Morning all.
Here is an extract from an article written by Jame McNicholas of The Athletic in amongst what I think is a really good write up on Arsenal’s season just gone by.
There was joy at Christmas as Arsenal sat top of the Premier League…
Any joy was short-lived, though. Between Christmas and New Year, they were beaten at home by West Ham and away to Fulham. They started 2024 with an FA Cup exit against Liverpool.
A team that had been making good progress suddenly seemed beset with problems. For all Arsenal’s promise, staff were well aware that consecutive Premier League defeats could ultimately prove enough to derail a title challenge. The standards set by Manchester City necessitate something close to perfection. Arsenal’s standards dropped for just four days and yet it would arguably ultimately cost them the title.
Really tough day,” Mikel Arteta said after the defeat at Craven Cottage. “It wasn’t good enough. We didn’t deserve to win. When you have opportunities to go top of the league on December 31 and now end up with a really bad feeling, that is football. The lines are really thin.
“If we play like we played in the other 19 games we will be up there (in the league at the end of the season). If we play like today we will be nowhere near. Today was a really difficult day to swallow.”
Arsenal needed a break. They needed Dubai.
We all know what happened after the Dubai break but this coming season, there won’t be a chance to rest, recuperate, or soak in some vitamin d because there is no break. It’s been scrapped. A stupid idea in my opinion because ten months is a long old slog for these players regardless of at what level they play. Of course it’s wouldn’t be so bad if they’re playing one game a week but that’s not the case, it’s two, sometimes three within a seven day period.
This where City and Arsenal differ I think because one has a very deep and strong squad whereas the other has a very strong 15/17 outfield players but the rest are not quite as good. Take into consideration that Jurrien Timber was ruled out for the season, Thomas Partey wasn’t fit for most of it either and Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko were often missing, the option to rotate perhaps wasn’t always there for Mikel Arteta.
It’s easy for you and I sat or stood watching to suggest alternatives but I think the reality is, if Mikel Arteta truly believed in each and every one of his players, we would have seen more of all of them rather than just a few. I’m not on about Soares or Elneny by the way and in any case, they’ve gone now.
Going forward, how would the team cope without the likes of Saliba, Gabriel, Odegaard or Rice? If who we have in the squad aren’t able to deputise for them then what’s the point in them staying at the club? The days of playing a ‘second string’ in the domestic cups seem to be over as like his old mentor Guardiola, Mikel Arteta tends to field a strong team so unless we suffer a glut of injuries, those used to sitting on the bench for much of the season will continue to sit on the bench.
A career in football is short, certainly once a player reaches the age/level required to start in a first team and that’s regardless of which club or league that club is in. If a player is lucky, he’ll have a 10 – 15 year career. Why waste those years sitting on a bench knowing that game time might come but even when it does, it’s just minutes at the end of a game? Why not go to a club where there’s a greater chance of being the managers first or second choice instead of a last resort?
We’ve all said it, or rather written it in the comments section but this really is an important transfer window. I know they all are but it’s been so long since we’ve pushed any club to the final day of the season for a League title, let alone Manchester City. Next season, if we’re to finally topple them and/or any other club, Mikel Arteta simply has to have a full squad whom he can trust. I mean fully trust. To believe he can select one or two of them, even three without worrying about a dip in the team’s performance. He needs players on the bench who are more than capable of making a difference and actually do. There’s a difference between throwing on a few different players towards the end of a match when in dire need of a goal, and making a change which is deliberate, tactical or even pre-planned.
If Mikel Arteta has a stronger and deeper squad for next season, there might not be a winter blip and we might not slip up as many times as we did during the season just gone by. I’m not saying we’ll win the league or a domestic cup but we’d certainly have a better chance of doing so.
Hope that all makes sense…
Catch up in the comments.
Squad depth is all important which is why we in the words of an ex prime minister any purchases have to be oven ready .
There are players leaving and others that need to prove themselves that are under contracts that stretch into next season and need playing time . Perhaps a loan abroad for some might be the answer (ESR ) I am looking at you.
As for the Elneny . Soares, Vieira players that are leaving or have asked to go they must be upgraded and relaced to maintain the numbers
Agreed Potter.
A top notch midfielder in the team would have made a difference in the Fulham, West Ham and Villa games, as would a ruthless striker who thinks only about his goal tally. Fine margins stopped us from beating City this season. Lack of depth too.
I like Eddie and Reiss Nelson, but clearly Arteta doesn’t rate them. Nor Vieira. Jesus, Zinchenko? Well they have dropped down the pecking order too. Who knows what might unfold over the next couple of months..
Who ever we buy, as others have said, have to hit the ground running as our top players may not get a rest due to the olypics and practice matches, not to mention recovering from minor injuries. The clubs with avarge players could pick up some early win due to players not beeing fully rested dureing the break.
Rico thanks for clearing up yesterdays question as I thought it was one club from each country in each group.
Afternoon Rico and Subscriber’s, a post to savour, a post to enjoy so thanks for that.
I’m sure that Arteta, Edu and those responsible will have a list of possibles and probable signings and departures and of course we need to sell/loan thoughtfully to maybe make up for the marginal gain we need to overcome the Eastlands Monster.
Kroenke seems to want to do what is possible and necessary to give Mikel the best chance to slay the monster, so I think we’re in good hands and I do tend to trust the process.
