Morning all.
I’ve just read an article, a really bad one by the way, which tried to compare Graham Potter’s start at Chelsea with that of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. I’ve no idea why the two are being compared in the first place because there literally is no comparison in my opinion. Other than they’re both in their 40’s. Just in Mikel Arteta’s case.
Potter and Chelsea have so far been a terrible partnership which of course, I hope remains the case. Potter says he can turn things around, publicly anyway and cites having a bloated squad not helping his cause. Mikel Arteta had a bad start to his reign, said the article, but not a word written about the squad he inherited, the last ten years of decline, the atmosphere within the stadium. Or the vast number of players who really weren’t all that good and a few others who looked like they really couldn’t be bothered.
Arsenal hadn’t finished in the top four for a number of years which must have had an impact on transfers. Meanwhile, over in west London, money wasn’t an issue.
Last five years of spending – from the internet:
1) Chelsea: £-654.21m
22/23: £-480.38m
21/22: £5.79m (3rd)
20/21: £-166.86m (4th)
19/20: £98.57m (4th)
18/19: £-110.23m (3rd)
2) Manchester United: £-540.23m
22/23: £-203.26m
21/22: £-99.5m (6th)
20/21: £-56.45m (2nd)
19/20: £-134.87m (3rd)
18/19: £-45.8m (6th)
3) Arsenal: £-485.64m
22/23: £-148.94m
21/22: £-120m (5th)
20/21: £-59m (8th)
19/20: £-94.58m (8th)
18/19: £-62.71m (5th)
Unlike Chelsea, Arsenal went about their transfer business slowly, probably because FFP dictated they had to and this wasn’t helped by so much transfer money being missed out on because other clubs either didn’t want our players or didn’t want to pay for them. £72 million Nicolas Pepe is another who is likely to be sold cheaply this summer, or walk away for free the following year after another season on loan. That’s football though, that’s what can happen when there’s a change of manager.
Arsenal have never had a chequebook manager or owner. Yes, the club have spent a lot of money recently but I think the club has more than got value for their money. Had Arsenal said to Edu and Mikel Arteta, “you can spend £600 million within your first two transfer windows’ – I’m pretty sure the improvement we’re now seeing would have come in Mikel’s first full season and not his third. Instead, we’ve had to wait, scratch our heads as some of the contract extensions which were handed out, raise eyebrows over one or two of the signings and even wonder why certain players were or weren’t getting playing time. Unlike Potter who has seen his owner spend £600 million, give or take a pound or two over the last two transfer windows yet here he is moaning about having a bloated squad, having to leave players out of the squad and the detrimental effect that’s having on the squad. What did he expect when he said yes to a club which has been spending money like it’s going out of fashion since the Russian took over back in 2003?
I like Graham Potter as a manager because of what he achieved at Brighton but I think he’s out of his depth at Chelsea. Not because he’s a bad coach/manager, but I don’t think he’s used to handling big egos. He’s more of a small squad club coach/manager in my opinion, with players who want to fight for their place, their teammates and their manager. He can try all he likes to earn the respect of his players but if they’re not happy, he’s not going to win that battle all the time those same players are at the club.
Mikel Arteta had his own battles to win with players but they came off second best really because if they didn’t get on board with his ideas, they were gone and the club is all the better for it. All that was wrong with Arsenal football club, and had been for a number of years, is now right again. I’m not saying this because we’re top of the league but because watching Arsenal has become a pleasure again. Seeing every player work hard for each other, to read or hear positive comments from every player instead of just a few, to see The Emirates full again and in full voice and to see as well as hear a manager who really cares about the club he’s managing, his players and the fans. The progress, or “process” might have been slow but if spending £600 million within twelve months takes a club where Chelsea are right now, I’m glad Arsenal are doing things the way they have and still are.
As for the comparison between Potter and Mikel Arteta goes, as said, I don’t think there is one..
Catch up in the comments.
Hi Rico, Great post again.
It does make you laugh what a load of trash these idiots write. Mikel had to make do with the overpaid lazy bunch he inherited for ages before he could really start changing things.
He got knocked for getting rid of our so called star players……….Look how well they’ve done !!
Potter has got a fortune to spend from the start.
Morning Rico and all.
I don’t how they can compare Potter and Arteta, Arsenal was in a way worse position than Chelsea, and Arteta has never had the money to buy the players that potter has had. also, Potter has been coaching a lot longer than Arteta has.
