Morning all.
Did you know that it was at The Emirates Stadium in the FA Cup eight years ago and against Leeds United when Mikel Arteta was handed the captains armband for the first time? Or rather had the armband left by his kit for him to put on.
I didn’t know about it. I arrived there and the armband was next to my shirt. I asked Arsene: ”Boss, this is here, is it a mistake?’ and he said: ‘No, no, you’re the captain’ – It felt incredible as I hadn’t been here long. He put a lot of faith in me when I’d just arrived. I was very privileged and honoured.”
I can’t make up my mind whether that’s the best way to hand out such a responsibility or not. I can see both sides to an argument on whether to make it a big deal because it is such a privilege or leave it to the last minute, spring the surprise and hope it works. My first thought though was about the rest of the team, did they know who their captain was? Far from ideal if they didn’t but I guess as this wasn’t a permanent appointment back then, it wasn’t such a big deal. But Arsenal and their captain appointments is a subject much discussed on here and I’m still far from convinced we have the right guy in place now. Mind you, I’ve never been a fan of a captain being a striker. A defender or midfielder all day long for me, someone who can see what’s going on in front or around him, not behind him.
Captain RvP left, then captain Vermaelen departed for Barcelona so eventually, Arteta was made captain permanently in 2014 and remained until his retirement two years later.
I digressed…
After huffing and puffing our way to a 1-0 victory over Leeds Utd back in 2012 came another fixture which we made hard work of. A home draw again against Aston Villa. Having gone 2-0 down, two RvP penalties and a rather fortunate goal scored by Theo Walcott In between them saw us progress. Our blushes were spared and Sunderland awaited us in the next round. That’s where our FA Cup campaign ended.
The following season was another sorry affair for Arsenal in this old but very popular domestic competition. We beat Swansea and Brighton, just, before Blackburn rocked up at The Emirates Stadium and sent us packing. Gervinho missed a sitter, Rosicky hit the woodwork and Arteta himself missed a good chance before Karin-Richards pounced on a Szczesny error. I only know that because I read about it. Mind you, the Gervinho miss came flooding back to me. Which one though I’m not sure.
The media we’re loving it though, especially as Bradford City had already knocked us out of the League Cup, or rather the Capital One Cup as it was called then but at least with the FA Cup defeat, Arsene Wenger had the ‘one eye on the Champions League fixture’ excuse. It was against Bayern Munich and we lost 1-3. A 0-2 in Germany wasn’t enough.
Finally, our FA Cup fortunes changed. We beat Toots, Coventry, Liverpool and Everton before penalties decided our semifinal against Wigan. Kallstrom scored one of them…..
The final against Hull City was tough and before we knew it, we were behind. 2-0 and not even ten minutes had passed. Cazorla and Koscielny made it 2-2 before Ramsey settled it in extra time.
Mikel Arteta lifted his first big cup, together with Thomas Vermaelen of course. The following season, he lifted another..
And funny enough, his replacement as far as the captain goes lifted another a couple of years later and now he we are today with both back at the club. One head of the academy, the other, head coach of the first team.
Who’d have thought that eh?
Catch up in the comments guys…
Hi Scott ,Geoff reports here are saying that it’s raining down there, Reckon that you will need a deluge
Morning all.
Rico, nice story about Mikel.
He’s turned full circle!!!
Hi Potter, one area that’s been in massive trouble for a week now copped some rain today and we’ve had a cooler day, but it’ll hit 40 degrees again later in the week.
The experts are saying these fires have weeks left in them, at least.
Over 1,000 homes lost and growing by the day.
Hi Potter the rain we got in Victoria only cleared the smoke but the fire here are just starting like Scott we are expecting some hot weather and very strong winds.
Hi Rico I agree about the captain to me it should be some one from mid field who can control both ends other than that do we pick 1 captain and 1 assistant captain for ex sample captain pick a striker and assistant pick the goal keeper the problem I see at the moment due to injuries as well do we really have some one who is a true captain material ?
Hi All there is madness behind my 2 captain theory if we only have 1 and he is a striker the back line can tell him you know about defence and if he is a centre back the striker can complain what would you know about scoring but with one at each end they play in the position they are captain for.
