First time I've heard someone propose moving Odegaard to left center mid, and Saka to right center mid. It's creative. I like it.

Proper analysis mate. ESR's inclusion could have really bolstered our right side. Not only would it allow a right footed dynamic runner on the overlap or underlap for Saka, but it would also save White's legs by reducing the number of high intensity runs and recoveries he would have had to make. I think Arteta realizes he has to be looser with his squad usage. In his postmatch after the Bayern loss, he referred to the team needing "game changing moments". The final step in this team is to give our most potent attackers (Saka, Martinelli, or new signing) more freedom inside the pitch and facilitate them with the right profiles to maximize them and get those game changing moments (while trying to maintain our OOP dominance.) There have been signs this season, but I think we'll see it more next season.

I really hope ESR could be the solution to this, absolutely love that boy and i know Arteta has a plan for him. This summer and pre-season is going to be a big one! Top video once again Professor👏

Mikel Arteta, take a look at this please. Our main man needs the next step.

You're getting better and better mate. One of your best videos. Thanks for the hard work!

I agree with Saka being more involved in the midfield 100%. He’s way too limited being stuck holding width all the time. This is exactly why we seem to see Foden shine more than him and his season- these smart creative highly skilled players need to be given more freedom.

Just discovered your channel mate, and i must say that i’m happy that there are sensible Arsenal fans like you out there. I hate how Saka gets underestimated. The disrespects from rivals is mainly because our own fans doesn’t rate him highly. Saka is arguably our most valuable player and one of the rarest winger profile to have. Been always saying this, people always gets fooled by aesthetics bias and for example rate Saka lower that Foden (he is better than Foden) and even some wingers that are now where near his level. The fact that he didn’t get in the POTS tells everything you need to now, the fans really don’t hype him enough. Saka is honestly magic, look at where he gets the ball and where that ball ends up. His Football IQ is also very underrated, one of the key reasons he is that special. I’m honestly amazed on how good he has been despite being limited a little and having such defensive actions (which is fair) And as you said moving Ødegaard to the left would be a big improvement for both players. Ive already been trying to tell this to Arsenal fans but some of them just don’t want to understand it.

I hate saying this but one thing Southgate does well is allows Saka heavy central freedom vs weak opposition, however like Arteta, in the big games he is rigidly positioned. Also you seem to discount the possibility of an aggressive RB that can hold width and underlap

Harvey, I really like your take on Saka. I hope Arteta sees this video. Saka moving centrally from the wing like Poch has done with Cucurella-albeit from the right back position will be an upside. Saka has a very good pass and cross on him. When playing left back, Saka had 12 assists, I remember the Olympiakos game away when Saka gave a very good assist, the assist he gave against Newcastle during Emery time, and many more. This is one area of Saka's game that is not well exploited. I think if this is implemented and a similar plan hatched for Martinelli, we would be more fluid and unpredictable...

Got yourself a new sub brp excellent shout I've been saying Saka isn't being let to be the best he can be

Brilliant analysis Harvey - love seeing something different from the other channels on KZfaq. I agree there is a lot more to come from our attack and Mikel will adapt for next season. I'm excited, not only for what incoming players we might have, but to have more explosive attacking play with more freedom. Great work!

So the odegaard moving to midfield and that jumpstarted the title charge is just a misleading comment, title charge was due to teta reverting back to two proper midfielders, odegaard moving deeper is just a consequence of havertz playing higher which in the end wasn't utilizes that much in the run in for obvious reasons. You can push your ideas but there are objective ways of doing it i think. I think the way to play both esr and odegaard is not necessarily moving odegaard fully into midfield, but could be to play a 4 5 1 in defensive phase, like a half midfield role similar to how it is now. I understand your comment of having a runner next to saka, and good point, but esr unlikely to be the guy, first he prefers the left side of the field, second arteta doesn't seem to trust him for whatever reasons (may be objective, may be not) his last start was man of the match performance and we haven't seen him since. It seems unlikely that esr will feature in teta s plans. Finally the interchange between saka and odegaard messing with it is probably not a good idea. Vieira I think is done at arsenal personally. I think he is too light while technically not as good to compensate the shortcomings (unlike David silva or santi cazorla), 2 seasons should be enough to show what you are capable of, and we rarely seen anything tangible from him

I love that you've got Smith-Rowe in your visuals. Worth a subscribe alone!

