Mikel Arteta is under increasing pressure to deliver major silverware at Arsenal, as his side continues to fall short at crucial stages of competitions. Since taking the helm, the Spanish manager has overseen a remarkable transformation at the club, lifting them from a period of mediocrity and re-establishing them as a force in both domestic and European football.
Despite this progress, Arsenal’s long-standing wait for major honours remains unresolved. The current campaign offers a significant opportunity, with the Gunners still in contention to win the Champions League. However, they face an uphill task after suffering a first-leg defeat in their semi-final clash. Arteta will be hoping to inspire a comeback in Paris and lead the team to their first Champions League final in history.
Even if they fall short, Arteta’s job is not immediately at risk. Nevertheless, there is growing consensus that the time has come for Arsenal to begin converting their progress into tangible success. Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who has been closely observing the team’s development, has voiced a similar sentiment and shared some thoughts on what Arteta might need to adjust.
Speaking to Talk Sport, Lehmann said: “This year, they could have won [the Premier League], Man City dropped a little bit, Liverpool replaced them. Next year he has to win, but he probably needs to change his personality a little bit to win things. Because sometimes, it’s [about] control and being cautious. But if you want to win some things, in my opinion you could be a little more risky.”
Lehmann’s comments reflect a belief that while Arteta has instilled structure and consistency, a greater willingness to take calculated risks might be necessary to take Arsenal to the next level. His remarks suggest that a more daring tactical approach could be the key to overcoming the final hurdle.
Arteta, known for his meticulous planning and tactical discipline, must now reflect on whether incremental adjustments to his approach could make the difference in achieving long-awaited success. The message is clear, continuing with the same strategy may no longer be sufficient, and evolution may be required if Arsenal are to end their trophy drought and establish themselves as consistent winners.
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Arsenal have to focus this second leg semi final, it look like they are lacking of concertration in the first leg semi-final, they need to do some thing in the second leg.
Arteta have done a great job with the team. The problem of Arteta not winning trophies is Arteta himself. He doesn’t take advise. Last transfer window Arteta because of Sesko’s refuser to join Arsenal, Arteta refused to get any good number 9. Àfter all we had better number 9s available. Instead he went and brought Raheem Sterling a spent force. This Isak will have been Arsenal player today, but Arteta refused to go for him when he was available at laliga. I still doubt if Arteta know what he needs to win trophies despite the structure, tactics and discipline that he has instill in the team. Arteta should realize that no man know it all. This is why there is a fan base in every club. Arteta should realize that no team can win trophies with eleven players. He doesn’t have enough quality in the bench in case of injuries and suspensions. How can he win trophies tin team? He has to change his philosophy and approach of building a team if he wants to win trophies. So far he has done well. But his best is glaringly not enough.
Very true, the fact is Mikel has been naive at times and borderline arrogant in his approach but I like to think of myself as a constructive criticizer, to that end I think he’s done a truly wonderful job in reviving our dear old Arsenal.
The jury is still out on whether he can deliver a title to the club because if we’re not going up then the only way is down, and I think we’ve reached a point where his head will be in the chopping blocks if he doesn’t deliver as soon as next season.
I’ll make an example of a manager who like Arteta has been on a long spell but had sustained his career through delivering an reinventing his pack. This is none other than Diego Simieone. He’s done a fantastic job and has delivered titles in a for Atletico in a league practically designed for two teams.
The fun part is that we’ve now in our midst the very man who was the unseen force behind that sustained project .
He certainly won’t be a yes man to what Arteta wants but will be the guiding hand that navigates us one more step into the final stretch of “Trusting The Process”, let’s see how we progress in the champions league for now but I’m very excited about the near future!!!😁
Arteta is doing a great job and has had a hands on approach to the recruitment also which he has done well.
I think the problem the team has is the players themselves… how many games have we watched, where they are leading and then they conceed an equaliser, then struggle to find a winner or to hold for a draw. The performance against Brighton, Fulham, crystal Palace, Everton etc its as if they give up.
The players go through a phase of pity and have to he written off only for them to find a way and start playing well as we found a solution with playing merino upfront.
Players like partey who has been fantastic this season but you know he can let you down – passing to opponents, not tracking back or getting suspended … that yellow card was very poor from him considering he knew our injury issues in defence and upfront – he knew how vital his role was for the remainder of the season.
With Berta now hopefully they can identify players who won’t do school boy errors like that , players who don’t pity themselves etc
Sterling turned out to be a dreadful loan signing but I think that was more of desperation and it backfired
We were limited last season funds wise – with who we bought as raya had to be paid for and the second installment for rice to West ham.
The blessing has been myles and nwaneri
I do feel arteta should have played nwaneri over trossard up front as he offers no fear
The gaffer has made us competitive, even his harshest critics will admit, now all he needs is a little luck
1. No team can win anything without a recognizable striker who threatens Defenders to create space for the wingers. Arsenal lacks this attacker since Thierry. RVP and Auba have provided that for sometime but they were not at the level of Salah, Aguerro, Drogba, Haaland, etc
2. Yes, you need a deep bench as well. That is all. Gone are the days where Wenger and the club thought they could win without talent and grit.
If we bought a world class striker who scores 30 goals every season, Saka will score 24, Martinelli 20, etc our Defenders will have many clean sheets.
Jose Mourinho has said this 30 times.
Whatever anyone says (and that includes me) about the team and Arteta and their improvement or competiveness. We are not in a position where we actually look capable, now or in the future of winning an actual trophy. There are inherent flaws in our tactics and set up. We play “safe” football, that will never produce a trophy and sometimes isn’t that “safe” either. If people are happy with being competitive and not winning anything then, for the time being, happy days🥳🥳 But if you expect a miracle to happen and we win a trophy with the current set up, we will be disappointed. Arteta has proved, he has not got the ability to build a league winning team.
And Lehman is correct.
Reggie,
While I hear what your saying, you need to remember that a section of the fans see finishing second or reaching Semi Finals as success.
I don’t see it that way myself, but if its what floats there boat, who am I to argue.🙄🤦♂️🤷♂️
By the way, for any of them that have forgotten what a trophy looks like, here’s one. 🏆
Arteta has done a good job in making this club very competitive. However, the team, the fans and probably the the club owners are running out of patience because the team is dormant, it’s fixed at a run up position. We can’t celebrate being second best in the league.Arteta must make bold decisions, not fielding under performing players like the captain. I hope he makes the necessary changes for the PSG tie
Lehmann’s remarks about Arteta being too cautious have a ring of truth about them.
Perhaps that’s the key; take a few more risks and let the proverbial handbrake off.
However, Lehmann is a man who took a big risk in the European Cup final in 2006 when he fouled Eto’o outside the penalty box and got sent off after just 19 minutes. The rest is history.
Also played every second of a league campaign where we didn’t lose a game
Then the next season was almost single handedly responsible for us lifting the FA Cup
Not bad history
No problem with JL over all Dan. A bit of a firebrand. Just ironic that he probably cost the team a CL title which could have cemented the often mentioned winning mentality in the big matches which Arsenal have struggled to achieve for donkeys years
If there were VAR back then