16 Jun 2020 10:02:47
Heard a few rumblings about AMN being allowed to leave this summer. It's always a shame when an Arsenal lad doesn't make the grade at the club, but it would show our academy doing it's job and making money for the club.
16 Jun 2020 14:14:01
Would have liked to have seen the lad have a run in midfield but I must admit I've never been really convinced he was a top 4 player let alone a title challenging player that all big clubs should be looking to have in their squads.
Wish the lad well of he leaves.
To me Martinelli Saka and Rowe Smith have real potential to be top players but Nelson and Wliox like Mainland Niles are a bit short of what's needed sadly.
16 Jun 2020 15:30:50
Apparently it's not cut and dry, and he'S to be given a run-out in midfield, like he did against Charlton. That he would be sold for saying he didn't want to play out of position, that would be a shame.
16 Jun 2020 17:05:10
Maitland Niles at least deserves a chance to play in his preferred role. I'll never say he's not good enough to play for Arsenal when I can only judge him playing in positions that he isn't exactly comfortable with. He's played RWB, RB, LB and on the wing both sides since he's broken in to the 1st team. A loyal graduate of the academy to say the least and he needs his time. He's so composed on the ball which is something that at least 2 of our CM's are certainly not!
Nelson has only had a handful of chances and he's a good player for sure. He was a standout in the under 23s and then went on loan to Germany where he also played some brilliant football. I think he'll shine and if we sell him we'll live to regret it. Gnabry only had a handful of chances, went to Germany and now look 🤷🏻‍♂️.
16 Jun 2020 18:10:59
It's all personal opinion Glen mate and I totally respect yours even though we don't share the same views this time.
Gnarby for me was always in the Martinelli stand out obvious bracket to everyone but those who mattered but for some reason refused to use him.
Even if we were flush with money I think Martinelli and Saka would be in our first team squads while UK not at all sure Wilox Mainland Niles or Nelson would be, but of course My potential to be wrong isn't without grounds :-)
16 Jun 2020 18:51:04
100% mate. Other people see things and view players in different ways. I can't help but feel sorry for MNiles though which is why I think he should get his shot over Xhaka and if it doesn't work out, he's got time to move on for sure. I don't want to see Arsenal move on young talent to early that's all. Both Martinelli and Saka have come straight in and stamped their authority in the team which is perfect. Now it all comes down to consistency and giving them regular opportunities every week.
16 Jun 2020 19:33:26
Absolutely mate and Mainland Niles should definitely have been given more of a chance last season and this in his favoured position.
Some players just look right at home in top football immediately and I think Martinelli Saka and Gnarby all looked that way to me, but then again Harry Kane didn't and he struggled to make the Norwich bench the season before his breakthrough at Spurs.
16 Jun 2020 21:22:53
Interesting points of view fellas.
Iv always thought there was a player there with AMN, but it’s difficult once you’ve made the step into the first team and your rate of progress slows or stagnates after that big step up.
Personally I can’t fault the guy as I think a lot of his issues are down to the man management, or lack thereof, that he has received. I mean Emery used him as a utility player and he knew no matter how he performed that Bellerin of Kolasinac/ Monreal would always come straight back in once fit regardless. This doesn’t help the player if he’s not getting motivation or feedback from the coach.
I think he could have been used a lot more in CM with the lack of mobility in Xhaka, for me Xhaka is inneffective at what he is supposed to be as any type of midfield player. He is not a CDM as he is quite simply bypassed too often and he is cynical to the point of at times barely even making the contact needed to desperately commit a foul.
He can pass a ball square and forward of course, but this is quite often at his leisure with no intent to draw opposition out of position or create an incisive move at the intensity required. and all too frequently when he does pass he does it so deep in our half that he is under no pressure from the opposition team who have already got back into a shape before he casually commits his pass to one of our fullbacks.
Occasionally he will lift the odd pass over a defence to Kolasinac or Saka running from deep but I’d argue what he offers, and has offered, over the last 18 months could have been matched or surpassed by the athleticism and energy of AMNs once he had been given a run of games in the position.
My only criticism of AMNs is that he hasn’t found that resolve needed yet to persevere through his own flaws or inexperience, all too often once he’s made an error the head goes down and the body language drops and he literally slows to jogging pace almost sheepishly accepting he’s lost out, when he has displayed the strength and energy on numerous occasions at RB to get back and make superb interventions that few could have got back to do.
So for me it’s a question of motivation and attitude for the player, someone close to him needs to put the big question to him now as to what it is HE wants and that he’s in control of his own destiny, or I fear ultimately he will look for the easy way out and think his youth combined with a new club will be the answer, but the reality is if he pulls his socks up and just goes out and plays to his full potential full pelt each game there's a player there.
Same goes for Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson. You haven’t made it just because your in and around the first team. You need to push to perform and push harder than everyone else to make the standard they play at your norm. That’s where they differ from Martinelli. From minute one he came in looking to prove a point.
He’s direct and single minded in pursuit of his goals game to game and has no youth or under 23’s reputation to sit back on. He’s hungry and going places, not next season, but now.
Saka is an exciting talent in a fine run of form but by no means the finished article either.
Like I said the other day, it’s time for them to step up as senior footballers and stake their claim, and reading into Ed 002s comments, they’ll all get that chance the next 18 mths.
16 Jun 2020 23:27:09
I’d like to remind you, that a young AMN had €100m Paul Pogba in his pocket at Old Trafford, kid needs a chance to prove himself in his natural position rather than playing cover for every position apart from CM. I believe there is definitely a player in there, and it’s Arteta’s job to find it. Willock for me could be our major break through over the next 18 months, again a player who needs a good run of games, but again I'm positive there is a player in there too. And then we have two awesome talents in Saka and Martinelli who will both go on to win major trophies, no doubt about that.
16 Jun 2020 23:40:49
I think had Maitland Niles been given a proper run of games in midfield we would think differently of him. Small sample size but always look back to his man of the match performance against Man U a couple years ago when he bossed the midfield to the point Pogba had to pull him aside afterwards. AMN could've been our box to box midfielder with a proper DLP. I actually think he and Ceballos could form a nice partnership but doubt we'll ever see that. Interesting to see how Arteta has played around with the midfield groups in these friendlies though and how that might shape our team for these last few games.
17 Jun 2020 07:34:31
It's difficult to say what side of the fence I am on with AMN, I'd hate to see another youngster leave and kick on with another club, (Malen, Jeff, Gnabry, Bennacer) but I think like Shambles said, his motivation isn't there as it should be and that makes so much difference, however, you wouldn't be motivated as much if the 3 different managers you've played under, all used you as a utility player rather than the CM position you always say you are, hopefully Arteta changes that if AMN is to stay a while longer.
With the whole Nelson and Willock debate too, I remember see Willock in pre season 2 years ago now and he was a tall thin kid, then I was at the Blackpool game and I thought "whoa that can't be Willock" he was massive, and then I watched the Newcastle game and he was tracking his runners and when he lost the ball, working his socks off getting it back, putting some great challenges in and carrying the ball really well, he can be a top player in my opinion, same as Nelson, it's a waiting game for me with Reiss and when Arteta starts getting him going he won't be stopped, he won't be at Sancho level, but I'm happy if he gets one level below that!
20 Jun 2020 19:01:36
I’d happily give AMN a Chance in midfield as long as his attitude is right. That’s where we must start - attitude.
He deserves a chance in his favoured position - a good run out.