[[FM 21] Arsenal - Still Waiting For Arteta's Tiki Taka!]

Just finished my first season with the January update. Won the league but lost to Lazio in the Europa League final. I thought we'd blown the league by losing at West Ham in the second to last match, putting us level with Liverpool but behind on GD. Then we beat Everton 3-0 while Liverpool lost 3-1 to Tottenham on the last day to give us the league. Mourinho got fired the same day too. Was disappointed that we played very poorly against Lazio but that ending to league made up for it.

 

8 hours ago, dcaine100 said:

Hi all just started my Arsenal save after waiting for the winter update (1st time ive waited so long in 15 years but FM20 wasnt the greatest), I have signed Nuno Mendes and Moukoko so far 🙂.

Ive got two questions:

1.Has anyone signed Odegaard on a permanent basis, if so how much did you need to pay?

2. Has anyone tried training and playing Martinelli as a AMC, how did he get on?

 

Just signed him for around 74M. It works better if you wait until after July 1 when he returns to Real Madrid. When I tried before July, they would always just counter with his 133M release clause. After July 1, they were more willing to negotiate. After experimenting toward the end of my first season, I'm planning on playing Martinelli and ESR on the left and want to continue to play with an AMC, so Odegaard was my main priority. He was my best player overall the first season.

[[FM 21] Arsenal - Still Waiting For Arteta's Tiki Taka!]

I’ve also started a new game since the update. 

Going well so far, currently in 2nd, with Man City a point ahead in 1st and Liverpool also with 24pts from 10 matches but behind us on GD. 

Odegaard has been really good, wondering if there’s any way I can get him permanently other than his 133m release clause.

Still struggling (as in my first game) to get Lacazette going, I was hoping to play Auba as IF on the left with Laca as AF-A, but neither player seems to score with that lineup. Think my priority going into the January window or the summer depending on the money I get is going to be left winger and maybe selling Lacazette if he doesn’t start scoring.

 

[[FM 21] Arsenal - Still Waiting For Arteta's Tiki Taka!]

7 minutes ago, 2E_2006 said:

I seem to consistently get low ratings for defenders even if I’ve won comfortably. Is this a bug? 

There seems to be a bug with ratings for defensive players. There's a thread about it in the bugs forum. Defenders only seem to get decent ratings if they contribute offensively, and affects more defensive minded midfielders also. 

[[FM 21] Arsenal - Still Waiting For Arteta's Tiki Taka!]

32 minutes ago, BrickCommo23 said:

Great work and good to see your progress. I noticed you've kept the likes of Kolasinac and Guendouzi too which is nice to see. 

Just out of interest, is that a flat midfield three you've got there? 

Yeah, my preferred formation is 4-3-2-1, with a flat midfield three. The flexibility of the players I’ve got now allows for changing things up when needed. Partey or Camavinga can go to DM if trying to close out a tight game, or Szoboszlai or Gravenerch can go up to CAM if we’re trying to get a goal.

Had a lot of success in FM20 with gegenpress but have found control possession to be more successful this year, though I’ll switch to a higher intensity pressing style if struggling to create chances.

Tried to give most of the current team a chance, despite any current feelings I might have as Arsenal struggle. Kolasinac and Guendozi I’ve found to be really good players in game. Torreira went out on loan as he was unhappy with playing time but he’s still around as well. Tried to give Ozil a chance but just didn’t perform that well. Willian is decent and his flexibility to play throughout midfield is useful, though he’s probably been the most affected by my current real life feelings. And also in game I just don’t see a big role for a 32 year old when there’s so much young talent particularly on the wings. 

[[FM 21] Arsenal - Still Waiting For Arteta's Tiki Taka!]

I’ve just finished 3 seasons with Arsenal.

Season 1: Finished 4th, won Europa League. We started out very well, with 10 straight wins to open the season. However, Partey broke his leg, and the flaws with the current team really started to show once the fixture congestion got bad during the Europa knockout rounds. In FM20 I always got a nice chunk of money in the January window if we were over performing expectations, but got nothing this year and struggled to offload unwanted players.

Positives: Aubameyang was excellent as always, Willock stepped up and played very well as Mez(A) after Partey’s injury. Defense overall solid with Tierney/Gabriel/Holding/Bellerin.
The negatives are pretty true to life. Far too many old, overpaid players who are difficult to sell. Ridiculous number of CBs but few are any good. The midfield very lacking in creativity and pace in particular. Lacazette wasn’t very effective for me. Runarsson is fine as a backup but I prefer to develop a younger promising player who might eventually take over from Leno. 

Overall the team is very big but still lacking in quality depth for squad rotation once you’re playing a match twice every week.

