Morning all.
I read an article by Alex Richards in The Mirror this morning. He was writing about Ainsley Maitland-Niles and how after being ‘chastised by Mikel Arteta, perhaps his future is bright after forcing his way back into the Spaniard’s plans.’ Firstly, I don’t recall AMN ever being chastised. All I ever heard or read Mikel Arteta say about him is that he needs to work hard in training. Something Mikel has said about every player since the day he arrived. Secondly, AMN has just played in one friendly against Charlton Athletic so I’d hardly call that ‘forcing his way back into the Spaniard’s plans.’
What’s true though is at 22 years old, AMN should be settled in his career but having been deployed at left back, right back, wing back, right wing and at the weekend, central midfield, he’s become a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none. No surprise really.
Earlier in the year, Arteta told Sky Sports:
He can play as an attacking midfielder because he’s a threat every time with his runs. And he can play a holding midfielder because he’s played a lot there in his career. It’s good to have players that can play in various positions.
I’m happy to admit I like AMN, but not stupid enough not to realise that often he looks like he’s a bit disinterested, or distracted might be a better word. His style of play is certainly chilled but I think there’s a footballer in him which Mikel Arteta can bring out. AMN, along with Willock, Nelson and Eddie all went through similar problems in my opinion. They were coming through the system towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s career and then like so many more experienced players, lost their way under Unai Emery.
Arsenal’s financial situation will dictate many things this summer. A top four finish would help enormously but it’s unlikely. We could sell players to raise funds but like Arsenal, other clubs will be struggling to raise funds to sign players. If Stan Kroenke gave Raul and co £200 million to spend, perhaps AMN would be one the players to leave but I think it’s fair to say that the first part of that scenario is highly unlikely.
Dani Ceballos will be gone this summer, that we do know so might AMN be his natural replacement? Surely it’s got to be a battle between him, Smith-Rowe and Willock. There’s no reason why all three can’t eventually end up in the same team together if they put their minds to it but it’s up them to prove themselves worthy of a place. Impress Mikel Arteta and they’ll get their chance. Eddie Nketiah has.
Personally, I hope all our younger players who have come through the academy get at least another season at Arsenal. A full season with Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff because only then will he, they and perhaps we, will see if they’ve truly got what it takes to play at the level Arteta expects from his players.
Stay safe guys…
Good morning Rico.
Having watched the highlights of the Charlton friendly I thought maybe AMN was being given an opportunity to find his niche in midfield. Equally he could have been put in the shop window. He is at a critical point in his career, 22/23 is the sort of age where good players should be settled into their best, if not their favourite, position. He needs to take every chance he gets in order to cement a place in the starting eleven.
Morning Rico and all. The current situation has bought Mikel’s original plans to a sudden and unwanted stop. The contract situations, the lack of incoming money and the prospect of playing to empty stadiums in the future, for however long that might be, has given him and the club a new reality to deal with. Mikel has given me the impression that he is well able to play the; hand he has been dealt So I am pretty confident that he’ll do OK. From what I read and hear the players are solidly behind him and they too are facing massive changes that some will adapt to better than others.
Quite how the transfer situations will pan out is anybody’s guess but I imagine they’ll need to prioritise and there won’t be too many big incomings or monster contracts.
Getting the best out of the players coming through is going to be critical and I think we have the right man in charge to do that.
HI Rico and All I do recall reading some were that Arteta had a go at AMN over his attitude to training and some rules and that’s why Arteta turned off him but no matter what happened in the past he and all player should knuckle down and show respect to the coach after all as long as you are on the books you have a chance to prove your self.
Morning Cicero, Adam, Geoff and all.
AMN might have been put in the shop window on Saturday but no one was watching.. 😂
Agree Adam re Mikel being the right guy. He seems to have a very high work ethic which players will have to meet. Out on their ear if they don’t imo. I do think he’s the guy to talk Saka and Auba into resigning if they are still undecided. For those who don’t want to be a part of his plan, I think he’s ruthless enough to say fine, go.
