Morning all.
A quick Friday blog for you before I hit the links. Following up on a report by James in The Athletic (£), the BBC report that Arsenal are in discussions with Leandro Trossard over a new contract. What’s a bit strange to me about this is it seems that there’s no extension in terms of time – he has two more years left – but it’s about an uptick in his salary.
Perhaps this is to fend off interest from elsewhere this summer, there’s talk of Saudi clubs being interested, but it’s a fairly uncommon occurrence to give a player a pay-rise without a longer contract. We know, or at least it has been said more than once by people with insight into the summer plans, that Arsenal are looking at wide forwards, and the general conclusion has been that if we bring someone in then one of Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli would go.
For some an extension for Trossard is a sign that we’re sticking, rather than twisting, in the market this summer, but just last week Mikel Arteta said he wanted a bigger squad, so when we look at the current options, this could simply be about keeping Trossard as well as adding another wide player.
With Raheem Sterling set to go back to Chelsea, and Reiss Nelson in the departure lounge after a season on loan, it probably makes some sense to try and add depth in the wide areas. If we look at what we have, you can see how that could be the plan.
Left-wing: Trossard, MartinelliRight-wing: Saka, Nwaneri, Martinelli
As discussed in yesterday’s Arsecast, I think an upgrade on the left is just as important as a striker this summer. Both Trossard and Martinelli have done fine, but the numbers are fairly average.
Trossard: 55 appearances, 10 goals, 9 assists in all competitions.
Martinelli: 50 appearances, 10 goals, 6 assists in all competitions.
As I said, fine, but not the kind of output that can help you fully sustain a title challenge. On the other side, Saka has more goals and more assists and that’s with a three month absence due to a banjaxed hammy. It’s a bit too simplistic to say we need a left-sided Saka, but if you’re looking at how to improve your team that’s an area that really sings to me.
However, Trossard can play centrally too, that bit of variety across the front line could be useful, and I do think he’s a very smart player. He blows a bit too hot and cold, but he’s also capable of moments that, as of now, not enough players in this squad are. There’s been talk of Martinelli as a centre-forward, not something the manager seems particularly interested in countenancing to be fair, but he too can play in both wide positions at least.
So, next season when we think about how we line up for 38 Premier League games, the extended Champions League format, and two cup competitions, are we in better shape if our forward looks like this?
Left-wing: Trossard, Martinelli, SHINY NEW SIGNINGRight-wing: Saka, Nwaneri, MartinelliCentre-forward: SHINY NEW SIGNING, Havertz, Trossard
Who knows, that new wide player might be able to play on the right too. Let’s also remember that while he is obviously going to miss the start of the season, we still have Gabriel Jesus on our books too. I don’t think that’s going to get anyone overly excited, and clearly we have to do our work properly this summer in the market, but he’s another option when he returns – although we have to bear in mind how it might take him some time to get up to speed after a serious injury.
Another thing to consider is what exactly Nwaneri’s role is going be next season. Saka’s understudy, or something else in the midfield? I think he’s shown he can contribute from that right-hand side, but are we expecting Arsenal to go out and buy a creative midfielder this summer? As much as I would like it, I don’t think I am, and let’s not forget that Arteta spoke last season about how the decisions to let Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira go were about making a pathway for Ethan.
This season we placed too heavy a burden on Martin Odegaard. I don’t want to turn this into another discussion on his form, but when he was injured we didn’t have a replacement, and when perhaps we needed to give him a break, we didn’t feel like we had anyone who could fill that role. That, for me anyway, is one of the things I’d like to see addressed as we go into next season. If there isn’t going to be a signing in that area, then the solution has to be internal. Nwaneri is the obvious candidate, even if he is stylistically different from the captain.
All of which makes that wide player addition from the market even more important, and probably goes some way to explaining why Arsenal are keen to keep Trossard when you could, potentially, cash in this summer. He’s 30, not exactly over the hill, but it is the last chance where you could realistically get a fee for him. Perhaps you get something nominal next summer, but if he stays until the end of his deal, he’ll go for free. Like Jorginho will, and like Thomas Partey should, at the end of his contract this summer.
Right, I’ll leave it there for this morning. I had a bad night’s sleep, so let’s see how that affects my golf game. Arsecast is below, and we’ll have a Southampton preview podcast over on Patreon a bit later this afternoon.
