Arteta’s Challenges and the Unraveling Season by Jack
In the tempestuous realm of football, Arsenal finds itself at a crossroads as recent performances raising legitimate concerns among fans and pundits alike. The drop-off from a commendable display against Liverpool to disappointing defeats against West Ham and Fulham, has prompted many to question the team’s trajectory and, by extension, Mikel Arteta’s leadership.
The palpable disappointment is exacerbated by the fact that just a short while ago, Arsenal was riding high at the top of the league table. The sudden reversal of fortunes has left supporters grappling with the uneasy feeling of witnessing their team’s promising season unravel.
However, amid the clamor for change and calls for Arteta’s dismissal, there are voices of reason urging patience. The sentiment echoes that it might be premature to declare the season a lost cause. Acknowledging the team’s inconsistency, some fans argue that winning the league is currently a distant aspiration. The reality is that, despite the setbacks, the season is still in its early stages.
What adds to the complexity of the situation is the internal dynamics and decision-making process, shrouded in mystery for the fans on the outside. While Arteta’s influence on player transfers and overall team dynamics is acknowledged, the collaboration with Edu remains a behind-the-scenes enigma. The intricacies of their working relationship and the factors influencing player contracts and acquisitions remain opaque to the public eye.
A notable lament is the swift turnaround of sentiment among fans who were once won over by Arteta’s vision. The frustration is palpable among those who now find fault with every aspect of the team that recently occupied the top spot. The dip in form raises the question of whether Arteta will be held accountable if the decline persists. The manager’s influence extends beyond the touchline, encompassing critical decisions regarding player contracts and team composition.
The spotlight also turns towards the players, who, despite securing significant contract improvements, have failed to maintain a consistent level of performance. The stark contrast between a dominant display against Brighton and a lackluster showing against Fulham underscores the unpredictable nature of the team’s outings.
The lack of desire, energy, and hunger displayed against Fulham is deemed unacceptable by both fans and Arteta himself. The manager’s post-game admonition serves as a warning to all – players and coaching staff alike – that such lackluster performances cannot be tolerated.
In conclusion, as Arsenal grapples with a turbulent phase, a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by Arteta, the complexities of team dynamics, and the players’ responsibility is essential. While the results ultimately rest on the manager’s shoulders, the entire team must collectively strive to meet the expectations set by the club, the fans, and, most importantly, themselves. Only time will tell whether Arteta can steer the ship through these stormy waters and get our mutual targets back on track, but we shouldn’t just write off our whole season after just a couple of setbacks, which affect all teams at one point or another…
Jack Anderson.
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The things that gets me with Arteta the most is the lack of fluidity.
1. No rotation, he never changes the squad up so players get tired and comfortable. Also it means bench players never get to shine and loose interest.
2. Lack of tactical rotation. Why is there no change up. No plan B. We have been found out. The jig is up. Teams know how to hit us on the counter. Teams prepare for Saka and Martinelli. What will we do about this.
3. Be brave and rest players
These are my main gripes. Someone said that arteta is like our Brenda Rodgers. He can only take us so far. Unfortunately I am starting to beleive this because he isn’t making adjustments
When his preferred first eleven are fit he has no match in the league but when a single one of them is missing he become clueless.
Very strange!
The league is far from over and I still think we will be the ones lifting it come May.
To the writer why is defending Arteta called a voice of reason? So anyone not happy with performance is unreasonable?
Unfortunately managing a top club involved with Champion’s League requires more than just fielding the strongest 11 week in week out. Getting players on the beach ready for action to minimize fatigue is expected from a good manager
The writer is called Jack lol.
The voice of reason is the podcast to listen to at the end. Keep up HH!
Two games ago, we were top of the league, and we had just seen arguably are greatest ever performance under MA against Brighton, followed by a deserved point at Anfield, one of the toughest grounds you could possibly go to. We’ve been fantastic against all the big boys, even beating City twice, and cruised into the CL last 16.
Two games, and only one bad performance later, suddenly MA is clueless, he’s been found out, his time is up, he hasn’t improved any of our players, and his signings have been terrible!
Modern football fans are such a fickle bunch!
