Squad Analysis 24/25

[1macca1]

I think both Timber and Calafiori are going to be big hits by the end of the season, so I’d like to see the team trial a couple of games with a back 5.
Overlapping fullbacks, no inverted stuff and a CB stepping into midfield to play out from the back.
Play Saka as a second striker on the right.

Something to tactically change things on a big ucl night.

 

[pettr]

With Viera and Eddi gone, and not considering Ramsdale and Tierney and U21 players.
Assuming Nelson will stay and the third choice GK will be home-grown.
We can register 22 players including second and third choice goalkeepers and have space to add 3 more players.

Don’t see much happening apart from the GK situation. Let’s see, there is still some time.

No.	Player	Position	HG.
22	David Raya	GK	HG
	Second GK
	Third GK	GK	HG
2	William Saliba	DC	HG
4	Ben White	DRC	HG
6	Gabriel Magalhaes	DC
12	Jurrien Timber	DLR
15	Jakub Kiwior	DLC
17	Oleksandr Zinchenko	DL/AM
18	Takehiro Tomiyasu	DLRC
33	Riccardo Calafiori	DLC
5	Thomas Partey	DM
8	Martin Ødegaard	AM
20	Jorginho	DM
23	Mikel Merino	AM
41	Declan Rice	DM	HG
7	Bukayo Saka	RW	HG
9	Gabriel Jesus	CF
11	Gabriel Martinelli	LW	HG
19	Leandro Trossard	LW/F
24	Reiss Nelson	RW	HG
29	Kai Havertz	AM/F

 

[Aussie_gunner123]

We've got a decent squad this season, probably better then last season, I still think we are lacking a CF/striker or winger though unfortunately. With Timber & Calafiori will be even better in our backline, Merino in our CM area too. We are just short a CF or winger imo.

 

[Emibury]

First 11
__________Raya
White - Saliba - Gabriel - Calafiori
_______Rice - Merino
__Saka - Ødegaard - Trossard
_________Havertz

Second 11
__________Garcia
Timber - Kiwior - Tomiyasu - Zinchenko
______Partey - Jorginho
___Nelson - XXX - Martinelli
__________Jesus


The only players in our squad I think shouldn't have a role are Tierney and Nelson - which would leave us only 20 players in the squad. That is a tiny squad and not enough to compete in multiple competitions - and probably not enough for the PL title without exceptional injury luck.

CM is absolutely stacked now and in defence we are solid due to the flexibility of Timber and Tomiyasu who can play across the back line. We don't have enough numbers to get rid of Kiwior.

It's clear that we are thin up front. A couple of injuries/suspensions - especially to Saka, Ødegaard or Havertz - and who exactly do we have to play up front? Nelson shouldn't be starting any games for us in the PL and CL if we have serious aspirations to win those competitions, and we will be playing the other forwards for 90 minutes every single game if we have a couple of injuries, which is likely at some stage. Not sustainable. We really need two new forwards but if we don't sign even one it's tragic. Barring exceptional luck with injuries, the lack of depth up front will cost us a decent shot at the PL title. If we only sign one forward we still need to keep Nelson simply due to lack of numbers in the squad (unless there is someone exceptional coming through the youth?).

 

[VibalistDK]

Hopefully Nwaneri can get some game time in midfield, which would solve at least some of the lack of depth in offense. But yes, another winger is needed, ideally. I wonder if we wasted our chances not going for guys like Chiesa or Neto.

 

[WesleyNHohfeld]

Who is the star attacker (winger/striker) in the youth ranks now that Chido-Obi has left? Nwaneri and MLS already baked in as midfielders.

 

[RunTheTrap]

Our strongest XI

Sterling-Havertz-Saka
Nwaneri-Rice-Ødegaard
Calafiori-Gabriel-Saliba-White
Raya

Bench XI

Trossard-Jesus-Martinelli
Merino-Skelly-Jorginho
Zinchenko-Kiwior-Tomiyasu-Timber
Neto

 

[Symbia]

My biggest worry is our forward line.
We are just one Saka injury (God forbid) away from trouble.
This got me wonder why we let Nelson Nelson go on loan without replacement.
Saka is a human not machine and Artete should know better not play him in every game, not with the amount of kickings he is getting from the epl thugs.
Just wish he have another natural left attack line to the squad.
Good luck to best football team on earth in the first half of the season.

 

[SA Gunner]

Our best XI Id bet on for PL and CL. Minor changes depending on type of game and opponent.

