Morning all.
So that’s it then, done and dusted. Mikel Arteta is our head coach for the next three and a half years.
Whilst the focus is bound to be around what the Spaniard will bring to Arsenal, the changes he’ll make, his philosophy etc etc, I just want to mention Raul Sanllehi and Edu in all this, Vinai Venkatesham too. So often our board/owners receive criticism for not doing what ‘some’ Arsenal fans believe they should be doing. For dithering and delaying (couldn’t resist) over the sacking of Unai Emery and then the huge delay in finding his replacement. All of three weeks wasn’t it? Eighteen months ago they interviewed Mikel Arteta but he wasn’t ready, now they’ve not only got their man, they’ve done it the right way and at the right time. Certainly for Mikel as he said so himself during his news conference on the official website.
Also, the way both Edu and Raul have praised Freddie and Per for the work they’ve done during what has been a pretty tough time for the club. Edu and his first contact with Mikel by phone which he described as being ‘fantastic.’ They didn’t talk about the squad, but about what Edu really believes in he said, which is the basics, the organisation, about human beings and about discipline. All key elements to running a happy and successful ship. The football talk came later when they met.
A mention for Josh and Stan Kroenke too who apparently didn’t need to think long or hard before agreeing this deal for Mikel Arteta as the decision was swift. They’ve committed to a three and a half year deal, not a tentative ‘see how it goes’ two year one, this deal is about a long term plan for the club with Mikel Arteta being backed 100% to deliver that plan his way. It’s also about Josh and Stan Kroenke believing in the men who got Arteta back to the club.
Would Mikel Arteta have walked away from Man City and Pep Guardiola to join Arsenal if he didn’t believe in them?
Regardless of whether Arteta was yours or my choice, everything points to him being the right choice. Yes, I’ve changed my opinion over the last couple of days but that’s because Mikel and Arsenal have changed it for me. I know, he’s not even stepped foot onto the training pitch yet.
Our new head coach spoke to the Arsenal Player yesterday, the crux of which is as follows.
This is a huge honour. Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world. We need to be competing for the top trophies in the game and that’s been made very clear to me in my discussions with Stan and Josh Kroenke, and the senior people from the club. We all know there is a lot of work to be done to achieve that but I am confident we’ll do it. I’m realistic enough to know it won’t happen overnight but the current squad has plenty of talent and there is a great pipeline of young players coming through from the academy.”
His plans:
1. He wants his teams to have a blueprint, to have passion, to be dominant and aggressive. To play in the opponents territory as much as they can.
2. “To want the ball, to want to attack them as much as possible, to prevent them from attacking us as much as possible. To create the right culture around the club that’s going to make a good living out of the players, create an environment where everybody respects each other, a humility and people have to be accountable for what we want to achieve. That’s the basic and then after we can grow from there. Then we can create an identity that is in my head for this football club. But we have to start somewhere to try to build that up.”
3. He wants the club to regain its identity which he believes has slipped. The players need to understand his ideas. “Slowly you will see some changes and where we want to head on, said Mikel.
4. The direction is going to be very clear and it’s not going to be negotiable. I will need the players to be on board with the right attitude, with the right passion and commitment.
Any message for the fans?
That please, we need them so much. I was on the bench next to it the other day and I felt bad when you see the disappointment and the faces in the crowd. I understand. We have to be the ones who are able to transmit that our idea is reaching to them and to engage them because we need them. We have to connect those powerful cables together to become what this club deserves to become. Without them we can’t do it because, at the end of the day, we play football for the fans [to enjoy] and they make a lot of sacrifices to be able to watch us, and they suffer. We have to understand it’s our responsibility, so we have to engage them. They give us a little bit and then we give them more, and then it will be a consequence one of the other. But we need them big time.
In case you missed his first official press conference, here it is. Impressive I thought.
So many things to be digested from his press conference but if anyone was left thinking that Arteta doesn’t have a plan for Arsenal, doesn’t care about the fans, doesn’t care about the club or doesn’t want to make Arsenal great again, then there’s no pleasing them.
