Will just say quickly-Saka to RCM is not what I’m proposing. As I said, I just want to give him more access to drifting from RW into the half space (and the whole of the centre really). Here he can truly dominate. But yes, situationally he will be a right interior. But thanks so much! I’m only proposing solutions-I’m not clever enough to know Arteta’s plan for next year and how he wants to evolve. All I can do is hypothesise with logic. Thanks for the comment❤️
@@fredo5425Heard it for the first time here and it's a lightbulb moment. I can see it working like a charm. Imagine Saka in the half spaces like Foden does feeding through balls to runners like Harvetz, Martinelli, Rice playing box to box or Ben White Marauding forward while also making third runs like the goal Saka, Lacazette and ESR scored against Brighton in 2019-20 season away when AMN was wearing a white long John because of the wintery weather as Tierney was in a short sleeve shirt....
@@Best_game59 agreed odegaard already showed signs of it working with those assist and chance created for harvetz like the chelsea goal and spurs offside goal . Arteta needs to free saka
Proper analysis mate. ESR's inclusion could have really bolstered our right side. Not only would it allow a right footed dynamic runner on the overlap or underlap for Saka, but it would also save White's legs by reducing the number of high intensity runs and recoveries he would have had to make. I think Arteta realizes he has to be looser with his squad usage. In his postmatch after the Bayern loss, he referred to the team needing "game changing moments". The final step in this team is to give our most potent attackers (Saka, Martinelli, or new signing) more freedom inside the pitch and facilitate them with the right profiles to maximize them and get those game changing moments (while trying to maintain our OOP dominance.) There have been signs this season, but I think we'll see it more next season.
Mate, first of all thanks so much for the kind words. Second, thanks for the banging comment. Nail on the head stuff. I agree, Mikel is flexible, a lot of it probs comes down to a 42yo in his first job who is trying to negotiate hierarchies. He just needs to become a little bit bolder as you said, and the UCL ‘lesson’ may well have taught him that. Really like the potential of White deeper next to a CM in a 2-3-5: taps into his passing range, and he can attack as a 6th man when he sees fit then-doesn’t HAVE to overlap to create suitable conditions. Exciting times!
I think moving Saka left wing allows for ESR to play as a LCM option. ESR is better out there as he naturally likes to go out to the left. I think Saka can play anywhere but I like idea of having him play on the left, I don't think it harms his G/A as he is a brilliant crosser of the ball, and if you are adding a CF like Sesko. Helps us more than harms us in my opinion.
I really hope ESR could be the solution to this, absolutely love that boy and i know Arteta has a plan for him. This summer and pre-season is going to be a big one! Top video once again Professor👏
Thanks so much Dave! Will be the crunch point for many players this summer. Lots of ways to evolve. And no one is really secure bar a handful. Really hope it clicks for ESR. We will see.
I agree with Saka being more involved in the midfield 100%. He’s way too limited being stuck holding width all the time. This is exactly why we seem to see Foden shine more than him and his season- these smart creative highly skilled players need to be given more freedom.
Give Saka the right, the middle, allow him to be an outlet and drop deep, allow him to unlock deep defences and create over big spaces, allow him to do it all
Just discovered your channel mate, and i must say that i’m happy that there are sensible Arsenal fans like you out there. I hate how Saka gets underestimated. The disrespects from rivals is mainly because our own fans doesn’t rate him highly. Saka is arguably our most valuable player and one of the rarest winger profile to have. Been always saying this, people always gets fooled by aesthetics bias and for example rate Saka lower that Foden (he is better than Foden) and even some wingers that are now where near his level. The fact that he didn’t get in the POTS tells everything you need to now, the fans really don’t hype him enough. Saka is honestly magic, look at where he gets the ball and where that ball ends up. His Football IQ is also very underrated, one of the key reasons he is that special. I’m honestly amazed on how good he has been despite being limited a little and having such defensive actions (which is fair) And as you said moving Ødegaard to the left would be a big improvement for both players. Ive already been trying to tell this to Arsenal fans but some of them just don’t want to understand it.
I hate saying this but one thing Southgate does well is allows Saka heavy central freedom vs weak opposition, however like Arteta, in the big games he is rigidly positioned. Also you seem to discount the possibility of an aggressive RB that can hold width and underlap
Not discounting at all mate! But I want to give Saka the KEYS to the attack. Not be dependent on one specific type of dynamic. Let him figure it out on his own, if that makes sense. We’ve seen an improvement this season, but I want to see so much more in terms of how much he is allowed to move.
Harvey, I really like your take on Saka. I hope Arteta sees this video. Saka moving centrally from the wing like Poch has done with Cucurella-albeit from the right back position will be an upside. Saka has a very good pass and cross on him. When playing left back, Saka had 12 assists, I remember the Olympiakos game away when Saka gave a very good assist, the assist he gave against Newcastle during Emery time, and many more. This is one area of Saka's game that is not well exploited. I think if this is implemented and a similar plan hatched for Martinelli, we would be more fluid and unpredictable...
Brilliant analysis Harvey - love seeing something different from the other channels on TH-cam. I agree there is a lot more to come from our attack and Mikel will adapt for next season. I'm excited, not only for what incoming players we might have, but to have more explosive attacking play with more freedom. Great work!
Thanks so much James. Evolutions, adaptations-there will be a lot in the summer! So much to improve on too which is so exciting. Best days are yet to come.
So the odegaard moving to midfield and that jumpstarted the title charge is just a misleading comment, title charge was due to teta reverting back to two proper midfielders, odegaard moving deeper is just a consequence of havertz playing higher which in the end wasn't utilizes that much in the run in for obvious reasons. You can push your ideas but there are objective ways of doing it i think. I think the way to play both esr and odegaard is not necessarily moving odegaard fully into midfield, but could be to play a 4 5 1 in defensive phase, like a half midfield role similar to how it is now. I understand your comment of having a runner next to saka, and good point, but esr unlikely to be the guy, first he prefers the left side of the field, second arteta doesn't seem to trust him for whatever reasons (may be objective, may be not) his last start was man of the match performance and we haven't seen him since. It seems unlikely that esr will feature in teta s plans. Finally the interchange between saka and odegaard messing with it is probably not a good idea. Vieira I think is done at arsenal personally. I think he is too light while technically not as good to compensate the shortcomings (unlike David silva or santi cazorla), 2 seasons should be enough to show what you are capable of, and we rarely seen anything tangible from him
Its not misleading Mark! We went from playing a dual shadow striker system to try and improve on transitional attacking dynamics, to converting Ode into the proper MF he is. He ISNT a box crashing goalscorer-that has never been Martin. Thus, it makes perfect sense to allow him to affect games in all phases. As I have also touched on this season, playing a stricter double pivot (at times) was also very important-I argued that in tandem with the Ode calls. I believe, if you will allow me, that there is also a massive difference in Odegaard + the TEAM as we are now, and the levels we can reach on a collective level whilst he evolves. As we have seen in each stage of the Arteta project, evolutions that initially seemed mad become easily accepted very quickly: this was one of my main focuses in pre season when I was commenting on the changes we were seeing and why. I made a point in this video of maintaining the whole way Ode does not have to be surplus, way too much talent and world class ability for that. Hence, we may have to adapt again. And this is part of what makes us so exciting. So many potential avenues for adaptation, with players on the periphery included in that. Saka has to move more central and have that freedom. It’s inevitable in my humble opinion. I also don’t think anyone is “done” per say just the same as very few players are “secure”. Having said that, there is just as much chance that ESR, Fabio, or both leave the club. The change to the defensive shape is something we can arguably expect, with Timber very able to ‘cover’ in the jumps in central areas and Rice worry about bigger spaces a bit more again. I’m just presenting solutions, because there are a lot of possible ones. Not everyone can play, but Mikel will have some decisions to make on how he wants to alter things that is for sure! Thanks for commenting again.
