‘Exciting’ 24-year-old Wolves star has handed Gary O’Neil a genuine dilemma
Wolves recorded a huge 2-1 win over Manchester City last weekend – and Toti Gomes may just have given Gary O’Neil a big dilemma.
Wanderers shocked everybody at Molineux as they handed City their first Premier League defeat of the season.
O’Neil got his tactical plan spot on.
He decided to bring in Toti and make a back three.
He got Craig Dawson to be touch-tight on Erling Haaland, with Toti and Max Kilman being aggressive against City’s roaming eights Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez.
Wolves pressed from the front, and then made their counter-attacks count with a speedy front three of Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha.
Toti was brilliant against City – and he may now have given O’Neil a headache ahead of the Aston Villa game…
Toti Gomes doesn’t deserve to be dropped after performance vs Manchester City
It is going to be very interesting to see what O’Neil now does against Villa.
His plan on Saturday was tailored to City, who are the best team in world football.
Toti, 24, came in and helped Wolves look much more solid.
Prior to that game, Dawson and Kilman had been struggling a little, and Wolves had been shipping too many goals.
The Portuguese defender has, therefore, surely provided O’Neil with a selection headache.
The issue is that the plan against City was very specific, and it may not work the same against Villa.
But one thing is for sure; Toti does not deserve to go back on the bench after his display last weekend.
It’s a difficult one for O’Neil because a back four is the normal formation now, and it’s the one Wolves spend the most time in and work on the most.
But Toti came into the side last weekend and Wolves won the game. Against a world-class opponent.
We know O’Neil is a fan of his. He recently called him ‘extremely important’ to Wolves, and ‘an exciting player for me and the coaches to get to work with’.
It would be fantastic to see him keep his place, especially with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde still serving his suspension.
There is also the fact that Toti scored the winner against Villa in this fixture last season back in May…
Pedro Neto to Arsenal in January answers Mikel Arteta’s prayers amid latest Bukayo Saka injury
Arsenal need to look to Pedro Neto as a January transfer window priority as Bukayo Saka’s new injury fears emerge.
I felt when Leandro Trossard arrived in January of last season that the Gunners had finally secured their own version of Diogo Jota. Gabriel Jesus’ extended absence was seemingly answered by the Belgian who became something of an assist machine and showcased his versatility to play on the left and through the middle; even securing an assist playing right wing against Leeds United.
However, as the new campaign has progressed through the early stages, the injuries suffered by Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and now Bukayo Saka have given me reason to re-evaluate that theory and despite my appreciation for Trossard standing firm, I want more. Trossard was a signing moved for after the failure to land Mykhailo Mudryk who instead went to Chelsea.
Plenty of supporters have been sitting comfortably chuckling at the Ukrainian’s struggles in west London. I cannot blame them, he has indeed been underwhelming and only scored his first Premier League goal last Monday at Fulham.
However, whilst Trossard has undoubtedly been a successful signing, he lacks something that Arteta blatantly adored about Mudryk’s profile – pace. Arsenal have an abundance of speed in both Saka and Martinelli, however, beyond these two starters it is very much lacking in the squad.
The question then becomes who? Which player can offer Arsenal enough Premier League quality, versatility to cover multiple positions in the forward line and the speed that is needed?
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