If any player was left in any doubt that only hard work and a better attitude is the way forward, they might as well pack their bags now.
But of course, the ‘he’s got no experience’ drum continues to be banged and understandably because it’s true:
I completely understand their concern. That’s the only thing I can say but I will try to convince them that I’m prepared, that I wouldn’t be sitting here if I honestly didn’t think I’m prepared to take this responsibility. I will burn every drop of blood for this football club to make it better.
Everyone has to start somewhere and it’s not like Mikel Arteta is taking over a squad which has just won the Champions League or Premier League and he’s got to maintain or improve that level. He’s starting out with a squad rock bottom in most departments and the only way is up.
Raul Sanllehi:
It depends how you define experience. Definitely there is a risk but it’s not from the experience side. The risk is intrinsic in any decision. You never know the whole thing until you try it. But we feel very confident with what we’ve heard to make a very clear decision for him. It was very clear.”
He’s learned his trade, or worked his apprenticeship under one of the best in the business and now it’s his turn. From Arsenal captain to Arsenal head coach is a pretty special journey I think. I wish him all the very best of luck and hope he’s given all the support he deserves from the owners, the board, the fans and of course, the players.
Mikel has briefly talked with the players and Freddie but as far as today’s fixture goes, it’s carry on as you have been. It’s about Freddie Ljungberg and his final fixture as interim head coach. He too deserves support from the players and fans at Goodison Park. The away fans can usually be relied on, the players, not so much. Not at all really but if these players are going to change their ways, it starts today. Not tomorrow, next week, or in six weeks time. Today!
Freddie has injuries to contend with, the big one being at left back. Basically, we haven’t got one and won’t do for a while as both Kolasinac and Tierney are injured long term. Bellerin, Holding and Ozil face late fitness tests, the latter having suffered heavy bruising to his foot after kicking his gloves during the last match. Granit Xhaka returns to the squad though following a two week absence after suffering a bump on the head.
Everton’s Big Dunc has faired pretty well since taking temporary control after Silva was sacked but like Freddie, this is likely to be his last as Carlo Ancelotti is waiting in the wings. Both interim coaches will want to finish on a high but the biggest question is which group of players will fight hardest for their man, their club and for their fans?
For many of the Arsenal players, their future.
Phew, I’m exhausted. All this positivity has given me a migraine…
See you in the comments guys.
Great post Rico, if anyone won’t or can’t get on board after listening to Mikels ideas and thoughts then all is lost. The biggest issue being none of this can happen overnight and our fickle support needs to wind their necks in and give Mikel and the people behind the scenes time to sort things out top to bottom it’s not a quick fix especially fixing problem that have been there for years and years which fans forget about
Thanks Wath, my sentiments too..
Morning to you and all.
I wonder how many of our pampered princess’s listened to Mikel and thought ‘sod that” i like kushy and thieving a living strolling around a pitch wondering what fancy car I’m buying next..! Hope he is allowed to be as ruthless as he needs to be and gets rid of the dross and the ones who simply don’t give a shit, good riddance in my opinion.
He should be allowed a free hand really, otherwise what’s the point in appointing him. Raul and Edu are no fools, they’ll know who has been living a charmed life for far too long.
Goodmorning Rico and everyone, can’t believe I’m actually more optimistic about our team and I hope we begin to see the changes.
There are some names we shouldn’t be mentioning at Arsenal if we want to really move forward, names like…
Xhaka
Ozil
Mustafi
Auba(if he doesn’t adjust)
Laca(if he doesn’t adjust)
Sokratis
David Luis (except he switches to DM)
Bellerin(sorry guys, he needs to move)
There have been too much controversies surrounding these players and this is not the time for our new manager to come in and have issues with all these big egos, they all have to leave between January and the summer.
To me the season is gone in terms of top four, there are too many serious teams ahead of us, what we have now is the fa cup and winning the Europa league(in order to qualify for the champions league).
I hope torriera stays, and hope Arteta already have his plans for January transfers working with our youthful squad and bringing in some local big names.
Let’s see how things play out by March.
