This video just made me remember how much i miss smith rowe

i think ESR's only down side is his contribution defensively, which is probably why Arteta refrains from starting him. But as he becomes fitter, that might change as well? I definitely do wanna see more of ESR playing tho.

Great video and certainly a credible viewpoint. His cameo against palace was enough to tell me we should give it a go.

I didn't notice the distance problem until I started watching Man City games last year. They are always close to each other when passing and building up. But then I saw how we played against Fulham and Liverpool and each player was far apart, causing the opposition to easily intercept or block our passes. I don't know why Arteta is playing that way.

I want to see Saliba as our striker. Think he can just run the ball into goal

Very astute point regarding distances and how ESR would compliment them, creating variance in Arsenal's attack. I also think something should be said regarding how ball-carriers naturally create overloads through their ability to consistently resist the first pressure from opposition defenders and provide another option for creating overloads in attack. Not only will they carry the ball into a dangerous position, but they will likely create a 2v1 scenario to exploit and result in more favorable/higher xG chances given the opposing defender is split between choices: do they pressure the ball carrier and potentially allow for an easy through ball, or concede space and allow the ball-carrier a shot on target? There are times where I think we've become so infatuated with quick passing and movement off the ball we forget the utility in simply taking space to create an overload and force defenses to react to the randomness you've mentioned in your analysis. And considering what we've seen from Arteta's Arsenal, I don't see how a ball-carrier does anything but compliment what has already been established in their attacking patterns.

I always love these videos. You make football easy for someone like me (who only really knows the basics and is still learning the deeper details of football) to understand, especially in the context of recent form or results. And it's always in a nice, concise 10 minute video, not an hour long video that overloads me with information. Keep it up, I'm absolutely loving this channel, especially as an Arsenal fan!

I in that binge watching football analysists days and as a guy who follows Arsenal u are the top of them good job man!

Was nice to see him finally start a game yesterday! Played quite well as well i think. Hopefully he starts to play more now 🤞

Great video as always.

we're all here musing about ESR when we don't have a full picture of where he is now. He was in the ascendancy a few months ago, getting more and more minutes and then he got injured. I think everyone is making calls about him one way or the other way too soon. I agree that he solves our cohesion issue. I think his profile is specifically what we're missing in midfield, and I strongly disagree with anyone who thinks we will or should sell him.

You make very astute and concise points and present your opinion insightfully. I have noticed the distance issue and allowing your opponents too much space to play in. Sod Gary Neville, If you're an Arsenal fan you'll remember ESR from 18 months or so ago, before his injuries. He was in my opinion second only to Phil Foden as the best ball carrier in the PL at the time. Always on the half turn and ready to turn defence into attack. ESR also has an intelligent footballers brains, he knows how to utilise spaces, when to pass or carry the ball, injects urgency in our play and is a great first time finisher. Your analyses of how he can affect our game I felt was spot on. Where we differ, is I believe that he and players like him are the future of Arsenal. ESR has openly stated that he will not give up fighting for his place in the team until Arsenal no longer want him. The boy cried openly when he was given a chance and felt he'd let his teammates down. I hear what you're saying regarding a striker filling that role, but I don't see it or agree with it. I think the role you've described is quite specific and requires specific skills set which ESR possesses. I too, saw him in his cameo performance against palace, and thought he looks ready/ Everything he was class and he never gave away or lost the ball once.

crazy how right you are regarding how our attacking players always stayed in their attacking lanes and not mixing up, then the moment they do for e.g the 6-0 win over westham they played so much better. Great video.

nice video ... but the thing is , we as Arsenal fans remember ESR from 2 years ago . If you have watched every single Arsenal game you know he hasnt got a good 10 minutes of football afterwards . Its not hate I love every player at my club ,its just the true . the passion and energy he was showing is totally gone . if you watched the palace game closely every player was trying to help him score . There were cutbacks trying to find him at 3-4 occasions. I think that means the team is behind him so that's a positive and I hope he get to his best form or maybe even better .

Great video, very well (and clearly) explained. I'd love to see ESR used more but I cannot see Arteta switching Odegaard to L8 to accommodate him.

Smith is my boy, honestly❤

ESR 100% needs to be in team

If he starts performing we ain't selling. He is one of the best moving with the ball at his feet

This content is always so good

As magical as last season was, I think a lot of fans, including myself, felt that ESR would make it even better. His feet have the ability to turn nothing into something. While this year’s theme is control, it is impossible to fully realize that without the threat of chaos, which we have been lacking due to an injured Partey. I love my captain, but part of me wonders what our midfield would look like with Rice as the control, Partey as chaos incarnate, and ESR as Partey’s creative beacon. Either way, he is a great finisher, and with Saka getting consistently double teamed we need another finisher in our front 5.

