Morning all.
I write this based on Mikel Arteta being appointed head coach at Arsenal which is widely expected to be confirmed over the next day or so. Of course, this is Arsenal so nothing is certain until it’s officially announced by the the club.
I know, you’ve seen this already but I don’t care, here it is again:
My philosophy will be clear. I will have everyone 120 per cent committed, that’s the first thing,’ Mikel Arteta told Arsenal’s club website five years ago.
‘If not, you don’t play for me. When it’s time to work it’s time to work, and when it’s time to have fun then I’m the first one to do it, but that commitment is vital. Then I want the football to be expressive, entertaining.
‘I cannot have a concept of football where everything is based on the opposition. We have to dictate the game, we have to be the ones taking the initiative, and we have to entertain the people coming to watch us.
‘I’m 100 per cent convinced of those things, and I think I could do it.’
Which part of the above statement, bold as it was back then when he was still playing, doesn’t give you hope? It does me and Arteta wasn’t even top of my managerial wish list but then having a wish list is easy isn’t it? Don’t we all have one of those each summer and again in winter when both transfer windows are open? Reality is, I’m judging Mikel Arteta on his CV which apart from being assistant coach to Guardiola, is empty. But wasn’t Guardiola’s pretty much the same when he started at Barcelona?
If Arteta gets the job, and he has a good chance according to
some news sources, it matters not what you or I think. The board clearly believe in him and from day one, they need to support him both on and off the pitch. And in my opinion, so do we, the fans. Also the players who again will get another opportunity to impress. For some of them, I think it’ll be too late and they’ll be gone to any club who’ll sign them but for others, it’s probably ‘last chance saloon’ time.
Mikel has said he’ll demand 120% from his players, so that’s Ozil out. I’m convinced that the club would have sold him by now had he not been on such a big salary.. What to do with Ozil is the biggest problem. Scrutinise his contract to see if it’s been breached after his latest comments and behaviour and if it has, sack him. If not, weigh up the pros and cons for buying out his contract or sending him out on loan, even if it means paying his wages. He’s stinking the club out and I don’t think it’s good having him around the squad. The younger players don’t need influencing by the likes of him. Question marks hover over Aubameyang too, or at least they do for me. I don’t think he cares about anyone bar himself and selling him now makes so much sense. The rest, well like I said, get on board the 120% effort ship, or take the long walk off of a very short pier.
Arsene Wenger insisted on playing his style of football, disregarding the opposition because he believed in taking control of the game and letting the opponents worry about how they were going to stop his teams from playing. It worked for nearly ten years because he had the right players. Big, strong, athletic players being the hub of the team. Had Diaby not been assaulted on the pitch, Wenger’s success might have gone on longer than it did but once he switched to smaller, more technical players, he was doomed to fail in England. Mikel Arteta has a similar idea in that he too will focus on Arsenal’s style of football, his style of football and not worry too much about the opposition which is great, IF, he has the players to do so. That’s what the next few seasons will be about in my opinion. Building his squad to play his style of football and the board need to support him financially which in Arsenal’s case, probably means generating cash from player sales.
For the younger players, it’s better they improve their game under a man not only with a plan, but a man they can understand unlike Unai Emery, who perhaps through no fault of his own, couldn’t master the English language. For them, it’s key they jump straight into the Arteta style of footballing philosophy because otherwise they too might find themselves playing football elsewhere. I certainly believe there’s more in the tank of AMN, ESR, Willock, Saka etc. This should be a really exciting time for them because with so many senior players letting the club down, more effort, more passion and more precision about their game, they’re in.
As said though, this is another ‘clean slate’ time for the players. There are 44 days before the transfer window closes, which means they haven’t got long to convince Arteta that they believe in him. If they’re lucky, they might get until the end of May.
The expected appointment of Mikel Arteta seems to be part of Arsenal’s long term plan. This is not a quick fix appointment just to appease fans who want results to improve yesterday. This is a rebuild of the first team squad and the clubs footballing future and despite what we as individuals think about Mikel Arteta being the man chosen to do the job, this is about our club, the one we all say we want to see improve and I hope The Arsenal fans get behind Arteta as he goes about trying to improve it.
He cares….
See you in the comments guys…
Morning Rico and all. Excellent post I reckon.
Pep, I believe, was running a Barca youth team when he challenged the powers at the club to give him a chance, or so the legend goes. Well, they did and the rest, as they say….
The Kroenkes are finding out what happens when things don’t go according to plan and there will be a price to pay. Perhaps Arteta will want Ozil out of the club or perhaps he will try to utilise him, or at least give him a chance. Then again, if he really has become an albatross hanging round the club’s neck and generally stinking the place out, then Mikel will almost certainly want a remedy for that situation and some creative thinking.