I suspect that Guardiola could be preparing to distance himself from what could be coming down the track and I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that it’s coming – and that it’ll be life-changing for the EPL.
Being a bit of an old cynic I’m still not totally convinced but I remain open to being proven wrong and if it comes to be, then I’ll be very happy.
Players are on holidays and contracts still have a month to run, most expire on June 30th so I’m taking a breath and not expecting anything groundbreaking until July.
Players will gradually be returning to training in mid-June, some earlier but in general things start to ramp up in July.
Regarding Vieira, Zinchenko and Jesus, I don’t think that Arteta has lost trust in the last two and I’m sure if he needed to use them he’d have no problems doing so. Vieira is a different case and I suspect that Arteta has ceased to believe that Fabio can add what Mikel requires, therefore adios!
Of course everyone has a price and if offers are made to Arsenal for Jesus and/or Zinchenko then the club would consider them seriously.
I think we’ve all commented on this but it bears repeating and it’s a perceived Arsenal policy of generally weeding out the injury prone players and replacing them with players who stay fit for 10 months. Look at Man City, they don’t have hardly any players who routinely break down, mainly because Pep sold two of them to us and replaced all the others…
Happy Days
Afternoon, Kev, guys.
Thanks Kev.
I think both Zinchenko and Jesus have a place in the squad but I don’t think either are automatic starters anymore. They’re in a similar position to what they were in before moving from City to us so maybe they don’t want to sit on the bench. I could be wrong though, Jesus might just have been benched because he wasn’t fully fit.
Good evening Rico and all
A hectic day. had multiple tasks to do, all to do with Pa’s situation after his passing away. Feel like so many loose ends and cant seem to get a grip….its from one govt department to another. so much red tape.
I found this on FB……what Edu said on transfers and the club ethos…..
Edu “You can’t sign [a player] for the sake of signing. It has to be a process that takes weeks & weeks. On my desk, I have reports of over 180 pages on one player. It’s really detailed stuff – physical, technical, mental profile, whether he has Premier League experience, whether he’ll be able to adapt – everything.”
“We analyse our deficiencies, where we can improve, where we can invest & then we go in search of that new name. We’ve been discussing what I’m going to do now since January. It’s not my decision or Mikel’s, it’s a group decision
180 pages on just one player. makes you wonder why sometimes they take so long to sign a player.
Evening Devil, I feel for you…
Edu also spoke about Arsenals season, saying we did everything right. He said he couldn’t talk abut other things which I’m guessing he meant City…
I don’t feel sorry for EDU, reports may be 180 pages long, however he has a whole season to look at players and most importantly watch video’s of players that he feels might be able to help the club to keep moving forwards, and at the end of the day that’s he job and he gets paid good money.
From The Sun:
Given the situation facing Everton, the Sun adds that defender Jarrad Branthwaite is the most likely big name to be sold – but for nothing like the club’s £80m valuation.
Manchester United are in pole position to sign the 21-year-old and could get him for as little as £40m.
I’d go for him if he’s going for £40m
Geoff, I would suggest that far from sitting on his hands since January Edu has been diligently searching for the type of players that he and Arteta have decided are needed to strengthen the squad. No doubt he has been talking to other clubs and agents in order to determine which of his targets are likely to be available and willing to join Arsenal. There is no way he is going to publicly name any prospective targets and thereby show his hand to competitor clubs.
Kev I have like Braithwaite for a while now and beleive he would suite Arteta’s game plan.
Cicero I am sure he does work hard but I was mainly commenting on the piece that he says he has 180 pages on player
I would like to see a story done on our scouts, as they seldon get a mention.
“I would like to see a story done on our scouts, as they seldom get a mention”, anonymity Geoff, we don’t want to advertise who they are looking at. ..😉
I’m sure Geoff that not every player we’re interested in generates a dossier with 180 pages, but who knows? I can’t really complain about the business the club has done since getting over the Mari, Willian and Cedric signings.
Interesting to hear Clive Palmer bigging up Quintin Timber on the Arsenal Vision podcast. He knows his stuff does that boy…
I am sure Edu and Arteta know who they want and who is a back up to the player they want, ( unless a top player comes out of no were ) but he should be working 12 month in advance, I must admit the Willian one was a bit of a surprise that he was given a chance to show how good he could be with us but never really got out of neutral.
Afternoon guys.
Geoff, Edu doesn’t just deal with transfers. 😂
But Nigel said he wasn’t good enough for Arsenal Kev, someone is fibbing about Quinten 😂
Nigel will come around Rico. 😉
😂 Kev..
Good evening. Arteta is going to get a 3 year contract worth 10million a year
Worth every penny of it.
Agreed. Never thought I’d be saying that though…. 😜
Well done for finally trusting the process Rico… 😁
You should be asleep Kev. 😂
Gotta say that I’m finding it quite comforting not to see the name of Arsenal plastered all over the transfer gossip pages.
To me it shows that we’ve got our business prepared and set up and ready to conclude as soon as we’ve got a couple out of the door for a few bob and the clubs’ we’re buying from have got their replacements in situ…
Quintin is on his way I reckon? 😉
You too Rico 😆
Nighty night everyone…
Night Kev..
Morning Rico and all.
For the stability of the club extending Arteta contract makes sense. however, for around 160K a week not a bad gig.
Morning Geoff, all.
That’s football though Geoff..
New post up.