Interesting to see if any of the ‘slackers’ pull their finger out today or if it’s more of the couldn’t care less attitude..! We shall soon see.
Good morning all!
Good morning all – Buenos dias a todos .
Happy Xmas to one and all, and, a brighter future for our club with Arteta on board – Feliz Navidad a todos y un futuro más brillante para nuestro club con Arteta a bordo.
I detect a fresh breeze and positivity in the comments so far and, I’m on board with that too.
Relieved also, that we have a Coach who speaks well and isn’t prepared to put up with any nonsense from the players.
On, on I say and let’s get a decent result today for Freddie, as it’s his last day in charge….AND THE FANS!
Great post Rico.
Morning Mexy.
I’d imagine every player will get a fresh chance but if no quick change in attitude, gone..
Thanks Andorra, I certainly feel far more optimistic than I thought I would. Hearing Arteta speak was like a breath of fresh air.
Andorra, veremos si Arteta tiene la garra para conducir el bote a un buen puerto. No debera haber dificultades en la comunicación en inglés, español, portugués y posiblemente francés. Todavia, esperemos el juego de hoy.
Rico 🤣🤣😂😂😂😅🤣😂 He’s got a badly bruised foot after kicking his gloves.🤣😂🤣🥴.!!! Brilliant!!
Hi Everybody, Great post Rico.
I thought his press conference was brilliant!
He said everything I wanted him too.
I didn’t really know who I wanted to take over, but now I’ve seen and heard him I am impressed and pleased it’s him.
Thanks Mike, I preferred the ‘dither and delay’ – but couldn’t resist either. 😆
I think Mikel will have changed many fans opinion on him..
Rico, he comes across so confidently. He speaks better than loads of English people I know.
He looks like he belongs there.
Good morning Rico and all.
Well Arteta can certainly talk the talk now we must see if he can achieve the other half of the old saying.
One other player unavailable today is the suspended Sokratis.
Even less to choose from for poor Freddie.
I really hope they put a performance in for him tomorrow , he deserves a win even if the players don’t.
Mike, I’d prefer it if they can give a performance today, Kick off in fifty-five minutes. 😉 Don’t miss it.
Agreed Mike, he talks like a guy who has been in the job for years…
Morning Cicero.. id forgotten Sokratis was banned…
Leno
15Maitland-Niles
21Chambers
23David Luiz
77Saka
11Torreira
34Xhaka
24Nelson
32Smith Rowe
35Martinelli
14Aubameyang
HI All read some of Arteta comments and it sound to me that he wants to keep Ozil I don’t think we will do any business in January and if we do it only be Auba sold as does want to stay
Subs.Lacazette
19Pépé
20Mustafi
26Martínez
27Mavropanos
28Willock
29Guendouzi
Sorry Cicero, What a wally !
Thanks.
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Team to play Everton: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Luiz, Saka, Torreira, Xhaka, Nelson, Smith-Rowe, Martinelli, Aubameyang.
Subs: Martinez, Mavropanos, Mustafi, Guendouzi, Willock, Pepe, Lacazette.
Bon dia a tohom .
Arteta is Basque but spent his youth at Barcelona so there is probably a mix of Catalan there too .
He was very forthright in what he said, refreshing to hear .We just have to hope that the players are as enthusiastic as we seem to be .
We have a difficult journey ahead so anyone expecting an immediate climb up the table is in my opinion just a tad over hopeful. Only once he has discovered who is committed to the plan can he make the decisions necessary.
As for a midfield general coming back to the club and gaining success we’ll, George Graham didn’t do too badly .
If anyone expects an immediate climb up the table I think they’re bonkers. 😂
I would be happy with a change of attitude at the moment.
Let’s hope it starts in a little while.
Good report rico, we should all be fired up. Surprised no Pepe as he had started to look better recently, but if Arteta wants Energy, maybe these youngsters like ESR can give it, we will see if they are good enough.
I thought Pepe lost his bottle in the last game Andrew. After a couple of tackles, he didn’t want to know anymore.
Freddie may be teaching him a lesson?