@@harveygrationif you believe that odegaard is a midfielder thats fine my point was that there are many ways to argue that instead of making straw man arguments bc a legitimate argument can be made, I don't deny that. However, I don't agree with odegaard in midfield, unless of course he playing next to messi. Team can evolve no one is denying it but when you drop odegaard deeper and there is no one to play in half spaces and feed those through balls it affects the team (saka not same as odegaard), so this 10 inverting into an 8 works fine for odegaard at the moment. If the team evolves it evolves but the evolution has to make sense. It's not mad if it makes sense, it s only mad if it doesn't make sense like havertz in midfield. Also I don't know which mad decisions you are referring to i think almost all decisions that arteta made were logical to me with the exception of havertz in midfield, partey at rb, xhaka at lb, trying to invert tierney. The other decisions he made were normal, didn't see any radical decisions being made. Its the radical decisions like these that failed
Nice assessment, people think putting ESR back into the team would magical solve our problems, but it has only created more problems when he's on the pitch, he's tactically inept as compared to ødegard and rice imo, and we really struggle to create much with him on the pitch, he's not much of a facilitator to the left winger as xhaka and ødegard were to our wingers, I think he's more suited to a mid block 4-2-3-1, with him getting the freedom of roaming about the pitch with little defensive duties, but in a structured system as arteta's, he's always looked out of place. The right hand dynamic was our greatest strength this season destroying it just to fix the left side shouldn't be the solution imo, strengthen the left side dynamics, without looking to ruin the right side. For instance see how we struggled when white over took the RB position and saka looked out of place for some time before getting used to white at RB, while the left dynamic of zinchenko, xhaka and martinelli worked wonders, because they all understood themselves, I think its time we move ESR on imo, and I'd rather we get xavi simons as his replacement, about fabio, I'm not too sure, because of who he's contending with for the same spot, ødegard, I think arteta needs to trust him more in certain games, especially if we get players like nico Williams
@harveygration I agree Harvey, I think if we got a forward who could play both left and right wings, it could allow our number 7 to roam around behind the striker. In my opinion, this is where we would get the best out of Bukayo Saka and the best use of his two footed talent. To do this, we could put Odegaard in the left 8 which would suit his beautiful and graceful playing style.
This is what I was thinking all the time u nailed it odegaard as world class as he is him playing right hand side of the midfielder is making saka les useful and predictable in the transition face we really need ball carriers one two overlaps a right footed runner like esr but the best option is Florian wirtz I even thought sacrificing/selling for at least 100m£ odegaard entirely if we can get wirtz from Leverkusen bcs I can feel saka would be much comfortable with right footed runner like esr or wirtz especially wirtz he so talented reminds me young kdb
Top vid Harvey,I’ve noticed it a lot more in the recent weeks the vertically and angle bias of the left is so much better. Maybe you could do a video on potential RCM options in the market that would suit saka? It’s unlikely we win the league,however I’m proud of the boys & quite excited and optimistic for next season,I do believe the foundations & capacity is there for this Arsenal team to reach high 90/100 pts and that has to be the aim. Coaching performance wise I think arteta has matched pep,the difference are players like KDB/haaland.Saka can be that for us if we give him the freedom,the facts he’s managed to pretty much match his counterparts GA,ie Foden/palmer.While significantly having more defensive output,is a hint at his potential. Big summer ahead.COYG.
Fully agreed! Saka is our superstar attacker and needs to be platformed like that as he was vs Spuds. It’s strange, because with the sheer amount of interiors we have and have coming through academy, it just feels like it will be an in-house solution. Best days are ahead, only up. Things to work on, but that is what makes us so exciting. Thanks again, really appreciative.
Good video as always. Feels like a calculus class at times with all the moving pieces we have to keep in mind 😅 On Saka, I definitely agree with you that he needs to be more central with freedom to move in 360 degrees as opposed to 180. I think what you're suggesting is akin to what Klopp did with Szoboszlai at the start of the season where he was the runner for Salah to get in more central since Trent no longer overlaps. Your suggestion would certainly require a lot of work in preseason but unfortunately with the Euros and Copa America most of the vital components may not be available for it to be something we start next season with. It'll probably be we work on fixing LHS dynamics first since there are fewer moving parts there.
Evolutions are part of it and will be very heavy in the coming months. Unfortunately I’m not clever enough to know what Arteta is thinking, but we can hypothesise! Thanks again for the lovely comment. That Salah/runner relationship is the exact same one I’m trying to imbue with Saka-you’re absolutely correct!
@harveygration Yes Arteta is a hard man to read. Am sure we'll evolve again next season. He won't sit there and just use our current tactics since teams will be ready for them. Also I really love that Saka goal vs West Brom in the snow. That is the vision for what you're advocating for. The typical Wenger goal.
Just isn’t something we’ve seen for a while in an Arsenal game. Not necessarily a bad thing but I that ‘way of playing’ is just a bit of me. Really nice way to diversify things a little bit, even if it isn’t the solution all the time.
I wish Arteta could watch this. I have always had this in mind the Saka movement, I see Kudus doing so, Palmer as well even Foden. I always ask myself why will Saka always stuck one place. Make a run to the middle bro you're good enough. Thanks for this video but I just wish our coaching staff watch this video as well. I know the always want Saka to track back but standing there always make defender's to predict where the can see him easily if not that the boy always work hard to beat defender's he would've always find it hard to score goals
I’m sure he does. With the increasing flexibility we’ve seen in our build up in the second half of the season…for me at least, Saka’s evolving role seems the realistic next step. Imo. Thanks for the kind comment too, really appreciate it.
Considering the right hand side dynamics of odegaard,saka and white, I think there could be a temporary solution to be found by just instructing odegaard and saka to rotate more (similar to how jesus,martinelli and xhaka rotated in 22/23), that way we can still keep the creative outlet on the RW, but there is an addition of saka's ball striking in the right half-space instead of him being restricted to the flanks, whilst also being able to confuse defenders due to the constant rotations. The only problem this would probably entail is that Odegaard no longer leads the press if possession were to turn over, coupled with the fact that odegaard is more reliant on his left foot, which makes his passing angles more restricted, which may lead to just passing it back to white instead of finding the breakthrough passes. But only time will tell as to arteta's vision of this team, this summer's recruitment and pre-season would be more worthwhile to pay attention to as compared to previous years.
Main problem is Odegaard is not dynamic enough in his movement to overlap-even when he does, his run is inherently not taken as seriously by the oppo-he fails to draw men away from Saka. Like Xhaka, if Ode was on the left he would at least have strong foot preference which WOULD make him much more reliable as a runner. But he wouldn’t be this anyway. He would still be the anchor. I do agree though-it’s so hard to predict when Arteta has so many possible avenues to explore for next season. Impossible to tell. Either way Saka must move closer to the middle. It’s inevitable IMO.