This transfer window is likely to be like something not seen before, certainly for the clubs with little money. ‘Arry would love to be wheeling and dealing I reckon. Lol
A few NN headlines reckon Ceballos now wants to stay. Perhaps Real Madrid have told him there’s no way back there.
Hi Rico! Great read, thank you!
I hope AMN takes his chances, as we all know he’s got ‘it’ in him, just need to see it a bit more. Sometimes he’s far too laid back, but he now knows MA isn’t one to be messed with. All he can do is work hard and hopefully reap the benefits, although there’s a lot of competition out there! Btw, can’t wait for ESR to come back.
As for Ceballos, he keeps dropping hints over his future.. so who knows what’ll happen with him! Does the window open on Wednesday?
Condolences to Chappers (MOTD2), he’s just lost his wife..
Hi Sue, thanks.
Yes, really sad for Chappers. Life is cruel sometimes.
Not sure about the transfer window, last I read it was still being discussed.
City’s appeal begins today! Will be keeping a close eye on it….. if the ban is upheld and there is a mass exodus, I’d be more than happy to take KDB, Sane and Laporte off their hands 😂 knowing our luck, we’d end up with Stones, Foden and Zinchenko 🤣
😂
Morning all.
Mikel is our way forward.
AMN is a quality player and will do well for us, long term.
I certainly have great faith in one of them Scott. Lol
Rico, I have more faith in Mikel, but I’m hoping AMN pulls his head in!!
The talent is there.
Much which has been written about AMN in the media Scott, seems to be made up to me. Yes, Mikel said he needed to work hard but all this stuff about him turning up late to training etc, I not heard that from Arteta.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/07/premier-league-clubs-turn-to-online-dating-methods-in-the-transfer-market
Very good points made by Lord Adam of Liverpool Road and totally agree, Arteta is just the guy you need in the scenario we find ourselves in, unlike managers like Mourinho who focus solely on buying a team, Mikel has the ability to work on the players he has and on their weaknesses and getting the absolute maximum from them.
I don’t want to tempt fate because we could get a right old hiding from Man City in just over a weeks time and then it’ll be sackcloth and ashes, but I can’t help thinking that Arteta could pull off a bit of a miracle with this squad over the next 10 league games in this very strange environment and atmosphere. He is such a smart cookie…
Trouble is Kev, we don’t know that for sure re Mikel because he’s never been in this situation before. His only experience of ‘management’ is being alongside Pep who like mourinho, buys his teams.
Not knocking Arteta, but until he’s proved more than what he has already, surely we’re just guessing..
I do think he’s the right guy though, I sure hope he is.
Well if I knew for sure Rico, I’d be straight down the bookies and putting a bet on, so yeah I don’t know, you’re right…
But guessing is all we can do because it’s the nature of this place, opinions.
You can only go on the proof that you have and whilst the team has lacked something in attack since Arteta has taken over he has instead focused on our defending which was atrocious, so I’m happy about that. We should never have lost to Olympiakos or Chelsea and I think that they’ve been our only defeats since he took over.
He reminds me of George Graham in that he is a pragmatist, Wenger was an idealist and Emery was simply out of his depth.
The thing is, I wasn’t sure about him before he took over, but desperate times and all that jazz.
Since he’s taken over I’ve been delighted with what I’ve seen and heard, he’s great to listen to and I’m sure his coaching is just as riveting and inventive, the transformation of some of our players has been very encouraging given where they were under Emery.
Yes, like you, I’m sure he’s the right guy.
My money would be on him Kev. More-so than Wenger or Emery that’s for sure.
Well, Rico, Auba’s crib is very nice… and during the tour, certain tunes were playing – one of which was ‘copacabana’ 😉 you’d have loved it!!
Ha ha Sue. I saw a bit but got bored. Lol
New post up now