We are very fickle indeed. However, l think most of the negativity is founded in disappointment. There are always the ones who are quick to underline their agendas when the opportunity presents itself. That said, a win against Liverpool should make us happy campers again, for the weekend at least.
If you think fans are suddenly turning on Arteta only after the last 2 games, you are sadly mistaken. Modern football fans are fickle, but not that fickle.
The reality is that the quality of our football this season after spending £210m is generally worse than last season. Frustration has been brewing for a some time since overpaying for Havertz; loaning out Tierney; overcomplicating player positions early in the season; creating the Ramsdale Raya fiasco; continuing with fullbacks in midfield instead to providing wingers adequate support; failing to give youth players some game time even when results didn’t matter, etc.
Our results have actually been quite kind to us this season and papered over the cracks. Frustration finally boiled over with some disappointing results of late. It’s nothing to do with modern football fans being a fickle bunch. Just ask any of the old timers here and they will likely tell you more or less the same
Yes we’re not as fluid in attack as last season, but we are far less erratic. And only one of four league defeats was actually justified
We now control games way better, defense has improved, and we’re creating lots of clear cut scoring opportunities. Our main issue is that we just cannot finish our chances this season.
I get you’re point that there has been some unhappiness amongst some throughout the season, but one should also remember that we’ve had an injury crisis since game one, and are currently down to the bare bones. How many times has MA had a chance to play his best XI?…ZERO!!
MA isn’t faultless, but lets have some context for once.
IT is not just the last 2 games for me Jen, but the culmination of events over the course of the last couple years.
1. IMHO we needed an upgrade from Xhaka, a real balanced B2B midfielder. Instead we got Havertz, whom Arteta himself said “I don’t know where he fits in.”
2. Loaned Tierney, and not a single defensive fullback at the club. White and Tomiyasu are CB’s playing FB, Zinchenko is a CM, and Kiwior is a CB. Tierney has injury history, but Zinchenko is injured again, and same fitness issues as Tierney.
3. Neither Jesus nor Nketiah are goal scoring strikers, and when Martinelli and Saka go missing we struggle to score. No plan B up top, nothing to change tactically with strikers.
4. Rinse and Repeat Tactics. How many times has Zinchenko been exposed? How many times have we seen Martinelli and Saka double teamed and we sputter offensively? Everything from the wings, nothing through the middle of the pitch.
5. Lack of Rotation with backups Arteta himself has chosen. No wonder they are rusty, can’t expect miracles when then eventually get a chance.
Arteta has done wonders, but now with pressure he has to produce. Unfortunately, that is something neither he nor the players have done so far.
Actual FACTS there Durand and your last paragraph sums it all up very neatly.
We have believed in MA (though questioned him sometimes!!) and now it’s time for him to deliver.
No feeble excuses about injuries, var, referees etc etc we need to SEE that Mikel can deliver the goods and our cup game will be the perfect test.
He’s got all his players and time
But I’d like to see how his tactics fare with a physically-dominant CF first, before writing him off. This is because he always plays with a CF who flops around at the slightest touch
@gai once again I agree with you. Let’s see how good Arteta can be with a CF that’s dominant and probably prolific. Generally, I think Arsenal’s activities this January window will speak volume on where the club and the coach intend to finish this Epl season.
Now is not the time to get out the torches and pitch forks nor is it the time to panic. The squad is the best we have had for some time, but it still looks paper thin beyond ~ 15 players. I have the same opinion I have always had of MA, he’s a good coach but he has his flaws. Tactics, rotation and stubbornness come to mind. That said, we have players who are playing well below par and we are very one dimensional in our tactics. Our style of play is either stale and/or teams have worked out how to nullify us. Even so, if we had taken our chances in the games we drew or lost we could have taken more points. The next few games will tell whether it’s a blip or a slide. I think there is a consensus we need a striker, midfielder and a left back, but it’s January and we should not expect too much will happen to change things on the pitch. I will judge Arteta at the end of the season although I am really frustrated at the moment. In Arteta we trust, until May at least.
I agree with the above comment @shortboygooner. Arteta’s rigidity and inexperience with player rotation, his fixation with certain players and singular, monolithic game approach cannot win Arsenal the league. The talent that Arsenal has is enough to put them above Aston Villa under an experienced coach.