Lovely vid Harvey! So who do you think is the best partner for Saka? Vieira or ESR, since they’re both willing to overlap and both have such unique profiles that solve problems in the no.10 through passing and carrying respectively. Also, what are your thoughts on Vieira in Odegaard’s all phase role? Personally believe he has more potential due to his much more expansive range of passing and ambidexterity
He definitely can drop deeper, all the questions around Fabio are intensity. Both him and ESR are great solutions to the RCM/RHS dynamics. Main questions will come down to OOP balance for Mikel.unless we move to a diamond, only one of them you would have thought had a LT future (esp considering Odegaard too!). All comes down to what we see this summer. Exciting times ahead. The best days are coming.
I love the idea of Vieira or ESR being in-house solutions to this. I think if Timber’s long term solution is LB, then switching Ødegaard to LCM as you’ve rightly said all season could allow ESR/Vieira to build that relationship with Saka and White. The four of them could be really interesting as a rotating cast of players. And Rice holding down his hybrid 6/8 role as we build around him (bringing back Patino, keeping Jorginho, promoting Lewis-Skelly through the ranks)…I think we’re in a great position! Also, what do you think of finding more minutes for Nelson? Especially with the lack of consistency in the LW position, I’d like to see him get more preseason minutes and runs in the CL with the increased number of games
Nelson is a strange and quite sad one. His future lies elsewhere I think-he is one of the ones I am more sure about on this. He’s got such a wide range of assets I want him to properly develop. Think we have done well by him by securing him with the contract, just as he has served us very well. Now time to part ways, we will see. There is probably one or two too many bodies in our attack, especially with a potential superstar signing and needing to reintegrate ESR, Fabio etc. like the idea of keeping us lean and hungry instead up there whilst adding another runner probably too. So many questions, it’s very exciting. Best days ahead of us.
@@harveygration thanks for the reply! I hear you with the superstar signing, but I really don’t think we’re in great need of a star wide player or forward; if we look at the ways we vary our attacking output, and our current crop of forwards who have hit 10+ goal involvements in the last two seasons (Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus) I don’t think we’re missing that inevitability, especially if at reintegrate ESR & Vieira, one of which also has managed over 10 goal involvements in one season. Add to that the goals from midfield we already enjoy in Rice and Ødegaard, and I think we’re diverse enough to not need to sign a marquee striker. I would like to see a RW come in to share minutes with Saka but is more willing to be the junior player, and I think that bringing in someone like Xavi Simons or Michael Olise would be perfect. We definitely could afford him with the players we’re trying to sell. One weird thought I remember having this season was trying to change Tavares into a forward in a similar pathway we identified for Saka…thoughts on that?
No no no, we can't move Odegaard from the RCM that kills our build up in my opinion, I really like how we set up centrally and I think the tweak needs to be out wide rather than centrally. Odegaard is filthy in the RCM role, he just plays to close to Saka at times, hence why i think moving Saka left would free us some space for us
Timber could play and will probably play both sides next season! Lot depends on who we get our hands on this summer. I can’t wait for pre-season because there is going to be SO MUCH to get my teeth into. Hato, for me, isn’t a priority-but we all know that timings of signings doesn’t necessarily correlate to importance.
In my opinion, if this team wants to evolve and truly be a 90+ point team and a potential Champions league winner, we need to properly platform Saka and unfortunately to Arsenal fans that has to result in the removal of the captain ( I think you believe this too but you don't want to upset anyone). We have two more effective interior in possession (ESR and Vieira) who are mis utilised. Odegaard is extremely one footed, angle biased, can't carry, mediocre ball striking and primarily operates in the right half space which we have Viera and Saka who are much more effective in that area. The RHS is too dependent on White's overlaps despite having tow creative players ahead of him because of the lack of dynamics. There are certain game states that he is not effective in (transition heavy games and aggressive midblocks). The best coaches will pick this up and take him out of the game as we have seen multiple times this season. His biggest value to the team is his work rate and pressing, but I don't think that justifies limiting Saka's zone of operation and giving him as much creative responsibilities when he isn't are most creative player in his preferred zone. You have proposed moving Odegaard to LCM which does giving him better passing angles and if Saka is paired with an ESR/Vieira we can allow Saka to roam more and not hug the touchline. Odegaard would be more effective in the LCM, but there are plenty of LCM's out there that provide more value in and out of possession for Arsenal that we can target (FDJ, Guimarães, Neves etc). Additionally, there would be so much pressure on Rice cover for the two interiors in transitions, pretty much putting an end to Rice in the 8 which has been quite effective this season. Also do you want Odegaard defending in a pivot in our block OOP? I don't and I am certain Arteta doesn't either.
I was initially going to disagree with you because in the last 6-7 games there has been a huge focus on "same side" football (as Declan Rice put it during his Athletic interview 2 weeks back). It's worked tremendously well as Odegaard, Saka, Havertz and White have become a deadly small space combination high up on the right side. "Same side" creates space for Trossard, Rice and Havertz to drive in to from crosses or through balls. However, that tactic is not going to work against every team. So we need multiple formations that we can change to and from during a game. A situation where we move Saka inside, during a game, could really cause confusion if teams have trained and set up to defend our same side tactic. The challenge is that Trossard has benefited most from the "same side" tactice and a change to play more through the centre might suit Martinelli more. So the question is whether we have the personnel in the starting 11 to be as dynamic as certain players like Odegaard and Saka. I don't know whether you saw the latest 442 video on Trossard (th-cam.com/video/jhuFXeWGd1M/w-d-xo.html) but it shows how valuable he is from a finishing perspective?
I think you’ve answered your question in the answer! Those small space combinations, interchanges, rotations etc are for unpicking the low blocks. But as I said, for those defences we have struggled vs this season (low blocks haven’t been one of them), we need different dynamics, like you yourself put very aptly. Saka can ‘do it all’, in any game state, vs any defence, at any angle. This video was more focusing on just maxing out Saka than anything else, but his move closer to the middle still seems a given at some point. Thanks for the comment, I’ll check out the video as well now!
Saka is one of the best RW atm but it's interesting that he could be even better in the middle of the park, I won't be surprised if one day Mikel Deploys Ode lcm, Saka Rcm and Rice at 6. Saka is tailor made for the middle. It's just insane how he still kills it out wide with that amount of congestion he faces. That's a testament to his qualities. Finally I'll asly what do you make of Ode x Saka, sitting in front of rice in a midfield trio?
I’m not proposing Saka RCM properly. But from RW he has the option to drifting centrally as he pleases. Giving him complete jurisdiction when he enters the middle. That’s where we get the best out of him. Let him do everything.
I never said you did cause I clearly undertand the vidoe which was great by the way weldone, but then, I'm just asking what you make of Ode x Saka x Rice trio. What the pro and con to that is. I personally feel Saka will bang so loud in there. What do you think?
Ah, my apologies. Sorry mate. I think Saka-Ode as the two ball dominant players either side it fab; then have the QB + anchor of Rice at the base. That is top, top. Add some associators, some runners, etc, few more athletes. Wow.
A CM signing is imperative, and the type of profile will give us a lot of info. I think there is every chance of it, I really do. But to define ‘juggernaut’ is also difficult, because what City are doing is as hard as it gets to emulate. But the best days are still ahead. Only excitement to come.
