Thread by @eyetestfb

A good indicator that ESR is performing to his level is that he’s hitting his xA. When you watch Purple Patches you see players getting lucky. ESR Hasn’t been lucky, he’s just really good. Some thoughts on Arsenal's #10 this season. 🧵👇🏼

The term Trequartista gets thrown around on here a lot - We all have a basic idea of what it means - “Three Quarters” - An across-the-line player who operates behind the strikers and ahead of the deepest midfielders. This role loosely describes ESR's style.

Like the best across-the-line #10s, ESR is great off the ball. He is aware of where the space is. He effortlessly arrives deep to latch onto crosses and has superb ballstriking. He poses a threat from anywhere around the edge and just inside the box. Finds empty space.

I feel like ESR has really made the jump this season. He is the closest modern profile to Kaka that I have seen. From his gait, to his ballstriking, to his power when defenders are at his hip, and most importantly his half-turning.

He isn’t nearly as physically developed as peak Kaka, nor does he strike the same fear as peak Kaka, but he has a similar je ne sais quoi that is clear to those who watch him regularly, an unteachable confidence that reminds me of the Brazilian.

Kaka - Beyond anything else, was a Director, the ball flowed through and around him. He was a constant focal point thanks to his unparalleled off-ball running and his ability to control a fast break on his own. ESR does this too.

Kaka also had angles and often operated off the left (during his prime Milano years). If you’ve seen a lot of young Kaka it’s impossible NOT to see the similarities to ESR. Kaka's production was consistently good, 15 g/a in 03/04 at age 21. ESR has 10 g/a in the PL this season.

Can underlying stats back up this comparison? Sure - I could point to ESR’s ridiculously high pass completion percentage that shows his elite link play - Or his carrying and pass receptions. StatsBomb thinks he's the most efficient passer in the T5 Leagues at his position.

Or his incredible shot accuracy, pure g/a help as well. His overall involvement in the play looks low on paper but you have to see to believe. Due to his unique skills, ESR isn't a player who will ever flatter on paper aside from his pure production, he's a Director, like Kaka.

One of the biggest similarities you’ll notice between the two is the ability to receive on the half turn and the awareness of what’s behind the player when their back is to goal. The intuition and understanding of that space is what defines an attacker's peak.

The Milan version of Kaka is what ESR should aspire to. He has all the tools and his numbers in the most talented and difficult league of all time in 2021/22 are staggering. I suspect that Arteta sees ESR as the future Director of this team in the system he has created.

It wouldn’t be surprising to me if ESR watches clips of Kaka on the regular to help model his game. This is what his peak CAN look like if he continues on this trajectory and stays injury-free. Generational.

The wrap-up, I've heard these comparison's before but everyone's eyes are different, I want to know what y'all think about Smith-Rowe - Who does he remind you of? What is his peak? Can he become a generational figure in this modern golden age of forwards?