Edu's Transfer Targets: Summer Holidays 2021

[Fewtch]

It’s very easy to do that when you have world class players on either wing in Salah and Mane getting 20+ goals a season.

Without Auba’s goals we’ve struggled a lot.

And the solution is to throw a goal hanger in midfield? Even if he plays then he's expected to do the same thing as Elneny does at DM or ESR does at AM which will end up with Willock not scoring goals anyways.

 

[Sebastes]

What good is Willock if he only offers goal threat but little else? (Which is pretty much the case with him). His "outstanding" loan to Newcastle only gets called that because he went on a crazy purple patch - not even anything to do with being in form - it was a complete outlier

 

[2Smokeyy]

And the solution is to throw a goal hanger in midfield? Even if he plays then he's expected to do the same thing as Elneny does at DM or ESR does at AM which will end up with Willock not scoring goals anyways.

That’s where I disagree with you. I think he’s a lot more than just a “goal hanger” as you suggested.

Look at this thread on Twitter last summer:

 

[FluffyDoozi]

Willock just doesn't show enough in his all-round game. If we really want to play more possessive football he's not the guy, think even the Newcastle fans will tell you the same thing that he goes missing for huge parts of the game.

He's one of those guys who'll need a specific system built around him to thrive, kind of how Delle Alli is at Sp**s. Alli, who was elite at what Willock does has massively struggled after their system was changed when Pochettino left.

 

[Fewtch]

That’s where I disagree with you. I think he’s a lot more than just a “goal hanger” as you suggested.

Look at this thread on Twitter last summer:

Ramsey is actually a good example of what i've been saying. Where has this b2b goalscoring midfielder been playing ever since he left Arsenal? Not in midfield.
I think you would have to call back Wenger from retirement if you want a coach who will play guys like Willock and Ramsey in midfield and give them enough freedom to score goals.

 

[Sebastes]

That’s where I disagree with you. I think he’s a lot more than just a “goal hanger” as you suggested.

Look at this thread on Twitter last summer:

Do you know the source for the numbers posted, or the competitions included? It doesn't add up with anything I can find - looking only at PL games his numbers are worse than this.

He had 0.63 tackles in the aattacking 3rd, not opposition box. These are not however the number of won tackles and Willock's success rate isn't that good.

Then he didn't have 1141 minutes in the PL in 19/20 so have to include other competitions (Europa League?) where opposition isn't of the same standard.

 

[Sebastes]

It’s very easy to do that when you have world class players on either wing in Salah and Mane getting 20+ goals a season.

Without Auba’s goals we’ve struggled a lot.

THis has nothing to do with it. Both of Mané and Salah over time scores pretty much on par with their xG, as does Kane (although he consistently has outscored his xG, just not extremely). Auba AND Laca also score on par with their xG. Having prolific scorers it's not what this is about. It's about our inability to provide for them.

Our remedy isn't to have goal scoring midfielders, it's to setup our tactics, line up and system so that we maximize/optimize how many and how good chances we create. It's really that simple, though easy, it is not.

 

[2Smokeyy]

Ramsey is actually a good example of what i've been saying. Where has this b2b goalscoring midfielder been playing ever since he left Arsenal? Not in midfield.
I think you would have to call back Wenger from retirement if you want a coach who will play guys like Willock and Ramsey in midfield and give them enough freedom to score goals.

I wouldn’t be against that idea especially if it’s at the expense of Arteta.

Emery seemed to fit Willock in at the start of the season around two years ago after a solid pre season. I’m sure there’s a way to fit him into our current system but I agree with you that it won’t be happening under Arteta.

Do you know the source for the numbers posted, or the competitions included? It doesn't add up with anything I can find - looking only at PL games his numbers are worse than this.

Not sure about the source but I just saw it on Twitter and thought it would be interesting to post it as he does some in-depth analysis on Willock.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

We need to sell Lacazette, Nketiah, El Neny, Kolasiniac, Bellerin, Xhaka, Reiss Nelson and Torreira. I wouldn't even care much what players we bring in if we can sell these guys it would be a success.

Also if AMN, Willock and Leno don't sign new contracts we should look to move them on too. This squad needs a proper trimming and all the guys named are expendable, this is the perfect time to go into the season with a light squad.

 

[2Smokeyy]

THis has nothing to do with it. Both of Mané and Salah over time scores pretty much on par with their xG, as does Kane (although he consistently has outscored his xG, just not extremely). Auba AND Laca also score on par with their xG. Having prolific scorers it's not what this is about. It's about our inability to provide for them.