Hi Mike, Geoff.
Thanks Mike, just what I thought.
As you know Geoff, it took me a while to be convinced by Mikel but there was a reason the Emirates woke up. Just took me longer. Lol
Like you Rico , I took some convincing about Mikel. I still feel a bit sorry for Emery, I wonder how much he was really backed by the board etc. BUT look at us now. I really enjoy watching now, everybody getting involved and working hard.They look like a really nice bunch too.
Same here Mike. I don’t think he was backed at all but thankfully, those in place at that time have gone.
Good morning Rico, what a great midweek post?
There really is no comparison between Arteta and Potter, the latter was an established manager at a relatively stable Premiership club. Arteta a former apprentice, but at a higher level club with a World renowned manager.
Whilst Potter took over from arguably one of the top ten managers in the World, Arteta only had, with all due respect,I could write a lot about Unai Emery to follow.
Winning the FA Cup in his first season gave Arteta a lifebelt, if not an actual lifeline. It kept him afloat as he steadily refreshed the squad, moving out the deadwood and making judicious signings in positions in which we were weakest. This has been continued and he now has the full, and public, backing of an ownership which has come to understand some of the complexities of the Premiership and football in general. More importantly, perhaps, that ownership has been accepted by the vast majority of the fans.
I could write a lot about the new Chelsea ownership’s naivety where football is concerned, but that’s for another time perhaps.
Morning Rico. The quality level of football punditry is truly shocking today and the more successful Arsenal are, the worse it’s going to get. The narrative seems to be flowing against us once again and I sense the Man Utd comeback and Ten Hag love-in is where the online press etc are pitching their tents. I predict a number of enormous frustrations between now and the end of the season and it seems clear that the VAR criteria has now been set to different levels where Arsenal are concerned. Personally, I don’t like the feeling of victimisation but, after recent weeks it’s very hard to believe that there’s a level playing field out there. Where we are concerned VAR seems to be employed purely as a tool for disallowing goals for whatever reason possible. Or not disallowing them when they are against us, or giving clear and obvious penalties, etc, etc…
Any hope I had that things would change with the thankful demise of Riley and respect I had for Howard Webb has gone and that didn’t take long did it?
Sorry folks, the comment in the middle of the second paragraph should not contain the words ” I could write a lot about”
Morning Cicero, thank you.
You say that about Mikel Arteta but, look at the turnaround he had to make from the awful years of the latter Arsene. Emery gets a lot of criticism but what a mess he walked into too.
Morning Adam, totally agree which is why I’ve never really believed we can win the league. If it’s not the opposition kicking our players to bits, it’s a dodgy decision from the referee or VAR. My only surprise is that we’ve not had a few red cards thrown our way, still, there’s plenty of time for that I guess.
I too had faith in Webb but it was wasted..
I have mixed feelings about why the board hired Uni Emery, ( 1 ) They only wanted him to fill in until they could get Arteta or ( 2 ) The board blamed Emery, for what was going on, and when they hired Arteta they realised that he was not the problem, it was the players and that’s why they stuck with Arteta.
Either way things are looking much better.
Rico the worst thing about backing Arteta was eating the humble pie.🤣
The custard was good though Geoff…
Rico that’s were I made the mistake, I had my pie with cream
The Media are struggling to knock us for too much these days . Our behaviour on the pitch is good, our football is good ,so now Arteta is the target for his touchline antics. Other managers have been far worse, but now we can’t celebrate or be passionate .
Or take the Micky out of the ref Mike..
If we are lucky enough to win the premier league, we will have to make sure someone is in the front office to collect the trophy from the courier, as the officials will to embarrassed to hand it over face to face in front of the fans.
According to the north eastern newspaper Chronicle live, Tierney’s “representatives” have offered him to Newcastle United. The player is, apparently, dissatisfied with his lack of game time and would welcome a move.
The first chink in the wall?
If it’s true about Tierney, then that fine with me, just ask them would they like to purchase his medical / recovery table in a package deal. maybe if he stayed fit, he may get more game time.
If the states that I sore are correct, between joining us in 2019 to the end of 2022 ( not counting this season ).
Tierney has played 86 games all competitions. and missed 48 games due to injuries.
More media stirring I suspect..
New post up now