Trossard—-Havertz—- Saka
——-Merino—Ødegaard
—————Rice
Cala—Gabriel—Saliba—White
—————Raya

Bench:
Sterling, Martinelli, Jesus, TP5, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Timber, Tomiyasu, Neto

Saka, Jesus, Sterling are decent options for our right side.

Trossard, Martinelli and Sterling gives us a lot to work with on our left side.

Havertz, Jesus, Trossard. Serviceable CF position.

Ødegaard, Merino, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Zinchenko (in possession) is a bit short in midfield. We needed a Smith Rowe replacement in there I feel.

Rice, Merino, TP5, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Timber, Zinchenko (in possession) are serviceable defensive midfield options.

Defence is rock solid. Saliba, Gabriel, White, Calafiori, Kiwior, Timber, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly.

All in all, a strong squad, deeper than last season. Not completely clear of 23/24, I’d say slightly better. But strong enough to weather 50+ games. We reevaluate again in January.

 

[Nunowoolmez]

My biggest worry is our forward line.
We are just one Saka injury (God forbid) away from trouble.
This got me wonder why we let Nelson Nelson go on loan without replacement.
Saka is a human not machine and Artete should know better not play him in every game, not with the amount of kickings he is getting from the epl thugs.
Just wish he have another natural left attack line to the squad.
Good luck to best football team on earth in the first half of the season.

Have you not heard the news matey ?

We signed Sterling. He plays RW & LW.

 

[dashsnow17]

It’s still a crazy small squad let’s be honest. If there’s a big injury crisis it could get messy.

 

[teamsoutheast]

It’s still a crazy small squad let’s be honest. If there’s a big injury crisis it could get messy.

We can ride this out.

 

[A_G]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1830699784958615874

@Farzad

 

[Sanchez11]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1830699784958615874

@Farzad

We did the right thing.

 

[Rasmi]

Next summer 75 million euro clause is active. Even though I think Sesko for same price is who we go for. The guy is 6’4

 

[Sanchez11]

Next summer 75 million euro clause is active. Even though I think Sesko for same price is who we go for. The guy is 6’4

Defo going for Sesko

 

[MartiSaka]

Set in defence and too short in midfield and the forward line. Think we dont compete if we get the average injury toll of a PL club or more, especially given the number of injury prone players we have.

 

[SA Gunner]

GK and defensively we are sound. We have our base to play our football.

Midfield, we are slightly short although this could be temporary if Arteta is brave. I think we needed a Smith Rowe/Eze in there to give us that link up between the lines. Nwaneri could hopefully grow into that player this season though. Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, TP5 and Jorginho give us a further two options to our best four of Ødegaard, Rice, Merino and Nwaneri.

Upfront, its about fitness. We need Jesus back and for the rest to hold their fitness. Then we are good to go in that area.

A win for the finances really, but a serviceable team for the season. A lot depends on us getting our seasonal changes in before the business end of the season. And for me that includes our left side, our box to box carrier and our improvements in transition.

Also, very important is getting past the midblock tactic that Emery and Tuchel demonstrated to the opposition.

We're a top 3 team again, top 2 more likely. Still 2nd at the end of the season for me, but we'll see how clear City are soon enough.

 

[SA Gunner]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1831271234887401638

Next Xitter talking point has dropped.

 

[HattoriHanzo]

GK and defensively we are sound. We have our base to play our football.

Midfield, we are slightly short although this could be temporary if Arteta is brave. I think we needed a Smith Rowe/Eze in there to give us that link up between the lines. Nwaneri could hopefully grow into that player this season though. Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, TP5 and Jorginho give us a further two options to our best four of Ødegaard, Rice, Merino and Nwaneri.

Upfront, its about fitness. We need Jesus back and for the rest to hold their fitness. Then we are good to go in that area.

A win for the finances really, but a serviceable team for the season. A lot depends on us getting our seasonal changes in before the business end of the season. And for me that includes our left side, our box to box carrier and our improvements in transition.

Also, very important is getting past the midblock tactic that Emery and Tuchel demonstrated to the opposition.

We're a top 3 team again, top 2 more likely. Still 2nd at the end of the season for me, but we'll see how clear City are soon enough.

I suppose you're right.
I still think we should have done more regarding transfers in the attack.
We lack this X-factor player, clutch player.
City have Haaland, Liverpool have Salah.
Saka is closest to them in arsenal.