Morning all.
Do you get the feeling there’s a battle going on within Arsenal? Mikel Arteta v the players, or at least some of them? A minority of them perhaps but as we’ve all seen and not only at Arsenal, once a manager loses the support of his players, there’s usually no way back for him. It’s wrong, of course it is, after all, these players chose to play football and they get paid a ridiculous amount of money to do so. They get to live a privileged life with all the good things money can buy. Cars galore, a big flashy mansion with a swimming pool, gym and snooker room within. Being a high profile footballer has its downside too, just the same as it does for any superstar, but as said, it’s their choice. It’s always been their choice.
So why do they think they can pick and choose when to perform?
Imagine if a checkout operator suddenly decided he or she didn’t want to do their job on certain days, what would happen to them? Or any other ‘normal’ day to day working person? I don’t know the route employers have to take as far as disciplinary action goes but one can guarantee that if such behaviour continued on a regular basis, that person would soon be down the job centre looking for alternative employment.
But that’s what’s happening at Arsenal with a number of players who are better than their performances they’ve been giving for the team.
It’s easy for us to say drop them, or sell them but unlike in ordinary life, the player has the control because of the contract he signed. Perhaps there needs to be a change to footballers contracts which allows a club to terminate his employment if he’s constantly not trying. Although proving he’s not trying might be somewhat difficult.
How can Mikel Arteta turn things around, can he even turn things around? We’ve seen many many managers sacked in recent years who’ve had far more experience than Mikel Arteta because they’ve not been able to change his teams approach or mentality on a game day, so for Arteta, surely it’s a task too big.
The most frustrating, annoying bit to all this is, as many of have said before, when the players want to play, they can and they do but consistency has been the problem. How can an Arsenal team go from playing Leicester City and Toots off the park for 45 minutes, to surrendering to two struggling teams at Everton and Man Utd with an almost fully fit squad?
How can Thomas Partey go from being the hub of Atletico’s midfield to being the softie he now with a game riddled with errors. Kieran Tierney’s impact on the game has lessened as he’s caught the ‘play it safe’ bug and Ben White suddenly looks like he’s the Championship defender we signed from Bolton. Why aren’t Arsenal playing a more dynamic style of football with quick pass and move football? Of course that’s not always possible but then if we’re going to grounds where we all anticipate it’ll be difficult, why can’t Arsenal play pragmatic football? Why is it that Arteta seems unable to change his plans to nullify an opposition if he thinks beating them will be difficult? I’d love to see Arsenal go to Anfield or the Etihad and leave with a 0-0 scoreline.
This isn’t an “Arteta out” post, it’s just about what I see as being a battle between certain players and him and right now it feels like the players are winning.
See you in the comments.
Afternoon Rico and all Well put Rico
Once the older players sign that contract then there is no incentive to put in each week as they know there is not much a club can do other than pay them out or sell them if the don’t want them. either way the player knows he will get paid.
In regards to Auba I often wonder if he is our problem, on 1 hand if Arteta drops him the players that like him don’t put in while on the other hand do the some players get pissed off seeing Auba get picked each week and playing crap yet they have a great game and get dropped for no reason.
Shush, don’t mention the cricket! 😒
Afternoon Geoff, as the saying goes, one bad apple…
What cricket Cicero? Lol
Disagree entirely. Its the manager sets the style, its the manager who sets of tone. Artetas reign has seen all innovations and dynamics sucked out of Pepe Aubamayang Laccacette Ozil Guendouzi. A perseverance with the utterly inept Willian. Partey destroyed. Tierney become schizophrenic between Scotland and Arsenal displays.
Arteta is the problem, from day 1.
You disagree yet I’ve said I don’t think Arteta can turn it around?
It doesn’t mean the players should drop off in workrate though.
I don’t think any of them go onto the pitch to lose. It’s how they react when things don’t work out and it’s all about whether there is anyone on the pitch to lead them forward when it’s required. I don’t think that Aubameyang is that man .
Neither is Xhaka whose contribution reminds me of Flamini makes mistakes but is always pointing out other peoples.
We only have one natural captain that doesn’t give a ** fig ** who he is playing against and that’s Holding and he can’t get a game and won’t until Arteta realises that we need some power in the middle that Partey and Xhaka don’t supply.
Unfortunately he was largely responsible for Partey’s purchase and I think he sees himself in Xhaka and will always play them when they are available .
The midfield is the forwards supply line and the defences protection until we sort that position out the other players will drop their heads when things go wrong.
