Morning all.
There’s only so many times we can chew over the season gone by. Did Arteta cock things up, injuries, or the officials. A mix of all three perhaps but as suggested the other day, going on about what has been and done will change nothing.
Being prepared for the new season is what matters now and having a strong and deep squad to cope with any injuries which come our way. We cannot control the officials as they are a law unto themselves, but we can, or rather Mikel Arteta can, shake our style of football up a bit.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’d quite like to see a bit more pace to our game instead of the slow and do I dare say, predictable way of playing from back to front. Less faffing around at the back, less dawdling on the ball from David Raya and less passing backwards unless it is a necessity rather than a choice. It would be good to see our players accept a pass and look forwards rather than turn backwards towards defence with a negative pass to follow. Less passing about in and around the box wouldn’t go amiss either as well as more shots at goal.
But hey, that’s just me.
Anyway, the question is, what would you want done this summer if you were Mikel Arteta and what positions would you strengthen?
Me, well I’m all for more creativity, pace and goals but I know we need a central defensive midfield and a goalkeeper as well. So in my mere humble opinion, other than the two defensive players, I’d like to see a winger, a striker and a midfielder. That’s before the club replace anyone who leaves.
It’s just a bit of fun and no names, just positions.
Catch up in the comments.
Back in the seventies the team that I played for was coached by a young man who was doing what would now would be called doing his badges. At the time he had to bring his coach to rate his progress and that assessor was ex Chelsea and QPR player brother of Ron ,one Alan Harris.
I played left midfield and he used to keep saying the mantra “”, look , receive , pass “”. . and try to take the ball half turned forward . Both of these things seem to have gone out of fashion as we dwell on the ball too long and take touches before we move the ball on . We had it once with players like Bergkamp , Cesc , Rosicky when fast breaking was our modus operandi .
Rico you are quite right , as teams go for what once was called retreating defence but now called “low Block ” speed and movement is the answer to hit teams before they can organise .
Strangely the title of Bergkamp’s autobiography Stillness and speed epitomises all of these things . Look and take in what is around you , be aware of where everyone is when you get the ball and looking forward to develop the most dangerous movement pass at speed.
If I was Josh Kroenke I would move heaven and earth to get Bergkamp back in the fold , not to coach the kids but alongside Arteta with the first team .
Morning Rico.
In full agreed with you. A Winger (Nico Williams / Rodrigo), a Striker (Gyokeres / Sesko / Alvarez) and a Midfielder (Zubimendi / Partey). Would like to see Garcia at Arsenal. He would keep Raya on his toes and hopefully keep him in his goal clearing the ball asap instead of him practising his “ballad steps” before doing so.
When Wenger and Arsenal finished 2nd 3 times in a row, the season after they won the Premiership.
Fingers crossed everyone it will be the same for Arteta 2025/2026.
Oh another thing that Harris hammered home was “never ever pass across your penalty area in open play. ”
Some of Raya’s antics would have him tearing his hair out .
I’d be all for that Potter, Bergkamp would perhaps open Arteta’s eyes to a totally different way of playing the game. In some ways, the worst thing Arteta did was learn from Guardiola because we as a team, mimic his football.
Wenger had his faults but boy, he knew about attacking football.. Shame Arteta didn’t learn more from him.
Morning Laura, I’m with you re our keeper situation. It’s all a bit too comfortable for Raya.
Potter, I was taught that about not passing across the penalty area when I first started playing football at 13 years old. It’s bonkers to think we’re doing it these days.
Some of Raya’s antics have me tearing my hair out. Lol
We need all those other positions I agree but for me and most other Arsenal fans good striker is want everyone wants
then also I would Love to get Joan Garcia as our GK2 we were after him last year, in the end we never really needed a really good no 2 as Raya was OK all season. but if he does go out for a few weeks that could throw our whole season out the window even more than Saliba Saka or Ode out
Trouble is VILLA & Bournemouth both want him as no 1 for them so doubt he will come now
Shelia, depends if Gracia wants CL football. If so, we have the upper hand.
Good morning and a very good post to ponder about Rico.
Unlike you Raya doesnt have me tearing out my hair. I cant do that as I have no hair. lol
I want just one thing from Arteta and the players….direct football….wham bam goal….from a corner to the other end around 8 seconds and we score.
Morning Devil.
I think we would all like to see swifter passing and more clinical passing. I know it’s a bit “going back in time” but Wenger’s early style would be more than welcome. That’s how Liverpool have just won the league.