Season 2: Main goal was a significant addition of athleticism and creativity to the midfield. Luckily after a decent first season, we got over 100M to spend, plus had a bit more success with player sales.

Brought in: Camavinga, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Isak.
Youth intake brought in a high potential Scottish GK. 
Wasn’t planning on upgrading at ST after a very good season from Auba but couldn’t resist Isak who was unhappy and had requested transfer.

Isak and Szoboszlai in particular were excellent, Isak as AF(A) and Szoboszlai primarily at BBM but also very versatile. Camavinga rotated with Partey, overall not quite ready to be a starter but obviously one of the most promising players in the game. Gravenberch showed a lot of promise at Mez-A, but picked up several injuries and never quite got going consistently, ended up rotating quite a bit with Willock.

Also got a high potential AML prospect through the youth intake.

Ended up winning the league easily and won the Champions League as well. Played kids in the FA and league cups and lost in both.

Season 3: Obviously happy with season 2, didn’t make major changes in the summer. Continued to offload unwanted players, then ended up doing most of my moves in January.

In January, got a 50M offer for AMN from PSG, couldn’t turn that down for a rotation player. Replaced him with Mert Muldur for 20M. At CB, only have really been happy with Gabriel, Saliba, and Holding. Tried to sign Upamecano who was unsettled and wanting to move to a bigger club. Had a 54M offer accepted, then he chose to take 175k p/w and go to Barca instead of accepting my 220k p/w. Instead, focused on signing Marash Kumbulla from AS Roma. He’d been an earlier target of mine but his odd situation (on loan at Roma, with agreed future transfer for the first 2 seasons) had prevented a move. Also brought in Vandevoordt, lowered his asking price by loaning him back to Genk for the rest of the season. Although I had the high potential youth player (Wardrope), he has low determination and an unambitious personality so I’m concerned he is stagnating a bit.

Got a 3rd promising youth intake player, a Spanish DM.

In the end, won the league again, though much closer this time with Chelsea right behind us until the final day. Knocked out of the CL by Bayern on away goals in the 1st knockout round.

At this point, my team looks like:
GK: Leno/Vandevoordt/Wardrope
LB: Tierney/Kolasinac
CB: Gabriel/Holding
CB: Saliba/Kumbulla
RB: Bellerin/Muldur
CM(Mez): Gravenberch/Willock
CM(DLP): Camavinga/Partey
CM(BBM or AP): Szoboszlai/Guendozi
AML: Saka/Martinelli
AMR: Nelson/Pepe
ST: Isak/Nketiah

Pretty happy with the team currently. Isak has been amazing, top league goal scorer both seasons since I’ve signed him. Saka has developed very well. Szoboslai and Gravenberch both very good in midfield, getting less out of the DLP position but they do have more defensive responsibilities. 

Not sure where I’ll go for season 4 now that the window is opening soon. Willian and Mavropanos are finally leaving, and I’ve gotten a large offer for Kolasinac from China I don’t think I can turn down. Feeling like the rest of the squad is very good and the weaker positions (AMR for one) may be too difficult to upgrade significantly within our budget.

 

[FM20 - Arsenal: Time For Artekkers Tiki Taka Tactics?]

Currently nearing the end of my second season with Arsenal.

First season finished 2nd behind City, was back and forth for the lead most of the season but just couldn’t get it done in the end, lost to them at home with 10 games left and never caught up after that. However we won the Europa League, played vs Tottenham in the final. Lost early in the FA/league cups, just didn’t have the squad depth to stay competitive in all those competitions. Got extra money in November so brought in Ceballos permanently and got Ruben Dias to improve defensively. Also Ivan Martinez, Emiliano Martinez’s wage demands were ridiculous so let him go free.

First season lots of inconsistent performances, Pepe in particular really struggled to the point I replaced him in the first team with Nelson.

Second season going much better. Brought in Luiz Felipe to pair with Dias at CB, Bruno Fernandes, and Erling Haaland. Haaland and Fernandes in particular have been excellent and Pepe has really been great this season as well. Currently in April, played 29 in the league, 1 point behind City but with 3 games in hand. Lost in the league cup final to United, have upcoming CL QF vs Barca and FA cup semifinal vs Liverpool.

Right now going with

Leno/Ivan Martinez

Tierny/Kolasinac

Luiz Felipe/Holding

Ruben Dias/Saliba

Torreira/Xhaka

Guendozi/Ceballos

Fernandes/Willock

Auba/Smith-Rowe and Saka

Pepe/Nelson

Haaland/Laca

Not really playing Ozil so priority upcoming is to offload him, Mustafi, Luiz, Sokratis, Mkhitaryan. Lots of older players with huge wages to clear out.