I really think playing rice alongside another "passing merchant" like partey or jorginho is needed to progress our play. I think we might start dropping points again if Arteta decides to play rice as a solo holding midfielder again. Nice idea tho
I appreciate this theory in the Arsenal fan base this past year, but its getting a bit much now no? Its a good plan in theory but in practice I think there are some serious problems we're not considering. 1. Odegaard is quite simply better suited to the rcm than Saka when the team is facing a low block. There are many players better than Ode in transition, this is not news, but the fact is Arsenal are often playing the game in the opposition half. Ode is sharper than Saka in tight spaces, he has a better touch and is better at threading passes to create for Saka himself in the majority of games. 2. This Odegaard on the left thing is also unnecessary. Odegaard is the the one that needs to free roam through the middle. His passing on the left is brilliant as is his passing on the right. In transition, he's better on the left because of the curve of his pass but it is also the fact that he moves from right to left in those moments which causes an overload and makes him difficult to track, this is done unpurpose by Mikel. He likes most of his creative players inverted. 3. This is probably my biggest gripe with this issue - this is not our biggest problem. Our biggest problem is that this is all theory. It is theory because the RCM we need is currently non-existent. We say things like "Unleash Smith-Rowe & Vieira" but how many games can we afford to risk them. And they are absolutely risks. Whenever Vieira has played (e.g. think Spurs and cup ties) we have barely/rarely made 3 points, especially when he started, and even when he was fit. He's still lightweight and the pace of the game seems to overwhelm him. Smith-Rowe has lost a turn of pace that was essential to his game, even more so, he can barely complete 60mins. Case in point, what costs us dearly this year was an experiment. Trying to revive Leverkusen Havertz 8, is where we ended up dropping the most points and destroying the left side dynamics. Now imagine trying to shoe horn in two more experiments to get them up to speed. Trossard is an example of a player who just came in and did it, and even then it was partly because Martinelli was poor. There is no point of discussing Odegaard on the left or more space for Saka until those two prove themselves more when given the chance. Thats just going to take a lot of time especially when the dynamics of the team on the RHS, are far from poor. 4. Above all, where there isn't a problem (Odegaard & Saka are generating absurd amounts of chances together) there is no need to go out of the way to fix it. The right hand side is good. Can it be better, sure. In the meantime, we need a Partey replacement. We need an all action left back. We could use a back up to our CB. A player to unleash Martinelli or worst case challenge both him and Trossard. A clinical striker. We have so many 8s and Rice and Odegaard are currently our best bets playing the way they are. Until that changes.
Our attack on the right is currently limited by both Saka an Odegaard being very left footed with the result that both want to move into the same Central space rather than attack the byline. Saka at RW needs a more overlapping FB than White or a right footed no8 who can go wide when Saka comes inside, such as ESR. Vierra is even more left footed so is not the answer.
Agree completely, it becomes too congested although intricate and nice to watch at times, I think the left is the issue however and I would advocate for Saka to be moved out there. I would be comfortable with Olise coming in on the right, although he is left footed he has better long range ball striking ability than Saka by moving Saka out left, teams will try and double up on him and end up exposing themselves on the right.
Martinelli and Saka need space for them to run into. Against a low block, they don’t have Ronaldinho/Neymar magic to dribble through the tight spaces. They are not tricky wingers like Ronaldinho, Neymar, Figo, Mahrez or Hleb. And they are not playmaking wide players like BernardoSilva, Foden, ColePalmer or DavidSilva.
Saka is one of these, 100 percent. When he moves closer to the middle people will see. Saka needs runners to show off his full package, Martinelli is a runner. They are two completely different winger archetypes. One is a complete profile, the other is a runner. Saka will become one of the best playmaking wingers on the planet-ps he already is. Words are running out to describe him, the world just hasn’t seen it in full form yet.
Saka is much less space dependent than Martinelli in fact Saka doesnt really need space to run into he hardly makes those searching runs when we have the ball
@@bna919 Saka is only slightly less space dependent than Martinelli. He is still extremely space dependent if you compare him to the players I have listed.
Us not winning the league will get people having wild takes like this trying to find the last “key” to our title challenge. Reality is different, and if City weren’t such cheats we would be salivating at another season with Saka at the right wing.
I mean, you are right tbf. But this video is more centred solely on how to extract as much value as possible for Saka, personally. Margins do matter. Especially when competing vs who we are up against. But I also agree with your sentiment.
Well done lad. I hope Super Mik stumbles across this video (although he probably knows as well where improvements lie) ESR/ Viera RCM, Ø LCM, ben white playing the "Trent" role and Saka given license. Sometimes football shouldn't be complicated. I think the only criticism I would have is the usage of Viera, he plays KBD-esque and Bruno passes, in a team like ours, that would be a lethal option. Its why 3-4 top quality signings changings everything for us and having Timber fit. Amazing future this club has. People don't even realise.
I’m sure he does. Unfortunately I’m no where near intelligent enough to decipher what his plan in next year-because there are so many avenues he could potentially take. Got a vid coming up on it. I agree re White-he has a range of influence we haven’t tapped into yet. Best times are ahead.
Situationally. I want him to hold the width, dominate the half space, drop deeper, unlock low, mid blocks and transitional defences. I want him to be associative, carry, score. I want a do it all. Because that’s what he is.
Neither heartbroken because it’s not lost yet, and we will have many more chances. Best times are yet to come. Things to work on, but that is what makes us so exciting.
Phil Foden might have slightly better figures than our number 7, however......... Foden doesn't even come anywhere near to Bukayo Saka in the other parts of his game. Foden does little to no defensive work whereas Saka contributes an enormous amount of work in defending our own goal. I've done lots of research on this subject matter and there is NO OTHER TEAM IN EUROPE'S TOP LEAGUES THAT WORK HARDER THAN THE ARSENAL....... FACT!!!
First time I've heard someone propose moving Odegaard to left center mid, and Saka to right center mid.
It's creative. I like it.
Will just say quickly-Saka to RCM is not what I’m proposing. As I said, I just want to give him more access to drifting from RW into the half space (and the whole of the centre really). Here he can truly dominate. But yes, situationally he will be a right interior.
But thanks so much! I’m only proposing solutions-I’m not clever enough to know Arteta’s plan for next year and how he wants to evolve. All I can do is hypothesise with logic. Thanks for the comment❤️
is been talked about on twitter, nothing new
@@fredo5425Heard it for the first time here and it's a lightbulb moment. I can see it working like a charm. Imagine Saka in the half spaces like Foden does feeding through balls to runners like Harvetz, Martinelli, Rice playing box to box or Ben White Marauding forward while also making third runs like the goal Saka, Lacazette and ESR scored against Brighton in 2019-20 season away when AMN was wearing a white long John because of the wintery weather as Tierney was in a short sleeve shirt....
@@Best_game59 agreed odegaard already showed signs of it working with those assist and chance created for harvetz like the chelsea goal and spurs offside goal . Arteta needs to free saka
Pyhtagoras in boots & nonewthing have proposed this ever since over a year ago.
Proper analysis mate. ESR's inclusion could have really bolstered our right side. Not only would it allow a right footed dynamic runner on the overlap or underlap for Saka, but it would also save White's legs by reducing the number of high intensity runs and recoveries he would have had to make. I think Arteta realizes he has to be looser with his squad usage. In his postmatch after the Bayern loss, he referred to the team needing "game changing moments". The final step in this team is to give our most potent attackers (Saka, Martinelli, or new signing) more freedom inside the pitch and facilitate them with the right profiles to maximize them and get those game changing moments (while trying to maintain our OOP dominance.) There have been signs this season, but I think we'll see it more next season.
