Mikel Arteta: He Who Must Not Be Named

[Jasard]

Yeah, actually making use of the squad and not waiting until the 85th minute to make a change because he was worried we would lose shape.

Tears in my eyes.

Next step, realise Jesus is dusted and send him to the nether realm / Marseille

 

[db10_therza]

Pause all the talk about players and subs and whatever else. Can we just take a minute to appreciate how well drilled this team is?

Certain teams (United) can’t even master one playing style. Forget master, they can’t even imitate a style.

Our players are so well drilled they can seamlessly transition between multiple styles, pressing structures, players can slot in and out, the level doesn’t drop. The core tactical philosophy is just hammered into the team.

Mikel is an elite coach.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

Thoroughly out managed Enrique tonight.

Probably our best CL performance under Arteta.

 

[boonthegoon]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1841228731106672835

Drill Master Mikel.

 

[Bagels]

Pause all the talk about players and subs and whatever else. Can we just take a minute to appreciate how well drilled this team is?

Certain teams (United) can’t even master one playing style. Forget master, they can’t even imitate a style.

Our players are so well drilled they can seamlessly transition between multiple styles, pressing structures, players can slot in and out, the level doesn’t drop. The core tactical philosophy is just hammered into the team.

Mikel is an elite coach.

Think this is one of the highest praises you can give a coach. And tbf, it extends to the entire coaching staff.

Elite indeed.

 

[Thrice]

Pause all the talk about players and subs and whatever else. Can we just take a minute to appreciate how well drilled this team is?

Certain teams (United) can’t even master one playing style. Forget master, they can’t even imitate a style.

Our players are so well drilled they can seamlessly transition between multiple styles, pressing structures, players can slot in and out, the level doesn’t drop. The core tactical philosophy is just hammered into the team.

Mikel is an elite coach.

He's a master tactician. And you can see the confidence he exudes spreading to the entire team, as well.
Compare that to a guy like ten Hag who always looks like he's expecting to get sacked tomorrow.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

I liked his freestyling in the second half-well sort of. He's shown a lot more flexibility in the last two matched to balance the robust struct thst he's implemented. Good job.

 

[HagnSprayGooners]

I feel like we are basically unstoppable. I look at the fixtures and I don't see who beats us. It's gonna take a game where there's a dodgy decision or something.

Btw we are relatively free scoring even without Ødegaard, creating a ton of chances. Very good viewing!

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1841223802002325570

Majority of the forum wanted to keep most of these players and still hold grudge for Arteta to clear out the house!

 

[Nunowoolmez]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1841228731106672835

Drill Master Mikel.

Seeing him go mental at players for not tracking back as quick as he wants or doing exactly what he wants them to do is a funny sight.

He's constantly trying to give instruction to players, even if they are on the opposite side of the pitch.

He's a control freak, but he's our control freak

 

[Red London]

I feel like we are basically unstoppable. I look at the fixtures and I don't see who beats us. It's gonna take a game where there's a dodgy decision or something.

Quite likely unfortunately

 

[GoonerJeeves]

Quite likely unfortunately

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

We defend as team and attack as team with him. Fergie was like that be demanding but also respect your players.

What impress me with Mikel he basically done this at first club he ever manage that take some personality to do that. We lucky to have him yes his football can be bit boring but all about winning games with him

 

[Red London]

Pause all the talk about players and subs and whatever else. Can we just take a minute to appreciate how well drilled this team is?

Certain teams (United) can’t even master one playing style. Forget master, they can’t even imitate a style.

Our players are so well drilled they can seamlessly transition between multiple styles, pressing structures, players can slot in and out, the level doesn’t drop. The core tactical philosophy is just hammered into the team.

Mikel is an elite coach.

Yesterday I was so impressed watching this team in the ground. The view was good (halfway line, elevated), so I got an amazing overview of our shape and the way the team plays as a unit.

I couldn’t help but be proud of the team and Arteta for creating this environment and adapting the team to this really solid system in response to losing our main creative outlet.

Once Ode is back things will get scary. We would have learnt things in this period which makes us stronger.

 

[El Duderino]

Once Ode is back things will get scary.

It's going to be interesting to see what Arteta tells Ødegaard to do going forward now that Cala and Merino will start featuring more.

Will Martin still be glued to Saka/White or, will he play a bit more like Trossard, roaming and connecting both sides of the pitch? The balance of the team right now, admittedly on this very small sample size of two games, has been the best it's been since when Jesus first joined and had that amazing start.

Timber seems a bit more vertical than Benny, for instance, which I like as far as attacking is concerned, but White allows us to not play Partey on the build up from the back, etc.

Interesting choices.

 

[Red London]

It's going to be interesting to see what Arteta tells Ødegaard to do going forward now that Cala and Merino will start featuring more.

Will Martin still be glued to Saka/White or, will he play a bit more like Trossard, roaming and connecting both sides of the pitch? The balance of the team right now, admittedly on this very small sample size of two games, has been the best it's been since when Jesus first joined and had that amazing start.

Timber seems a bit more vertical than Benny, for instance, which I like as far as attacking is concerned, but White allows us to not play Partey on the build up from the back, etc.

Interesting choices.

We certainly have unlocked more variety in our potential game plan going into games. I’m sure Arteta has learnt stuff from this and has added some tools to his shed so to speak.

I would love to see Ødegaard get more freedom. Positionally he’s really rigid for us. Just operates in that right half space. Just not sure how it would work, it would need to be a bit different to the shape and way we have done things with trossard, as Ødegaard is playing off the right rather than left. And there will be new players in the side like Merino.

He could also one day play a bit deeper on his strong left side and take more of a ‘controlling the game’ role rather than being the creative force down our right hand side. But that’s more medium term.

 

[Sanchez11]

Like @db10_therza said we can adapt depending on the opposition. We can play 433, 424, 442 and 4231. Hes done a great job, i believe we can go into evey game and get something. I havent felt like that since 04! If you watched that season, you know what i mean.

 

[Bloodbather]

It's going to be interesting to see what Arteta tells Ødegaard to do going forward now that Cala and Merino will start featuring more.

Will Martin still be glued to Saka/White or, will he play a bit more like Trossard, roaming and connecting both sides of the pitch? The balance of the team right now, admittedly on this very small sample size of two games, has been the best it's been since when Jesus first joined and had that amazing start.

Timber seems a bit more vertical than Benny, for instance, which I like as far as attacking is concerned, but White allows us to not play Partey on the build up from the back, etc.

Interesting choices.

For me, us signing Merino instead of an 8/10 hybrid type all but confirmed that we're looking at a double pivot with Ødegaard being more of a roaming #10 as the main plan.

We leaned too much on the right side last season. With Cala/Timber/Zinny on the left, Merino as the left-sided midfielder, and Ode roaming to connect with the left as well as the right, we'll be much more balanced.

We have backup plans, too, clearly. Ode is the most irreplacable player on the team in terms of the function he serves, but we managed his absence brilliantly by switching to a 4-4-2 with Havertz and Trossard ahead. It's kind of like a two false 9s approach. We needed to invent something to cover for Ode and we did.

 

[drippin]

A moment to appreciate Arteta - the handsome gentleman who will bring Arsenal glory.

 

[El Duderino]

He could also one day play a bit deeper on his strong left side and take more of a ‘controlling the game’ role rather than being the creative force down our right hand side. But that’s more medium term.

Ode left 8 Ethan right 8 is the dream for me right now. Might not happen, or at least it won't any time soon, but boy would that be an amazing watch.