Our remedy isn't to have goal scoring midfielders, it's to setup our tactics, line up and system so that we maximize/optimize how many and how good chances we create. It's really that simple, though easy, it is not.

Not a fan of xG tbh as it does seem slightly flawed but what was our chances created stats from 2019/20 when Auba scored 22 goals? And who had our highest assists in that same season? Because Özil was hardly playing IIRC.

I think too many people are over emphasising our need for a pure number 10 in the mould of Özil or Ødegaard. There are other ways of creating chances but I think our current manager is restricting the freedom our first eleven has.

 

[El Duderino]

We need to sell Lacazette, Nketiah, El Neny, Kolasiniac, Bellerin, Xhaka, Reiss Nelson and Torreira. I wouldn't even care much what players we bring in if we can sell these guys it would be a success.

Also if AMN, Willock and Leno don't sign new contracts we should look to move them on too. This squad needs a proper trimming and all the guys named are expendable, this is the perfect time to go into the season with a light squad.

Have you come to terms with the possibility of Torreira being kept because we can't close a deal for him?

 

[BigPoppaPump]

Have you come to terms with the possibility of Torreira being kept because we can't close a deal for him?

If I see him play even one second in an Arsenal shirt this season then I think that's it for me and this club.

 

[El Duderino]

If I see him play even one second in an Arsenal shirt this season then I think that's it for me and this club.

I pass by a church every morning when I walk the dog, not a big believer in this stuff, but I might light a candle for you.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

I pass by a church every morning when I walk the dog, not a big believer in this stuff, but I might light a candle for you.

I wish the love emoji was a heart instead of the guy with 2 heart eyes, I can't send that to @anotherman.

 

[Sebastes]

Not a fan of xG tbh as it does seem slightly flawed but what was our chances created stats from 2019/20 when Auba scored 22 goals? And who had our highest assists in that same season? Because Özil was hardly playing IIRC.

I think too many people are over emphasising our need for a pure number 10 in the mould of Özil or Ødegaard. There are other ways of creating chances but I think our current manager is restricting the freedom our first eleven has.

Don't know about total chances created, but we had an xG of 1.23 per game and scored 1.39 per game. Pepe and Saka were our top assisters with 6 and 5 respectively.

Both Auba and Laca had a goal expectancy of 0.41 per 90 mins and both outscored it (by different margins). Lacazette has had a pretty consistent xG per 90 in his Arsenal career while Auba has been regressing from Wenger to Emery and now even lower with Arteta.

Our xG per 90 has gone from 1.7 to 1.41 to 1.23 over the last three season's. But yeah, Arteta will surely turn things around any year now

Edit: All xG numbers in this post and other are excluding pk's as they tend to skew data. I've also excluded pk's when comparing actual goals to expected to get it straight and comparable

 

[Rimaal]

Neither does Liverpool's midfield and they don't need a Willock to reach top 4/win the league. Why is that?

Because Klopp.

 

[2Smokeyy]

Also if AMN, Willock and Leno don't sign new contracts we should look to move them on too. This squad needs a proper trimming and all the guys named are expendable, this is the perfect time to go into the season with a light squad.

You happy with selling all three and spending 30m+ on Ramsdale? As we’re very keen on him according to the rumours.

 

[Lebron]

This club has it very simple . . There are plenty of GK in the market, they want to go for Ramsdale that’s fine. Even RB, you can find decent specialist RB in France like Dubois who can come in and do a very good job.

But they really need to put our resources to find a proper CM and AM of very high quality. Hard to find the engine and creative director of the team. We have runners now in midfield, some aggression but we need a dictator in there. Hope they pick someone of big quality.

 

[Maybe]

If I see him play even one second in an Arsenal shirt this season then I think that's it for me and this club.

Ignoring his crying and being homesick 97% of the time, first 4 months Torreira would do great behind Partey and ESR. Would solve a lot of our issues if he wasn't a ***** like he is

 

[Maybe]

But they really need to put our resources to find a proper CM and AM of very high quality. Hard to find the engine and creative director of the team. We have runners now in midfield, some aggression but we need a dictator in there. Hope they pick someone of big quality.

AM is always gonna be a risk as ESR could continue his development and become a big player. He is still OK atm so it's not like we are desperate there. On top of that, Saka definitely is another good option behind a striker with some freedom if we really need him.
RB is a must for sure