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Probably bad timing to say this because of the hat trick and it’s not really about that - but - if Eddie can average between 0.5-1.0 G/90 he needs to start over Jesus no matter how much better Jesus all round game is.
This Arsenal team needs to score goals. More than that - this Arsenal team needs to score easier goals. It’s all well and good having Saka, Martinelli, and Odegaard scoring from outside the box but we need goal threat from inside the box and if Eddie can get into a groove there he needs to start for me.
Now this is reactionary.
It shouldn’t be taken that way. That’s why I specifically put in the first sentence. We just know that Jesus isn’t a 0.5 G/90 player and that is what this team needs. So if Eddie can get there I think he should start despite being a worse footballer.
Jesus when fit will start over Eddie. That’s just who Arteta prefers.
Also, Eddie probably won’t be averaging those goals over a season. Only 2 goals before the hat trick in a lot of starts.
You need to see the team xG when both start over similar caliber opposition playing similar styles.
Jesus creates lots more for the players around, whereas others create for Eddie.
Your first statement is what justifies your argument and I don’t know what people are fighting that.
If Eddie goes on a crazy run with a brace here, a goal there and by the time Jesus returns he’s on 15 goals, it will be terrible to bench him.
How is scoring goals an issue for us? It wasn’t at all last season and although we’re more cautious on attack this year I don’t see how it’s been a problem for us when we’ve dropped points. Mostly just defensive lapses and bad luck that have cost us this season?
Also there’s no way we get 45 goals from Saka/Martinelli/Odegaard last season without Jesus
Martinelli’s attacking data is terrible with Eddie. This is not a bad reflection on Eddie, it would be the same with any striker that wants to be as close to the box as possible.
Well ok - but we need to prioritise the easy goals over the harder goals. This team badly needs to score goals from inside the box - if that comes at the expense of the lower xG goals from outside the box the trade off is obvious.
But Martinelli just needs to figure it out. Hes more than good enough.
I do see your point and I don’t necessarily disagree. But it’s worth considering, Martinelli is the best finisher we have, and if it’s a choice between Martienlli getting ~0.8xG per game or Eddie, I’m picking the former
we need someone like Alvarez tbh