40 minutes gone, 0 shots on or off target.
Thanks Andrew.
McManaman (spelling) is a right old fool. When we make a tackle, it’s a foul, when Everton do, there’s no contact… Chump!
A first half clean, is this a sign of improvement?
If it is it needs to be replicated at the other end. Shots, one. On target, nil.
Morning all.
Arteta has been clear about wanting to talk to the players, see what makes them tick and he’s stated it’s his job to get the best out of them, so all this talk about who he should sell is just irrelevant atm.
Give the man time to sort things out, and it definitely will take some time.
This man will bring us success if we don’t turn on him as soon as a few ordinary results come.
Clean sheet!!!!
Zero shots on target from either side, at least a clean sheet so far.
Wrote my post same time as Ciero – looking on the bright side!
Much as I hate the playing out from the back, it really is the only option as we don’t have a centre forward capable of winning a ball in the air.
We are going to be stuck with it so we need to get to do it better.
Well 2nd half, sun not in Leno’s eyes without a cap.
Scott, totally agree and it’s not like results have been great for a while.
Right now I’d say improving the performances both individually and as a team is more important than results. The latter will come naturally if the first is achieved.
ESR robbed by Aubameyang there..
Rico, you’re an Arteta fan 🙂 🙂
Is it my imagination or has playing out from back been zippier passes and less heart in mouth?
Torreira worked hard, Luiz some forward drives and passes.
Aubameyang hooked off. Is that the end of his Arsenal career?
Andrew, it’s just got Chambers booked and Everton have a chance from a free kick.
Put Pepe on, they are there for the taking. Might get a free kick!
Yes, Cicero, needlessly taking chances. But better than normal.
Unbelievable! An Arsenal defender gets MotM. Chambers.
Torreira full of life still winning ball back. First clean sheet in months?
Clean Sheet! Unbeaten run started? 😉
It looks like Freddie is saying goodbye to the team.
Estoy totalmente de acuerdo, Joaquim.
How funny, I was looking at your initial greeting Potter (do you live in Cataluyna?) and I guess you touched the “h” instead of the “t”?
I understand a bit of Catalan and my Spanish isn’t much better either, lol.
I was so focused on that that I wondered why my screen had developed snowflakes – now I know why.
Just watching the last 20 mins of this game and Arteta has a massive job on his hands.
Pass it back, pass it sideways and….back again.
There seems NO desire to attack and try and win the game.
AMN has NO idea, gives the ball away on throw-ins, passes negatively and it’s catching. Everton no better fortunately.
My brother, who’s a ManU supporter says he just watches the good teams these days (given up on Man U) – I might do the same because this team is an absolute shambles – shame they don’t get paid according to results and performance!
I reckon you’re watching another match Andrew……….?….or shame I missed the first 70 minutes?
Everton utter rubbish so where are the goals if we played well?
Ozil Out with a foot injury – really? 🙄
Just watched the MotM interview and was impressed by Chambers. We’re in desperately in need of a Captain and I think Calum would be an ideal choice.
Ando, Who said we played well? Not sure what comments you reading? Personally I’m trying to take a few positives out of a solid but uninspiring performance. Feel free to go and support a ‘good team’. Arsenal needs true fans, many a time I’d like to stop supporting them but true fans can’t leave.
With Tierney and Kolasinac out for the foreseeable future we need an experienced, defensively reliable left back. Aretha must know all about an option from today’s Everton bench. Could we nick Leighton Baines?
Agree Cicero, Callum has always been grounded. If he is going to be a regular CB in Arteta’s vision, then I would have him or Torreira. Funny enough, think it just flashed up they were the top two for passes completed. Short ones though! Xhaka and Luiz played a few decent balls, but no attacking cohesion.
I thought Baines was going to be an England regular for years. Then injury took its toll? Another good free kick option as well, good call.
Oh dear my tablet has just renamed our new head coach, I do hope it doesn’t turn out to be prophetic. Aretha, ffs!
No I live on the Norfolk Broads but I used to live near Barcelona many years ago . If I misspelt my Catalan it’s because the little I know has all been learned by ear ,no formal learning.
