Morning all.

Mikel Arteta’s hair has often been commented on here on HH. Not out of nastiness but because it’s always “just so”. Ironic that a man who seeks perfection in football, pretty much has the perfect hair. In fact everything about him whiffs on being the best he can be which can only be applauded. As for his hair though, well he reflected on his choice of hairstyles over the years in an interview on the official website:

I think I was missing a few mirrors in my house, because I don’t like the way it looks! When you are young, you think something different to reality probably, but I learn from mistakes. Let’s keep it that way!

Mikel Arteta playing for Rangers

Arsenal.com

 

My hair doesn’t need a lot of caring for. I just need some gel and that’s it. It doesn’t move so much, because it’s so thick, it’s like my father and my mum, they have very similar hair. I see my kids’ hair and it’s very different except one of them; he has my identical one and he always jokes about it. If I don’t lose it, I’m happy with it!

I don’t recall ever seeing Mikel Arteta playing football with long hair but then if was at Rangers then,  I wouldn’t have. Let’s just be kind and say it looks better these days. Lol  I’ve a feeling he’ll always get one over Pep Guardiola in that department.

Getting one over his fellow countryman on the a couple of weeks ago was pretty special too. Add in the Community Shield victory back in August, that’s twice this year. I notice that in certain of the media, questions are being raised about City and whether or not their long running seasons of being successful, are dwindling fast. Of course I’d like to think the answer is resounding yes but I’m not so sure.

Last season, as domestic football gave way to the World Cup, we, Arsenal were top of the League table, City were five points behind us in second place. Today, they’re just two points behind us and Totts so writing them, or any club off at this time would be foolish in my opinion. Especially a club like City who have more bounce back ability than most clubs in the Premier League. Rodri returns for them this weekend after his ban so I’m sure they’ll get back to winning ways with the talk of their potential decline soon forgotten.

That’s the thing with the media though, they see results but perhaps don’t look at the bigger picture. They show little to no empathy for clubs who suffer many injuries. City without Rodri is like Arsenal without William Saliba, also absent at some stage during that post World Cup run-in was Zinchenko, Tomiyasu and Partey. On the day City s3cured the title, we had three academy players on the bench. Nothing wrong with that but it shows how depleted our first team squad was.

From the warm and comfy studios or a journalist’s office, it’s easy to suggest what Mikel Arteta should have or could have done, but remember, 99% of those writing or spouting their suggestions, have never poked as much as their big toe into football management. The ‘great’ analyst Gary Neville did and look how that turn out. Roy Keane’s managerial career was about as successful as my attempt to give up chocolate. Grahame Souness? Successful manager, in Scotland.

We’re often critical of one decision or another Mikel Arteta might make but that’s probably because we care. Pundits etc don’t, not in my opinion. They love an Arsenal unsuccessful story. Gee, they’ve been banging on for years about the last time we win the League title….

I hope this season we can shut them up, not because I care what they think but I’d so love for the club we all feel strongly about, to be lifting that big trophy in May.

Chelsea tomorrow…

Catch up in the comments.

 

 

 

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading