith-Rowe if he can impress in the Europa, but maybe we should also be looking at Saka.
It is one of the few positions he has yet to appear in, but he has a lot of the qualities needed to be a success there. He seems to be able to find space in crowded areas, he can pick a pass, he also has the pace and ball carrying ability to be effective in breaks.
The biggest question mark would be over his right foot I guess.
It is quite annoying that while the likes of Willian and Pepe keep getting attacking roles, Bukayo is restricted by having to do a lot of donkey work in a left wing back/ central midfield hybrid role. It looks as if the 19 year old is our most creative player.
If not the #10, I would really like to see Saka given a more advanced role.
Is Saka the answer?
posted on 20/10/20
comment by Dan Arsenal (U21084)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 21 minutes ago
Didn't rate Willian at Chelsea, and he has done fack all to change that.
Even his "amazing 3 assist debut" is a fallacy. The first was a miss from 5 yards, the second a corner and the 3rd a pass to Auba who was still 35 yards out. Hardly creative genius.
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Think we need to be patient with Willian. Still early days. Give him until xmas and then judge
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Willian has played on the right and a false 9. He has hardly been involved in the games due to our comical MF.
Same goes for Pepe and Auba. If your going to criticise Willian then you have to look at the entire front line
posted on 20/10/20
Against City:
----Auba--------------Pepe--
------------------Willian--------
-----Saka--------------------
--------Xhaka-----Ceb------
posted on 20/10/20
Pepe gets criticism as well.
Auba is never going to be an all action, highly involved in the game player. But he will get goals. And even he gets criticised a fair bit when we lose.
posted on 20/10/20
I think the model should be the second half of the Sheff Utd game. 4-2-3-1
That was the first time Willian and Saka were given a bit of licence to come into the middle to create or attack the goal.
-------------Auba-------------
------------------------Pepe--
-----Saka-----Willian-------
-----------Partey-----------
------------------Ceb---------
posted on 20/10/20
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 36 minutes ago
comment by Ars is Foot (U10984)
posted 2 minutes ago
Willian is playing in the position he has always played for Chelsea (bar the City game), and he has been mediocre, so far. The hope is that he can do something in the #10 role but, based on current form, it's worrying.
That's where I'm coming from, anyway.
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Willian isn't playing in the same position as he did at Chelsea.
Arsenal 3-4-3
-------striker--------
--Am---------Am--
-------Space-------
----Xhaka----------
FB-----Ceb-----FB
Arsenal essentially play their outball wide on the wings. There is a huge disconnect from midfield to attack right down the spine of the team. This is why you see Laca/Eddi often having to drop back into the area I have labeled as Space in order to link. But when you do that there is no central striker to link into attacking areas.
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Willians heat map for Arsenal. Looks like he plays mainly in the same area as he did for Chelsea
https://www.sofascore.com/player/willian/31417
posted on 20/10/20
comment by Ars is Foot (U10984)
posted 55 seconds ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 36 minutes ago
comment by Ars is Foot (U10984)
posted 2 minutes ago
Willian is playing in the position he has always played for Chelsea (bar the City game), and he has been mediocre, so far. The hope is that he can do something in the #10 role but, based on current form, it's worrying.
That's where I'm coming from, anyway.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Willian isn't playing in the same position as he did at Chelsea.
Arsenal 3-4-3
-------striker--------
--Am---------Am--
-------Space-------
----Xhaka----------
FB-----Ceb-----FB
Arsenal essentially play their outball wide on the wings. There is a huge disconnect from midfield to attack right down the spine of the team. This is why you see Laca/Eddi often having to drop back into the area I have labeled as Space in order to link. But when you do that there is no central striker to link into attacking areas.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Willians heat map for Arsenal. Looks like he plays mainly in the same area as he did for Chelsea
https://www.sofascore.com/player/willian/31417
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I am not surprised. The point I am trying to make however is that Arsenal's 3-4-3 is not the same as Chelsea formation. So he is ended up isolated and not involved in the game with relatively few touches.
posted on 20/10/20
Going back to DJs original question!
I think Willian should be tried first in the no10 role in a 4-2-3-1. But Saka is just as creative and I think eventually Saka/Willian linking during the game.
Very much like Pires/Bergkamp used to.
posted on 20/10/20
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 2 hours ago
comment by Dan Arsenal (U21084)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 21 minutes ago
Didn't rate Willian at Chelsea, and he has done fack all to change that.
Even his "amazing 3 assist debut" is a fallacy. The first was a miss from 5 yards, the second a corner and the 3rd a pass to Auba who was still 35 yards out. Hardly creative genius.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think we need to be patient with Willian. Still early days. Give him until xmas and then judge
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Willian has played on the right and a false 9. He has hardly been involved in the games due to our comical MF.
Same goes for Pepe and Auba. If your going to criticise Willian then you have to look at the entire front line
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed
posted on 20/10/20
comment by 5-2 (U10698)
posted 12 hours, 21 minutes ago
comment by WB2 (Emery'll Get Me Killed) (U8276)
posted 9 hours, 58 minutes ago
comment by 5-2 (U10698)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
Saka should play every game 90 min. He proved that he can be consistent week in week out. After Aubameyang first player on my team sheet.
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Yeah and your team sheet would soon be stuck without him for a big chunk of the season. After his body proved to you just why you don't play a physically under developed kid like that in a PL 1st team
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Nothing to worry, Ozil will then come in for him.
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I thought you had to be named in the squad to be allowed to do that.
posted on 20/10/20
Average player. Just like PT Barnum said, there's a Saka born every minute.