There’s still some way to go before the January transfer window opens, but it’s a quiet week, and there’s a report from Spain that Arsenal are interested in Real Madrid’s Arda Guler.
According to Sport, one of the four main football/sport dailies, the Gunners see similarities between the Turkish international’s situation, and that of Martin Odegaard who was brought in on loan in January 2021 before making a permanent move later that year.
Guler joined Real Madrid from Fenerbahce in July 2023, but has struggled to make an impact, making just 8 starts in all competitions from 24 appearances overall (just 747 minutes of playing time).
The article in question suggests the player is frustrated with his lack of involvement, and Arsenal are one of a number of clubs interested in a January loan.
It’s worth pointing out that Sport is a Catalan daily, unlike Marca and AS which are more focused on the Madrid sides, so it’s possible there’s a element of mischief to the report – or it might be kite-flying from the player’s agents to drum up interest.
The 19 year old operates from the right or central attacking positions, and could well be an interesting addition assuming we’re on his case, but right now we’ll dig out the Poo-O-Meter and give this one a sceptical 7.
Super talented player. Would love it for some depth, but I can’t see him displacing Odegaard and Nwaneri. Imo we need a right-footed attacking mid to combine with Martinelli on the left.
Endrick “Bobby Charlton” is not getting enough minutes. We should go after him. He should want to play in England.
He should return home to england.
Some of my Spanish acquaintances tell me that he is somewhat like Carlos vela – meaning, quite moody.
Carlos Vela used to like partying and pizza too much, he used to hang out with some Mexican guys I know
Martinelli has a whole new pod to feed him. The summer was spent rebooting that whole flank. He now has an overlapping/underlapping LB who is a threat to cross or shoot or dribble, and a right footed chaos agent at LCM who loves a good through ball. In theory it should free him to get in the box more and give him passing options to combine both ways. We just haven’t seen it yet because of the injuries.
Who is this right footed chaos agent you speak of?
The red M&M.
My man Gervinho. He is out of contract and can start tomorrow morning.
Merino. If you watch his Sociedad tape, he’s a win it and ping it, then win it again kind of guy. Constant motion, constant battling. We haven’t seen his passing as much yet but he flashed what he’s about at Chelsea.
Dr Gooner, Merino is left footed… and I’m yet to see him play a through ball
My bad about the foot, you’re right. As to his passing, here’s a reference. https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/mikel-merino-spain-real-sociedad/#:~:text=Merino%20is%20instinctive%20and%20supportive,when%20to%20support%20a%20press.
Nice article 👍 I was encouraged by what I saw against Chelse from him tbf, and if there is more passing to come then that is very good news.
You think that his poor finishing is due to a lack shots per game opportunities?
His finishing is fine (statistically on par with career numbers). Some moments stick with people because of the context of the game at the time, but that goal at Chelsea should tell you he’s capable. The bigger problem is he’s not getting enough shots from all his deep entries because we don’t put enough people close enough to him.
Martielli definitely needs to improve his finishing, but first and foremost he needs to get into better positions.
Check out Isak’s disallowed goal for Sweden. Starting left, beating their fullback and coming inside to shoot. We hardly ever see that from Gabi but it’s exactly what we need from our left forward.
Look at his shot numbers on this radar. He takes really good shots but he’s not getting enough of them. With respect, I think he could have done that to the Azerbaijan fullback too.
https://x.com/scottjwillis/status/1858553935671554547?s=46
Which colour is which period in those?
The blue is this season and the other graphs in red compare him in each of his prior seasons. So what becomes clear is that he is the same or better in every department except shot volume.
Fan of Scott’s work. He also wrote an article on Martinelli in September. https://www.cannonstats.com/p/martinellis-cold-streak-bad-luck
My issue is he is either not getting into positions to shoot or literally not shooting enough. He is close to xg, but taking only 1.8 shots per game this season.
https://understat.com/player/7752
Fan of Scott’s work. He also wrote an article on Martinelli in September.