Mate, first of all thanks so much for the kind words. Second, thanks for the banging comment. Nail on the head stuff. I agree, Mikel is flexible, a lot of it probs comes down to a 42yo in his first job who is trying to negotiate hierarchies. He just needs to become a little bit bolder as you said, and the UCL ‘lesson’ may well have taught him that.
Really like the potential of White deeper next to a CM in a 2-3-5: taps into his passing range, and he can attack as a 6th man when he sees fit then-doesn’t HAVE to overlap to create suitable conditions. Exciting times!
@@harveygrationwhat if he doesn't have to track back to always defend?Does it come back to the fullbacks?Great analysis
I think moving Saka left wing allows for ESR to play as a LCM option. ESR is better out there as he naturally likes to go out to the left. I think Saka can play anywhere but I like idea of having him play on the left, I don't think it harms his G/A as he is a brilliant crosser of the ball, and if you are adding a CF like Sesko. Helps us more than harms us in my opinion.
I really hope ESR could be the solution to this, absolutely love that boy and i know Arteta has a plan for him. This summer and pre-season is going to be a big one!
Top video once again Professor👏
Thanks so much Dave! Will be the crunch point for many players this summer. Lots of ways to evolve. And no one is really secure bar a handful.
Really hope it clicks for ESR. We will see.
ESR is too injury prone to rely on, sell.
I hope not, but could well be the case 🥺
Mikel Arteta, take a look at this please. Our main man needs the next step.
I think it’s inevitable Glen. At least I hope so!
You're getting better and better mate. One of your best videos. Thanks for the hard work!
Very kind of you Ben-thanks so much. Really thankful for your support as always ❤️
I agree with Saka being more involved in the midfield 100%. He’s way too limited being stuck holding width all the time. This is exactly why we seem to see Foden shine more than him and his season- these smart creative highly skilled players need to be given more freedom.
Word
Saka will eventually have the freedom Foden has today. Foden also was initially confined to the right or left.
Give Saka the right, the middle, allow him to be an outlet and drop deep, allow him to unlock deep defences and create over big spaces, allow him to do it all
Just discovered your channel mate, and i must say that i’m happy that there are sensible Arsenal fans like you out there. I hate how Saka gets underestimated. The disrespects from rivals is mainly because our own fans doesn’t rate him highly. Saka is arguably our most valuable player and one of the rarest winger profile to have. Been always saying this, people always gets fooled by aesthetics bias and for example rate Saka lower that Foden (he is better than Foden) and even some wingers that are now where near his level. The fact that he didn’t get in the POTS tells everything you need to now, the fans really don’t hype him enough. Saka is honestly magic, look at where he gets the ball and where that ball ends up. His Football IQ is also very underrated, one of the key reasons he is that special. I’m honestly amazed on how good he has been despite being limited a little and having such defensive actions (which is fair)
And as you said moving Ødegaard to the left would be a big improvement for both players. Ive already been trying to tell this to Arsenal fans but some of them just don’t want to understand it.
I hate saying this but one thing Southgate does well is allows Saka heavy central freedom vs weak opposition, however like Arteta, in the big games he is rigidly positioned.
Also you seem to discount the possibility of an aggressive RB that can hold width and underlap
Not discounting at all mate! But I want to give Saka the KEYS to the attack. Not be dependent on one specific type of dynamic. Let him figure it out on his own, if that makes sense.
We’ve seen an improvement this season, but I want to see so much more in terms of how much he is allowed to move.
Harvey, I really like your take on Saka. I hope Arteta sees this video. Saka moving centrally from the wing like Poch has done with Cucurella-albeit from the right back position will be an upside. Saka has a very good pass and cross on him. When playing left back, Saka had 12 assists, I remember the Olympiakos game away when Saka gave a very good assist, the assist he gave against Newcastle during Emery time, and many more. This is one area of Saka's game that is not well exploited. I think if this is implemented and a similar plan hatched for Martinelli, we would be more fluid and unpredictable...
Got yourself a new sub brp excellent shout I've been saying Saka isn't being let to be the best he can be
Brilliant analysis Harvey - love seeing something different from the other channels on TH-cam. I agree there is a lot more to come from our attack and Mikel will adapt for next season. I'm excited, not only for what incoming players we might have, but to have more explosive attacking play with more freedom. Great work!
Thanks so much James.
Evolutions, adaptations-there will be a lot in the summer! So much to improve on too which is so exciting. Best days are yet to come.
So the odegaard moving to midfield and that jumpstarted the title charge is just a misleading comment, title charge was due to teta reverting back to two proper midfielders, odegaard moving deeper is just a consequence of havertz playing higher which in the end wasn't utilizes that much in the run in for obvious reasons. You can push your ideas but there are objective ways of doing it i think. I think the way to play both esr and odegaard is not necessarily moving odegaard fully into midfield, but could be to play a 4 5 1 in defensive phase, like a half midfield role similar to how it is now. I understand your comment of having a runner next to saka, and good point, but esr unlikely to be the guy, first he prefers the left side of the field, second arteta doesn't seem to trust him for whatever reasons (may be objective, may be not) his last start was man of the match performance and we haven't seen him since. It seems unlikely that esr will feature in teta s plans. Finally the interchange between saka and odegaard messing with it is probably not a good idea. Vieira I think is done at arsenal personally. I think he is too light while technically not as good to compensate the shortcomings (unlike David silva or santi cazorla), 2 seasons should be enough to show what you are capable of, and we rarely seen anything tangible from him
Its not misleading Mark! We went from playing a dual shadow striker system to try and improve on transitional attacking dynamics, to converting Ode into the proper MF he is. He ISNT a box crashing goalscorer-that has never been Martin. Thus, it makes perfect sense to allow him to affect games in all phases. As I have also touched on this season, playing a stricter double pivot (at times) was also very important-I argued that in tandem with the Ode calls.
I believe, if you will allow me, that there is also a massive difference in Odegaard + the TEAM as we are now, and the levels we can reach on a collective level whilst he evolves. As we have seen in each stage of the Arteta project, evolutions that initially seemed mad become easily accepted very quickly: this was one of my main focuses in pre season when I was commenting on the changes we were seeing and why.
I made a point in this video of maintaining the whole way Ode does not have to be surplus, way too much talent and world class ability for that. Hence, we may have to adapt again. And this is part of what makes us so exciting. So many potential avenues for adaptation, with players on the periphery included in that.
Saka has to move more central and have that freedom. It’s inevitable in my humble opinion.
I also don’t think anyone is “done” per say just the same as very few players are “secure”.
Having said that, there is just as much chance that ESR, Fabio, or both leave the club.
The change to the defensive shape is something we can arguably expect, with Timber very able to ‘cover’ in the jumps in central areas and Rice worry about bigger spaces a bit more again.
I’m just presenting solutions, because there are a lot of possible ones. Not everyone can play, but Mikel will have some decisions to make on how he wants to alter things that is for sure!
Thanks for commenting again.
