Marc Roca

[Tourbillion]

I haven't seen a more complete midfielder in our price range than him. He is insanely press resistant. Can turn on a sixpence like Artur. He has acceleration and can time tackles very well. He has a good passing range and is good in both halves. He doesn't get a nose bleed in the opposition half. I wouldn't 'pair' him with anyone as I wouldn't have him in a double pivot. As long as he has a more athletic midfielder near him, he would bring everything else we need.

So part of a 3 man midfield?

 

[dashsnow17]

The good news is that Mikel knows our midfield isn't good so he trying to improve it.

- "What's the bad news?"
- "We're sh*t"
- "And the good news?"
- "We know we're sh*t"

 

[db10fan]

I haven't seen a more complete midfielder in our price range than him. He is insanely press resistant. Can turn on a sixpence like Artur. He has acceleration and can time tackles very well. He has a good passing range and is good in both halves. He doesn't get a nose bleed in the opposition half. I wouldn't 'pair' him with anyone as I wouldn't have him in a double pivot. As long as he has a more athletic midfielder near him, he would bring everything else we need.

So Henrique is a Cazorla? Thats good but I prefer a Gilberto or a Petit for our team now, will improve us more.

 

[Goonger]

He has such a limiting profile. He doesn't have the dribbling ability to play at the base of a 3. It doesn't help that he is so one footed. Also, watching youtube compilations of a holding midfielder, under no pressure pinging a football to the wings, something Sunday league players can do, isn't the first attribute I look for in a midfielder.

We need to move away from specialist deep lying play makers unless they are physical destroyers. If this guy had the off the ball ability of an Ndidi then it would make sense. The fact is he doesn't. He does that Xhaka thing of driving into midfield and playing a 2 yard pass to the closest player as he feels uncomfortable in the opposition half. Long passing should not be the most prominent aspect of a youtube compilation when looking at a central midfielder. I want to see driving runs, dribbling, tackling, shooting, passing, skill and strength. Not long ball after long ball after long ball when we don't even have a target man.

If we go 4231, it needs to be in the Bayern mould. two highly technical players who can both run forward and backwards. I keep saying it, but if we had any sense we would snap up Matheus Henrique.

I think that it's interesting you mention Bayern, considering Bayern have been 1 of the teams most linked with him, & he sometimes gets compared to Xabi Alonso who played for Bayern under Pep.

I think you might be doing the lad a disservice as well. I am using the proviso mind you that it would be to partner someone like Partey, & not in place of him.

 

[The_Playmaker]

I think that it's interesting you mention Bayern, considering Bayern have been 1 of the teams most linked with him, & he sometimes gets compared to Xabi Alonso who played for Bayern under Pep.

I think you might be doing the lad a disservice as well. I am using the proviso mind you that it would be to partner someone like Partey, & not in place of him.

Bayern are like us. Get linked to everyone. However this link is weak any. Original source is daily star I believe. He's young. He's Spanish. Similar to Xhaka. Our manager is Spanish. That's the link.

I don't think I am doing him a disservice. He is a more mobile Xhaka, but not mobile enough. I think we need extreme technicality or extreme athleticism. Preferably one of each. Someone who is half technical and a little bit athletic isn't good enough. I wouldn't even say he is better than Guendouzi.

 

[truth_hurts]

Mikel trying to make Arsenal Spanish.

 

[Oxeki]

 

[truth_hurts]

Genuinely know next to nothing about him. He's a midfielder and I trust Arteta's judgement on midfielders.

 

[oh to be a goon]

From the highlights he seems like a solid single pivot player. I think he is back up though if we don't finish high enough in the league to get Partey.

 

[L3T5 PL4Y]

I like the player and he is rated pretty highly. Real Madrid and Bayern were after him though probably backed out because he apparently has disciplinary concerns. He is basically a left footed Xabi Alonso.

Tbh, I'd rather sign him and Sangare over Partey to sort out CM for good.

 

[truth_hurts]

Don't know what it is, but I like the idea of this signing for some reason. Just get a feeling he'd be a success.

 

[The_Playmaker]

Loses the ball alot, doesn't really dribble, isn't good in the air, makes tackles in the opposition half, has a good rate of passing forward. Main attribute is playing long balls to the wings. No thank you.

 

[Goonger]

Loses the ball alot, doesn't really dribble, isn't good in the air, makes tackles in the opposition half, has a good rate of passing forward. Main attribute is playing long balls to the wings. No thank you.

It depends on how Arteta wants to play going forward. We know just now he has his tactic of dropping Xhaka deeper & almost having him as a left sided centre back which allows his full backs to get further forward.

We don't know if that's what he wants long term or if that's just what he wanted to do to get the best out of what he had. If he wants to continue in that vain, & this guy is seen an a similar player to Xhaka with the potential to be an upgrade, then surely tactically he would be a good replacement, if nothing else?

 

[dashsnow17]

Stop comparing players to Xabi Alonso just because they can ping a long ball.

 

[Garrincha]

All for any midfield signings really. Xhaka has had a four year run as the central figure... try something new. Maybe they complement Xhaka, compete with him or just replace him.

 

[MutableEarth]

Loses the ball alot, doesn't really dribble, isn't good in the air, makes tackles in the opposition half, has a good rate of passing forward. Main attribute is playing long balls to the wings. No thank you.

Yeah, he's a more aesthetic alternative to Xhaka but I don't know that he specifically makes us better or gives us an extra dimension.

 

[bingobob]

He can use us as his Barcelona stepping stone.

 

[The_Playmaker]

It depends on how Arteta wants to play going forward. We know just now he has his tactic of dropping Xhaka deeper & almost having him as a left sided centre back which allows his full backs to get further forward.

We don't know if that's what he wants long term or if that's just what he wanted to do to get the best out of what he had. If he wants to continue in that vain, & this guy is seen an a similar player to Xhaka with the potential to be an upgrade, then surely tactically he would be a good replacement, if nothing else?

Put it this way. No Özil = a 3 man midfield with two 8's and a holder. I don't think he wants to play a double pivot dependant on a 10.

 

[L3T5 PL4Y]

Put it this way. No Özil = a 3 man midfield with two 8's and a holder. I don't think he wants to play a double pivot dependant on a 10.

Yeah, that's what it looks like. Roca seems like he is best as a single sitting midfield player too.

 

[L3T5 PL4Y]

Don't know what it is, but I like the idea of this signing for some reason. Just get a feeling he'd be a success.

Yeah, he seems like if there ever was a player for Arteta to mould into how he played for us its Roca and he has much greater potential.