My issue is he is either not getting into positions to shoot or literally not shooting enough. He is close to xg, but taking only 1.8 shots per game this season.
https://understat.com/player/7752
Right, he’s clearly not getting enough shots. For me that’s a team problem first and foremost.
this interlull almost broke me… is it me or has it been truly endless? This doesn’t feel like a season of football, more like a bunch of miniseasons with perpetual interlulling between them. I have been finding *shudder* other things to do with my time… and if for us it feels like it drains any momentum out of things imagine the players? What have they done to our beautiful game o Lord in heavens? Oh yeah, Arda. Good player, but I feel like Real’s executives would rather impale themselves on a bull’s horns than risk getting swindled by us again… Read more »
Indeed, I have to say it feels like weeks since the Chelsea game.
On top of that I’ll probably miss the Forest game as I’ll be officiating my nephew’s wedding in L.A.
And then I have a special overtime assignment at work the following weekend.
Oh Interlull, what horrors you have wrought!
Just realized the CL game is on Tuesday, when I’ll still be on the plane home.
I blame it all on the Interlull!
Take a leaf out of PGMOL book and send off the bride. Make it all about you.
Nod your head sadly when you do it–the famous “you’ve given me no choice” look.
More likely she sends me off for time-wasting with my indulgent speech!
With you on the “InterYawn”. I’d like to see monetary compensation for the players they “broke”, but it’s not gonna happen 🫤
Meditate my friend; we live in this world of footballing simulation!!!!
He’s a hugely exciting talent who deserves to be starting most games for his club. The problem is he’s a bit of a throwback classic 10 and that limits his adaptability. He happens to play at Real Madrid who deploy an athletic 3 in midfield (so no #10 slot) and Ancelotti has shown he prefers powerfull big space runners thorughout the squad like Bellingham, Valverde, and of course the forwards they have. So where does a small space playmaker like Arda fit? So far he hasn’t, and that’s why a loan may be possible. The same questions can be asked… Read more »
Doc’s analysis on 🔥 today but 6 months too late for this deal. And don’t we already have a Saka replacement / back up that ticks all the size /balance /burst boxes…step forward Raheem….oh, never mind…still it’s only costing us half his wages…
Weren’t we very briefly linked with Arda Turan? Much better Arda this time.
Also better than Arday Ardavin
Turan was faster, better, stronger. Guler is a talent but still has a lot to prove.
True but his potential is much higher than Turan. He could be Odegaard level quality with some seasoning
I also hope we look at renewing partey contract. Would be criminal if we let him go for nthn. He still got it in him.
He should be gone at the end of the season.
I believe your issues with him are not relate to football or his abilities. I believe it’s the other thing he’s been cleared on?
Way to shit on your own players.
Paul Pogba, no question he is a top top top talent even better than an in-form Rice by few meters. Deschamps always get the best out of him. Arteta can do same.
It’s a really interesting discussion. He wasn’t supposed to have had this big of a role but has made himself indispensable. I was vocal about his physical decline before the season. I still think he’s not the guy he was at his peak, but he is for sure closer to that peak than I foresaw. His performance at RB against Diaz crystallized that. Where I think he’s still not the same guy is in possession. His dribbles and progressive passing numbers are way down from his peak season. Some of that is down to the well documented team wide issues… Read more »
‘Criminal’ is an interesting choice of words…
This is the level of talent we should be looking at. But doesn’t feel likely.
Sorry, never heard of him. I may get interested if this moves forward but, as the spuds never learn, one man does not make a team.
Our play just proves 1 thing. We need at least 1 more creative player apart from ode and saka. Ideally the no. 8 is a creative passer, and the LW is a creative player who also scores goals. Will kai fit into LW with his work rate after we sign gyokeres? Can Guler be the no. 8 and dovetail beautifully with ode?
With chat about Willy interesting Madrid we shouldn’t be getting any favours from them whatsoever
If he wants to win “things” like I have heard so many times about players. Are “things” defined as trophies or money? I don’t know.
But is he injury prone?
Off topic, but I’ve scoured the interweb, and nobody seems to mention that Nuno Tavares is now a full international. Three minute Portugal debut, over the interlull.
Hopefully increases chances of a profitable sale.
Hasn’t the figure already been agreed with Lazio?
He looked great at the Euros, a really exciting player. He’s a bit of a Saka Odegaard hybrid from what I remember. He can dribble, he’s creative and forward thinking.
Given Ancelotti really doesn’t seem to like using young players so much unless they’re already tried and tested, this doesn’t seem completely outside the realms of possibility.