Arteta strikes me as being a very serious man and his icy, dark brow stare at the game from the Man City bench seldom sees him crack a smile. It’s easy to forget he was at the club for 5 years and judging by the video that Scott posted, that experience left its mark.
If he is to be the new manager, I will be right behind him. As for those who cite his lack of experience as a manager I would add that Sam Allardyce has lots of that.
100% with that- or is it 120%?
Morning Adam, thank you.
Spot on re the big fella who might get a job now it’s Christmas..
Re Ozil, I can’t see a way forward with him other than out the door. He’s been getting away with it for far too long. He’s not an Arsenal player, he’s an Ozil player who couldn’t give a toss about anything other than himself. Imo, of course.
120 Iain, we’re heading towards Arteta time. Lol
I hope the fans and keyboard warriors get behind him and don’t turn immediately as they did to Freddie because he didn’t pick their favourites or did pick the ones circumstances left him with .
We have an average squad whoever takes it on requires radical change
Good morning Rico and the house. It’s been a long time since I commented anywhere, but wanted to congratulate you on your excellent post. In my opinion the sooner the likes of Ozil and Xhaka are out of the club the better. Ozil has been a passenger for far to long and Xhaka has the turning circle of the Titanic and is frankly error prone.
I really hope that Arteta gets us a real captain, let’s forget this five captains rubbish and get someone who isn’t afraid to put his neck on the line (including not ducking). We have some really good youngsters and if we can get some characters to pat them on the back and encourage them ( the things captains are supposed to do), it will do them a power of good.
I am 100% with your 120%
Really superb post, Rico.
Adams point about Fat Sam could be multiplied by quite a few experienced managers.
I can only go on my instinct and gut feelings, when I knew Wenger was past it my choices would have been Pep and Klopp, but Wenger and the board left it too late for them two ands we missed out. Once it was known Wenger was going my top two were Simeone and Arteta.
For having a terrible defense for years it Simeone who I favoured as defense to me waas the number one priority, we had to be hard to beat first and foremost because the other tactics were not working full stop.
When the media thought it was going to be Arteta I was excited, but only to be put on a downer when out of no where Emery was appointed.
This is what I mean by instinct…………..you either get excited by the possible appointment of someone or you dont……………………Im excited again!
As Rico says this wont be a quick fix appointment if it hopefully happens, this is long term and it has to be, because without stating the bloody obvious, we are in a right mess.
Players need to buy into Arteta`s philosophy or fcuk off………….. whoever they are and that includes any favourite of mine or any fans as we are at a critical point in determining our future, it`s also a cryting shame that the owners dont put Arsenal first and sell to someone who would invest in the club ala Man C style.
Similar can be said of Emery potter but yes, certainly Freddie.
Hi retsub, thank you re the post. It’ll certainly be interesting to see what Arteta does with this squad. Assuming he gets the job of course. I’d imagine he’ll want to bring a few very different kind of players in.
Thanks Lc, that must be your first ever 100% comedy free comment and I prefer it. Totally understand the Simeone angle because not only can his teams defend but play good football too. I wasn’t a fan of Pepe, partly because I doubted the club would make available the kind of funds he’s used to having.
And yes, like you, I don’t care which players go if they refuse to play for Arteta. He’s our future I’d have thought, those egos aren’t…
Hi Rico and All I am more than happy to sell Aubameyang I still think he is over rated but the board need to come out and tell us what the plan is going forwards if they say we are starting from scratch fine then sell every one over say 28 years old pick a young coach and build a young team around him and I will be happy to wait 2 to 3 years but if we keep the older players then we should give the new coach no more than one and a half years to prove himself.
Hi All as for Ozil due to his wages and age it’s going to be hard to sell so if we keep older players I would tell Ozil you have six months to prove your self or we will sell you or loan you out for the rest of your contract and take what ever we can get for him.
Hi Geoff, perhaps the board will tell us more once any appointment is confirmed.
Morning all.
I’m going to throw something up here, and I’m sticking my neck out but hey, I’ve done that before 🙂
Arteta will get the very best out of Ozil.
Why do I say that?
Because Arteta knows football, and Ozil will respect him 100%.
I could well be wrong on everything I’ve said, but I haven’t been this excited about the Arsenal for a long, long time as I am now.
I see the future, and the future is Mikel Arteta.
LC, I know this is easy to say in hindsight, because I was with you 100% at the time, but I think it’s been an absolute blessing that Emery got the gig 18 months ago and it’s only now that Arteta is in the mix.
We’ve had an experienced and successful manager in the chair and not done very well,
but imagine that was Arteta?
I believe the timing is now perfect.
