Morning all.
If little changes as far as Arsenal’s performances go, it won’t be long before questions will be asked about Mikel Arteta and whether or not he’s the right manager to take the club forward. As odd or maybe even as harsh as that might sound, no manager is above or beyond criticism or accountability. Mikel has been in his job for four years now but what is there really to show for those four years?
The answer is simple, a much better and more balanced squad, better, or more disciplined football and one trophy.
Do I think he should be sacked? Goodness me, no. Do I think he could do better? Absolutely.
Footballers want to play in every game, I get that but they’re like puppies or any other young domestic pet really because someone has to take responsibility of what they do. They need to be told they’re not playing because their body needs a rest.
This two weeks should be all about resting rather than training in my opinion. Swimming lots because it’s good for the body and just having fun. At least until a few days before we play Crystal Palace but they’re already training.
Bukayo Saka should be resting his young body which has quite frankly, played far too much football. If it’s not Arsenal, it’s England throwing him out on to the pitch.
William Saliba, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel. Arsenal, France and Brazil, they play in all of them if fit.
Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard – well, no surprise one of them has had time out injured this season. How long will it be before the other suffers some kind of injury?
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu – injured after playing a run of games. Didn’t see that coming did you?
Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior – two had their contracts renewed, two were signed and yet they aren’t used as much as perhaps they could be. Heaven forbid a right footed Nelson even started ahead of Saka to give the latter a much needed break.
We’re out of both domestic cups now so I very much doubt Arteta will do anything other than play his strongest eleven available in every game between now and the end of May. Two games a week is the most they’ll have to partake in over the next four and a half months. If Arteta didn’t trust Nketiah to lead the front line against Liverpool, I very much doubt he’ll trust him in the Champions League either. Why bother playing an out and out striker when we have so many “false 9” options eh? I realise it’s perhaps a “plan b” but my idea of that is going from a 5’ 9” striker to a 6’+ striker, not just any old player who happens to be tall. Having a winger who does something different to what Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka do and even a midfielder who instead of passing the ball to death or trying to trick and flick his way through defenders will just pick up the ball, run at the defence and take a shot.
In my opinion, one of the best passes during the Liverpool game came from Aaron Ramsdale. He bypassed midfield, found Reiss Nelson perfectly and he was through on goal in a flash. Ok, Nelson didn’t score but Liverpool didn’t expect it. That’s a plan b, the unexpected which catches the opposition out. Like the free kick which was new to all of us. Again though, it didn’t end with a goal but it’ll make future opponents think twice about what this Arsenal team will do from a set-piece.
Mikel Arteta can’t change the striker situation unless the club go out and spend money on the right player this month but if that player isn’t for sale or prepared to move, investing in a ‘make do’ player who doesn’t perform, could do more harm than good. Certainly financially but there’s no reason we as a club couldn’t try to secure a loan deal. Totts have just done that with Tino Werner – he might prove to be a flop but at least they’re not tied to any long term commitment.
Anyway, I’m hopeful that when the players come back from Dubai refreshed and full of confidence, they batter Crystal Palace at The Emirates and go on a fantastic run of results. We’re entering the period of the season when City show their title winning credentials. They win games come hell or high waters as last season proved which is exactly what Arsenal need to do. Whether they can or do is another matter which only time will determine.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and all.
If we find our scoring boots then there is no reason why we can’t after all the 4 teams around us have also been up and down this season. But we we can’t afford a bad start after the break or we could find ourselves in 5 or 6 place.
Morning Geoff, yep, we need a fast start on our return and build confidence. Once the goals come, hopefully they’ll keep on coming.
Nice write up Rico.
Yes, Man City are the experts at timing themselves, they’ve done it for the last three years so there’s no reason to think that they can’t do it again, Liverpool aren’t that good despite recent results and they’ll be found out, maybe tonight?
