General Hale End Talk

[MutableEarth]

Looked good according to a few who were at the game. Nonetheless, I am doubtful we'll sign another winger unless they're moving Ferdinand to RB permanently.

CF is still looking quite light, which is no wonder that Daniel Oyetunde got offered a deal. He'll probably be the back-up for Annous while Marley Frohock is the U18s striker.

 

[boonthegoon]

Looks like Jack is back?

 

[MutableEarth]

Good news. Arguably one of the most interesting prospects we have, his development this season will be of great intrigue due to how varied his skillset is. Feels like a sleeping giant - just needs to stamp his authority on games more, and I feel with more experience he will do just that. Need to see more!

 

[viktor]

that defense & dm not good enough

 

[teamsoutheast]

 

[teamsoutheast]

Victor Ozhianvuna update amid speculation of record-breaking Arsenal deal

The Shamrock Rovers youngster won’t turn 18 until January 2027, but he scored his first senior goal in Friday’s FAI Cup win over Wexford

www.irishmirror.ie

 

[teamsoutheast]

 

[viktor]

 

[Liam_Og]

Excited to have an Irish kid to follow, will have to go to some Rovers games.

 

[viktor]

 

[kofigunner]

Wait a minute. He kicked the ball with his left. Are you saying that he’s actually right footed?

 

[viktor]

 

[teamsoutheast]

Well done, best of luck to him.

 

[teamsoutheast]

Seb Ferdinand hit the winner tonight in the 90th minute in the u21 home match against Brighton Wasn't a great game but that's the 2nd game running that he's made an impact and influenced the game. Last week he got the equalizer at Nottingham Forest and tonight scores the winner at Meadow Park. Showing great mentality so far.

 

[viktor]

 

[viktor]

 

[MutableEarth]

Marciniak has had a good start to the season, scored and assisted this weekend aswell. He's a very tidy attacking player, pretty versatile too - comes up with important goals here and there.

Has been a bit lost in the shuffle last season but as an experienced 2nd year will have plenty of chances to shine for the U18s.

Seb Ferdinand hit the winner tonight in the 90th minute in the u21 home match against Brighton Wasn't a great game but that's the 2nd game running that he's made an impact and influenced the game. Last week he got the equalizer at Nottingham Forest and tonight scores the winner at Meadow Park. Showing great mentality so far.

He's such a funny player. Type of player to look underwhelming all game and then suddenly have a moment of pure, unadulterated quality or pop up in the right place. A pretty intelligent player IMO. I do think he's a bit of a placeholder in this team however. Louis Zecevic-John appears to be injured so hasn't as yet made his splash at U21 level but I think Brando Bailey-Joseph is the most inevitable promotion to come this season - both wings, quick acceleration, tenacious and a serious dribbler. Ibrahim and Julienne are already running the show for the U21s so I wouldn't count them but I think it's pretty obvious that Bailey-Joseph has next. Ceadach O'Neill will be there aswell just mainly because Annous doesn't have a real quality back-up yet.

 

[teamsoutheast]

He's such a funny player. Type of player to look underwhelming all game and then suddenly have a moment of pure, unadulterated quality or pop up in the right place. A pretty intelligent player IMO. I do think he's a bit of a placeholder in this team however. Louis Zecevic-John appears to be injured so hasn't as yet made his splash at U21 level but I think Brando Bailey-Joseph is the most inevitable promotion to come this season - both wings, quick acceleration, tenacious and a serious dribbler. Ibrahim and Julienne are already running the show for the U21s so I wouldn't count them but I think it's pretty obvious that Bailey-Joseph has next. Ceadach O'Neill will be there aswell just mainly because Annous doesn't have a real quality back-up yet.

Yes I was thinking the same thing. I hope he can start to become more influential in the same manner as the infamous Butler Oyedeji...

 

[MutableEarth]

Another good #6 prospect, and another long term Hale End talent - been at the club since 8. Great to have him and Ife Ibrahim at the same time, iron sharpens iron. What I like about Murisa is that even though he doesn't have Ibrahim's size, his acceleration makes him just as capable a ball-winner and he certainly possesses the same attributes and aptitude for passing and press resistance. In terms of their ability to set the tempo from deep and play a metronomic game, it really is hard to call between the two as both are very capable. Ibrahim is one of my favourite prospects at the club but Murisa is arguably just as good in the same position.

 

[MutableEarth]

Bringing a discussion I had on X over here and this is arguably the best place to put it - I might make a new thread about this:

I believe the next iteration of Arsenal's evolution should involve a return to a double pivot and potentially a return to a 4231 base formation in the future. Football is cyclical and I firmly believe if we want to get ahead of the curve in future we will need to counter the anti-10 era by platforming our new superstar prospects in Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman. Extreme talents such as these should always be able to change the narrative and we should be able to implement them and gain unprecedented success.

Changing to a different model does change how we look at the team and how the squad can be used. The biggest change for me would be at full back. Our commitment to a defensive structure is not a big problem but we should start making space for overlapping profiles. Why I posted this here is because so far this season, some of our most impressive players in the academy teams have been at full back.

Josiah King is a 1st year scholar who plays RB and his 1v1 skill both on the ball and in defensive situations is very strong. He's been one of the most dangerous players in a team that has Brando Bailey-Joseph, Maalik Hashi, Alex Marciniak and Ceadach O'Neill in it. Additionally, Josh Tahou has been equally impressive at LB whenever I've had the privilege of watching him. Similar good going both ways, having versatile 2-way full-backs could really give us an extra dimension in attack should we need it.

Above their age group, Josh Nichols has been one of the best players in a very disjointed team for the u21s and he has the capability to play both inside and outside on the overlap aswell. Physicality aside, his profile can and should be accommodated under the same premise aswell.

Think of the actual double pivot itself and the different combos we could made this season alone. It gives us extra fluidity depending on the profiles. Rice and Zubi or Lewis-Skelly and Zubi for defensive security, Rice and Lewis-Skelly for more power and dynamism; you could even put Ødegaard in that double pivot next to Rice. Nørgaard being an option is a little redundant but he's an option too.

This opens things up for more Freedom in the attack. A mobile 10, wingers who actually have some licence to leave the touchline if necessary and get into the box and potentially a CF who either gets the best out of the others (Jesus/Havertz to a lesser extent) or finishes for himself (Gyokeres).

In terms of the academy profiles, I think this may allow us room to develop guys like Ibrahim/Murisa for the double pivot potentially, Hashi I could also see potentially being a deeper lying player. The wingers I think will benefit significantly too. If Brando Bailey-Joseph develops to the level I think he can then I think LW could be sown up for him, particularly if he's given license to go inside where he sees fit. Same with a Kyran Thompson - could be a Saka backup/potential successor if development is right.