Is it time for Mikel Arteta to take a gamble on Willock?
With 12 games to play before the transfer window opens there is no option for external solutions, nor Mesut Ozil. It is time for the back 3 to be dropped, and we need a goalscoring midfielder.
Willian and Dani Ceballos are options for an attacking midfield role, but neither are real goal scoring threats.
Now, when you look at Willocks stats, he has 10 goals in 66 appearances. The split is equal 33 games in the Premier League and 33 in other competitions. However, the worry is Willock has just 1 goal in those 33 PL games.
This season Willock has yet to appear in the PL, however he has 2 goals and 2 assists in 2 starts in the Europa. The Europa is obviously a huge step down in quality, but you have to say he has taken every chance he has been given this season.
The 1 goal in 33 PL games stat is also a bit harsh when you look deeper. He has only started 10 times, and those were sporadically over the last 4 seasons. It should also be noted that he is often not played in his favoured role, largely used on the wing and even as a wing back.
A lot of people want to see Aubameyang start as the main striker. The issue with this is Auba doesn't get involved, doesn't occupy the CBs, doesn't compete often for high balls and doesn't hold up the ball very well. Even compared to Lacazette and Nketiah he is poor at this part of the striker role.The solution could be to play an attacking midfielder who loves to run past the striker, who can compete in the air, who doesn't mind a bit of a tussle.
Willock isn't a great passer, isn't the creative type of #10. He is a different style, but has other qualities. Is it time for Arteta to take a gamble and give Willock a run of games? The other bonus for Arteta is that, unlike an Ozil, if we need him to Willock is willing to the dirty work and can drop in to make a more defensive midfield 3.
---------------Leno------------------------
Bellerin--Holding--Gabriel---Tierney
---------Partey------Xhaka-------------
Placeholder-------Willock-----------Saka
------------Aubameyang------------
Joe Willock
posted on 17/11/20
Not really true. Pepe has never been ‘getting better’. He’s never put in a run of good form. And this is Willian’s first season with Arsenal too.
That being said I’d still play Pepe ahead of him for the reason mentioned above. If Nelson was fit I’d start him ahead of both.
posted on 17/11/20
comment by A Catalyst For Change (U7080)
posted 11 seconds ago
Yeah I think he’s worth a go. I’ve not been his biggest fan, but watching games he has played in, albeit usually against weaker opposition, his runs into box and the threat that he can score does add extra dimension to our attack. At the moment it’s pretty much dead in that area and very predictable, and there’s chance willock could add something different for opposition to think about
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Yeah, just doing something different will improve us. I can see, if Arteta does switch to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, that either Ceba or Willian will come in as the AM - with Auba on the left still. That doesn't really change us, just adds another person to congest that bit of the pitch outside the opponents penalty box.
posted on 17/11/20
Point is Pepe can shine and score few goals sometimes, can be a treat sometimes, Willian on the other hand isn't a treat. And yeah I agree about Nelson, another one that deserves chance.
posted on 17/11/20
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by A Catalyst For Change (U7080)
posted 11 seconds ago
Yeah I think he’s worth a go. I’ve not been his biggest fan, but watching games he has played in, albeit usually against weaker opposition, his runs into box and the threat that he can score does add extra dimension to our attack. At the moment it’s pretty much dead in that area and very predictable, and there’s chance willock could add something different for opposition to think about
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Yeah, just doing something different will improve us. I can see, if Arteta does switch to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, that either Ceba or Willian will come in as the AM - with Auba on the left still. That doesn't really change us, just adds another person to congest that bit of the pitch outside the opponents penalty box.
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Yeah I think that could work as well. At moment there is usually no one occupying space behind striker, which seems to have lead to us just horseshoe passing and only able to penetrate into the box from wide. Getting someone to sit behind striker, feeding the attack or running beyond the striker could make a difference. Willock and Willian could in theory do that, but less so in terms of picking passes, ceballos is a better passer but usually from deeper, and never seems to want to get in the box.
posted on 17/11/20
Willock isn't good enough. Very limited player. Similar to Nketiah in that sense
posted on 17/11/20
comment by Dubbed* (U21815)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Willock isn't good enough. Very limited player. Similar to Nketiah in that sense
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Bit early to right him off isn't it? Development in the Europa has been great.
posted on 17/11/20
Xhaka in the holding position is a bit dangerous. Had it been Elneny before his covid result would have been safer.
posted on 17/11/20
comment by Dubbed* (U21815)
posted 2 hours, 45 minutes ago
Willock isn't good enough. Very limited player. Similar to Nketiah in that sense
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There’s a huge difference between the 2 of them.
Nketiah is playing way more than he should be an at the expense of our star player whilst Willock is not playing at all at the expense of some of our worst players.
posted on 17/11/20
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 4 hours, 19 minutes ago
comment by Dubbed* (U21815)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Willock isn't good enough. Very limited player. Similar to Nketiah in that sense
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Bit early to right him off isn't it? Development in the Europa has been great.
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What does Willock have? Bang average player. Not particularly quick or strong. Technically below par. Not intelligent on or off the ball. He's just a battler.
posted on 19/11/20
He has a lot more intelligence than you, that's for sure, even if he ain't that bright. Thick caaaant.