100% Xhaka vs Havertz it’s an immediate upgrade he’s better at creating and taking opportunities, that being said I think Zinchenko missing at the start of the season, White being out of form and Partey out injured has had a knock on effect.
Real problem is the midfield buy another striker and we’ll still be slow in the transitions and low on the creativity.
Doesn’t really matter where Odegaard starts or what you call the position, LAM, LCM, RCM, RAM he will be good, my problem with the article is Fabio Vieira.
Having said that I actually think our best midfield would be Rice, Partey, Odegaard with Rice at LCM.
We should actually try Jesus there he naturally drops deep to bring the ball up the pitch, makes literally double the tackles Havertz makes, wins the ball at a higher %, has better at interceptions, looks better on the ball and presses more than Trossard and Havertz. From pure creating goals perspective Trossard has highest xA, xG and key passes per 90 in the whole team. Havertz only real win above the other 2 is in aerial duals, technically he wins xGbuildup (every possession you’re involved with that should lead to a goal chance) but the fact that he isn’t producing goals/assists despite this is actually a negative.
Xhaka contributed more in every aspect, defensive awareness, key passes leading to shots per 90, take on success, higher xG, higher xA, Assists and Goals.
Obviously we’re missing other important players (Jesus, Partey, Zinchenko at the start of the season) but even without them Kai seems to negatively impact the players around him, from the eye test Havertz looks uncomfortable receiving the ball, is panicked in possession and offensively timid.
I didn’t want Havertz when he was being talked about but I was optimistic that Arteta would get the best out of him, unfortunately he’s been terrible though.
I don’t get why we don’t just play Trossard in the position he’s a stats monster and the eye test tells me he could do it to.
We miss Partey there.
0.09 xA per 90 it’s factually terrible.
Arsenal are 10th in non penalty expected goals, this is because we don’t create as many goals scoring opportunities as other teams. While I’d like a striker upgrade our strikers finishing xG is only ever going to be proportionate to how many good chances they get, e.g. Eddie and Trossard xG is half of what Haalands is, that’s not only because Halaand is amazing (he is) but he factually he gets more chances to score. Long winded but this is why I think Brandt would make sense he’s a player that can get in between the lines and is always looking for the offensive option that brings players into the game.
Deserved though.
Yellow all-day but don’t think he deserves his first 1.
I’m glad this comment isn’t aging well.