Never clicked so fast on a video before

I like 👍🏼 your vids b4 watching them fella 😜😜 keep it going

agree.. ESR profile like cazorla.. that we really need

You are spot on. In the absence of Partey, put ESR on the Right and odegard on the KH role in some games, put Martinelli as CF in the Jesus position and Jesus n Trossard, Reiss n Saka play in the wings

100% Smith Rowe is the most underrated gooner....

I really like the analysis. I hope he gets a chance and I hope even more that you are right. ESR is playing for his Arsenal career now, he's gone in the summer if he fails to make an impact in the next few months. He is a special talent, he could yet be incredible.

when will ESR will get his confidence back !! and his shooting. And I have no idea why Odegaard does not shoot when he gets the ball in the box ? it infuriates me

Some of these ESR runs are so good. You forget how good of a season he had

Thanks!

Keep up the good work Alex. COYG 🔴⚪

Great video as always! What do you think on the option (let’s pray he will be fit again) that Party will play the CDM and Rice will play as the 50/50. I think he has all the qualities to improve the open play goals. Great vision, one on one, technically very good. I think he has all qualities that we needed in the Xaka replacement

I really like your red arrows analogy

I think you're right, I've been wanting to see ESR play for ages, i think we miss him.

0:43 cannot agree more, that’s why I didn’t feel as happy when we won Palace 5-0. And I think it’s healthier for my mental health if I’m less obsessed with the team, considering how competitive the league has become. Every result is decided with such a fine margin. It’s better to just sit back and support the team because being angry wouldn’t change the fact that they are not as good as City and Liverpool right now.

Where did you go to, I’ve been waiting for your videos

Until Partey is back, I think it's wise to play Rice and Jorginho together. Jorginho is very good providing long balls from deep. Rice loves going forward, I think both Jorginho and Rice can play similar role to what Xhaka and Partey played last season (if one goes forward, other one stays behind). ESR isn't the solution (he doesn't contribute defensively neither he is physically fit, injury-prone), he is just another backup player. If we are serious about being title contenders, better to sell ESR in the summer and go for Xavi Simmons, he can fill that Xhaka's role. I love Frankie De Jong, but he got that defensive mentality a lot, isn't as offensive as Xavi.

YES

TDK called it! Have a look at the line-up against Nottingham Forest

Love this, I was saying ESR deserves a start at the end of the CP match. ESR is 💯 surgical in linkup play! 🤘🏼

Those comments nail it for me!

Do you ever think you are overthinking football? Not sure if Esr does all you hope and i love the guy

fully agree and have been telling my girlfriend the ame thing when we watch Arsenal recently

I hope if he's included in the team more often he's given the license to run with the ball rather than suit the system like Arteta tends to do now. Like making Kiwior invert for example.

We’re missing an elephant in the room here. One of our starting midfielders who was present throughout the extremely good run of games at the beginning of the season has left and has gone to a team that currently sits at the top of the Bundesliga unbeaten. Hmmm 🤔

Interesting analysis. Last season seemed so much more exciting than this one. However, we are getting some players back now - or in the case of Smith Rowe, integrating him more - supplementing the current established starters. I'm excited for the end of this season because I think it will be a much smoother finish than last. Also, I miss Tierney...sorry

I agree we should give him a go

I believe Arteta is being patient with him just like he did with Martinelli. Next season ESR will be a very important player

You know Havertz used to be a great finisher, a scorer of magnificent goals and also, because of his movement, a great poacher. I don't understand why he still has some kind of mental block that causes him to have such low confidence when he's on the ball or when he's in a striking/finishing position closer to goal. I think it'd be best to play him in on the right wing because, correct me if I'm wrong, that's where he used to be a beast at Leverkusen. Another option is to have him play as a false nine like Arteta did at the start of the season, so his movements can create space for the wingers and he can be a sort of old-school long ball target-man when needed. I feel Havertz is only a waste of money if you're unwilling to drop Jesus or Saka for him. On the topic of the video though, all that you suggested CAN work well, however, how can Arteta implement any of it if Smith-Rowe can never stay fit long enough?

I'm in total agreement with the Smith Rowe assessment.

Agreed. Just a little more chaos is needed. If Arteta would put ESR in and give him the reins then yes. I feel tho that Arteta has hampered him with too much defensive responsibility and wrecked his confidence

I felt this but don't own a KZfaq channel and can't facilitate this w the same grace. Well fkn said good sir!!! ESR definitely needs to have more playing time and should be Kai's replacement off the bench (if not starting)

Being unpredictable is good ...the reason they stay on their own lanes is because it helps you recover the ball quickly in case the team loses the ball...

Your spot on been saying this for a while

Partey coming back gives us a lot of balance which we badly needed. ESR has ball carrying but Haverts movement and his ability to be the target man during low blocks make him more usable. We are creating chances. A lot of them. I feel we need to striker. Like you said, too much facilitation.

Mate, arteta listened to you (speaking in the future, v Nottingham Forest)

he is the answer

why u not using trossard in the chart?