Arteta’s next improvement to our squad is matching City’s timing. We’re in a good position despite all the Doomers elsewhere, a refreshed and revitalised Arsenal with Partey coming back, Zinchenko coming back, Timber progressing as expected, Saka and White shaking off those niggles, Jesus hopefully recovering, Vieira coming back, Tomiyasu and Elneny coming back from their tournaments mentally refreshed from being away from the English microscope, we could really be ready to go for it in ‘24…
Timber is, I’ve seen, expected to return in April (20th), therefore he might (hopefully) return for the Champions League Q/F, most likely 2nd leg.
That would be some journey if he began his Arsenal journey at Wembley against Man City and finishes it at Wembley against Man City?
With the same result…. 🤞🤞🤞
Good evening all, thinks Rico for the up-beat message.
I’m not sure how much difference the team’s short spell in the Arabian sunshine will make to our goal tally but any improvement will be more than welcome.
By the looks of things we are not going to make any substantial signings until the summer. Perhaps Partey will come back from the ACON revitalised, if he does it will be like a new signing. let’s hope so anyway. 👍
Thanks Kev, I do think it’ll make a difference once the injured are back, well, Partey, Jesus and Zinchenko- not sure about Vieira at all. Timber for next season now I reckon.
Surely the goal drought can’t go on forever…
CL quarterfinal? If we get there I’ll be amazed..
I’m training to stay positive Cicero, however, deep down my thoughts are quite different. 😜
Rico,
Your mention of the Ramsdale long ball to Nelson reminds me of something…. the past few games we’ve played, Raya seems to have gone more basic and simple in his distribution from when he first came in.
I love watching keeper distribution the way we play, and recently the beautiful, low flying long balls he showed early when he joined are not even being attempted by him. I wonder if it’s Arteta orders? If he’s going to be first choice, he needs to be special in the build up. Otherwise, Ramsdale is the better stopper.
So if Raya isn’t spectacular in passing, Ramsdale should be number 1.
Worth noting… most of Ramsdales long balls used to be looping high trajectories with 50/50 chance… the one to Reiss was lower, more like Raya style. Maybe he’s worked on it?
Jnyc, I’m with you there re the keeper distribution. The short balls are easy yet so often fluffed but the low pass is a very clever one which more often than not is more accrued. I’m a fan of Ramsdale and think all round he’s a better and more consistent keeper. When he first came to the club he often fond Auba, Xhaka etc with long balls..
Imo, Raya goes long after he’s made a few cockups. 😜
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32LZ-JwBuIQ
Here’s a few worth watching…
Wow, we forget how good Aaron’s distribution was! That was a long video of great passing from him. I’m really torn on the keeper choice. What confuses the issue is that even though Raya is smaller, he is so good at claiming crosses. He does it at almost triple the rate of Ramsdale.
I don’t like controversy in the keeper position, and was uneasy with the Raya move.
I’m still uneasy re the Raya move. I think it’s created a problem which wasn’t there before. The body language between the defence doesn’t seem the same imo.
I personally believe Arteta has ordered a certain style of playing out and the keepers have no say. I am not against bringing in Raya to keep him and Ramsdale on their toes, I just feel it’s not quite working out due to the way Arteta plays them.
On the other hand, you have to ask the question, doesn’t Arteta have faith / trust in any other keeper already at the club.
Good morning all.
Personally I hate the whole concept of playing out from the back. Our build up is so slow that it allows our opponents to amble back into their own half, sort out their defensive positioning and have a cup of tea before our players get the ball over the halfway line. It’s boring and frustrating for the fans and it must be equally so for those of our players who have the pace and fitness to run the length of the pitch without having to taker a short break to regain their breath. From an entertainment view point I would prefer to watch a bit of the old route one football, it would at least provide the stimulation needed to prevent me nodding off on the sofa.
Morning all.
Ditto re playing out from the back. Get the principle but opponents know how to nullify it now. Also, as you say Cicero, we dawdle on the ball too much to make it work well.
Arsenal chase Spanish striker
Arsenal have made a £22m bid for Getafe striker Borja Mayoral, according to The Sun.
The 26-year-old has scored 12 goals in 19 LaLiga games this season.
Hmm, twenty-six years old, six foot tall, reared at Real Madrid and played in the first team before a series of loan moves. Might be a bit pricy, but a six month loan could be good for all parties.
A loan would be ideal for us..
New post up now