I keep mentioning these four because these are the highest potential of any in our systems (and four we might lose in one window). We had John-Jules who also had supreme talent, but it seems he hasn't really developed all too well since then and why I haven't ever mentioned him. Arsenal also have Ibrahim and M'Hand who are known as being very talented as well but are probably less likely to reach their potential (which is why I haven't mentioned them). I've been very narrow in players I keep noting and that is for good reason (which you alluded to, many don't ever develop). I don't think it is "video game thinking" to say that those four have great potential and a good chance to become EPL-level players. Do I think Nwaneri can develop into an SMS-level talent? Yes, but I also believe there is a chance he becomes as impactful as Solly March as well.
Don't think because I don't want to lose them - all of them at one time - is because I believe all of them will become 70 million players. Highly likely that is not the case, but I want to keep the Arsenal's business model alive and well to refund fees towards other players. I do want to note though that it is always better to keep the better player, we surely got a solid fund for Fabregas (which was around 34 million Euros), but Arsenal then bought players of AOC, Arteta, Gervinho, BFG, Andre Santos, Chu-young Park, and Joel Campell (got Yossi Benayoun on loan). The best of the bunch was Arteta and BFG, but did sell high on AOC for around 40 million Euros years later. None of them really had the same impact as Fabregas did (Benayoun was supremely underrated though) and that deal set Arsenal back big time.
That's fair enough. I personally don't think Balogun will be a 70M player ever. Same with Nelson. Nelson is already 23, he's fairly one footed, and his highest goal output was years ago at Hoffenheim. Patino and Nwaneri certainly could. For what it's worth, I think Myles Lewis-Skelley is the gem of the Hale End, tbh. And I'm high on Cozier-Duberry. My point about video game thinking is assuming that you need to hold onto youth and that they'll necessarily improve.
The thing is that two are on frees, Nelson and Nwaneri. You can't really control that especially when you've made contract offers to both. Patino has said he wants to go. Balogun has hinted at it. I'm all for keeping starters, but I don't think that any of the four would be huge impact players. Balogun is really the only person who could have that. And Fabregas also wanted to leave.
I totally agree that both of them have different impacts, I never meant to say that Kulus is a bad player because that is far from the case. But what does he bring that Jesus doesn't?
Kudus is being brought in to cover for Jesus and Saka and maybe Odegaard too.
Basically, this is the two deep I foresee:
Martinelli - Jesus - Saka
Trossard - Nketiah - Kudus/Diaby
Rice-Odegaard-Caicedo
ESR-Vieira-Jorginho
Zinchenko-Gabriel-Saliba-White
Tomi-Kiwior-White-Fresneda
Ramsdale
Turner
Then you have extras: Marquinhos, El Neny, Hein, Sambi
Outgoings: Patino, Nelson, Partey, Balogun, Xhaka, Tierney, Holding, Cedric, Mari, Runarsson, AMN, Pepe, Tavares, Trusty
Incomings: Kudus/Diaby, Rice, Caicedo, Fresneda.
Nelson, Trusty, and AMN are on frees.