Caught the video early today😂🎉🎉🎉🎉 Congratulations 🎊🎉for this

Thank you for this video

Bro gonna end up getting hired by arteta

This is what I was thinking all the time u nailed it odegaard as world class as he is him playing right hand side of the midfielder is making saka les useful and predictable in the transition face we really need ball carriers one two overlaps a right footed runner like esr but the best option is Florian wirtz I even thought sacrificing/selling for at least 100m£ odegaard entirely if we can get wirtz from Leverkusen bcs I can feel saka would be much comfortable with right footed runner like esr or wirtz especially wirtz he so talented reminds me young kdb

Great analysis as usual Harv! Looking forward to the next.

Top vid Harvey,I’ve noticed it a lot more in the recent weeks the vertically and angle bias of the left is so much better. Maybe you could do a video on potential RCM options in the market that would suit saka? It’s unlikely we win the league,however I’m proud of the boys & quite excited and optimistic for next season,I do believe the foundations & capacity is there for this Arsenal team to reach high 90/100 pts and that has to be the aim. Coaching performance wise I think arteta has matched pep,the difference are players like KDB/haaland.Saka can be that for us if we give him the freedom,the facts he’s managed to pretty much match his counterparts GA,ie Foden/palmer.While significantly having more defensive output,is a hint at his potential. Big summer ahead.COYG.

One hell of an analysis! You deserve more subs. Big up and more power to you Harvey !!

Good video as always. Feels like a calculus class at times with all the moving pieces we have to keep in mind 😅 On Saka, I definitely agree with you that he needs to be more central with freedom to move in 360 degrees as opposed to 180. I think what you're suggesting is akin to what Klopp did with Szoboszlai at the start of the season where he was the runner for Salah to get in more central since Trent no longer overlaps. Your suggestion would certainly require a lot of work in preseason but unfortunately with the Euros and Copa America most of the vital components may not be available for it to be something we start next season with. It'll probably be we work on fixing LHS dynamics first since there are fewer moving parts there.

WHAT A VIDEO LOVE IT

I wish Arteta could watch this. I have always had this in mind the Saka movement, I see Kudus doing so, Palmer as well even Foden. I always ask myself why will Saka always stuck one place. Make a run to the middle bro you're good enough. Thanks for this video but I just wish our coaching staff watch this video as well. I know the always want Saka to track back but standing there always make defender's to predict where the can see him easily if not that the boy always work hard to beat defender's he would've always find it hard to score goals

Superb

Considering the right hand side dynamics of odegaard,saka and white, I think there could be a temporary solution to be found by just instructing odegaard and saka to rotate more (similar to how jesus,martinelli and xhaka rotated in 22/23), that way we can still keep the creative outlet on the RW, but there is an addition of saka's ball striking in the right half-space instead of him being restricted to the flanks, whilst also being able to confuse defenders due to the constant rotations. The only problem this would probably entail is that Odegaard no longer leads the press if possession were to turn over, coupled with the fact that odegaard is more reliant on his left foot, which makes his passing angles more restricted, which may lead to just passing it back to white instead of finding the breakthrough passes. But only time will tell as to arteta's vision of this team, this summer's recruitment and pre-season would be more worthwhile to pay attention to as compared to previous years.

Lovely vid Harvey! So who do you think is the best partner for Saka? Vieira or ESR, since they’re both willing to overlap and both have such unique profiles that solve problems in the no.10 through passing and carrying respectively. Also, what are your thoughts on Vieira in Odegaard’s all phase role? Personally believe he has more potential due to his much more expansive range of passing and ambidexterity

who should we bring into midfield if this is what happens? neves or bruno

I love the idea of Vieira or ESR being in-house solutions to this. I think if Timber’s long term solution is LB, then switching Ødegaard to LCM as you’ve rightly said all season could allow ESR/Vieira to build that relationship with Saka and White. The four of them could be really interesting as a rotating cast of players. And Rice holding down his hybrid 6/8 role as we build around him (bringing back Patino, keeping Jorginho, promoting Lewis-Skelly through the ranks)…I think we’re in a great position! Also, what do you think of finding more minutes for Nelson? Especially with the lack of consistency in the LW position, I’d like to see him get more preseason minutes and runs in the CL with the increased number of games

