Arteta talking about Nwaneri as a #9.

Did the same with ESR

comment by PeebARGH!!! (U3245)
posted 3 minutes ago
"beige, pointless and unfunny"

"You called?"

- The Snooks
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comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted about a minute ago
Arteta talking about Nwaneri as a #9.

Did the same with ESR
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Yeah very weird comment but who knows. Tbf currently Ethan looks too good to fail, I'd say.

Ethan can play anywhere on the front line, and he is only 17. I think his point is that it is too early to pigeonhole his future. Probably secretly terrified what to do if he starts to outperform Odegaard by 20.

Doubt he is terrified by the prospect of a great player being usurped by an even better one. The fact they can play in the same XI hardly makes for a bad situation.

He is already taking off his captain for a 17 year old for tactical reasons as it is

I wish Arteta would try Odegaard and Ethan together as no.8s. I doubt his defensive mindset would allow it. Arteta seems to be obsessed by playing a box to box next to a DM.

comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 6 minutes ago
I wish Arteta would try Odegaard and Ethan together as no.8s. I doubt his defensive mindset would allow it. Arteta seems to be obsessed by playing a box to box next to a DM.
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You mean Rice, Ode and Ethan? yeah that seems against everything Arteta believes in!

comment by Chris H (U15205)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 6 minutes ago
I wish Arteta would try Odegaard and Ethan together as no.8s. I doubt his defensive mindset would allow it. Arteta seems to be obsessed by playing a box to box next to a DM.
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You mean Rice, Ode and Ethan? yeah that seems against everything Arteta believes in!
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I think he is trying to recreate Xhaka unlocking Martinelli and Odegaard goal scoring. Wasn't that the whole point of buying Merino? Xhaka's lack of pace actually worked for us because imo he stayed higher up the pitch knowing he could not get back. That helped our counter-attack.

Havertz (false 9) does that Xhaka counter-attack role which means we have one less attacker (Jesus in those early days of 4-1-4-1). So teams push up and isolate both martinelli and saka.

Definitely that was the point of Merino yeah. So far he has been far less competant and less urgent on the ball than Xhaka was in his last season though.

Merino has been shiiiite, but has had many factors against him. Hopefully if he gets a run in the team he can show vast improvement.

What channel is the Eddie Masterclass on tonight?

One reason why I think Merino is failing is because Havertz is not a no.9. This is my reason for signing Vlahovic (or another no.9) in Jan. Then you could play Havertz back in the no.8 role against teams who play a low block and Merino against teams who attack us.

176

comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 33 minutes ago
Ethan can play anywhere on the front line, and he is only 17. I think his point is that it is too early to pigeonhole his future. Probably secretly terrified what to do if he starts to outperform Odegaard by 20.
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Odegaard will be 29 by then, we would be fortunate to have Nwaneri outperform him by then, we don't want to be in the same position as City is in where they haven't replaced their stars

comment by Passion Power - Make 1984 fiction again(U8398) (U8398)
posted 16 seconds ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 33 minutes ago
Ethan can play anywhere on the front line, and he is only 17. I think his point is that it is too early to pigeonhole his future. Probably secretly terrified what to do if he starts to outperform Odegaard by 20.
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Odegaard will be 29 by then, we would be fortunate to have Nwaneri outperform him by then, we don't want to be in the same position as City is in where they haven't replaced their stars
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As long as Ethan signs a pro contract and is happy to sit behind Odegaard despite probably outscoring/assisting, maybe as soon as next season if Odegaard doesn't rediscover his finishing.

Why would he sit behind Odegaard? Have you pigeon-holed him?

Arteta has unless of course you believe he is going to be our new no.9?

So when you said " his point is that it is too early to pigeonhole his future" you meant his point was he has pigeon-holed him?

comment by Passion Power - Make 1984 fiction again(U8398) (U8398)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 33 minutes ago
Ethan can play anywhere on the front line, and he is only 17. I think his point is that it is too early to pigeonhole his future. Probably secretly terrified what to do if he starts to outperform Odegaard by 20.
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Odegaard will be 29 by then, we would be fortunate to have Nwaneri outperform him by then, we don't want to be in the same position as City is in where they haven't replaced their stars
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Lets be honest winning 4 titles in a row and a CL would be an absolute dream, even if we are left a shambles after.

I said that because I believe Arteta is trying not to pitch Ethan against Odegaard in the media. When practically that may happen. Arteta is probably very high on Ethan like I have been.

Rashford not even the squad for League cup. 🤔

comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 32 seconds ago
Rashford not even the squad for League cup. 🤔
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He has been told to leave in January and won't be picked.

I wonder who is interested?