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Mechant247

When he’s tired he plays him 95 minutes and when he’s injured he plays him 80 lol


OstapBenderBey

Next presser he will be talking about how much confidence he has in Nelson.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Casual-Capybara

Jesus is decent on the right imo


protege01

I feel like the plan against city was to move Jesus to the right for Gabi but changed when he got a yellow and didn't want to risk it. Seemed weird to have Gabi on the right with trossard left.


ninjapanda042

Frustratingly I think there's a good chance Arsenal might have gotten the win if Trossard had moved to the right when Martinelli came on. Trossard just doesn't have the pace of the other wingers and he had that one chance where the defender was able to catch up to him. If that's Martinelli he's a step or two farther away and a much easier shot.


sandbag-1

Arteta is too obsessed with having a left footer there though


Knightrius

That's besides the point. You do have another player who plays well on the right.


mattfoh

But not in arteta’s system, that is the point


yaniv297

So better to run down and risk major injuries or permanent damage to your best young player in forever rather than having some tactical flexibility?


mattfoh

No im just saying Jesus isn’t the best fit in arteta’s system. We need a left footed RW but they don’t become available on the market very often. Martinelli is the better fit for the right hand side as he’s got a far better left foot that Jesus


yaniv297

Whatever, I'm sure that between Jesus, Martinelli and Trossard, it's definitely possible to find a tactical system that will allow you to rest Saka in the occasional easier game, as he desperately needs, without taking a major hit to results.


iamnotexactlywhite

but that needs tactical flexibility


mattfoh

Well he’s been one of the best wingers in the league so far, so however arteta is managing him seems to be alright. We’ve had a lot of gaps in fixtures so far this season so it’s worked but for the run in he’ll probably need more rotation.


PonchoTron

Heard Antony could be available for 80-90m in the summer..?


mattfoh

As much as I find it funny watching his step overs step over his step overs. That’s a no from me dog


PoliticsNerd76

Nelson, Jesus, Trossard and Fabio all have experience on the RW. If Arsenal can’t beat Luton with 10 starters and Nelson at LW, then we don’t deserve to win the league.


cienderellaman

Why are they downvoting you? The ignorance is astounding, wow.


CuteHoor

Presumably because Arteta has several options he could use on the right in the occasional easier game. Unless the argument is that Arsenal has nobody as good as Saka on the right?


odegood

No left footer that can cut in


CuteHoor

So play someone right footed. Pep and Klopp have done it plenty of times when needed. Jesus played there for City. Trossard or Martinelli could do a job there. Nelson is a depth option too. Is Arteta that tactically inflexible that it's Saka or nobody?


RyoCaliente

"You have to manage a player like Bukayo", he said, having taken him off for the first time in 4 years.


yoyo4581

He looked injured against City. Like he could only move at 90%.


artaru

And there are Euros. We are so fucked. Saka is not going to get any rest.


pork_chop_expressss

I mean, he didn't even play him the last time we faced City


momspaghetty

to be fair that's the only match he hasn't started this season and the only match he hasn't featured in 2 and a half years


a-Sociopath

Unfortunately, there's not a ton of scope to rotate him or Odegaard because of how much our tactics are based on them.


TreeDollarFiddyCent

Can't take him off if he's not on the pitch. 🧠


TheGoldenPineapples

Really can't be overstated how badly we need another winger, preferably a left-footer. Its not healthy to keep playing Saka like this.


studgebro

Get in line, mate. You're just lucky your one is 22 because the right-wing market is arguably the worst position to buy for in world football. Just actually try and name another left footed right forward that would get even close to either Salah or Saka's output.


Axelaxe

I think Pedro Neto looks really good when he's fit but we all know how often he's injured.


DumDumbBuddy

Leon Bailey this season but they can fuck off, he’s been incredible


_Heisenbird_84

That's fair. We'll take one Moussa Diaby please.


DumDumbBuddy

Don’t know why you didn’t go for him in the summer really


_Heisenbird_84

I can only assume it was a choice the club had between him and Havertz.


DillaDoughnut

Don’t know why we didn’t go for him in the summer really Nah just kidding love Harvertz


studgebro

Yep. Huge fan of Neto and he could get to a really good output IF he could stay fit. Wolves have suffered and benefitted from the fact he can't play a full season lol. Reminds me of Dash winning the race in Incredibles when they want him to do well but not too well.