@@harveygrationif you believe that odegaard is a midfielder thats fine my point was that there are many ways to argue that instead of making straw man arguments bc a legitimate argument can be made, I don't deny that. However, I don't agree with odegaard in midfield, unless of course he playing next to messi. Team can evolve no one is denying it but when you drop odegaard deeper and there is no one to play in half spaces and feed those through balls it affects the team (saka not same as odegaard), so this 10 inverting into an 8 works fine for odegaard at the moment. If the team evolves it evolves but the evolution has to make sense. It's not mad if it makes sense, it s only mad if it doesn't make sense like havertz in midfield. Also I don't know which mad decisions you are referring to i think almost all decisions that arteta made were logical to me with the exception of havertz in midfield, partey at rb, xhaka at lb, trying to invert tierney. The other decisions he made were normal, didn't see any radical decisions being made. Its the radical decisions like these that failed
Nice assessment, people think putting ESR back into the team would magical solve our problems, but it has only created more problems when he's on the pitch, he's tactically inept as compared to ødegard and rice imo, and we really struggle to create much with him on the pitch, he's not much of a facilitator to the left winger as xhaka and ødegard were to our wingers, I think he's more suited to a mid block 4-2-3-1, with him getting the freedom of roaming about the pitch with little defensive duties, but in a structured system as arteta's, he's always looked out of place. The right hand dynamic was our greatest strength this season destroying it just to fix the left side shouldn't be the solution imo, strengthen the left side dynamics, without looking to ruin the right side. For instance see how we struggled when white over took the RB position and saka looked out of place for some time before getting used to white at RB, while the left dynamic of zinchenko, xhaka and martinelli worked wonders, because they all understood themselves, I think its time we move ESR on imo, and I'd rather we get xavi simons as his replacement, about fabio, I'm not too sure, because of who he's contending with for the same spot, ødegard, I think arteta needs to trust him more in certain games, especially if we get players like nico Williams
@harveygration I agree Harvey, I think if we got a forward who could play both left and right wings, it could allow our number 7 to roam around behind the striker.
In my opinion, this is where we would get the best out of Bukayo Saka and the best use of his two footed talent. To do this, we could put Odegaard in the left 8 which would suit his beautiful and graceful playing style.
I love that you've got Smith-Rowe in your visuals. Worth a subscribe alone!
Caught the video early today😂🎉🎉🎉🎉
Congratulations 🎊🎉for this
Thanks again! Really hope you enjoy it 😊
Bro gonna end up getting hired by arteta
😂😂 thanks brother. Just trying to learn all the time! Hope you’re doing well mate, great to see you commenting again ❤️
That is what I also thought, Harvey can be hired by Arteta even if it's for consultancy gigs.
Thank you for this video
Not a problem sir
This is what I was thinking all the time u nailed it odegaard as world class as he is him playing right hand side of the midfielder is making saka les useful and predictable in the transition face we really need ball carriers one two overlaps a right footed runner like esr but the best option is Florian wirtz I even thought sacrificing/selling for at least 100m£ odegaard entirely if we can get wirtz from Leverkusen bcs I can feel saka would be much comfortable with right footed runner like esr or wirtz especially wirtz he so talented reminds me young kdb
Great analysis as usual Harv!
Looking forward to the next.
Many thanks mate-much more coming up!
Top vid Harvey,I’ve noticed it a lot more in the recent weeks the vertically and angle bias of the left is so much better.
Maybe you could do a video on potential RCM options in the market that would suit saka?
It’s unlikely we win the league,however I’m proud of the boys & quite excited and optimistic for next season,I do believe the foundations & capacity is there for this Arsenal team to reach high 90/100 pts and that has to be the aim.
Coaching performance wise I think arteta has matched pep,the difference are players like KDB/haaland.Saka can be that for us if we give him the freedom,the facts he’s managed to pretty much match his counterparts GA,ie Foden/palmer.While significantly having more defensive output,is a hint at his potential.
Big summer ahead.COYG.
Fully agreed! Saka is our superstar attacker and needs to be platformed like that as he was vs Spuds.
It’s strange, because with the sheer amount of interiors we have and have coming through academy, it just feels like it will be an in-house solution.
Best days are ahead, only up. Things to work on, but that is what makes us so exciting.
Thanks again, really appreciative.
Max Dowman and Nwaneri could be key in the coming years
We have so many interiors 😂😂😂 main reason why I think the diamond is such a realistic thing to go for
One hell of an analysis! You deserve more subs. Big up and more power to you Harvey !!
Very kind of you. Thanks so much ❤️
Good video as always. Feels like a calculus class at times with all the moving pieces we have to keep in mind 😅
On Saka, I definitely agree with you that he needs to be more central with freedom to move in 360 degrees as opposed to 180. I think what you're suggesting is akin to what Klopp did with Szoboszlai at the start of the season where he was the runner for Salah to get in more central since Trent no longer overlaps.
Your suggestion would certainly require a lot of work in preseason but unfortunately with the Euros and Copa America most of the vital components may not be available for it to be something we start next season with. It'll probably be we work on fixing LHS dynamics first since there are fewer moving parts there.
Evolutions are part of it and will be very heavy in the coming months. Unfortunately I’m not clever enough to know what Arteta is thinking, but we can hypothesise!
Thanks again for the lovely comment. That Salah/runner relationship is the exact same one I’m trying to imbue with Saka-you’re absolutely correct!
@harveygration Yes Arteta is a hard man to read. Am sure we'll evolve again next season. He won't sit there and just use our current tactics since teams will be ready for them.
Also I really love that Saka goal vs West Brom in the snow. That is the vision for what you're advocating for. The typical Wenger goal.
Just isn’t something we’ve seen for a while in an Arsenal game. Not necessarily a bad thing but I that ‘way of playing’ is just a bit of me. Really nice way to diversify things a little bit, even if it isn’t the solution all the time.
WHAT A VIDEO LOVE IT
❤️❤️
I wish Arteta could watch this. I have always had this in mind the Saka movement, I see Kudus doing so, Palmer as well even Foden. I always ask myself why will Saka always stuck one place. Make a run to the middle bro you're good enough. Thanks for this video but I just wish our coaching staff watch this video as well. I know the always want Saka to track back but standing there always make defender's to predict where the can see him easily if not that the boy always work hard to beat defender's he would've always find it hard to score goals
I’m sure he does. With the increasing flexibility we’ve seen in our build up in the second half of the season…for me at least, Saka’s evolving role seems the realistic next step. Imo.
Thanks for the kind comment too, really appreciate it.
Superb
Many thanks
Considering the right hand side dynamics of odegaard,saka and white, I think there could be a temporary solution to be found by just instructing odegaard and saka to rotate more (similar to how jesus,martinelli and xhaka rotated in 22/23), that way we can still keep the creative outlet on the RW, but there is an addition of saka's ball striking in the right half-space instead of him being restricted to the flanks, whilst also being able to confuse defenders due to the constant rotations.
The only problem this would probably entail is that Odegaard no longer leads the press if possession were to turn over, coupled with the fact that odegaard is more reliant on his left foot, which makes his passing angles more restricted, which may lead to just passing it back to white instead of finding the breakthrough passes.
But only time will tell as to arteta's vision of this team, this summer's recruitment and pre-season would be more worthwhile to pay attention to as compared to previous years.
Main problem is Odegaard is not dynamic enough in his movement to overlap-even when he does, his run is inherently not taken as seriously by the oppo-he fails to draw men away from Saka. Like Xhaka, if Ode was on the left he would at least have strong foot preference which WOULD make him much more reliable as a runner. But he wouldn’t be this anyway. He would still be the anchor.