Facts

Yes Smith Rowe is the answer once he's match fit no doubt gunners

Reason why i Think ESR has not been used more is because Ode is also a ball carrier. Facilitator yes but also ball carrier. I think Arteta wants a balance with his AMF's one carrying and one pivoting. ESR and Ode together could in theory get in each others way. But why ESR is a ball carrier (+ finisher) makes it a damn good reason to stick him on with 20/25 mins if you need a goal. Why that hasnt happened much so far rests with Arteta

His fitness! Same scenario with Thomas Partey. A manager will not want to build his team around constantly injured players. They are both good, but injury prone.

We're struggling because of ONE thing, we're not finishing our chances.PERIOD

I think Arteta must watch your videos

Internal Solution I like

Was the Havertz goal at Brentford not what you would deem as an “settled play goal”? If I remember it fits your terminology

That graph showed we don’t have a good enough finisher in the starting lineup, and as much as I love Trossard, a second choice left winger shouldn’t be our best finisher in the squad

true

I agree, for me we looked better going forward in the Palace game when ESR came on

Open play goals have not been a strong point of Arteta's tactics, probably due to the how balanced but at the same time rigit the system is. We play like a big team but if we can develop goal scoring passing patterns around the box we could be an elite team. Scoring hasn't been our weekness but a recurring issue from time to time. Although yes when ESR and Partey used to play it didn't feel like that we used to not just dominate but score alot of goals and defence has never been an issue we are the best at that. I think its more down to chemistry between players Partey ESR and Odegaard had great chemistry. Partey always looked for Odegaard in half space and Ode always made himself available. ESR's fluidity just transfers into the game wherever he plays which Martinelli and Havertz don't offer. Trossard is better but not on ESR's level for creating a play.

What i think. I think your suggestion ESR wont be with us next season would be a mistake on Arsenal's part. ESR should be one of the fulcrum of Arsenal's midfield and attack for years to come

I didnt know how much I missed ESR

Did arteta watch this before the forest game because the players literally were interchanging position and ESR played:. This is spooky but I still think we need partey to push rice more forward

You have to read my comment Alex

I've always thought ESR brings a different dimension to Arsenal's attack. He runs at defences and has the ball carrying ability to take defenders on in and around the box. The fact that he can play one-twos as well brings a touch of Jack Wilshere. These abilities are gold dust and they shift Arsenal away from the rather predictable attack they've been recently. We should keep him rather than consider selling him.

Yeah man totally agree...the boy needs more chances....and also i believe you have found your calling(destiny) you should choose a career becoming a professional sport analyst...you sport knowledge is👌👌and this is coming from an engineer,not from a half smart ordinary guy😂

Super ESR

Hopefully ESR keeps starting. He played well vs Forest

Mikel watches Different Knock, confirmed

I'd argue Martinelli should be high on ball usage as well. Also you've left out trossard.

As al ways 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Thomas Partey is the answer: he was the key to Arsenals open play. Declan Rice, as good as he is, doesn't open up defenses, and havertz is havertz. Odegaard is a receiver and lateral pass merchant but not a "creator." Partey combined with Jesus are havoc creators to open up space. The caveat is a Partey that's out of form and not fit, which we saw in the final month of 22/23 season.

You make some brilliant points but I’d argue we got less facilitators in our LHS. Moving Odegaard to LCM would mean our structure in OOP would change drastically and the way we press wouldn’t be the same. I think having ESR playing as the LCM doesn’t help either when you got Martinelli who basically needs to be feed with. I think Fabio Vieira resolves the problem in possession but not OOP. It’s a tricky one but great video nevertheless!

I can see people arguing in the comments section about Thomas Partey......... is he that good? Are you blind? etc etc and all that shite.......... It is a fact that, had TP been fit for most of the season, we would definitely be in a better place. He is brilliant at linking the defence to the forwards and sometimes......... he'll even have a crack at a shot from about 30 yards...... he's phenomenally good!!!

Yes,the kid is the answer

#1💪

ESR May not be the outright answer but he deserves to play more.....

Emile Smith Goal 🥅

He is our kdb only midfielder with kdb vibes in epl

Lately, we are a bit more like the first episode of The Office. Still nice to watch but all know what's happening next... 😉😄

COME TO LEICESTER

The first one to comment. Need a giveaway ASAP

I went. I only saw Ben White go beyond the half way line when Martinelli came on. With two more goals…

hopefully ESR is at the physical level to contribute, I personally think he's lost that sharpness he had prior to his run of injuries, im not sure if he can be that powerful of a ball carrier again

Back on track are they

I thought this about esr when xhaka left

i miss that knock sound effect. It gave the show pedigree. Cant let some kids tell you to remove it cos they dont understand SFX

Arsenal are gonna look like a different team with Partey and ESR in the 2nd half of the season. I reckon ESR will start next game right away.

ESR starts over Havertz for me all day

I’ve always seen ESR as a bergkamp type of 10, never seen him as an 8.

Key Takeaway: Be more like Bournemouth