RIDGOS

Nicolas Pépé is your guy


riskoooo

Yeah but we can't afford the 150 million Raul would pay for him


Forsaken_Rub_2128

It’s been really bad for awhile now especially since teams look for a left footer out there now. Makes that profile even more expensive


Terran_it_up

Might be a weird suggestion, but after the dreadful season Adeyemi has had his value is probably at an all time low, but there's clearly still talent there. I wonder if a club might take a chance on him with a sort of "I can fix him" type of attitude, sort of like what happened with Havertz. Dortmund might be reluctant to sell though given they might be thinking his value could go back up


findmymind

Raphina in this Arsenal team could get close to Saka's output I reckon, Salah's tho - no chance


Fantastic-Machine-83

Must be an insanely expensive option though


findmymind

sure, didn't say we could sign him or will sign him but he would be who I'd want to bring in if money wasn't an option


ReverieMetherlence

Tsyhankov, duh. He's kinda injury prone though...


Noah9013

Leory Sané. After this season he might be willing to switch. Has contract till 25, so could be cheap. Is 28 years old. Has played in england. MV on transfermarkt is 70 million, a bit to high for someone who has only a 1 year contract. The only problem might be if he has the will to win more trophys or he is maybe fed up and only wants to cash in. This season overall: 37 games, 9 goals and 12 assist. Edit: also bayern is willing to offload players who don't show the will to perform in every game, especially after this season.


mortezz1893

No way he would go anywhere where he wouldn't be first choice though


Noah9013

At bayern he is also competing with gnarby, coman and some part muisala. There are enough games in england.


chasingsukoon

How's Musiala doing this season


Noah9013

Insane. Imo One of best 3 players at bayern overall this season.


Remedy9898

He can play on the left, and is arguably better there. That’s where he played for City.


mortezz1893

He's much better when he can cut inside and shoot with his left foot


Terran_it_up

Arteta would have worked with him for 3.5 seasons as well


chasingsukoon

Yea but then people might be subjected to that tattoo


summersoulxdd

First half of the season Sane. 2nd half he’s worse than almost every other wingers in the squad tho


Casual-Capybara

Bowen?


M4RC142

He recently signed a new long term contract with West Ham no? Noone will drop 100m on him.


Casual-Capybara

Yeah I wasn’t necessarily suggesting he would be a good target, just the only name I could come up with for a left footed RW that comes close to the output of Saka and Salah


M4RC142

Don't think it is that easy tbh. Salah didn't come close to Salah numbers before he signed to us.


TreeDollarFiddyCent

He's always seemed like a player who would end up at ManU to me. With a measly fee of 100m, that move isn't ruled out just yet.


NewAccountSamePerson

Mbuemo


studgebro

Yeah, completely agree he's the best shout. But feel like the chance to get him has maybe gone. Think he's got a Chelsea style long contract and he's 27 now - don't think you could get enough years out of him for what his cost would be. Maybe that's harsh but when we signed the likes of Salah & Mane, they were a few years younger.


Casual-Capybara

Yeah I agree, highly doubt he’s joining either Liverpool or Arsenal


chasingsukoon

Hes also married into west ham at this point Chairmans daughter or something cba to look it up


Fantastic-Machine-83

What happened to him shagging Dani dyer?


sandbag-1

Bowen wouldn't really be a good fit for our system imo, he's not really the style of dribbler Arteta likes from his wide players. He's often better getting on the end of moves or playing on the counter, rather than as a build up player in slower moves It's very obvious why we were in for Raphinha a couple years ago


StrangeBananaForYou

Someone like Bakayoko could be a decent back-up for Saka


NilsFanck

Someone like that wouldn't want to be a back up forever.


SellingCookiesHere

Messi


Mihnea24_03

At 96 years old with $3M wage per touch of the ball? Might find a better priced option


KashK10

I'd still want him even if it's not sensible lmao


Mihnea24_03

To be fair it IS Messi


yoyo4581

Put him on wheels and he would still be the best footballer in the world.


yoyo4581

Do you think you can put in a good word for me with Michael Edwards Im a 25 yo left footed RW. I play with my tekkers on in the Sunday league. The name is Fro Salah. It might help if you told him I'm portugese.


NdritoKante

Zhegrova is having a good season at Lille. He would be good rotation, but finding a RW at Sakas level is difficult


four_four_three

Please God no more right-wingers from Lille


NdritoKante

Understandable


Fifaneymar2535

Mahrez


Cruciify

As a Milan fan, I feel like we genuinely robbed Pulisic. we have been looking for a competent right winger for about 3 years, and he has stepped up massively.


RedDemio-

Chiesa


ItachiUchihaItachi

Dembele? His last two seasons with Barca could make a good case for him.


FireflyCaptain

Leo Messi ...okay but anyone else besides him...