We want to see weaknesses improved upon and worked on…..not denied and ignored regardless of whoever is the manager.
That’s all!
Whilst all of the blame for Arsenal’s current malaise shouldn’t be directed at Arteta…He still needs to partially shoulder some of that responsibility…and more importantly find solutions.
Solutions which do not mean:-
1) Continuing to play in exactly the same way and hope that eventually matters will solve themselves.
2)Picking the same players in the same formation again and again and only minimumly rotating his “favourites” when they are either injured or too tired to play their natural game.
Arsenal desperately need a “Plan B”.If Odergaard,Martinelli and Saka are unable or unwilling to move the ball quickly through defensive lines then there must be other methods and players available to do something a little different in an attacking sense.
As much as I rate ESR’s ability to do exactly this…it is clear that Arteta does not.In this instance,therefore,Arsenal have to “bite the bullet” and sell him along with Eddie in order to bring in players (within the confines of FFP) who might enhance Arsenal’s attacking capabilities and offer them a potential “Plan B”.Selling “Hale Enders” means thatany income immediately becomes pure profit and that money can then be amortised against any purchase.
It is clear that Arsenal need a player like “Ivan Toney” and presumably Eddie could be offered as part of the transaction and go in the opposite direction.
Arteta and Edu essentially have a couple of weeks to sort matters out.Otherwise we will witness another Season of “Implosion”… at which time questions have to be asked as to the best person to take Arsenal forwards in future.
What I find astonishing, is that, generally speaking, those of us who questioned MA are still behind him, while those who were 100% behind him are the one’s now questioning him!!
Our football is nowhere near as good as last season and, in fact, has become as predictable as his first three seasons…. yet some forget the brilliant work he has done in bringing the club together, both on and off the field.
I don’t use the hackneyed excuse about injuries, var technology or referees – I use my eyes and ears.
MA is still lauded at every home game and two bad results shouldn’t / doesn’t mean he has to go.
We are kidding ourselves if we think, based on THIS season, we can win the PL or CL, let alone beat Liverpool in the 3rd round of the fa cup…. but last season we all believed that we could have.
Time for MA to step up and EARN the reported £8,000,000 a year contract – I’m not ready to throw him to the wolves yet, but he needs to get back to the way we were playing last season and that means Ramsdale, ESR, Tierney (if possible) all reinstated and a proven CF signed immediately.
@ken1945
Spot on 🎯
Ma just needs change of tactics and involvement of the bench players rather than repeating the same players and same substitutes each game and having an elite striker
Burn the monster, hang him high, gather the lynch mob we’ve got work to do. We are just a voice in the wind. Nothing will happen or change, you know why, well let me tell you. Arteta does not read this crappy website that only shows a tiny tiny tiny selection of hand picked opinions, selected by the editor. I have wrote and wasted my time writing lots of opinions on this crappy website, only to waste my time before the editor decides not to print it. I will however give just Arsenal it’s deserved thumbs down by mentioning this on other websites that actually print all opinions not just a selected few. I think you should switch off your writers filter and at least read the opinions of your writers before deciding whether to print them or not.
Jeez who rattled your case! I have just checked and cannot see any of your comments being moderated.
Anyway this tiny tiny opinions I allow through come to between 300 and 500 every single day so I’m hardly going to hand pick them all Mr paranoid…
Jeez again. You are a weirdo. So maybe I WILL put you in moderation!
The fans have every reason to angry bcos of the following reasons
1 lack of rotation
2, rigidity when it comes to tactical manuever even me that is an amatuer ciach can easily dissect his tactical approach
3. the fans dont want to laughing stock anymore. when they were just recovering their voice boom it goes down again
4. the goal keeper he brought in is not doing anything special and thats part of the reason our players are demoralise because the fringe players know they will not play when the starter is available
Are that many Arsenal supporters really “clamouring for change & calling for Artetas dismissal.” Or is this yet another justarsenal lame excuse for an article?
On the basis of a couple of defeats Klopp would have gone long ago & Pep a few weeks back.Jeez!
Arteta greatest shortcomings is game management and lack of rotation. Because of those opponent has begun to figure out how to block us especially on the wings and as our players tire they lack the the zip required to make our beautiful football working.