Today’s match was as good as could be expected, a young team that showed it’s character with the established players letting it down .I would have taken a draw at the kick off so I am not too disappointed.
That’s twice Arteta has seen them this week so he will probably now have formed opinions on what to do .
It’s all down to him now
Right time for a switch, a game where no one feigns injury, they take their knocks and get on with the game. Leicester Vs Exeter. Rugby Union. A man’s game. 😉
I thought Chambers was good and I loved his reaction after giving the ball and a free kick away towards the end when he got booked. He clearly wasn’t happy with himself.
Best game for a while for AMN I thought, he certainly had more energy imo.
Freddie showed balls by fielding the younger players and î don’t think they let him down.
Do I dare whisper that Xhaka had a decent game? Lol Not sure why he was criticised for jumping out the way of that tackle. It looked ugly but had he stayed on his feet, the inc9ming two footed challenge might have caused him some serious damage…
OK, not too bad of a result and as Cicero said it’s a clean sheet.
Now …. On top of everything else Mikel needs to sort out. Could he please sort out our DIVING and ROLLING AROUND !..Don’t get me wrong, Everton were more than guilty , but we are sooo bad !
Christ it’s embarrassing.
Make them all watch the Rugby Union. It should make them cringe with embarrassment. But it won’t.
It’s a start and our defence has been crap since Rashford put Holding out of action last season, so I’ll happily take the clean sheet.
The rebuild starts now, first Arteta will try to get into the heads of some of our underperforming stars, try to squeeze more out of them. If he can’t, they go, simples.
Those that don’t want to stay can also go, I wouldn’t miss 90% of our senior players anyway, bye bye….
I’m really intrigued to see the new kind of players Arteta wants to bring in, hopefully starting next month.
Evening all and yet another superb post, Rico.
A clean sheet!!!…….we haven`t had one of those since Kev` didn`t rip off a tourist !
😆
It`s refreshing that the board finally listened to the recommendation from the fans………………me and Scott………..in appointing Arteta. 😎
I think we are all intelligent enough to know there is no quick fix here and Mikel will be given plenty of time to fix the rot by board and fans alike.
Two points I`d like to make is that after listening to Arteta and his philosophy is 1) the youngsters in this squad will love him, they are not too ego`d to thinkmit is above them to have to work 120% harder on the pitch and will immediately buy into Arteta knowing that they will get chances to prove theirselves.
2) Arteta would have watched the Arsenal/ManC game knowing exactly how his then team ManC were going to exploit our weaknesses, so he will know better than anyone what needs to be done to try and fix it all.
I`m still buzzing from this appointment.
RIP Martin Peters.
Grafters I reckon Kev.
Is it the appointment that has got you buzzing LC or have you got your fingers in the mains socket again? 😀
Thanks Lc. Arteta himself said that the City game told him a lot. Not just about our weaknesses either but the divide with the fans, the atmosphere, so man6 things really.
Perhaps that fixture and performance came at the right time.
Very sad re Martin Peters.
Really sad about Martin Peters, he presented the trophy my two kids won as part of their primary school team, they lost every game but won a special award of the most enthusiastic team. A terrific player and in retirement had time to get involved in local football.
I understand that Martin suffered from Alzheimers, my condolences to his family and friends. RIP.
It`s not my fingers this time, Cicero ! 😆
Did I not say Arteta looks like Captain Black !…………………he looked amazingly like him in the stands today and not only that he predicted the score aswell !
http://pre01.deviantart.net/bf0d/th/pre/i/2013/329/6/2/captain_black_agent_of_the_mysterons_by_stick_man_11-d6vlz8t.jpg
It’s worrying when footballers, who you have admired for years, die and you realise that they were younger than yourself. Martin Peters and I were born in the same year 1943, me in May and he in November.
I’ve been watching the City / Leicester game to see what Arteta can bring to Arsenal.