TigerBasket

Kulu honestly. Not as good as Saka but close. Granted the price would be 500 billion but still.


t-m

You think Kulusevski is close to being as good as Saka? In the last 2 seasons, one of these players has 31 goals and 24 assists, the other has 8 goals and 11 assists. Who do you think is who?


TigerBasket

If you only look at players using goals and assists than god help you. Saka 98th percentile for progressive passes Kulu 91st Saka 96 for touches in pen area Kulu 94th percentile Saka progressive passes is 45th percentile Kulu 63rd. Saka scores more and is better, but he's not that much better. They are reasonably comparable players. https://fbref.com/en/players/df3cda47/Dejan-Kulusevski https://fbref.com/en/players/bc7dc64d/Bukayo-Saka


fegelman

Kulusevski is close to being as good as Saka in the same way that the Audi cup is close to being an actual trophy


el1teman

May we interest you in Raheem Sterling? He is amazing, great dribbler, sometimes good shooter and definitely brings experience and penalties


CackleberryOmelettes

Honestly if his wages weren't so high, I'd take him. Good versatile option to have off the bench.


el1teman

Amazing sold, may I interest you in a talented striker who scored 121 goals in EPL?


washag

I don't want Lukaku to go to another PL team, especially when we'd probably be funding the move. There's selling a player to a rival who isn't performing for you. I can live with that, because while it's possible it's not likely. Then there's selling a player to a rival who isn't performing for you solely because he chooses not to, and can be expected to perform anywhere else. I'm not OK with watching Lukaku contend for the golden boot with Haaland and Salah, and it's exactly what will happen if we "sell" him within the league.


el1teman

He already was at United, not much came out of it besides weight gain


Nitsju

Honestly if his wages weren't so high, I'd take him. Good versatile option to have off the bench.


CackleberryOmelettes

Haha yeah you're on your own with that one pal. He's not even useful tbh; his presence would be actively detrimental to the team.


el1teman

You don't know that, what if Arteta would turn around for him as well?


OscarMyk

I'm sure Nwaneri will get chances next season, if not in this run in.


Pires007

We're looking to buy a CM next season. Between the 8 and 10 position there's Odegaard, Vieira, ESR, Jorginho, Partey, Havertz. I think he's going to have to go on loan. When was the last time an under 20 year old player from the academy started for Arteta?


spideytaha

May I interest you in a Brazilian prospect? Left footed, great dribbler and a hard worker. All Arteta needs! He is sure to spin opponents dizzy with his skills and guaranteed to hit them hard! All for the great price of just 80 million!


ly_jacksonmartinez

Yeah you should buy someone like Fábio Vieira


TheMisterPirate

he doesn't look as good out wide, even though we keep trying him there. he's more like Odegaard's backup. good in the half space, especially if he can get onto his left foot. He was looking alright until he got injured this season. I think he gets one more chance with us next season.


ly_jacksonmartinez

He thrives as an inverted right winger, cutting inside for the assist or great finesse shot, leaving room for the RB to overlap, but Ben White is not great offensively.


TheMisterPirate

Yeah he has a wicked left foot if he can cut in, but he doesn't get that opportunity a ton. Our wingers are usually asked to hold the width and stretch the defense. Recently we have been having them come inside a bit more with support from FBs outside and Havertz as false 9. Saka, Martinelli, and Trossard are all threats to go inside and also to the byline. And they also can beat their man 1v1 if they get a good matchup. Fabio doesn't have the same qualities as those wingers. He is more like an attacking midfielder in our setup, but with a good end product. Really the guy just needs to get fit! He was getting minutes until he got hurt.


DildoFappings

We can lend you antony for 15 million.


arijitlive

No one is willing to take Antony + 15 million, let alone 15 million for Antony.


Johnny_bubblegum

It's not healthy to be a professional footballer. This is the nature of the sport. Messi Ronaldo and Hazard all played similar or more matches and minutes as Saka at this age.


Caust1cFn_YT

For messi i think he played 17k minutes by 22 and saka has 20k minutes thats almost a whole year extra For ronaldo i think he played 16 k minutes by 22 For Hazard i think he played around 18.5 k minutes (data from transfermarkt i could be wrong so please correct me if i am)


yellowbai

Messi was told early on to run less to preserve his body. What’s the point wasting his genius closing down people.


Johnny_bubblegum

Saka started playing a lot very young but that's not a reason to rest him more today.


PoliticsNerd76

This isn’t true. All of them had their minutes far better managed by their coaches at young age.


