Tactics, injuries, and squad depth aside, could it be that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s evolution is another factor hindering this Arsenal team? Undoubtedly, Arteta’s growth as a coach has been evident; initially, his jumpy demeanor on the Arsenal touchline, where he barks orders to his players and expresses his frustrations when he believes the referee is treating his team unfairly, earned him a reputation as a comedic figure.
For Gooners, it was wonderful to see their manager displaying passion, yet some rivals found the Arsenal manager’s behavior exasperating, making it a frequent subject of discussion in the media. Over the last few months, Mikel Arteta has exhibited a calmer and more reserved demeanor, a change noted by pundit Adrian Clarke. “Mikel Arteta is much calmer this season, isn’t he? Nobody is talking about what he’s doing in the technical area because he’s not doing it this season,” He said on the Handbrake Off podcast.
“That’s a really good point. It’s not been spoken about enough this season, but he is much calmer and so are the team, they’ve just gained so much confidence from the performances they’ve produced this season, particularly in big games.”
However, most of us Gooners didn’t pay much attention to those claims. However, Don Hutchinson has revived them. Hutchinson on PL productions has pointed out that it is evident Arteta has become more composed on the touchline, which he believes is significantly hindering this Arsenal team. The PL pundit points to Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli as examples, suggesting that Arsenal players, lacking the motivation from their manager, appear to have diminished fight and seem dull and exhausted.
“Mikel Arteta over the past two or three years have been quite lively; he’s been quite jumpy; he’s been animated,” Hutchison said. “Some people criticise that, but I like that; it showed that he had the fight in him to affect things on a football pitch. Him being quite calm is having a knock-on effect for players on the pitch who look quite jaded; I’m talking about Martinelli; I’m talking about Declan Rice; the list goes on and on.”
Do you long for the passionate Mikel Arteta in the Arsenal lineup? Perhaps one can argue Arteta now just trusts his player more, but if the return of the “fiery Arteta” ignites fire and desire in the team, then we definitely need him back to his old self.
What do you think?
Daniel O
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I just love to see passion in the modern game, there’s is nothing more exhilarating to see a team in attacking mode, with wave after wave of attack, pressure piling on the opposition.
To glance across the dugout and see the manager kicking every ball, call it immature if you like , but that’s coaching with passion if you ask me
There is a reason why a camera is firmly fix on the dugout, it’s where the passion by the coach that is whipped up by the fans is transmit to the players on the pitch.
Being an idiot and being passionate are two completely different things. He or anyone can show passion but when they go too far, its embarrassing. If he or anyone has to show passion to get a team to play, that is temporary. The real things that get a team to play is tactics and quality.
Reggie,
Well said, I totally agree. All the things that Gunsmoke mentions while is good to see in on pitch performances. It’s something that’s been missing from our game all season.
It seems to me that Arteta is trying to defend his way to the title, which is just not going to happen, neither this season or any other for that matter, while Arteta’s in charge.
Derek
Is easy to say he can’t or won’t do it..
Who do you see then as the natural replacement to get us over the line
Alan1108,
I couldn’t tell you who the natural replacement would be, but that’s not my job anyway, that’s the clubs.
But I know what I see, and I don’t like it one little bit. This club has just become one big gimmick under this manager and it’s owners are no better.
And to think now that Edu has gone, this joker might get even more clout.
Mark my words, this team will never win the title under Arteta, it’s as simple as that.
If I’m wrong, I’ll gladly hold my hands up, but unfortunately there’s no fear of that happening.
I’m with you on this,.Arteta is simply not good enough and like Martinelli he has reached his peak and won’t get any better.
There’s a difference in Arteta’s previous manic behaviour on the touchline which was, frankly, an embarrassment to him and the club and more “controlled passion” if you like, which you would expect.
After all, running around like an idiot, gesticulating and shouting, does no good. If it’s directed at players, unless they are very nearby none of them will be able to see or hear him with all the noise and action going on anyway. If it’s directed at the referee, then he’s very likely to get booked as there’s another official standing near to the coaches.
Of course, all coaches get caught up “in the moment” from time to time – with the possible exception of Ancelotti at Real Madrid – but Arteta’s previous behaviour was OTT in my opinion. I wouldn’t be surprised if something had been said to him about his touchline behaviour by the owners.