I do agree though-it’s so hard to predict when Arteta has so many possible avenues to explore for next season. Impossible to tell.
Either way Saka must move closer to the middle. It’s inevitable IMO.
@@harveygration yep Odegaard isnt going to play well stuck on the right wing
Lovely vid Harvey! So who do you think is the best partner for Saka? Vieira or ESR, since they’re both willing to overlap and both have such unique profiles that solve problems in the no.10 through passing and carrying respectively. Also, what are your thoughts on Vieira in Odegaard’s all phase role? Personally believe he has more potential due to his much more expansive range of passing and ambidexterity
He definitely can drop deeper, all the questions around Fabio are intensity. Both him and ESR are great solutions to the RCM/RHS dynamics. Main questions will come down to OOP balance for Mikel.unless we move to a diamond, only one of them you would have thought had a LT future (esp considering Odegaard too!).
All comes down to what we see this summer. Exciting times ahead. The best days are coming.
And thank you for the praise, I truly appreciate it
who should we bring into midfield if this is what happens? neves or bruno
I love the idea of Vieira or ESR being in-house solutions to this. I think if Timber’s long term solution is LB, then switching Ødegaard to LCM as you’ve rightly said all season could allow ESR/Vieira to build that relationship with Saka and White. The four of them could be really interesting as a rotating cast of players. And Rice holding down his hybrid 6/8 role as we build around him (bringing back Patino, keeping Jorginho, promoting Lewis-Skelly through the ranks)…I think we’re in a great position!
Also, what do you think of finding more minutes for Nelson? Especially with the lack of consistency in the LW position, I’d like to see him get more preseason minutes and runs in the CL with the increased number of games
Nelson is a strange and quite sad one. His future lies elsewhere I think-he is one of the ones I am more sure about on this. He’s got such a wide range of assets I want him to properly develop. Think we have done well by him by securing him with the contract, just as he has served us very well. Now time to part ways, we will see. There is probably one or two too many bodies in our attack, especially with a potential superstar signing and needing to reintegrate ESR, Fabio etc. like the idea of keeping us lean and hungry instead up there whilst adding another runner probably too.
So many questions, it’s very exciting. Best days ahead of us.
Thanks for the comment too :)
@@harveygration thanks for the reply!
I hear you with the superstar signing, but I really don’t think we’re in great need of a star wide player or forward; if we look at the ways we vary our attacking output, and our current crop of forwards who have hit 10+ goal involvements in the last two seasons (Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus) I don’t think we’re missing that inevitability, especially if at reintegrate ESR & Vieira, one of which also has managed over 10 goal involvements in one season. Add to that the goals from midfield we already enjoy in Rice and Ødegaard, and I think we’re diverse enough to not need to sign a marquee striker. I would like to see a RW come in to share minutes with Saka but is more willing to be the junior player, and I think that bringing in someone like Xavi Simons or Michael Olise would be perfect. We definitely could afford him with the players we’re trying to sell.
One weird thought I remember having this season was trying to change Tavares into a forward in a similar pathway we identified for Saka…thoughts on that?
No no no, we can't move Odegaard from the RCM that kills our build up in my opinion, I really like how we set up centrally and I think the tweak needs to be out wide rather than centrally. Odegaard is filthy in the RCM role, he just plays to close to Saka at times, hence why i think moving Saka left would free us some space for us
Harvey with us heavy link with hato (LB) is it possible that arteta see timber as a RB
Love the video keep it up 👍
Timber could play and will probably play both sides next season! Lot depends on who we get our hands on this summer. I can’t wait for pre-season because there is going to be SO MUCH to get my teeth into.
Hato, for me, isn’t a priority-but we all know that timings of signings doesn’t necessarily correlate to importance.
And thanks very much for the comment, really thank you!
Hato is essentially a better on the ball Ake (and more aireally dominant)
In my opinion, if this team wants to evolve and truly be a 90+ point team and a potential Champions league winner, we need to properly platform Saka and unfortunately to Arsenal fans that has to result in the removal of the captain ( I think you believe this too but you don't want to upset anyone). We have two more effective interior in possession (ESR and Vieira) who are mis utilised.
Odegaard is extremely one footed, angle biased, can't carry, mediocre ball striking and primarily operates in the right half space which we have Viera and Saka who are much more effective in that area. The RHS is too dependent on White's overlaps despite having tow creative players ahead of him because of the lack of dynamics. There are certain game states that he is not effective in (transition heavy games and aggressive midblocks). The best coaches will pick this up and take him out of the game as we have seen multiple times this season. His biggest value to the team is his work rate and pressing, but I don't think that justifies limiting Saka's zone of operation and giving him as much creative responsibilities when he isn't are most creative player in his preferred zone.
You have proposed moving Odegaard to LCM which does giving him better passing angles and if Saka is paired with an ESR/Vieira we can allow Saka to roam more and not hug the touchline. Odegaard would be more effective in the LCM, but there are plenty of LCM's out there that provide more value in and out of possession for Arsenal that we can target (FDJ, Guimarães, Neves etc). Additionally, there would be so much pressure on Rice cover for the two interiors in transitions, pretty much putting an end to Rice in the 8 which has been quite effective this season. Also do you want Odegaard defending in a pivot in our block OOP? I don't and I am certain Arteta doesn't either.
I was initially going to disagree with you because in the last 6-7 games there has been a huge focus on "same side" football (as Declan Rice put it during his Athletic interview 2 weeks back). It's worked tremendously well as Odegaard, Saka, Havertz and White have become a deadly small space combination high up on the right side. "Same side" creates space for Trossard, Rice and Havertz to drive in to from crosses or through balls. However, that tactic is not going to work against every team. So we need multiple formations that we can change to and from during a game. A situation where we move Saka inside, during a game, could really cause confusion if teams have trained and set up to defend our same side tactic. The challenge is that Trossard has benefited most from the "same side" tactice and a change to play more through the centre might suit Martinelli more. So the question is whether we have the personnel in the starting 11 to be as dynamic as certain players like Odegaard and Saka. I don't know whether you saw the latest 442 video on Trossard (th-cam.com/video/jhuFXeWGd1M/w-d-xo.html) but it shows how valuable he is from a finishing perspective?
I think you’ve answered your question in the answer! Those small space combinations, interchanges, rotations etc are for unpicking the low blocks.
But as I said, for those defences we have struggled vs this season (low blocks haven’t been one of them), we need different dynamics, like you yourself put very aptly.
Saka can ‘do it all’, in any game state, vs any defence, at any angle. This video was more focusing on just maxing out Saka than anything else, but his move closer to the middle still seems a given at some point.
Thanks for the comment, I’ll check out the video as well now!
Saka is one of the best RW atm but it's interesting that he could be even better in the middle of the park, I won't be surprised if one day Mikel Deploys Ode lcm, Saka Rcm and Rice at 6. Saka is tailor made for the middle. It's just insane how he still kills it out wide with that amount of congestion he faces. That's a testament to his qualities. Finally I'll asly what do you make of Ode x Saka, sitting in front of rice in a midfield trio?
I’m not proposing Saka RCM properly. But from RW he has the option to drifting centrally as he pleases. Giving him complete jurisdiction when he enters the middle. That’s where we get the best out of him. Let him do everything.