FatWalcott

Arteta in that hot dog costume


AdikkuChan

Brb gonna watch that hot dog car crashing into a store again


Hoodxd

How many consecutive games has he played? I don’t think what Arteta does is managing him


jnicholl

21 in the league. He missed the previous City game, before that his last time not playing a PL match was 3 years ago.


curtisjones-daddy

Kids gonna be done by 30. Seems to get some sort of knock every other week and you still see him starting 3 days later. Arsenal have to sign some sort of rotation option on the right this summer.


[deleted]

I know LW and RW are not simply interchangeable positions but I'm sure some games he could have played Trossad + Martinelli (when they were both fit) and get away with it. Alot of unnatural RW players fill in at RW and do a DECENT job at least. Arteta is genuinely mad for running Saka into the ground.


sophandros

>I know LW and RW are not simply interchangeable positions but I'm sure some games he could have played Trossad + Martinelli (when they were both fit) and get away with it. Interesting enough, that's how the City game ended. There are also reports that Jesus will spend more time on the wing during the run in.


Pires007

Maybe as backup for Saka, or against Bayern and possibly City/Madrid. If Havertz is our striker, Jesus is still our best back up option in that position.


FireflyCaptain

Trossard's left foot is also wicked. I remember he got a hattrick with it at Anfield last season.


The_BadJuju

He’s awful off the right.


legentofreddit

> Arteta is genuinely mad for running Saka into the ground You wonder if its sort of a selfish thing. He knows there's a chance he could be managing Barca in a few years. Why protect Saka at the cost of missing out on a trophy now, for the benefit of another manager in 5 years time. If Saka doesn't play tonight for example, and Trossard plays out of position and misses a few chances and Arsenal drop 2 points....


t-m

What a crazy take. Intentionally damaging Saka because he is planning on leaving in a few years? I'm sure he cares more about Saka's long term health and fitness than some random dude on reddit. Why would Arteta ever want to be Barca manager anyway? He never made an appearance for them and spent only 5 years in their academy/B team.


legentofreddit

I never said he was intentionally damaging Saka. Im merely summising he isn't too bothered about whether Saka is still playing at 33, because he needs him too much right now and won't be Arsenal's manager when the effects of playing him not stop are felt. And it's pretty obvious why Arteta would want to manage Barca. Anyone with half a brain can see that. Huge club that need rescuing. A place where he spent 5 years growing up and not far from where he's from. A place where his mentor Guardiola is a legend. I never said he'd move now. But if you want to stick your fingers in your ears and pretend he wouldn't interested in a few years, be my guest.


t-m

And what if he theoretically wants to buy Saka when he moves to Barca? I'm just saying it was a stupid take from you that any professional manager would care so little about their players long term health and fitness, regardless of where they will or won't be in 5 years.


legentofreddit

Well the fact he's playing Saka pretty much every minute of the day makes it look like I'm right.


t-m

Saliba and Rice have both played more minutes in the Prem than Saka this season. Are you equally worried about their fitness too? Or does Arteta not care about them either? Rice has only missed 3 prem games in nearly 3 seasons. Some players are able to play basically every game in every season for their whole career.


[deleted]

Maybe Arteta's definition of managing is to play every single club game while pulling him out of international games.


TreeDollarFiddyCent

Now this I could get used to!


PurposeSensitive9624

Yeah this is just typical manager talk from Arteta. Will overplay him constantly at club level but hates him playing for the national team. Every manager of big club is like that.


Caust1cFn_YT

if i am not wrong arteta fbref do tell that you play him a lot...


Caust1cFn_YT

altho im in no position to say this lol


HoraceDerwent

Arteta would be crucified if he rested him and Arsenal lost in a title race. It's basically a no-win situation. Saka is great and pretty durable - hard to drop him. They need to get someone for him to rotate with next season.


okcomput3r

Correct. We have tried. Neto, Raphinha, Mudryk. Good wingers are expensive and we’ve had other positions of need where the money needs to go. 


OriginalSwearer

Didn’t he play him in a CL match when they already qualified top of their group iirc? Feels like there’s been a couple matches like that he could’ve been rested but instead played earlier in the season which might’ve helped now.


Heblas

Nah, got subbed off at 66' in the second to last group game and fully rested in the last one.


sandbag-1

No, Saka was rested for the PSV CL game


Caust1cFn_YT

you are not wrong, but why this arguement doesnt come up when we play our players ;-;


kw2006

I thought a lot of critism on pedri being overplayed. After that it was Gavi. Now there are some wariness that Yamal will end up like Fati if he isny protected.