Our attack on the right is currently limited by both Saka an Odegaard being very left footed with the result that both want to move into the same Central space rather than attack the byline. Saka at RW needs a more overlapping FB than White or a right footed no8 who can go wide when Saka comes inside, such as ESR. Vierra is even more left footed so is not the answer.

Harvey with us heavy link with hato (LB) is it possible that arteta see timber as a RB Love the video keep it up 👍

In my opinion, if this team wants to evolve and truly be a 90+ point team and a potential Champions league winner, we need to properly platform Saka and unfortunately to Arsenal fans that has to result in the removal of the captain ( I think you believe this too but you don't want to upset anyone). We have two more effective interior in possession (ESR and Vieira) who are mis utilised. Odegaard is extremely one footed, angle biased, can't carry, mediocre ball striking and primarily operates in the right half space which we have Viera and Saka who are much more effective in that area. The RHS is too dependent on White's overlaps despite having tow creative players ahead of him because of the lack of dynamics. There are certain game states that he is not effective in (transition heavy games and aggressive midblocks). The best coaches will pick this up and take him out of the game as we have seen multiple times this season. His biggest value to the team is his work rate and pressing, but I don't think that justifies limiting Saka's zone of operation and giving him as much creative responsibilities when he isn't are most creative player in his preferred zone. You have proposed moving Odegaard to LCM which does giving him better passing angles and if Saka is paired with an ESR/Vieira we can allow Saka to roam more and not hug the touchline. Odegaard would be more effective in the LCM, but there are plenty of LCM's out there that provide more value in and out of possession for Arsenal that we can target (FDJ, Guimarães, Neves etc). Additionally, there would be so much pressure on Rice cover for the two interiors in transitions, pretty much putting an end to Rice in the 8 which has been quite effective this season. Also do you want Odegaard defending in a pivot in our block OOP? I don't and I am certain Arteta doesn't either.

I was initially going to disagree with you because in the last 6-7 games there has been a huge focus on "same side" football (as Declan Rice put it during his Athletic interview 2 weeks back). It's worked tremendously well as Odegaard, Saka, Havertz and White have become a deadly small space combination high up on the right side. "Same side" creates space for Trossard, Rice and Havertz to drive in to from crosses or through balls. However, that tactic is not going to work against every team. So we need multiple formations that we can change to and from during a game. A situation where we move Saka inside, during a game, could really cause confusion if teams have trained and set up to defend our same side tactic. The challenge is that Trossard has benefited most from the "same side" tactice and a change to play more through the centre might suit Martinelli more. So the question is whether we have the personnel in the starting 11 to be as dynamic as certain players like Odegaard and Saka. I don't know whether you saw the latest 442 video on Trossard (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oM6lebuWvK3IYYE.html) but it shows how valuable he is from a finishing perspective?

Saka is one of the best RW atm but it's interesting that he could be even better in the middle of the park, I won't be surprised if one day Mikel Deploys Ode lcm, Saka Rcm and Rice at 6. Saka is tailor made for the middle. It's just insane how he still kills it out wide with that amount of congestion he faces. That's a testament to his qualities. Finally I'll asly what do you make of Ode x Saka, sitting in front of rice in a midfield trio?

harvey do u think arsenal will get an lcm this summer and also do u think arsenal will be a juggernaut that wins titles?

He could be a Seedorf regen.

harvey do u think havertz would be the lcm next season and also thoughts on people laughing at arsenal's project?

I appreciate this theory in the Arsenal fan base this past year, but its getting a bit much now no? Its a good plan in theory but in practice I think there are some serious problems we're not considering. 1. Odegaard is quite simply better suited to the rcm than Saka when the team is facing a low block. There are many players better than Ode in transition, this is not news, but the fact is Arsenal are often playing the game in the opposition half. Ode is sharper than Saka in tight spaces, he has a better touch and is better at threading passes to create for Saka himself in the majority of games. 2. This Odegaard on the left thing is also unnecessary. Odegaard is the the one that needs to free roam through the middle. His passing on the left is brilliant as is his passing on the right. In transition, he's better on the left because of the curve of his pass but it is also the fact that he moves from right to left in those moments which causes an overload and makes him difficult to track, this is done unpurpose by Mikel. He likes most of his creative players inverted. 3. This is probably my biggest gripe with this issue - this is not our biggest problem. Our biggest problem is that this is all theory. It is theory because the RCM we need is currently non-existent. We say things like "Unleash Smith-Rowe & Vieira" but how many games can we afford to risk them. And they are absolutely risks. Whenever Vieira has played (e.g. think Spurs and cup ties) we have barely/rarely made 3 points, especially when he started, and even when he was fit. He's still lightweight and the pace of the game seems to overwhelm him. Smith-Rowe has lost a turn of pace that was essential to his game, even more so, he can barely complete 60mins. Case in point, what costs us dearly this year was an experiment. Trying to revive Leverkusen Havertz 8, is where we ended up dropping the most points and destroying the left side dynamics. Now imagine trying to shoe horn in two more experiments to get them up to speed. Trossard is an example of a player who just came in and did it, and even then it was partly because Martinelli was poor. There is no point of discussing Odegaard on the left or more space for Saka until those two prove themselves more when given the chance. Thats just going to take a lot of time especially when the dynamics of the team on the RHS, are far from poor. 4. Above all, where there isn't a problem (Odegaard & Saka are generating absurd amounts of chances together) there is no need to go out of the way to fix it. The right hand side is good. Can it be better, sure. In the meantime, we need a Partey replacement. We need an all action left back. We could use a back up to our CB. A player to unleash Martinelli or worst case challenge both him and Trossard. A clinical striker. We have so many 8s and Rice and Odegaard are currently our best bets playing the way they are. Until that changes.

I really think playing rice alongside another "passing merchant" like partey or jorginho is needed to progress our play. I think we might start dropping points again if Arteta decides to play rice as a solo holding midfielder again. Nice idea tho

Saka @ RHS midfielder is just De Bruyne-esque and it will be frightening. Odegaard will simply be Silva.

Nwanweri

Martinelli and Saka need space for them to run into. Against a low block, they don’t have Ronaldinho/Neymar magic to dribble through the tight spaces. They are not tricky wingers like Ronaldinho, Neymar, Figo, Mahrez or Hleb. And they are not playmaking wide players like BernardoSilva, Foden, ColePalmer or DavidSilva.

harvey are you still confident arsenal win major titles next few seasons?

Us not winning the league will get people having wild takes like this trying to find the last “key” to our title challenge. Reality is different, and if City weren’t such cheats we would be salivating at another season with Saka at the right wing.

Well done lad. I hope Super Mik stumbles across this video (although he probably knows as well where improvements lie) ESR/ Viera RCM, Ø LCM, ben white playing the "Trent" role and Saka given license. Sometimes football shouldn't be complicated. I think the only criticism I would have is the usage of Viera, he plays KBD-esque and Bruno passes, in a team like ours, that would be a lethal option. Its why 3-4 top quality signings changings everything for us and having Timber fit. Amazing future this club has. People don't even realise.

Saka RCM🙏😭

Hey Harvey

harvey are u heartbroken arsenal has lost the league and also this is probably your best chance to win it?

Teta is too stubborn ffs

Phil Foden might have slightly better figures than our number 7, however......... Foden doesn't even come anywhere near to Bukayo Saka in the other parts of his game. Foden does little to no defensive work whereas Saka contributes an enormous amount of work in defending our own goal. I've done lots of research on this subject matter and there is NO OTHER TEAM IN EUROPE'S TOP LEAGUES THAT WORK HARDER THAN THE ARSENAL....... FACT!!!

if set free he's gonna be better than Messi

I don't think so It doesn't sound great In my opinion 😂