I expect him to be up and down, he will be 19 and is a defender, which is probably the toughest position for a youngster...will give him time though, as I will be happy just to have a centre back that can run and is tall!
Mikel Arteta: Mid-table Mikel
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I expect him to be up and down, he will be 19 and is a defender, which is probably the toughest position for a youngster...will give him time though, as I will be happy just to have a centre back that can run and is tall!
GDeep™
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I’m happy too that we have him, but I know he’s years away from being anything to bank on. Even Ferdinand was making mistakes until he was 24 and he’s the greatest CB I have ever seen.
Kos had just one season of top flight football when Arsenal signed him at the age of 25. Before that he played 2nd and 3rd division in France. Maybe a natural progression but not an overly impressive one for any outsider. He was definitely a leftfield signing for Arsenal.
It is an unconventional route of moving to South America, but going by reports he did establish himself at Flamengo and won trophies with them.
Both are in their mid twenties, both had rather unspectacular careers, both didn't/won't cost a fortune.
Mari doesn't make me super excited, but I wouldn't rule him out being a success here on the grounds of him being 26 and not having had a massive career yet, becasue well to me this is kind of similar to Koscielny. But of course it raises doubt that after Girona, Breda and La Coruna he only really established himself in Brazil.
GDeep™
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Only watched the end of Adams, even then a limited amount. While guys like Campbell and Rio I got to follow their whole career.
Come on mate, show some biased loyalty to your team
Feel Sol is very underrated outside Arsenal, should be mentioned in the same ranks as a Rio or Terry, never seems to though.
Titan at his peak though, from 2001-2005 there were few better, was always great for England too.
...love the way he dispossess Robben at 1:30, just brushes him off!
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GDeep™
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Who’s that? Viv Anderson?
That why I said, on paper. I'm as sentimental as anyone but let's not pretend that Kos would have started every WC game for France but for injury. He must also be haunted by Eder at the Euros. Per launched Kondogbia's brief career and was subbed during the business end of Germany's WC win. I'm being a bit harsh and I loved Kos and respected Per. The search for Campbell and Adams goes on. That's the real gold standard. I just hope we've got a decent partnership next season.
Gus Caesar. Arsenal cult hero centre back.
Tourbillion
Angry & Miserable
That's weird way to spell Sol Campbell.
GDeep™
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Sokratis, Luiz, Soares, Mari 
Some of our last few defensive signings, horrendous stuff.
Some of our last few defensive signings, horrendous stuff.
RUS arsenal
Well-Known Member
Let's be honest, the last 2 are just cover until the summer...Sokratis, Luiz, Soares, Mari
Some of our last few defensive signings, horrendous stuff.
roz
Fake News Merchant
Waste of resources.
Just allows the club to use the age old “not alot of money to spend” excuse in the summer.
TornadoTed
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The thing with our squad is that it is weighted very heavily towards potential at the moment. The problem is we are lacking in experienced players who can perform consistently week in, week out in the here and now.
We are in a huge transition phase with the youngest squad and most inexperienced manager in the Premiership. The likes of Saliba, Tierney, Saka, Willock, Torreira, Martinelli, Pepe and Nelson have high ceilings, as does Mikel. We could have a very good side in 2-4 years time but a lot of things need to fall into place. We need spot on recruitment around our talented young players.
I am excited about what could be but also worried as there is a lot that can go wrong with players between the stages of 'having huge potential' and 'the finished article' The luxury City have for example if that they can afford mistakes, if a player doesn't work out they can simply buy another and not really give it a second thought. We don't have that luxury, we need a very high strike rate with our young players and signings. It is unrealistic to expect all of our prospects or signings to be a success but we need most to be.
I like Mikel and I really want him to be a success here but I am worried that whatever he does if he doesn't have a fair slice of luck he could fail regardless.
We are in a huge transition phase with the youngest squad and most inexperienced manager in the Premiership. The likes of Saliba, Tierney, Saka, Willock, Torreira, Martinelli, Pepe and Nelson have high ceilings, as does Mikel. We could have a very good side in 2-4 years time but a lot of things need to fall into place. We need spot on recruitment around our talented young players.
I am excited about what could be but also worried as there is a lot that can go wrong with players between the stages of 'having huge potential' and 'the finished article' The luxury City have for example if that they can afford mistakes, if a player doesn't work out they can simply buy another and not really give it a second thought. We don't have that luxury, we need a very high strike rate with our young players and signings. It is unrealistic to expect all of our prospects or signings to be a success but we need most to be.
I like Mikel and I really want him to be a success here but I am worried that whatever he does if he doesn't have a fair slice of luck he could fail regardless.
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IchirotoV2
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Good to hear. Hopefully this little break now can work as a small restart, and we can get back to winning ways.
Aussie_gunner123
Well-Known Member
I've probably missed, gone by everyones answers on here but Im just keen to know, if Mikel is eventually given enough funds to purchase his players by the Kroenkes or hopefully by a new owner if he (Kroenke) eventually sells, is Mikel the right person & capable of taking us back up to challenge for the title, even just the CL top 4? I'll say yes but it will take him time though, more then 1-2 transfer windows.
We didn’t bring Mikel in for a short-term boost, we’ve brought him in because we think he’s the right man to transform this club’s fortunes in the long-term.
Early days, but I’m happy with how he’s tightened things up at the back; the goals will come.
Early days, but I’m happy with how he’s tightened things up at the back; the goals will come.
