Arsenal Thread | 2025/26

Danny Tiatto said:
Two Arsenal players that I actually rate however they should be in their absolute peak years right now and no Arenal supporter can tell me that either footballer is playing at a higher level than they were two years ago.

In fact I would say both have regressed Odegaard most definitely
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I agree, but I do think injuries have halted their progress a bit as well. Odegaard was injured Match Week 3 last season and was out for a few months and didn't look the same when he came back. This season as well has been stop start for him, think he's only completed 90 mins 3 or 4 times.

Saka a similar story. Think he had something like 5 goals and 11 assists last season before his hamstring injury in December, and had 1 goal and no assists after he came back in April.

Both need a run, injury free to see if they kick on again, but it is a worry, Odegaard especially there seems to be a bit more of a debate around if we should move on from building our attacking setup around him.
 
Danny Tiatto said:
This is going to cause some controversy amongst my fellow blues but on the basis of pure football ability Luis Suarez is the best player I have ever seen play in the premier league.

Although due to lack of longevity he is rightfully not in the discussion of the premier leagues best ever. However at peak performance (13/14 season) in my opinion no one has ever played at a higher level.

Just one persons opinion please don’t be mad lol
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Could and should have been at Arsenal that 13/14 season as well if someone in he infinite wisdom didn't think to insult Liverpool with a £40M + £1 bid FFS.

Worked out alright for Suarez and Liverpool, as per usual we were the main losers. Suarez, Ozil and Sanchez would have been an interesting front 3.

Almost as bad as not paying the extra £3M Liverpool wanted for Xabi Alonso back in 2008 when Benitez wanted Gareth Barry. An Alonso / Fabregas midfield would have been pretty neat, but again it probably worked out best for all parties, including Gareth Barry, except Arsenal lol.
 
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GunnerGer said:
Could and should have been at Arsenal that 13/14 season as well if someone in he infinite wisdom didn't think to insult Liverpool with a £40M + £1 bid FFS.

Worked out alright for Suarez and Liverpool, as per usual we were the main losers. Suarez, Ozil and Sanchez would have been an interesting front 3.

Almost as bad as not paying the extra £3M Liverpool wanted for Xabi Alonso back in 2008 when Benitez wanted Gareth Barry. An Alonso / Fabregas midfield would have been pretty neat, but again it probably worked out best for all parties, including Gareth Barry, except Arsenal lol.
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100% Barry was not going to Liverpool.
 
bridgeno1 said:
Yep Odegaard is IMHO massively underrated. There was talk a few years ago that he was the heir to KDB, that's how effective he was. For the past 18 months he's been absolutely nowhere near that level and IMHO wouldn't get into the top 5 PL creative players, for sure I'd have Foden, Eze, Bruno, Palmer and Tielemans above him.

Saka is deceptively effective. It seems like he isn't doing anything and yet comes off with a couple of assists or a goal. He has to track back a lot under Arteta's system and had had injury issues. Is he better than 2 years ago? Probably not but he'd be in the top 3 in his position in the PL and there's a noticeable drop in quality of crosses when Madueke comes in.
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Wasn't it the Croydon Debruyne that was the next big thing not so long ago..
According to Arselona fans at the time he was better than Kev
 
TonyColemansbagofapples said:
100% Barry was not going to Liverpool.
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In 2008 he certainly wanted to, done an interview with the News of the World to try and force the move, but Aston Villa wanted £18M, hence the fee Liverpool wanted from Arsenal for Alonso. If Villa would have accepted £15M, Barry would have been a Liverpool player and Alonso an Arsenal player at the time.
 
GunnerGer said:
I agree, but I do think injuries have halted their progress a bit as well. Odegaard was injured Match Week 3 last season and was out for a few months and didn't look the same when he came back. This season as well has been stop start for him, think he's only completed 90 mins 3 or 4 times.

Saka a similar story. Think he had something like 5 goals and 11 assists last season before his hamstring injury in December, and had 1 goal and no assists after he came back in April.

Both need a run, injury free to see if they kick on again, but it is a worry, Odegaard especially there seems to be a bit more of a debate around if we should move on from building our attacking setup around him.
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The big problem with Saka is that he has just played far too much football and unfortunately for him there is a good chance that will catch up with him and possibly shorten his career.

Meanwhile you look at Foden and Pep has probably done his longevity a huge favour by only slowly introducing him into the senior setup despite being extremely frustrating for us supporters at the time.
 
GunnerGer said:
I agree, but I do think injuries have halted their progress a bit as well. Odegaard was injured Match Week 3 last season and was out for a few months and didn't look the same when he came back. This season as well has been stop start for him, think he's only completed 90 mins 3 or 4 times.

Saka a similar story. Think he had something like 5 goals and 11 assists last season before his hamstring injury in December, and had 1 goal and no assists after he came back in April.

Both need a run, injury free to see if they kick on again, but it is a worry, Odegaard especially there seems to be a bit more of a debate around if we should move on from building our attacking setup around him.
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My hope is that Odegaard remains fit as Captain Black is obsessed with him, to me Arsenal are a better team without him Zunimendi is also another who flatters to deceive The central defenders and Rice are the vital components Saka gets some vital goals but doesn't do enough
 
bennyboy said:
Could be wrong but didn't Barry turn down Liverpool because he felt the move was not for him.
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In 2008 he done in an interview with News of the World saying the time is right for him to go, he wants to join Liverpool and play Champions League, even criticised the manager O'Neil at the time for not really talking to him and spending the summer as a pundit for Euro 2008, and he liked that Benitez really wanted him.

I think in 2009, Liverpool still wanted him but he chose City. When he joined City, Villa fans actually criticised him because he was joing a team without Champions League at the time. Little did they, and most others, know what was to come.
 
GunnerGer said:
I agree, but I do think injuries have halted their progress a bit as well. Odegaard was injured Match Week 3 last season and was out for a few months and didn't look the same when he came back. This season as well has been stop start for him, think he's only completed 90 mins 3 or 4 times.

Saka a similar story. Think he had something like 5 goals and 11 assists last season before his hamstring injury in December, and had 1 goal and no assists after he came back in April.

Both need a run, injury free to see if they kick on again, but it is a worry, Odegaard especially there seems to be a bit more of a debate around if we should move on from building our attacking setup around him.
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Saka is quality but we are seeing more and more injuries hes been run into the ground with amount of football he's played, not just with Saka but other young players that have come through early with the amount of football.

Smith Rowe I really liked when he was at Arsenal he looked a very good player every time he played but Injuries especially the groin one derailed his potential abit. Seeing now Palmer has got the same problem , Yamal same issue. Odegaard started very young at Madrid now getting knocks and injury issues.

I feel like if young players are good enough they should play but the management around young players is really effecting potential. Media and fan pressure to play these young players increasing managers have to play them but at what cost.
 
bridgeno1 said:
Vieira and Keane above Rodri IMHO. Or at least level. And above anyone, untouchable on his own is Ngolo Kante who was a cheat code for having the equivalent of 12 players on the pitch.

And I know this is a City forum but LOL at having Fernandinho above Rice, Petit and Essien!
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Keane above Rodri and you're telling others they don't understand football.
Rice would currently get into City's team but he's not a patch on prime Fernandinho.
 
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