I disagree re Ozil Scott. If the media are to believed, he was dead set against Arteta 18 months ago…
Hi Rico and all The one thing I like about this site is that although I look at things differently to most of use, Every can have a different opinion how ever at the end of the day we all want the same out come a team that will try and be competitive for 90mins and show us fans that they care about the club as much as we do. Then the wins will come
Rico, since when do we believe the media 🙂
Always Scott… After all, they told us Ramsey wanted to stay… 😂
Sometimes they’re right lol
😂
https://mobile.twitter.com/AFCPW/status/1206888303884197888
Hiya Kev,
I could say that’s a great analysis but that’d be too predictable 🙂
If Arteta succeeds, Steve, LC and I are geniuses.
If not……….
In all honesty, though, I doubt anyone could disagree with the man.
I suspect that if Arteta does join Arsenal he will not take charge until 2nd January. This will be after a difficult run of games in the hectic Christmas programme, Everton, Bournemouth and Manchester United. He will then have almost a week to settle in before the F A Cup third round tie against Leeds United.
Losing any of those three matches, and losing all of them is a distinct possibility, would put an early end to any honeymoon period for the new man.
I reckon hell be in before the Everton game if he gets the job.
Great result for our U23’s in the Premier League International Cup, beating an impressive Dinamo Zagreb 3-2. John Jules scored two more goals and really cannot be far off getting a 1st team debut, maybe Leeds in the FACup..?
The report mentioned that Smith Rowe and Mavropanos are with the senior group preparing for Everton, so I wonder, with Arteta pending, will Freddie go all Project Youth at Goodison Park?
The senior players have systematically let Freddie and the club down, so what has Fred got to lose, he ain’t getting the job so he may as well trust the players who’ll give him their all…
Everton is going to be a bear pit, the Toffies will be flying and will smell our blood.
I can’t see Ozil doing anything in that environment, he’d probably prefer to be down Oxford St doing some shopping…
Great post Rico, thanks…
What logic leads you to suppose that Rico?
Scott, everything McLaren said seemed obvious, but sometimes the obvious is invisible to those who over think things. He made it seem so so simple, you could see why he’s still a great coach, but maybe not such a good manager.
I remember when George Graham took over at Arsenal, he had a much older guy with him as his No.2, Theo Foley, Foley was that experienced old head who helped George through his early years as a manager until George matured.
Thanks Kev, yes, excellent result. I guess the Everton game plan depends on what happens once City’s match is over tonight.
Cicero, because once he makes his mind up, his head will be in London if he takes the job. He’ll want to get stuck in and see what’s what before January. Imo.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/index.html
Great analysis by Steve van McLaren, he`s been over here so long now he has lost his dutch accent.
I remember Beckham saying McLaren was the best coach he worked with. Yes, he did make it sound simple, maybe thats why us fans have been seeing it so simple for years because it`s bloody obvious and football “experts” have to make it sound complicated to try and justify their high saleries!
Who was it that said………”football is a simple game complicated by idiots”
Good post rico, exciting times again. I have very fond memories of Arteta at Arsenal but can’t remember that video! Hard for anyone to not give him a good long chance after watching.
Rico 4.12… Too many hangers on…
Arsenal will have to pay over £1 million to secure the services of the Spaniard, who spent five years in north London as a player between 2011 and 2016 – winning two FA Cups – before he retired and made the move into coaching with Guardiola.
City are travelling down from Manchester this afternoon for their Carabao Cup quarter-final at Oxford United and Arteta is still expected to be on the bench for the last-eight tie at the Kassam Stadium.
But Arsenal then hope to finalise their move for their former midfielder ahead of Saturday’s trip to Everton in the Premier League.
The north London club have their usual pre-match press conference scheduled for 13.30 (GMT) on Thursday afternoon at London Colney.
Interim boss Freddie Ljungberg had been expected to face the media, but that could change with the initial email alert which was sent to press organisations stating that “any changes or further updates will be communicated if required”.
When confirmed, Arteta will become the second youngest manager or head coach in Arsenal’s history, behind only Terry Neil, who was 34 when he took the job in 1976.
From Charles Watts
Thanks Andrew, I though5 similarly, he clearly cares about the club.
Indeed Kev, far too many…
Guess who owns the worlds most valuable sports empire according to Forbes ?, yet still as of yet has not put a penny/dime into Arsenal.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2019/12/18/the-worlds-most-valuable-sports-empires-worth-84-billion-kroenke-sports-lands-at-no-1/#2bba59cf7bdb
Morning all.
Kev, Cruyff said something very similar about football-something like I t’s a simple game but the hardest thing to do is play it simply,
Something else on Arteta and Arsenal, I’m sure he took a pay cut when leaving Everton to join us.
