Henrikh Mkhitaryan has claimed he gives his all for Arsenal but wasn’t able to at his former club.
The Armenian international joined the club from Manchester United in January as part of a swap deal including Alexis Sanchez, and is already beginning to enjoy his football once again.
Mkhi spent much of the early part of the campaign on the Red Devils bench, with Jose Mourinho overlooking him for a large number of matches, and it is claimed that he was unable to give his best due to the defensive demands put on him by his manager.
Henrikh has now moved to admit that he can only give his best when in an offensive team, and even compared his previous stint under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund to that of his current side.
“In the last year I played in Dortmund with [Jurgen] Klopp, Dortmund was playing very good football and I think it seems to be a bit similar comparing Arsenal to Dortmund,” Mkhitaryan said.
“I’m very happy to be here. I get pleasure playing offensive football and being part of Arsenal.
“Every offensive player wants to play offensive football. For me as well, I always love to play offensive football, it’s not easy to defend all the time.
“It’s necessary to do the best for the team, but in this case, when Arsenal are playing offensive football, I’m trying to give everything I can give to the team.”
Although the 29 year-old doesn’t mention United personally, it is a clear message for all to see, and he clearly is enjoying the freedom that our system allows, and hopefully we can start to see a better return from him over the remainder of the campaign.
Is a happy Mkhitaryan guaranteed to find form? Is a player’s happiness directly linked to their performance? Will Alexis regret his switch to United?
Pat J
As far as I’m concerned, I’ve seen enough offensive football recently!
“Offensive” football in Wenger’s mind, that can offend the fans
A player’s happiness would affect his performance, but he also needs ambition, extra efforts, supports from his teammates and the efficiency of his manager’s system
Sanchez might regret his move, because Mourinho’s team put more emphasis to the players’ physicalities than their techniques. He would be more suitable for a tiki-taka styled team, but it must be difficult to reject the highest salary in Premier League
Yes, gotanidea, the football Thursday offended me.
I also struggle to see this offensive football of a thing. Cant we be offensive and still solid at the back like Spurs??
They are really efficient as a team, Liverpool are highly offensive although they concede goals at least they score goals and are entertaining, infact Liverpool is the new Arsenal, as they are just like the Arsenal of Fabregas era, fun to watch, terrible defence and no trophies .
But the current Arsenal team is in between, no offensive ruthlessness, no organised defence
Always all over the place.
Klopp’s Liverpool with Mane and Salah reminds me of the old Dortmund with Reus, Dembele and Pulisic. I hope someday Wenger can learn from Klopp’s and Guardiola’s attacking styles by facing them in the matches, but he still sticks to his style till now
Apart from the Everton game (where they helped us look good), he’s been really poor. I am not judging because he’s only just joined us, but I can see why Mourinho got rid of him. Miki was shocking against even a pub side Thursday night. He really needs to step up asap!
We already have players with rollercoaster performances, so I hope Arsenal could find players with more stable forms next time
how could he play good with all that crap team that played on thursday.
Very difficult to argue with these comments TMJW. but let’s face it,THAT performance on Thursday was as bad as it could possibly get and other than Ospina(and he was by no means faultless) there was not one single player who played to anywhere near the level that was needed.
Mykitarian is a very very good footballer who would never in a million years fit in with Mourinho and his style of play,which begs the question why both of them thought it would ever work out.He has everything we need for him to be a perfect fit at Arsenal with the exception of a solid defence and CDM behind him.And Of course a manager that will get the best from him week after week.Hopefully these will be addressed at the end of the season.
Mkhit is similar to Ozil, put good quick talented players around him playing well and Mkhit will slot right in and look tops. Have players making little movement and playing badly Mkhit will struggle. When that happens I’d prefer Mkhit to take the running responsibilities on himself. We have too many who like to play final ball compared to receivers who like finding soft spots in a teams defence. As well not enough of our players are natural born grafters, they can do it, but it’s not in their dna. I remember growing up that was the easiest part of football, and I could never understand that dude who used to just, hatch, as we called it back then. The best player on the pitch was always the biggest grafter of the lot of us, people hated playing against him.
There is a reason why Manchester United have been defensively solid this season whereas Arsenal leaks like a sieve. Most Arsenal players neglect their defensive duties and concede so easily.
Yeah yeah I get it miki. Its good to be in Arsenal. Go on to the field and prove how good u are and STFU!
An offensive team or a defensive team? Its all down to emphasis. This is reflected by the mindset of the manager. Trying to fit square pegs into round holes and asking players to conform to a system that is naturally alien to their playing style is an ego trip that only rarely succeeds. Wenger does it more than most and comes unstuck more than most. I hope he succeeds tomorrow but I’m not optimistic. Better than having to watch the bus-parker’s outfit and then listen to his droning moaning.
Mkhi would really prosper at arsenal when we add one more runner in team that enjoy running behind defenders. Our players almost never make runs, they all want to recieve the ball in front of our opponents 18 yard box. City and liverpool players make more runs, flood the box and score more obviously.
playing the ball sideways is nowadays offensive OK..
He is a good player