UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals (April 7/8 & 14/15)

[Trilly]

@Trilly honestly it’s too late for Saka and Martinelli. Who knows what they would become under different regime? We will never know. I would go as far as saying Martinelli with his pace and nose for goals had even bigger ceiling if he had elite coaching. The only worry is Max

Yeah a long time ago I thought Nelli’s ceiling was the higher of the two. Arteta hasn’t helped but Nelli is just a bit too brainless to have been great under any manager.

Saka will be the one where we wonder how good could have been.

 

[Trilly]

 

[Trilly]

I think Olise is just about reaching a level that I haven’t seen Saka even at his best reach. There’s just a bit more guile and finesse in Olise’s game while also matching Saka for decision making and efficiency. It’s close though.

 

[BBF]

cook that simeone fraudddddddddddddddddddd

Eze, Zubimendi and MLS getting forward were key creative outlets in that game. You need moments of brilliance in cup competitions like this.

 

[Clrnc]

Olise absolutely. Yamal is a class above everyone.

You probably haven't watched him this season. You will change your mind during the world cup.

Ask any Bayern fans and they will tell you he has reached the levels of Robben for them

 

[Aubamabludclat94]

You probably haven't watched him this season. You will change your mind during the world cup.

Ask any Bayern fans and they will tell you he has reached the levels of Robben for them

yeh because we must keep in mind, Saka isn’t just a player whos done well in the Premier League, or just the champions league. He’s been one of the best players for an England team that’s gone deep in international competitions over the past 6 years. I think this desire to crown Olise as having a better career or potential or whatever than Saka is a bit premature right now tbh. Bit prisoner of the moment-esque imo. He’s in very good form right now. A level up from his previous seasons. Let’s wait and see what that gets them and let’s see what he’s able to do with France at the World Cup

 

[North5]

Saka under Wenger would've been different gravy

 

[viktor]

@Trilly honestly it’s too late for Saka and Martinelli. Who knows what they would become under different regime? We will never know. I would go as far as saying Martinelli with his pace and nose for goals had even bigger ceiling if he had elite coaching. The only worry is Max

saka only need fix his end product other than that he is fine while martinelli need back to basic (how to dribble past defender, how to cross, how to shot with accuracy on target etc)

 

[viktor]

 

[Clrnc]

yeh because we must keep in mind, Saka isn’t just a player whos done well in the Premier League, or just the champions league. He’s been one of the best players for an England team that’s gone deep in international competitions over the past 6 years. I think this desire to crown Olise as having a better career or potential or whatever than Saka is a bit premature right now tbh. Bit prisoner of the moment-esque imo. He’s in very good form right now. A level up from his previous seasons. Let’s wait and see what that gets them and let’s see what he’s able to do with France at the World Cup

Saka at his best is probably a world class "effective" player. Productive, great system player.

But Olise has the special thing about him in his game that top top players have. That bit of tekkers, swag and finesse about himself to take on the opponent and create magical moments out of nothing. I am not surprised he is already ranked higher by neutrals in the ballon dór. But yeah let's see what happens in the world cup

 

[Geofranco]

Two things:

1 - Saka is undoubtedly world class, you yourself agreed with this before his major injury. A bit unfair to call this when he's having a down year in terms of production.

2 - If we generally agree that attackers struggle in Arteta's system what do we make of Saka being elite in it? I'm with @Geofranco that he would look insane in a team that platforms attacking talent.

People shouldn't pretend like we didn't see Olise play in the EPL. He was always smooth with his technique and movement. He obviously got better, but attacking players tend to do very well in the Bundesliga and not as good in the EPL. Especially playing for Bayern. We also saw Saka come back from a hamstring injury that required surgery and play well in 2 games against Madrid just last season. I'd say Saka started reaching world class levels in 23/24, some of his performances near the end of the season were spectacular. He was definitely world class in 24/25 before his first big injury of his career.

 

[Geofranco]

Saka at his best is probably a world class "effective" player. Productive, great system player.

But Olise has the special thing about him in his game that top top players have. That bit of tekkers, swag and finesse about himself to take on the opponent and create magical moments out of nothing. I am not surprised he is already ranked higher by neutrals in the ballon dór. But yeah let's see what happens in the world cup

Nonsense. If Saka was a system player he won't be as effective playing for different managers. He is probably the most adaptable attacking player of his generation. Once again, is all about finesse and play style, not actually about impact. Saka has produced many magical moments for both Arsenal and England the last 5 seasons. Saka has also never played for an attack oriented manager in his career, especially at club level with other attacking options that teams genuinely needed to be worried about all game. Closest was in 22/23 with the form of Jesus in the first half of the season.

 

[Geofranco]

I think Olise is just about reaching a level that I haven’t seen Saka even at his best reach. There’s just a bit more guile and finesse in Olise’s game while also matching Saka for decision making and efficiency. It’s close though.

Olise always had Saka beat for flair/finesse, but definitely not guile. Olise played really well and I always rated him even at Crystal Palace. But Saka also played well against Real home and away last season and imo was rushed back from that hamstring injury that required surgery. There is nothing Olise did in that match that I haven't seen Saka do for club and country multiple times the last 5 seasons.

 

[Beany]

early season Arsenal is a completely different team from late season Arsenal tbh

Ditto final game Arsenal, if we get there…

 

[Beany]

 

[Trilly]

Olise always had Saka beat for flair/finesse, but definitely not guile. Olise played really well and I always rated him even at Crystal Palace. But Saka also played well against Real home and away last season and imo was rushed back from that hamstring injury that required surgery. There is nothing Olise did in that match that I haven't seen Saka do for club and country multiple times the last 5 seasons.

I do think it’s close and it might just be aesthetics.

What Olise has in finesse Saka has in physicality. It’s just a shame that playing for Arteta has nerfed him.

 

[viktor]

slap that frauddddddd ass

 

[viktor]

Eze, Zubimendi and MLS getting forward were key creative outlets in that game. You need moments of brilliance in cup competitions like this.

we also need merino

 

[viktor]

 

[Geofranco]

You would expect when we beat the best home team in the competition yesterday it would humble some but here we are. Cant beat PSG even we had higher xG last time, cant beat Munchen or At Madrid even if we beat them already this season and for sure cant beat Barcelona either even if they are losing against At. Madrid who are level or two worse defensive side than us.

It's pretty weird lol. Maybe it's low self-esteem and insecurities. None of the teams left in this competition are better than Arsenal. If we are healthy and in form we can beat them for sure. Really unfortunate that Eze, Merino, Saka and Ødegaard have had injury problems throughout this season at crucial points. If Eze comes back and retains the form he was in before the injury, Saka comes back to what he was before the second hamstring injury this season, Martinelli does what he does in the UCL and Rice and Zubimendi stay healthy and focused, we can def win the UCL this season. Should have won the league and UCL last season without injuries too.