GoonerMuzz wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 9:33 am
I think when you look at their stats there isn't a great deal of difference ESR 10 goals 2 assists in 33 whereas Odegaard is 7 goals 4 assists in 36 in the EPL, so ESR is a goal scoring 10 Odegaard is a creative 10. The problem is you can't fit both in the team at once...
What irritates me is where Odegaard gets called out for dwelling on the ball or getting caught out the same level of criticism isn't aimed at ESR for his mistakes or lack of fitness.
Maybe it is because ESR is an youth player who came through the ranks but for me I'm more interested in the better player on the day being in the squad rather than some arbitrary favour of where they originated from or some fantasy Arteta prefers one over the other, if we could see that ESRs fitness wasn't up to scratch then probably the manager could too.
For the record in most instances I'd prefer ESR but he needs to seriously work on his fitness because in most games he started he was seriously blowing by half time even before his injury, the previous season it was noticed by many on here too
To be fair Muzz, I don't give a damn what a player's background is...whether he came through the system, whether we bought him, or whether he walked in off of Hackney Marshes....if he's good enough, I want him to play. I'm a fan of ESR for the simple reason that I think he's already a very good player and has the potential to be outstanding. He also bring something to the side that others don't, because he'll pick up the ball and drive at the opposition. He plays on the half turn and his touch and passing are excellent. Sure, it doesn't always work, but he's young and it works more often than not. I agree with A11M11 that he is potentially the most exciting prospect of our youngsters, although if Martinelli recaptures the form he has shown in the past, then he's equally as exciting imo.
I remain somewhat unconvinced by Odegaard, because despite being neat, tidy, technically gifted and can see a pass, he's lightweight and can disappear when the going gets tough and we've had far too many of those in recent times. The best players rise to the occasion, not fade away. Don't get me wrong, I'm not vehemently anti Odegaard, he's a good footballer and we've got far bigger worries than him, but I'm always disappointed when he plays instead of ESR and we can't play them both at number 10.
Bottom line, we'll lose ESR and that's a big mistake.
|| Arsenal have reportedly made a €40m (£34m) bid to sign Marco Asensio, with their main rivals Milan, believed to have bid around €30m (£25m) for the Spaniard [Via - @DefCentral].