I never said you did cause I clearly undertand the vidoe which was great by the way weldone, but then, I'm just asking what you make of Ode x Saka x Rice trio. What the pro and con to that is. I personally feel Saka will bang so loud in there. What do you think?
Ah, my apologies. Sorry mate. I think Saka-Ode as the two ball dominant players either side it fab; then have the QB + anchor of Rice at the base. That is top, top. Add some associators, some runners, etc, few more athletes. Wow.
harvey do u think arsenal will get an lcm this summer and also do u think arsenal will be a juggernaut that wins titles?
A CM signing is imperative, and the type of profile will give us a lot of info. I think there is every chance of it, I really do. But to define ‘juggernaut’ is also difficult, because what City are doing is as hard as it gets to emulate. But the best days are still ahead. Only excitement to come.
He could be a Seedorf regen.
harvey do u think havertz would be the lcm next season and also thoughts on people laughing at arsenal's project?
I really think playing rice alongside another "passing merchant" like partey or jorginho is needed to progress our play. I think we might start dropping points again if Arteta decides to play rice as a solo holding midfielder again. Nice idea tho
I appreciate this theory in the Arsenal fan base this past year, but its getting a bit much now no? Its a good plan in theory but in practice I think there are some serious problems we're not considering.
1. Odegaard is quite simply better suited to the rcm than Saka when the team is facing a low block. There are many players better than Ode in transition, this is not news, but the fact is Arsenal are often playing the game in the opposition half. Ode is sharper than Saka in tight spaces, he has a better touch and is better at threading passes to create for Saka himself in the majority of games.
2. This Odegaard on the left thing is also unnecessary. Odegaard is the the one that needs to free roam through the middle. His passing on the left is brilliant as is his passing on the right. In transition, he's better on the left because of the curve of his pass but it is also the fact that he moves from right to left in those moments which causes an overload and makes him difficult to track, this is done unpurpose by Mikel. He likes most of his creative players inverted.
3. This is probably my biggest gripe with this issue - this is not our biggest problem. Our biggest problem is that this is all theory. It is theory because the RCM we need is currently non-existent. We say things like "Unleash Smith-Rowe & Vieira" but how many games can we afford to risk them. And they are absolutely risks. Whenever Vieira has played (e.g. think Spurs and cup ties) we have barely/rarely made 3 points, especially when he started, and even when he was fit. He's still lightweight and the pace of the game seems to overwhelm him. Smith-Rowe has lost a turn of pace that was essential to his game, even more so, he can barely complete 60mins.
Case in point, what costs us dearly this year was an experiment. Trying to revive Leverkusen Havertz 8, is where we ended up dropping the most points and destroying the left side dynamics. Now imagine trying to shoe horn in two more experiments to get them up to speed. Trossard is an example of a player who just came in and did it, and even then it was partly because Martinelli was poor. There is no point of discussing Odegaard on the left or more space for Saka until those two prove themselves more when given the chance. Thats just going to take a lot of time especially when the dynamics of the team on the RHS, are far from poor.
4. Above all, where there isn't a problem (Odegaard & Saka are generating absurd amounts of chances together) there is no need to go out of the way to fix it. The right hand side is good. Can it be better, sure. In the meantime, we need a Partey replacement. We need an all action left back. We could use a back up to our CB. A player to unleash Martinelli or worst case challenge both him and Trossard. A clinical striker. We have so many 8s and Rice and Odegaard are currently our best bets playing the way they are. Until that changes.
Our attack on the right is currently limited by both Saka an Odegaard being very left footed with the result that both want to move into the same Central space rather than attack the byline. Saka at RW needs a more overlapping FB than White or a right footed no8 who can go wide when Saka comes inside, such as ESR. Vierra is even more left footed so is not the answer.
Agree completely, it becomes too congested although intricate and nice to watch at times, I think the left is the issue however and I would advocate for Saka to be moved out there. I would be comfortable with Olise coming in on the right, although he is left footed he has better long range ball striking ability than Saka by moving Saka out left, teams will try and double up on him and end up exposing themselves on the right.
Saka @ RHS midfielder is just De Bruyne-esque and it will be frightening. Odegaard will simply be Silva.
Nwanweri
Martinelli and Saka need space for them to run into.
Against a low block, they don’t have Ronaldinho/Neymar magic to dribble through the tight spaces.
They are not tricky wingers like Ronaldinho, Neymar, Figo, Mahrez or Hleb. And they are not playmaking wide players like BernardoSilva, Foden, ColePalmer or DavidSilva.
Saka is one of these, 100 percent. When he moves closer to the middle people will see. Saka needs runners to show off his full package, Martinelli is a runner. They are two completely different winger archetypes. One is a complete profile, the other is a runner. Saka will become one of the best playmaking wingers on the planet-ps he already is. Words are running out to describe him, the world just hasn’t seen it in full form yet.
Saka is much less space dependent than Martinelli in fact Saka doesnt really need space to run into he hardly makes those searching runs when we have the ball
@@bna919
Saka is only slightly less space dependent than Martinelli. He is still extremely space dependent if you compare him to the players I have listed.
harvey are you still confident arsenal win major titles next few seasons?
Yes! You ask me each time it won’t change!😂
Us not winning the league will get people having wild takes like this trying to find the last “key” to our title challenge. Reality is different, and if City weren’t such cheats we would be salivating at another season with Saka at the right wing.
I mean, you are right tbf. But this video is more centred solely on how to extract as much value as possible for Saka, personally. Margins do matter. Especially when competing vs who we are up against. But I also agree with your sentiment.
Well done lad. I hope Super Mik stumbles across this video (although he probably knows as well where improvements lie) ESR/ Viera RCM, Ø LCM, ben white playing the "Trent" role and Saka given license. Sometimes football shouldn't be complicated. I think the only criticism I would have is the usage of Viera, he plays KBD-esque and Bruno passes, in a team like ours, that would be a lethal option. Its why 3-4 top quality signings changings everything for us and having Timber fit. Amazing future this club has. People don't even realise.
I’m sure he does. Unfortunately I’m no where near intelligent enough to decipher what his plan in next year-because there are so many avenues he could potentially take. Got a vid coming up on it. I agree re White-he has a range of influence we haven’t tapped into yet. Best times are ahead.
And thank you ;))
Saka RCM🙏😭
Situationally. I want him to hold the width, dominate the half space, drop deeper, unlock low, mid blocks and transitional defences. I want him to be associative, carry, score. I want a do it all. Because that’s what he is.
Effectively. Start on the RW with increasing license to dominate the middle as he sees fit
Hey Harvey
Hey! Hope you’re well Tris :) thanks for watching ❤️
harvey are u heartbroken arsenal has lost the league and also this is probably your best chance to win it?
Neither heartbroken because it’s not lost yet, and we will have many more chances. Best times are yet to come.
Things to work on, but that is what makes us so exciting.
Teta is too stubborn ffs
Phil Foden might have slightly better figures than our number 7, however......... Foden doesn't even come anywhere near to Bukayo Saka in the other parts of his game.
Foden does little to no defensive work whereas Saka contributes an enormous amount of work in defending our own goal. I've done lots of research on this subject matter and there is NO OTHER TEAM IN EUROPE'S TOP LEAGUES THAT WORK HARDER THAN THE ARSENAL....... FACT!!!
if set free he's gonna be better than Messi
🤣🤣
I don't think so
It doesn't sound great
In my opinion 😂