Mikel Arteta: Working Jovertime

[blaze_of_glory]

No Saliba is top talent. Do you believe we have great attack in terms of talent? I can’t think of PL champions that carried 2 players the level of Martinelli and Havertz

Would have been us last season if Chris Wood doesn't flub his lines. That's what I mean, we were already at champion level with them. Imagine how good Arteta will make us if we do improve on them.

 

[Rasmi]

Would have been us last season if Chris Wood doesn't flub his lines. That's what I mean, we were already at champion level with them. Imagine how good Arteta will make us if we do improve on them.

He didn’t improve on them. He had his chance hence the struggle. Arteta has spend close to 700 million. Who’s the best attacker he signed

 

[blaze_of_glory]

He didn’t improve on them. He had his chance hence the struggle. Arteta has spend close to 700 million. Who’s the best attacker he signed

Jesus pre injury. He was outstanding.

 

[Kav]

Jesus pre injury. He was outstanding.

Admittedly that is a poor signing.

 

[Rasmi]

Jesus pre injury. He was outstanding.

The same Jesus who had 5 goals before the World Cup and didn’t score in the last 12 appearances before he went to the World Cup and people already talking about poor finishing?

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Admittedly that is a poor signing.

Definitely did not turn out well in the end lol

 

[blaze_of_glory]

The same Jesus who had 5 goals before the World Cup and didn’t score in the last 12 appearances before he went to the World Cup and people already talking about poor finishing?

Please don’t pretend he wasn’t excellent before he got hurt. We were all begging for him to be back

We need a fresh face in the forward line now though and they tried to get one in the summer

 

[shoot for the top]

Yeah I would rather Mikel to win it in 2028 than now or next years. That way we can sniff out all the plastic fans on the way!

You don't think 5 years is enough to get the "plastic fans" out? Why would you think we have "plastic fans"?

 

[shoot for the top]

I mean maybe he would have but he did also bid 90m on Thomas Lemar while we had huge holes elsewhere so no guarantees there either. We'd definitely be light in defense rather than attack though.

Young Wenger won the league in his second season. Arsenal was 12th two seasons prior to his arrival. Don't mention Wenger and Arteta in the same sentence again.

 

[Sapient Hawk]

Needs to do the honourable thing & fall on his sword.

I do realize that's a big ask seeing as he has not a shred of honor in his mostly HDPE body.

 

[Diesel]

We honestly need our Diego Costa. Simeone went up a level once he got his true CF. Next summer has to be a forward if we sign two CBs then yeah fire him .

 

[SA Gunner]

Good start to this difficult run, but ultimately fell apart when Ødegaard went down.

Combine that with key players missing at key moments, Saka, Calafiori, Rice, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber, made for a difficult period where we just couldn’t settle into rhythm.

Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly had been used but could have been used more. But bringing the youngsters has been good nonetheless. I was happy with that and we need that some more.

We need to go back to the drawing board, particularly in midfield. And look for a solution where we bring back the best aspects of 23/24 again. A midfield that doesn’t allow that shot from Neto to happen.

But also… bring back the attacking instincts from 22/23 and late 23/24.

Twenty seven games left in the season, if ever there was a need for a Dubai trip… it’s now. Happy that it’s international break too.

 

[Sammy1887]

He should dedicate the next two transfer windows specifically to attackers.

 

[Vanpayslip]

It does ultimately come down to the fact that he changed the system when Ødegaard got an injury. He decided that was the best way forward and he was wrong. He over complicated his solution to the issue and it backfired spectacularly. He can make all the excuses he wants but it has been his overthinking that tanked the teams ability to attack.

 

[HagnSprayGooners]

Hope that helps, mate.

You're quoting two posts consistently and not saying anything yourself, so of course it doesn't help because you aren't actually explaining or saying anything.

Hope that helps, bud.

 

[HagnSprayGooners]

Our only attacking signing was a loan deal for Sterling. Despite the fact it was obvious Saka was needing a rest and Jesus looks done for a top side. No backup for Ødegaard despite selling ESR and binning his £35m signing on a loan deal.
They spent more time and energy chasing keepers and defenders.
We also wouldn’t be in such a mess defensively if Tomi - his signing, was actually available for more than 5 games a season and Zinchenko - also his signing, wasn’t useless.
So no, it’s not bad luck, it’s poor planning.

You think one attacking signing would change everything? I'm on record saying the window wasn't good enough attacker wise. If we didn't spend time and energy on defenders we would be in an even worse position btw.

 

[jones]

We need a fresh face in the forward line now though and they tried to get one in the summer

Weird how we managed to sign Calafiori despite having to hold difficult talks with not one but two clubs and a DoF who did not want him at the club. Forwards though if the player doesn't hold his club hostage we are prepared to walk away after two minutes of negotiations

 

[HattoriHanzo]

It does ultimately come down to the fact that he changed the system when Ødegaard got an injury. He decided that was the best way forward and he was wrong. He over complicated his solution to the issue and it backfired spectacularly. He can make all the excuses he wants but it has been his overthinking that tanked the teams ability to attack.

Not completely.
First half of that period without Ødegaard we were ok, Sp**s, Atalanta, City, Leicester, PSG, Southampton.
Second part of that period we were generally bad, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Inter very bad, Shaktar, Liverpool was ok.

System wasn't overcomplicated, simple 4-4-2, with Havertz and Trossard as 2 false 9s or 10s.
Could he invent something better?
Of course.

 

[Bloodbather]

The defense that looked impenetrable was built on keeping the ball and then Rice snuffing out the first sign of danger when the ball was lost if the press didn't do it before he was needed. Now we have Partey leaving a gaping hole in midfield with no legs to get back and Rice on walkabout up the pitch having an idiot contest with Nelli. We're set up to fail as soon as we lose the ball because the back line actually has no cover.

Dead on. I said before signing him when everyone was discussing whether he could be an 8 for us; he might be a decent 8 but he's potentially world class as a 6. That turned out to be the case. It makes no sense to shoehorn him into an 8 and not get the best of him.

 

[Vanpayslip]

Not completely.
First half of that period without Ødegaard we were ok, Sp**s, Atalanta, City, Leicester, PSG, Southampton.
Second part of that period we were generally bad, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Inter very bad, Shaktar, Liverpool was ok.

System wasn't overcomplicated, simple 4-4-2, with Havertz and Trossard as 2 false 9s or 10s.
Could he invent something better?
Of course.

Not really. Some of those games you mention in the first part were double pivot midfields so not really comparing like with like when talking about the 4-4-2 in the second part.

Also, those double pivot games were games where Ødegaard would not have been missed as much.

It obviously was complicated because Trossard and Havertz were both lost and their performances fell off a cliff.