Perhaps some one who scores goals like this??
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/cn05r698y24o
Enjoy
Afternoon Rico, for me ‘finishing’ remains our most pressing issue, how often do we see Martinelli breaking through on goal and not scoring, how often do we see the ball flashed across the penalty area with nobody in an Arsenal shirt there, if you don’t have the right movement up front from players with an attacking mentality then it’s going to stunt your build-up play and allow the opposition to organise and deny you space in the attacking third. All the issues that annoy us now could be rectified with the addition of a couple of goal scorers.
Look at the Tierney goal last weekend, the movement and intelligence to make the run at the near post created that goal, that and White’s cross, Timber would have come inside into the traffic and none of our current attackers would have made that run, it was a good old fashioned give n go from an English full-back allied to a quick thinking run to the near post by a Scotsman – and a pretty good flick by his standing foot.
The success of Saka comes from his unpredictability, his ability to come inside or go outside, Trossard has that but doesn’t have the pace, Martinelli is predictable. Our style of play can be slow and frustrating but add some attacking pace, unpredictability and players making the right runs and creating opportunities, that, will make our build up less ponderous and more incisive.
G’day all.
The cure for all the faffing about is a central striker. The lack of which means there is seldom anyone in the box for our midfielders to pass to, so they have to pass sideways or back. A bit more direct running with the ball into the box would be nice, you never know but we might get the odd penalty by doing so.
By that I don’t mean taking a dive, but give the defenders something rethink about.
We have a lot of players that score but I still would go for an out and out striker, but as others have said I too get p—-d off with this short backwads passing, I am all for attacking the goal and making their keeper work his arse off, As for Raya the best time for him was when Ramsdale sat on bench waiting his time, but since he left, Raya has had no one to keep him on his toes which has allowed him to get away with making silly mistakes.
As for Arteta, all i can is please rotate the team and let players rest
I wonder how much game time he’ll get though Wavy being so young. Nice goal though.
Afternoon Kev, I was thinking something similar this time last year. I know we scored a lot of goals last season but we still lacked a player who is ruthless in front of goal and has that poacher instinct.
Bit soon for Dowman to be targeted by the Cucurellas of this world and the like. If he plays he will have to be very carefully handled . He is a very talented and exciting prospect but kid gloves comes to mind.
All we need is a 25yr old Ian Wright, Bobby Pires on the left and problem solved..!
Greetings to one and all, hope you’re all well
Waaaatthhhh 😮😮😮
Long time no see. How’s ya doin’?
I’m still kicking Dev, hope you well mate
Not bad my friend. Putting one foot after the other.
I am glad to see you pop in. missed you.
Rico has probably passed out with shock, yes mate time flies and we get older and slower and forget to come say hello to old friends
Agree Potter.
Goodness me, look what the cat dragged in… 🤣
Hi Wath, good to see you.
Throw in a 25 year old Petit and Vieira and we’re good for the league…
Evening Rico and the House.
Just a short visit inspired by Wath coming out
of hibernation I have been trying to catch up on some of your posts Rico You are not serious about retiring Are you Rico
Back Later Rick
Good evening to you Rick, only if we ever win the PL Rick so it’s likely retirement will not be happening for a while. Lol
Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha claim Arsenal have offered in excess of €70m (£58m) for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.
The Gunners are said to have met with Gyokeres’ agent Hasan Cetinkaya at the Women’s Champions League final in Lisbon last weekend. There they presented the offer and it is set to be put to Sporting president Frederico Varandas during a meeting on Tuesday.
Bluff or double bluff ?
Francisco Salgado Zenha, vice-president of Sporting, participated in the 3rd Bola Branca Conference, on Rádio Renascença, this Tuesday, and assured that there are no offers for Viktor Gyokeres at this time. “He has three more years left on his contract. At the moment there are no offers, he has three more years left on his contract. I think the answer has been given”, he pointed out.
Arsenal are now in concrete talks with RB Leipzig regarding Benjamin Šeško,
Leipzig’s managing director Marcel Schäfer and Arsenal boss Andrea Berta are in contact over a deal for the Slovenian marksman.
While Arsenal are also monitoring other strikers such as Viktor Gyökeres, their interest in Šeško is reportedly very keen.
The north London club’s head coach Mikel Arteta is also a big admirer of the 21-year-old forward.
As things stand, Šeško has a release clause this summer rumoured to be around €80 million
Maybe the smoke and mirrors around Sesko/Gyorkeres is intended to stop a last minute Chelsea gazzumping?