Mikel Arteta is a happy man this new season, and this is not just because his side beat Nottingham Forest 2-1, but because he now has a big quality squad; he has a beautiful “headache” of deciding who to play and who not to play.
Arteta said, “That’s what we’ve been trying to do, increase the depth of the squad and the quality as well, and the ability to be more flexible.
“Having that ability is something that, as a coach, you really want. You saw that in the game [against Manchester City], and the moment we changed the game with the formation, we put some quality players on the pitch with a different freshness and a lot of creativity, and all the things started to happen in the game.
“Leo [Trossard] scored the goal, Fabio scored the winner, and those finishers are going to be really, really important.”
On what he’ll do to make sure every of his players gets a chance to play, he added: “I think you have to treat everybody the same.
“You have to make them important, and in order to do that, they have to play football matches. Football is a collective sport, and only 11 players play, and then there are another 11 players most of the time that are not happy with the situation. It’s how we deal with that.
“Every three days, we’ll have a game, and it’ll tell you a lot about the human being and the professional – when you are playing and when you are not, what is your actual contribution to the team? We want players that have that feeling that they are happy when the team wins because it is a team sport.”
This 2023-24 league campaign could be Arsenal’s season; the 2-1 Forest win was just the start of a title-winning PL run.
Sam P
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I don’t think Leandro felt important when he went straight to the bench after Jesus returned. As well as after breaking City’s defense last weekend.
Tierney must also feel pretty important being the most natural LB in the squad yet even Eleneny will play there before him.
The most natural LB, perhaps but he cannot fully deliver the inverted role which we require and cannot waltz into the midfield like Zinchenko, White, and Timber can.
If Arteta could only learn one simple lesson: Keep It Simple Stupid – we could have a very good season.
But constantly fidgeting with the starting eleven, playing players out of position, not knowing, when to substitute players – just recipes for injuries, confusion, mistakes, and poor results.
Will he learn before it’s too late? Extremely doubtful.
You speak as if what you write if fact, when it is only your opinion and IMO not a bright one.
what he said is the Fact, you deciding to stay blind to that fact is totally your decision.
why complicate it all
Guy experimenting players required playing them out of they position.
We had one of the most consistent starting XIs in the league last season. Some of it, you can blame on lack of quality depth in the squad but mostly, Arteta favours consistency over experimental changes.
You have judged him based on one match, where he’s introduced 3 new signings and when he knows he can afford to risk an experiment or two.
Plus, he’s got loads of versatile players who can play in multiple positions. It helps to give them a run outside of their comfort zone every now and then in what the manager feels are the ‘easier’ matches so they can deliver when playing ‘out of position’ becomes necessary in a match.
Give the gaffer a few matches and time to properly bed in the new lads. He will find his best XI.
Isn’t it fact – our best DM Partey played at LB?
Isn’t it fact – our best CB Saliba was pushed over to the left side?
Isn’t fact that the risk of errors, mistakes and injuries increases when a player is asked to play in unfamiliar positions?
It’s not rocket science @ jon fox. You need to start watching our games and think for yourself.
@Rfrancis, the system is changing, demands are high,
there used to be a No 10,but now we have No 8s,
The No 9, is required to defend nowadays,
Players are expected to be versatile now,
Today Macallister played as a No 6 and Gakpo a CM, Trent was more of a Midfielder than a RB.
So you see, the company requires you do some extra job for the bonuses you get.
Really don’t care much about changes to roles 8, 9,10. Just confused by the volumes of unnecessary changes around the central core of the team eg Saliba, Gabriel and Partey. The goal for this season was to build on our successes from last season. Why are trying to reinvent the wheel?
If fans are so confused watching this mayhem, can you image how the players feel?
The intention is to build an all round player.
If you do not care about the changes to players’ roles and positions in modern football, then perhaps stop using those changes to beat up on a manager who has done very little wrong.
Just because you thnk the changes are unnecessary doesn’t make it true. Just because you are confused, doesn’t mean all fans are … and professional footballers, I would assume, can handle changing tactics and roles far more easily than the average fan anyway.
It is a new season with a lot of changes, not the least of which is integrating three new signings successfully. It will need some trial and error, and more importantly, some time and patience.
@RFrancis Ateta does not care if you’re confused or not .. he’s job is to do what he’s paid for which he’s currently doing superbly ..so either you understand or not that has no impact on the outcome of the game…. And how will you know what the player feel when you’re not a member of the staffs
It is only 2 games and it is yet to see the effectiveness. Both seems like a narrow win but still an important win and motivation. If you see how are other teams are improving with those games, it is best that mikel have a squad that could maintain consistent performance in every game
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👌👌👌
I think Francis is right.
How many City players play different roles.?
Same with other epl teams like united.
There are naturals.
So the earlier Arteta develop his naturals, the better
Am seeing square pegs squeezing in round holes again and we have been down this road before, let’s hope the changes was as a result of Turner been familiar with our style lead to this one off situation.
I’m excited as an Arsenal fan. More excitingly I’m looking forward to learn about football tactics with Arteta when he plays his team with these outstanding group of players. That first half against Forest was dominating that I almost felt sorry for them.
It’s unnecessary overthinking and will cost us in the long run.
If our players can’t beat Nottingham Forest at home playing in their best positions, then we have far bigger problems.
Why square pegs in round holes? What’s the point of depth in every position if you go square pegs route?
Why play Partey at RB when he’s suspect, when White is clearly the best RB, even Tomi is superior as RB.
I get Timber at LB, but Tierney is still an option.
White is suspect as a CB, and Gabriel is a far better CB.
Is Nottingham Forest scary enough to reinvent the wheel like we did on Saturday?
We have the depth and talent to play to players strengths. Anyone think we could not have imposed ourselves with Rice, Partey, and Odegaard in midfield?
Anyone worried that White was outmatched as a RB? Or Gabriel couldn’t handle Forest playing as a CB?
Unnecessary putting square pegs in round holes, this will harm more than help.
Did you ever consider that Arteta might have felt Forest are a team we can beat even when we are not at our best? As we did, in fact.
Therefore, he tried a few things he would not try against ManC or Liverpool or in any big match … but if necessity dictates, through injury or a red card, then he has players on the bench who can play multiple roles, and have had the practice in a professional EPL match.