Are Tottnumb still in the cup? If so, who have they got?

[Peter]

The presence of the #14 has messed with him; his angles, his orientation, the expectations.

It's an existential-thing, as having been our hero, our best goalscorer, our shining light for years, we've now essentially tried to replace him in that "role" and having a player in front of him, rather than behind or inside, will take some getting used to. At the moment he's hesitant, not quite immediately, intuitively knowing what he is supposed to be doing.

He'll recalibrate, he'll sort it.

That's what he does. He constantly enhances his game and adds what he needs. Whether taking penalties or improving his right foot.

Players with that focus and drive are rare.

[redgunamo]

I've often thought that. He waddles like a penguin when he is tired but I'm not sure it is anything more than that.

There is a theory that you damage players by overloading then while their bodies are still maturing. I dont think that is Saka's issue. I think he is just having a dip in form at the moment.

He is human

The presence of the #14 has messed with him; his angles, his orientation, the expectations.

It's an existential-thing, as having been our hero, our best goalscorer, our shining light for years, we've now essentially tried to replace him in that "role" and having a player in front of him, rather than behind or inside, will take some getting used to. At the moment he's hesitant, not quite immediately, intuitively knowing what he is supposed to be doing.

He'll recalibrate, he'll sort it.

[Peter]

Very true, I can?t be the only one to have noticed that Saka?s hamstrings have become seriously overloaded. Each time he leaves the field it?s like watching a chap walking across hot coals with a broomhandle shoved up his jacksey ..

I've often thought that. He waddles like a penguin when he is tired but I'm not sure it is anything more than that.

There is a theory that you damage players by overloading then while their bodies are still maturing. I dont think that is Saka's issue. I think he is just having a dip in form at the moment.

He is human

[7sisters]

Absolutely. It doesn't matter how good you look at 16. What matters is how consistently good you are at 24 and beyond.

And if we need a lesson in how quickly fortunes can fluctuate at this age we can dig out what we were all saying about MLS and Nwaneri last season. Now look at them both.....

Talent isn't enough. Only a tiny percentage of players have the mind and body to cope with the demands of becoming and being a genuine top level player, regardless of ability. And at 16, you just dont know if they have it yet.

In other words, he might still be ****

Very true, I can?t be the only one to have noticed that Saka?s hamstrings have become seriously overloaded. Each time he leaves the field it?s like watching a chap walking across hot coals with a broomhandle shoved up his jacksey ..

[Peter]

Hard to argue that it isn't too early to appoint him the next whoever.

I would point out however that he is already a better player than Nwaneri and MLS. I was never as enamoured of MLS as many others on here last year. And Nwaneri is talented but clearly not ready for first team football at Arsenal.

Dowman is a level above both of them imo.

Both had a series of very impressive games last season. That is enough to describe them as ready.

Dowman is NOT ready to be playing against top level sides. He has phenomenal ability, but so does Nwaneri.

What he doesn't have, yet, is the judgement and decision making of a senior player. Most kids dont.

Saka did, right from the start. And to this day, it is what marks him out as different.

[WES]

Absolutely. It doesn't matter how good you look at 16. What matters is how consistently good you are at 24 and beyond.

And if we need a lesson in how quickly fortunes can fluctuate at this age we can dig out what we were all saying about MLS and Nwaneri last season. Now look at them both.....

Talent isn't enough. Only a tiny percentage of players have the mind and body to cope with the demands of becoming and being a genuine top level player, regardless of ability. And at 16, you just dont know if they have it yet.

In other words, he might still be ****

Hard to argue that it isn't too early to appoint him the next whoever.

I would point out however that he is already a better player than Nwaneri and MLS. I was never as enamoured of MLS as many others on here last year. And Nwaneri is talented but clearly not ready for first team football at Arsenal.

Dowman is a level above both of them imo.

[Peter]

He really is some talent but we've been here before and they've not quite got to the level we expected.

Absolutely. It doesn't matter how good you look at 16. What matters is how consistently good you are at 24 and beyond.

And if we need a lesson in how quickly fortunes can fluctuate at this age we can dig out what we were all saying about MLS and Nwaneri last season. Now look at them both.....

Talent isn't enough. Only a tiny percentage of players have the mind and body to cope with the demands of becoming and being a genuine top level player, regardless of ability. And at 16, you just dont know if they have it yet.

In other words, he might still be ****

[WES]

Yeah, I almost posted that as well

[PSRB]

Lionel?

[WES]

I do have one other player in mind that he reminds me of but I need to see more him before committing to naming the player

Lionel?

[PSRB]

More Gascoigne than Grealish but yes, there are parts of both of them.

He's Odegaard's replacement, and he will be significantly better than Ode at that position in 2 years, I think

I do have one other player in mind that he reminds me of but I need to see more him before committing to naming the player

[WES]

I'm trying to think of a player similar to him.....I'm thinking somewhere between Gascoigne and Grealish.

More Gascoigne than Grealish but yes, there are parts of both of them.

He's Odegaard's replacement, and he will be significantly better than Ode at that position in 2 years, I think

[PSRB]

True, and you could accuse me of being overly optimistic, but I can't remember a player who looked as nailed on a he does for superstardom.

Wilshere was probably the player I was most optimistic about at his age, and I still think it was only injuries that prevented that.

I'm trying to think of a player similar to him.....I'm thinking somewhere between Gascoigne and Grealish.

[WES]

He really is some talent but we've been here before and they've not quite got to the level we expected.

True, and you could accuse me of being overly optimistic, but I can't remember a player who looked as nailed on a he does for superstardom.

Wilshere was probably the player I was most optimistic about at his age, and I still think it was only injuries that prevented that.

[PSRB]

The boy Dowman really does look like he will be ready for first team football next year, shame he can't play on the left

He really is some talent but we've been here before and they've not quite got to the level we expected.