Am I right there?
It’s a unique individual, is Mikel.
I just saw an article from a Manchester source stating Arteta has left City to join us.
It’ll be nice when this is all over and we can move on lol
Scott, you know with Arsenal you have to have days of rumours, maybe it’s not happening, yes it is, more uncertainty, then news sites announce, and if you are lucky Arsenal.com or BBC. Or in the case of Higuan…….
Yes Andrew, I’ll admit it, I was absolutely caught up in the Higuain thing lol
Spotted at the airport.
Seen getting in a taxi etc etc etc
Bloody rumours-where would we be without them 🙂 🙂
I reckon he’ll turn us down…. 😂
Rico, you big nark Hahahahahaha
How did you know Scott, I’ve just got back from snitching on the neighbours…. 😜
My sorce tells me………………………..
DONE DEAL!!!
Mikel Arteta is the new head coach of Arsenal. £4 million a year until 2023. Should be in place for tomorrows afternoon session at the latest, with backroom appointments being finalised by Friday.
Tim Cahill will join Arsenal coaching staff with Mikel Arteta. Tim has recently completed his coaching badges.
Arteta tried to convince Xabi Alonso to join. However due to other coaching commitments and loyalty to Liverpool Alonso turned down the opportunity. Freddie will stay.
Hey, it’s all in a days work, Rico hahahaha
LC, if that’s the case, let’s hope Timmy can pass on his work ethic and energy levels to some of our players.
My sauce is HP
Kev, I had the misfortune of trying that for the first time recently.
Even Caught Offside offers more than HP 🙂 🙂
Nice snow flakes and prezzie, Rico. 😀
Don’t diss the HP Scott… 😉
Hahaha Kev,
I couldn’t stand it 🙂
BBC website last evening reporting no agreement on Arteta compensation, they even say there’s been no formal contract between the two clubs.Its as though Arsenal were surprised City would want money, Arsenal’s reputation for dithering lives on !
I don’t believe that Limey, not when Pep has been talking about it for so long and Arsenal aren’t the kind of club who behave badly imo.
Headline in the Telegraph this morning
ARTETA DEAL IMMINENT AS CITY FUME AT ARSENAL CONDUCT.
I hope so Rico, also Everton losing last night might be in our favour (I’m clutching at straws here)
Media stirring the pot I reckon Limey.
I watched Oxford v City last night, Oxford could so easily have won if they could take their chances..
Today’s press conference to preview Saturday’s game has been postponed.
I wonder why 🙂 🙂
Freddie has man flu?
Hey, women will never know the pain hahahaha
Or executive management team seem to have no established plan for the present or future.
Having ditched, and rightly so, Wenger they initially went for inexperience with Arteta the apparent choice. On second thoughts they backed off and went with experience in the form of Unai Emery. Eighteen months later they ditched, and rightly so, Emery in favour of inexperience in the form of Ljungberg. Within a matter of days that decision has proved to be disastrous so Freddie is in the process of being ditched in favour of more inexperience in the form, once again, of Arteta.
If, or when, this decision turns out to be wrong what will they do next?
Tweet from Ormstein
Mikel Arteta gave an emotional speech to Man City players/staff at Etihad Campus this morning before leaving to complete formalities of appointment as Arsenal head coach. #MCFC training taking place now without him. Arteta to be presented by #AFC on Friday
If indeed Arsenal have been ‘disrespectful’ to Man City over the Arteta deal then, considering the strokes they’ve have pulled, it can only be a good thing.
Great point Adam…
Perhaps City don’t like it knowing money won’t buy this….
I doubt anyone in the football world are feeling even remotely sorry for City atm.
Morning all.
Have we signed anyone yet 🙂
I bet they feel even less sorry for Arsenal Scott…
Probably true, Rico, but then we do give them plenty of ammo at times.
Looks like a done deal will be announced at tomorrow’s press conference with Freddie taking charge at Goodison Park for the last time.
That means agreement has been reached on compensation terms.
Cicero,
Seems that way, and I’m glad.
I’m putting my money where my mouth is and backing us to finish top 4.
The rumours of Ozil joining Fenerbahce on loan for 6 months won’t go away, makes me think that there has to be some truth in there…
As good as Aubameyang has been, I get the distinct impression that very few Arsenal fans are too bothered about him staying or going, which kinda sums up this group of mercenaries/players…
If 5 of them do actually want to leave, then bye bye…
Kev, agreed.
If they even hit and wanting out, out they go ASAP.
Auba gave the impression since late last season he wanted out, imo.
Cash in, and reinvest on him and others.
Is today the day we announce Arteta as manager?
Morning all.
New post up now