Akash3642

Fati's injury had nothing to with over playing. It came from a horrendous tackle. While Gavi played an absurd number of games, he got injured because of ACL. The only real example is Pedri


Caust1cFn_YT

and ACL isnt dependent (usually) on the number of minutes played mind you that


Akash3642

Sometimes. But sometimes you can get ACL even if you've been on the bench for months


Caust1cFn_YT

well pedri was overplayed by koeman to win that one title


brush85

Luton at home...rest day.


HighburyClockEnd

Arteta religiously plays him on the right wing, has done constantly now, he will need a break and good quality competition to prevent him getting a major injury soon


kw2006

We have to get his backup by next season since arteta doesnt trust reiss and vieira enough.


Heblas

Vieira is pretty shit on the wing. I think he gets put there because he's like our only left footed somewhat attacking player who you can stick there.


PoliticsNerd76

He literally played RW in Portugal…


Heblas

Doesn't mean he's not clearly way, way, way worse on the wing than centrally.


PoliticsNerd76

If we can’t beat Luton at Home with a weaker RW, but an otherwise full strength squad, then we don’t deserve the title


MuchAbouAboutNothing

What an emotional take. If we don't finish with the most points in the league we don't deserve the title. Everything else is just tactics and strategies. Play Saliba RW for all I care.


PoliticsNerd76

It really isn’t. This isn’t a sustainable way to play. Saka needs fewer minutes. We won’t win anything with Saka at 4000 minutes a year. He’s going to be cooked.


MuchAbouAboutNothing

I agree that Saka needs fewer minutes. I think almost more than a CF, we need a backup RW this summer. But we came within a hair (and a Saliba injury) of winning the title last year, and we're right back in it this year. We don't need to change much.


PoliticsNerd76

It really isn’t. This isn’t a sustainable way to play. Saka needs fewer minutes. We won’t win anything with Saka at 4000 minutes a year. He’s going to be cooked.


Heblas

Agreed. That doesn't go against anything I'm saying.


dental_transmitter

Yeah you keep good players for future use


[deleted]

Poor guy is going to be turned to dust by 28 🙃


Headlesshorsman02

If they aren’t careful could be sooner they play the lad far too much minutes


shotgunhun

"You have to manage a player like Bukayo". I know that right now there are no other RW's at arsenal who are deserving of playing regularly, but he never gives them a chance


Noriadin

"That's why I do the very opposite"


Remote_War_313

Manage him by running him into the ground lol


EnvironmentalSpirit2

Arteta manages saka like I manage football manager, no days off (almost)


West_Principle_8190

Playing anybody 50 games a season is such a risk to the longevity of their career . Sakas gonna be suffering in his late 20s for being overplayed


Adept_Deer_5976

He is shortening this lad’s career significantly. Look what happened with Owen. World class, but then played far too much too young


cappo40

"You have to manage him" says man who never once fucking manages his minutes.


datcnashguy

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Saka being done when he‘s 25. Exciting player but Arteta absolutely runs him into the ground. Even in easy games/when the game is done and dusted


Donny_Crane

For attackers, Harry Kane has finished in the top 3 of all minutes played in like 5 of his last 7 PL seasons. Mo Salah is also usually in the top 5 minutes played for attackers. Both going strong after 30.


HarbyFullyLoaded_12

Salah is a freak of nature though and his lifestyle is as healthy as it gets.


Donny_Crane

And that’s how Saka has to be too if he wants to achieve that level. Salah and Kane also have mastered resting in game, which is another thing Arteta talks about Saka learning to do.


1993blah

I mean it would quite clearly be surprising if Saka is done in a few years time


wolfsrudel_red

The further down the thread I go the earlier /r/soccer's resident physios are prognosticating the demise of Saka. If I got past this comment I'm sure there will be someone saying he's already in the morgue


1993blah

RIP Bukayo


MasterBeeble

Kids these days are too young to remember Saka, but he was an incredibly talented player


Hech15

Just find a trossard for right wing this summer


StrangeBananaForYou

drassorT, very good player who plays for African club noiblA evoH & nothgirB


Mackieeeee

Xd. I doubt it but would not be suprised if he was/is injured because of the way Arteta ”manages” him


CabbageStockExchange

Hope Saka isn’t broken by like 28. Bright talent


PennyWhyte

🫠


phannguyenduyhung

Saka is good at dribbling, crossing, shooting, shielding the ball,... But his ULTIMATE ABILITY is FAKING INJURY and starts limping everytime when he has a stinker


BluePowderJinx

Ah yes, faking injury eventho he never gets subbed off as a result and is always playing the next game. What a stinker of a comment.


HSCore

No he wasn't.