Mikel Arteta: Winner 🤴

[Kav]

Arsenal enacted their gameplan better than PSG yesterday. They created nothing of merit bar the pen.

A few people can't seem to get around their heads that preferring a style of play isn't the same as it being objectively better football. It's insane to me they can't see that.

We even opened up more after the subs / Extra time and the game for pretty end to end at points. I'm really not sure what more people want from him.

Arteta and his tactics put us in the position to win, a slight error from Mosquera, a dubious denied pen and the lottery of a shoot out are all that separated us. It could easily have gone the other way.

There is a big difference between trying not to lose and trying to win. If you can’t see that then I can’t guide you on the finer points being made about how reluctant we were in an attacking sense. It’s obvious.

Yes we had a game plan but the moment they scored that plan went out the window and we didn’t adjust our strategy. That’s where we failed.

 

[PrinzPoldi]

he has been here 6.5 years with a billionaire finally owning the club outright..plucky underdog my ass

Cut the crap of this money issue.
Season after season, there are teams showing us that, money can't buy trophies/titles.
Money helps but no guarantee.

 

[Huahingooner]

Mikel is the longest serving manager in the EPL and will soon be the best paid.

Of our main rivals, the longest serving manager next season will be Carrick with half a season, the rest brand new. Managerial stability is almost always needed for success

All of the others need significant restructures of their squads, whilst we just need selective strengthening

Big window of opportunity to dominate for a few years

 

[merciarsene]

Cut the crap of this money issue.
Season after season, there are teams showing us that, money can't buy trophies/titles.
Money helps but no guarantee.

yeah. he didnt win a single cup in 5 full seasons. of course its no guarantee, but so many clubs with less money won something along the way. in the 6th full season he won the league . well done but for a club like Arsenal thats par for the course.

 

[merciarsene]

We've played like this for about 6 months and won our first PL title in 22 years

Certain people like @merciarsene aren't happy with that and act like we've been playing like this since Arteta signed.

The football was not great but it worked to win the title and almost won us our first CL. Arteta has changed what we do every season. Why do you think it won't change next year?

because we watched him tank every knockout tournament and get schooled by rival managers for years now. even this year, the FA cup exit to Southampton, the carabao final to city, and the final to PSG showed his limitations. He lacks the confidence to make a bold tactic and go for it..maybe he will next year as he now has won something, but it also maybe that he simply lacka the ability and smarts.

 

[merciarsene]

He’s playing to the team’s strengths.

This summer should be about improving the attack so he can balance things.

If we spend a boatload in attack and still play like this, I’ll be happy to criticise too.

he hasnt been able to figure out a functional midfield and attack. he landed on rice - skelly - eze + trossard- gyokeres - saka too late in the season. he knew saka was unfit and still played him in the final. he doesnt trust his subs or make a gameplan to accomodate their strengths and weaknesses. he has a template and every player has to fit into the slot assigned. too rigid tactically is my criticism and this is constructive criticism from someone who wanted mikel as manager before emery was appointed and even now wants him to succeed. i just get irritated when told i am not allowed to be critical of a rookie manager who is still learning and building his career.

 

[merciarsene]

We were the underdogs and came within a balls hair of winning.

I think Mikel has credit in the bank now. Let’s stop with the negativity. We were only a poorly judged tackle away from being European Champions.

oh come on. we were winning till the 10th minute and after that it was all about hanging on. thats what hurts. It could have worked, but it didnt inspire confidence.

 

[PrinzPoldi]

yeah. he didnt win a single cup in 5 full seasons. of course its no guarantee, but so many clubs with less money won something along the way. in the 6th full season he won the league . well done but for a club like Arsenal thats par for the course.

Many clubs won something with less money?
Many?
Are they sustainable?
Did they need to compete with the juiced City?

 

[Rain Dance]

oh come on. we were winning till the 10th minute and after that it was all about hanging on. thats what hurts. It could have worked, but it didnt inspire confidence.

Greece did it, and it was good but we did it and it's bad

 

[gunman90]

There is a big difference between trying not to lose and trying to win. If you can’t see that then I can’t guide you on the finer points being made about how reluctant we were in an attacking sense. It’s obvious.

Yes we had a game plan but the moment they scored that plan went out the window and we didn’t adjust our strategy. That’s where we failed.

Tbf Arsenal were trying to attack in the second half. We simply couldn't make it stick due to our lack of quality up front.

 

[Entropics]

Greece did it, and it was good but we did it and it's bad

We spent 2 decades playing moral superiority and calling that approach as ****. Of course ditching all that is bound to get some rightful jabs.

 

[Rain Dance]

We spent 2 decades playing moral superiority and calling that approach as ****. Of course ditching all that is bound to get some rightful jabs.

who are "we"?

I am a proponent of set piece goals and defense over offense for years,
if I am Josh Kroenke, Arteta's replacement is Massimo Allegri for even more boring type of football

Heck, I think our set piece goals sucks cause we lack proper direct free kick takers and been proposing we add more goals from that area instead of buying fancy strikers

@Nunowoolmez in fact, debated me about DFK last year

 

[merciarsene]

Many clubs won something with less money?
Many?
Are they sustainable?
Did they need to compete with the juiced City?

liverpool, crystal palace. man united. newcastle. Sp**s, chelsea etc etc

you think magaboy kroenke billionaire isnt juicing us? post buyout arsenal needs to be judged differently..cant give excuse that it took 5 yrs to revamp the team.

 

[merciarsene]

Greece did it, and it was good but we did it and it's bad

we didnt do it. we fell at last hurdle

 

[Game Over]

we didnt do it. we fell at last hurdle

If you're not happy now, you may never be happy.

Maybe you should find a new hobby.

 

[grange]

liverpool, crystal palace. man united. newcastle. Sp**s, chelsea etc etc

you think magaboy kroenke billionaire isnt juicing us? post buyout arsenal needs to be judged differently..cant give excuse that it took 5 yrs to revamp the team.

Take a ****ing nap

 

[merciarsene]

If you're not happy now, you may never be happy.

Maybe you should find a new hobby.

i am happy not stupid

 

[HattoriHanzo]

i am happy not stupid

You're happy trolling?
Nothing smarter to do?

 

[merciarsene]

You're happy trolling?
Nothing smarter to do?

well i am on vacation in china, and had to suffer watching the match among a bunch of arrogant french asswipes in a bar in shanghai where 90% watching were arsenal fans. been watching football long enough to know what great managers look like. some things cannot be taught and no process can replace footballing acumen. Mikel has shortcomings in-game which has been evident for a while. if he couldnt be bolder and seize the day in this free-hit of a final, a day before a massive parade, i have my doubts if he ever will.

try to respond to the argument and not attack the person. thats the way a forum works.

i have waited 22 years and never lost the faith, but it doesnt mean i dont see the areas of improvement needed

 

[Nunowoolmez]

Heck, I think our set piece goals sucks cause we lack proper direct free kick takers and been proposing we add more goals from that area instead of buying fancy strikers

[USER=70050]@Nunowoolmez[/USER] in fact, debated me about DFK last year

Wait, I debated with you about whattt !?!?

Ohhhhhh.....direct free kicks !!!!

Yeah I kinda remember that dude. I don't recall many clear opportunities to score from one last season (season just gone), but not saying there weren't any. Would be interested in seeing the stats if they are available. We have players like Rice & Saka who are great at dead ball deliveries, so it's something we should look at tbh.