Yes Geoff we do have an admirable captain. The problem is that, he is sitting in the Coaches seat!!
As Captain we should have a game reading, positive analysist who is a box to box midfielder. Other essential necessity would be a loud penetrative voice that carries real authority. And, they would have to be better than average footballers, who have the admiration and ,envy, of their peers. Not many needs really. And I’m sure there are other qualities that have not been covered.
In the current squad I don’t see many who would qualify.
Morning all.
Good morning all.
Two examples of the sort of captain we need spring to mind. Adams and Vierra. Adams because he was respected throughout football and had a “presence” on the pitch and in the media. Vierra because he put the fear of God into both his opponents and his team mates.
At the moment I don’t see anyone of that stamp in our squad. Chambers may have become a candidate, but injury has put paid to that idea, at least for a while. Holding, once he’s fully fit and a regular starter, might do. At the moment Luiz seems to be taken responsibility for the pre-game huddle, while our present captain’s future at the club is in doubt.
Emery famously bottled out of making a decision and let the players elect their own choice, just see how far that got us.
Right now is not the time to appoint a new captain, wait until the summer to see who leaves and who comes in.
I didn’t realise that his first captain role was against Leeds in the cup Scott..
Afternoon Rico, thanks for the post.
Scott I went online and read some articles from The Australian and Guardian Australia and although from a distance I don’t feel that I can pass a judgement on who is at fault in your country, I can see politicians and local government officials are getting a lot of stick mainly because these idiots are going on holiday in the midst of a national emergency – what is wrong with these people?
I’m familiar with the Liberal party in Oz and the Labour/Labor party and obviously the Greenies, but is there another party, an alternative to the usual suspects?
Hi Kev Labor and Liberal are the main 2 big parties the rest just pop up and have a go at both then disappear but don’t give any advice I don’t know about NSW were Scott is but in Victoria none of the small parties have gone to the fire areas that I know of and the last time the greens were herd they wanted a royal commission into the bush fires blaming both Labor and liberal for the fires but would not go to the fire areas them self and speak to locals who have lost every thing.
Another goal from Cazorla.
Thanks for that Geoff…
I imagine that bush fires are going to be a major issue in your next general election, whenever that is?
Afternoon Kev, love the new look. Lol
Toots drew with Boro, good. Another game added to their fixture list..
Very strong teams for Chelsea,Spurs and West Ham.For the last two pretty much the strongest available.
Nor did I, Rico 🙂
Kev, nah, as it stands, it’s either Labor or Liberals in charge.
I’m no fan of our PM, but I dare say he’s had 18 months solid of 16-18 hour days, the fires had been going for 2 months already, and he’s honoured his word to his family to go on holiday for a week.
There’s not a single thing he couldn’t do from Hawaii that he could do from Australia other than walk around and shake hands with people so really, I have no issue with him taking a break but it obviously looks bad due to the timing.
Other state leaders have taken holidays and copped no media attention……funny, that, yet it’s actually the states responsibility to fight fires.
As I said yesterday, the fact this tragedy has become a political football is what I really hate.
You know what gets me Scott, over here if their is a tsunami on the Asian Sub Continent, drought in Africa or a land slide in South America the aid agencies fall over themselves to raise money by public subscription to fund the shipping and delivery of food, medical supplies, tents, blankets clothing etc. But for this dreadful and on going disaster in Australia, a Commonwealth country that came to Britain’s aid in two World wars, not a peep. I’m ashamed that our government hasn’t even offered aid and assistance.
Cicero,
I know what you’re saying.
Last year, we spent 4.4 billion on overseas financial aid.
The countries we sent money to are very silent.
I understand that help should be given when required, but it just seems to be a one way street and that’s very frustrating.
Saying that, our fire commissioner is telling us we could have 10,000 more firefighters, 10,000 more trucks and helicopters and right now, it wouldn’t help as these fires are in places that are totally inaccessible.
A good very early morning to you all.
I hope Arteta he found time to sit down with Nketiah and talk about Leeds United as he must have intimate knowledge of his former teammates how they are set up to play, their strengths and weaknesses etc. Information that could be invaluable ahead of this evenings match.
Morning Cicero,
Eddie might get a run at some point???
Morning guys.
New post up now