Since the start of the season, Angel Gomes has struggled to establish himself at Olympique de Marseille. If his splendid goal against Lorient (4-0) suggested that he would quickly integrate and shine, his performances outside of this moment of magic were quite disappointing. Each time he was lined up, often at number 10, his performance remained bland.
Few line breaks, very few forward runs with the ball, not enough ball recoveries and insufficient offensive efficiency: Gomes missed several big opportunities, notably one with a header at the end of the first period against Le Havre, in the match won 6-2 by OM on Saturday.
Walid Acherchour, on RMC, did not hesitate to describe Gomes as “natural yogurt” to illustrate his tasteless performances so far. However, observers remember his qualities highlighted in Lille: vision of the game, ability to create danger, sharp passes… For the moment, in Marseille, these qualities are struggling to translate on the pitch. The player's arrival as a free agent limits the financial pressure on his success, but Gomes seems to have difficulty finding his place in a collective where the dynamic is already very good.
Angel Gomes put back on the bench?
Robert De Zerbi, aware of these limits, could continue to moderate its use in high-intensity matches, where the physical impact is high. This could result in a turnover against Sporting Portugal on Wednesday in the Champions League. Arthur Vermeeren could then join the eleven, as was the case against Ajax, with Matt O'Riley in number 10.
For OM, there is nothing to worry about: the team is at the top of Ligue 1 after eight days and is performing collectively. But to keep pace on all fronts, each player must perform well. Angel Gomes remains a weak link for the moment or at least falls short of what he could bring. De Zerbi will have to find the right formula to unlock his potential without endangering the balance of the team.
