Martinelli

[Peter]

I don't think I do. Freddie's first few seasons for us were excellent, definitely better than anything Saka has. He had very good goal & assist numbers in both the invincible season and the double season, so his contribution in two of our best seasons in history is significant.

The Ljungberg you're describing reminds me of his last two seasons for us where he fell off a cliff in form, but I'm not judging him on that.

In all competitions...

Freddie 2001/2- 17 goals, 5 assists
Freddie 2003/4- 10 goals, 9 assists

Saka 20212- 12 goals, 7 assists
Saka 2022/3- 14 goals, 12 assists
Saka 2023/4- 20 goals, 17 assists
Saka 2024/5- 12 goals, 14 assists

Overall record, Saka is ahead on goals, miles ahead on assists, from fewer games, and is still only 24.

The stats only point one way, I'm afraid.

[Peter]

Oh what tosh. Saka's numbers are inflated by penalties. And Freddie had plentiful assists maybe not as good as Saka but he had a load of them.

There's no way any Arsenal fan can seriously say Saka has done any season better than Ljungberg 2001-02 and 04-05

And here come the caveats...... assist data below, by the way. But I guess you will say that Saka's are inflated by the excellence of his corners.....

There is a reason Saka takes penalties and Freddie didn't.... ditto corners.

[PSRB]

Also, Penalties
21/22 - 2
22/23 - 2
23/24 - 6
24/25 - 1
This season - 1

[John Bunnell]

And here come the caveats...... assist data below, by the way. But I guess you will say that Saka's are inflated by the excellence of his corners.....

There is a reason Saka takes penalties and Freddie didn't.... ditto corners.

Why have you omitted Freddie's 04/05 season? You know where he won the Invincible trophy? Got 14 goals in about 10 games less than Saka and without penalties.

It's all very well rubbing one off about stats but Ljungberg is the one who played pivotal roles in our two most successful seasons and has legend status. I suppose Saka helped win us some Community Shields tho eh?

[PSRB]

Why have you omitted Freddie's 04/05 season? You know where he won the Invincible trophy? Got 14 goals in about 10 games less than Saka and without penalties.

It's all very well rubbing one off about stats but Ljungberg is the one who played pivotal roles in our two most successful seasons and has legend status. I suppose Saka helped win us some Community Shields tho eh?

*Cough* Invincibles was 03/04

[Peter]

Why have you omitted Freddie's 04/05 season? You know where he won the Invincible trophy? Got 14 goals in about 10 games less than Saka and without penalties.

It's all very well rubbing one off about stats but Ljungberg is the one who played pivotal roles in our two most successful seasons and has legend status. I suppose Saka helped win us some Community Shields tho eh?

I can answer that easily. You said the invincible season. That was 03/04

If you want 2004/5, here you go: 14 goals, 11 assists. Eclipsed by Saka twice before the age of 22.......

Words like pivotal and legend dont carry much weight here. Saka is pivotal to everything we do and another word for legend is myth....

[John Bunnell]

*Cough* Invincibles was 03/04

Ahh. I looked at his honours and misread the FA Cup win as Prem. Oops.

Well there's another honour there!

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I think you have your rose tinted glasses on over Ljunberg. He was a great player but Saka?s overall contribution is far higher and at a much younger stage in his development.
The frustrating side of Ljungberg were those head down runs along the left channel that invariably led to him running into a cul de sac and getting dispossessed. Saka, at least, can provide a cross from the tightest of spaces, often with two defenders bearing down on him. Ljungberg just ran out of options too often; although, he worked the space better and was always there to stab it home.
We?re probably missing a player like him around the box these days.

Imagine if B had Bergy playing defence splitting passes into the box so he was 1-on-1 from 15 yards with the ball on his left foot.....

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I can answer that easily. You said the invincible season. That was 03/04

If you want 2004/5, here you go: 14 goals, 11 assists. Eclipsed by Saka twice before the age of 22.......

Words like pivotal and legend dont carry much weight here. Saka is pivotal to everything we do and another word for legend is myth....

Now, now, P, don't get all lefty definitions.

Nouns and adjectives.

A legend can be a myth.

Legendary talent and mythical talent are not the same.

{I fully agree with the point you're making, btw. So there's no need to resort to Corbynista jeux des mots.}

[Peter]

Now, now, P, don't get all lefty definitions.

Nouns and adjectives.

A legend can be a myth.

Legendary talent and mythical talent are not the same.

{I fully agree with the point you're making, btw. So there's no need to resort to Corbynista jeux des mots.}

I was being playful...

If i was going Corbyn on you I would tell you to get on the right side of history...

I assume you have at some point thought about what a thoroughly sinister statement that is....

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I was being playful...

If i was going Corbyn on you I would tell you to get on the right side of history...

I assume you have at some point thought about what a thoroughly sinister statement that is....

Very good. But Freddie vs B is the right side's history.

[Peter]

Very good. But Freddie vs B is the right side's history.

Nicely done.

And stop calling me a ****ing lefty!