We are back where he started with a disfunctional team with bright prospects being left to fend for themselves , continually being shouted at and unable to think for themselves carrying the players that are meant to be leading them..So far I have made it to 11 players that he has signed and really only 2 are what I would call successful and they are Gabriel and Ramsdale , Tavares and Lokonga are ones to watch and , Mari , Runnarsson , Soares , are squad shirt fillers , Willian has gone and Odegaard , Partey and White look good in spells but I wouldn’t want them holding my coat in a fight..None of those 3 dominate their position , individually they look good in bits but White doesn’t command his back line , Partey gets lost in midfield and Odegaard has some nice touches but doesn’t take the game by the scruff of it’s neck. The more I write the more depressed I get , so I am stopping .
Feel free to tear my thoughts to shreds , in some way i would be pleased if you did.
I know how you feel Potter re the more you write and about Holding. I’d much rather see someone like him playing because we know what’ll well get. I very much doubt he’ll want to stick around much longer though. I think Tommi is a grafter with a backbone though.
Good post Rico, I think it’s a confidence thing but this isn’t new is it, maybe it’s the generation of footballers we have now, very technical, very tactical, very snowflaky?
Cicero, I think the new regulations don’t start till next week, but personally I’d rather stay home than have to have a vaccine passport to get in, failing that I could always try and get an invite to the next party at 10 Downing Street, but anyway I’ll be wearing my mask throughout the game and I have the cards they give you following your vaccination to show and if that ain’t good enough then they can Foxtrot Oscar…
Thanks Kev, nope, it’s nothing new, certainly not at Arsenal.
I’m not into Cricket but it was a long way to fly just to go out on the first ball
Potter
Lokonga will be better next season as I said from the start he will need a year to mature, settle in and adjust
Hopefully so Geoff but that’s not the answer that I am looking for , I want a dominating midfielder that’s going to lead the team . If we get the player we need and he improves enough to replace Partey then all well and good . However he is unlikely to have the aura or clout about him to order the others around him . That’s what we need a Keane ,a Robson , A Vieira , An Adams all players that changed things on the pitch and led their teams from the front .
Potter Unfortunately I don’t think we have any one in this current batch that are a true leader and I don’t recon we have had a true leader for years.
Agree re the midfielder Potter. We’re toothless right now.
I’m heading to the game tomorrow. If we win (I expect it will be a slog) then the atmosphere changes. Although the atmosphere in the stadium this season has been good and a marked contrast to the outrage expressed on social media and in the blogs.
@Kev the Covid pass rule shouldn’t affect the game tomorrow. I’m double jabbed and had a blast of Covid recently as well. I’ll be like the Ready Brek kid walking towards the ground.
I fully expect the checking of passes etc to cause general chaos outside the ground.
That’s a bit better in the cricket, the wicket has settled down now but there’s still a long long way to go to save this match with the Aussies still well on top and hot favourites.
I’m not really a big fan of Malan but credit to him for digging in, hopefully he won’t throw it all away in the morning, disappointed for Hameed after a fighting start, maybe a haircut and a shave would help?
Looks as if Azeez could be returning to Arsenal as Portsmouth fancy taking Omar Rekik on loan instead as they need a centre back and all their 5 loan spaces are full.
22 days and the transfer window creaks open so be prepared for a million transfer rumours on Football.London (Daily Mirror) and a million recycled click bait rumours on Just Arsenal (BS) News. Enjoy… 😃
Hey Pete, yeah, it’s my birthday tomorrow and I’ll be wearing my mask throughout, it just makes sense I guess mate, sorry to hear that you had a dose, like you I’m double jabbed and have had the booster, plus I’ve been lucky. I think that the new regs come into force on the next Wednesday so it may not even affect our game vs West Ham which i think is the Tuesday?
Like you I’ve not noticed any antipathy towards Arteta in the ground itself and I’ve been to 3 games so far, in fact it’s been pretty good in general from the supporters, both home & away, anyway I shall lookout for an Arsenal fan glowing.
I think the blogs and social media are always worse, it’s the nature of the beast but even though I’m pretty grumpy about Arsenal, I’d still be right behind the team if I was going tomorrow. 😆
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks he needs a haircut Kev. 😂
@Kev Happy Birthday. I hope Arsenal deliver a present.
@Rico social media is like an echo chamber. Echo Echo..
Certainly is Pete.
More like Chinese whispers every story just enlarges the facts until they are totally unrecognisable.
Looks like Nketiah could yet stay but he wants more minutes. Call me an old cynic but I’d say that’s why we’re suddenly seeing him on a match day…
Seems as if Aubameyang is out tomorrow so maybe Nketiah will start
Saves Arteta dropping him. Lol
New post up now