City play out from the back on occasions, but are less prone to dillying dallying on the ball, perhaps their players are a bit more confident on the ball than ours but also Leicester were not pressing so high. It can be made to work and our lack of an effective centre forward means that it is a legitimate tactic for our circumstances.
City are much better at pressing than we are, it has obviously been drummed into their players that pressing and defending is an essential part of every player on the pitches responsibility.
If Arteta can instil those two qualities in our squad we may be heading into a better place.
I certainly hope he can manage such a revolution.
Only one left now of the West Ham team that won the World Cup in `66…………
RIP Martin, another World Cup Winner goes. I was eight and watching the Final in a caravan on holiday when he added to Geoffs hat-trick.
Andrew I was in a church for a cousin of my wife’s wedding, I got out at half time and we all went back to a relative’s house and watched the seconds half.
Who ever arranges their wedding for World Cup Final day? 😉
Clean sheet much needed,we shouldn’t be relegated but we’re a long way off even challenging for Europa places.
I thought both full backs were very good,Chambers too.
Xhaka did OK,ESR really grew into the game.Our build up play is so ponderous,lots of sideways,backwards passes,we must be so easy to defend against.
Unfortunately Martinelli had a shocker,but he’s been outstanding.I wonder if he would benefit from a rest.
I have faith Mikel will sort it,given time.This season is a write off for me.
COYG
Oh how we miss a Cazorla, even a Ramsey. We need some quality in Midfield. Every thing slows down once we get the ball in a promising position.
Cicero, life’s major events, World Cup Final, Twin Towers, etc, it’s odd how we remember exactly where we were. Remember being on a cruise, when Captain announced Michael Jackson had died!
Andrew, mention of the twin towers reminds me that I was driving at the time listening to a play on the radio. I stopped to make a customer call and ten minutes later was back listening to the radio, but they were talking about a plane crash, nothing like the play and then I realised…..
Andrew, I am not here to have arguements with fellow fans comments. I have spent most of my life abroad because of my job and have been a supporter of Arsenal for over 60 years and I’m not about to change now. My comments about the team/club were that if that was the sort of football they were going to dish up (last 20minutes) then I’d rather watch some better football – I watch a lot of Spanish football, as I have family in Madrid and have been to the Bernabau, watched Ronaldo and Co. etc. playing scintillating football.
Barcelona too.
That doesn’t mean that my support for Arsenal has diminished in any way.
With Arteta at the helm I fervently hope that in time he’ll produce a squad and a style of football not far different from the Bergkamp/Henry days?
Fingers crossed.
I agree with you Andrew, Cazorla and Ramsey are a definite loss to the club.
When was the last time an Arsenal manager picked 5 English players to start a league game?
Willock coming on meant that Ljungberg played 6 in total.
Morning all.
The new era begins right now.
Arteta is now the man.
Arsenal Fan TV are copping more abuse than ever.
My Xmas has come early 🙂
Wow,AFTV playing the race card.
It’s not because you’re black Robbie.People are fed up with the relentless negativity, also the nasty vindictiveness.Its just a game after all.AFTV gave a platform to people who said they wanted Wenger dead.Out of order.
Well said Limey.
The fact that they always interview the same arseholes after every game is what annoys me.
They all say the same thing every time they’re in front of the camera.
You’d swear the club had 6-7 fans lol
Fans my arse!!!
I just watched Robbies statement about the fans at Goodison Park and how they were trying to bully him and his other cronies.
Is he serious ffs??
He needs to grow up and maybe even watch the comments his dickhead mates have been making over the years!!
He says his interviews allow fans to have their say, yet he complains when other fans criticise him and his idiot mates?
So people opinions are fine as long as he and his muppets agree with them??!
Unbelievable.
Crikey Kev, I didn’t give that a thought re 6 English players in the Arsenal team.
Isn’t Arteta officially English now? He’s lived here longer than in Spain now, I’m pretty sure. (Clutching at straws)
You were up late/early Kev……Getting all those party people back home I guess.
Good luck with that Mate…… Must have the patience of a Saint!
I think he could have played for England Mike so i guess he’s an English citizen by now.
New post up now.
Morning all.