by Angelito » Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:32 pm
While I do believe he will stay at Arsenal for 2-3 years even if things remain as bad as they are, some people need to understand that hurling dreams to the future rarely works in football. There has to be something that grounds players to the present and that only comes through success in the present.
Watching Edu's interview, it gave a sense that the folks expect Arsenal to be relatively successful in the future based on the recruitments this summer. I wish it worked that way.
A youth-oriented project doesn't always yield success in the future. There will be injuries, unhappy players; there will be players who don't turn out great, or players who'd want to leave for success elsewhere.
I don't even want to talk about how this management team subtly turned from needing experience and physicality (last season's spiritual wisdom offered by the manager) to opting for younger players this summer. Smart people will understand how this management team is making things up as they go.
If I'm Saka's agent, I'm simply asking myself and my client, do we see Arsenal challenging for top honors any time soon? That's a negative. Can Arsenal get back in the UCL and provide us that exposure and experience? Uncertain. Are Arsenal willing to pay top wages to keep us at the club? Likely.
So, money, now becomes the prerogative. However, if some other, more ambitious, more efficient club does offer Saka a role in the team, is it worth it to persist with Arsenal's project? No, it's not.
It's understandable that some Arsenal fans would accept a top-8 berth. That's admirable.
Nonetheless, players don't exactly think this way, especially hyped up prodigies like Saka. He'll go on international duty, see his mates play in the UCL, challenge for top honors, and he'd want that too.
That's the misfortune pseudo-smart individuals bring along with them. Not only is the manager in his first job, the TD/DoF is on his first major job as well. So, in essence, this club is enabling the two inexperienced pros to use Arsenal as a collateral in their journey of education and experience. It's bliss for them. Ill-fortune for the fans.
But I don't blame the two honchos entrusted with the fortunes of Arsenal. They can use this period to build up their experience, boost their confidence, and treat it as a university—so that it helps them in the future when they work for other clubs. It's a great internship opportunity for the duo and they're getting paid a bomb! All the while there's a segment that trusts the process and is willing to back them. What more could they ask for?
Those things aside, I do think Saka should use Arsenal as a vehicle for at least two years. He'd develop well here as he's an undisputed starter and would have the experience in playing for a struggling team. That would aid in his growth.
When he eventually joins a top team, this experience would prove invaluable.
Personally, I do think he'd sign another contract if we offered him big money. He has the upper hand in this discussion.