Hello all, by Nayan
Clarifying upfront, I love Arteta’s project and the revolution he has bought in last season. This article is not to demean what Arteta has achieved last year. This is just a critical evaluation of some of his transfer decisions, which have come back to haunt us in one way or another.
1. Willian – The logic for this was easy to understand – cheap transfer, experienced player who has won it all. However, Arteta was still guilty of over-playing him when he was clearly out of form and touch. Fair play and hats off to Willian, who agreed to terminate his contract early. Great to see him thriving again at Fulham.
2. E. Martinez – This is one of the most perplexing displays of favouritism by Arteta – not giving assurance to a goalie who just won you FA Cup and Community shield, if he will start the first match of season vs the keeper returning from injury, is plain irresponsible. Fire sale to Aston Villa ensued for just 17mn, where we could have easily played him more (Leno had a poor season), and also gotten higher value for him by selling to a bigger club.
3. Maitland-Niles – Arteta chose to not sell him to Wolves despite getting a good 20mn bid for him – fine with me, but only if he considered him an integral part of team and meant to play him. That did not happen, and we were left with a dissatisfied player with low sale value which never recovered. Left for free this window.
4. Emile Smith Rowe – Arteta refused to sell him for 30mn when Villa bid for him – Fair enough, he was a crucial player that season. However, he has returned back from injury towards the end of last season, and still seems to be an outcast in the team. Which begs the question – why is he not being sold this window? Not clear how he fits into the team – he himself is not sure of his best position – he is behind Martinelli, Trossard on LW, Saka and Nelson on RW, Odegaard and Viera for CAM, Rice (hopefully) and Partey, Elneny, and Lavia (possibly) for 2 other midfield spots. I feel the best time to encash on him is now, else we risk repeat of Maitland Niles episode with him.
5. Fabio Vieira – Arsenal were heavily linked with Tielemans and Maddison transfers last year – which was the need of the hour to build depth in midfield. However, they ended up signing Fabio Vieira for 35mn out of the blue. This is similar to the fees Liverpool have paid for Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, and MacAllister – however Vieira has had an absolutely underwhelming season, and it remains to be seen if we will ever be able to gain any valuable output from him next season. Other transfers for Lokonga and Tavares were on similar lines – however they were low value gambles and may still fetch in a bit of their outlay in transfer fees.
6. Gabriel Jesus – This is one of the more controversial names on the list, and I am sure many fans may not agree with me. Arsenal overpaid at 45mn for the player who had just 1 year left on contract and wasn’t a regular starter for Manc. Even the wages at 200k were exorbitant – no other club would agree to match his wages if we decided to sell today. He hasn’t had an exceptional season – even though he improves the general play. Arsenal need a poacher striker like Haaland, Osimhen, Lewandowski and Toney are for their respective clubs – and Jesus is not that player despite all the hard work he puts in. Arteta is also guilty of favouritism with him – rushing him back in team after injury derailed the title push – Trossard was playing much better and lost the rhythm.
7. Kieran Tierney – This is the absolute worst decision of the entire list. Why would Arteta decide to downgrade such a key player is beyond me. I like Zinchenko and am aware of the impact he had on the team. But he has his own flaws which have cost us dearly last season. Arteta is fixated on his formation of inverted LB, but needs to have a plan B as teams are easily catching us out. Putting Tierney on the transfer market is ridiculous, as we will not find a better traditional LB than him on the market.
8. KAI HAVERTZ – This is the most outrageous transfer of all time. Chelsea overpaid for him (as they do for many players – e,g Mudryk, Enzo), and now want to recover as much as they can. He has been an absolute disaster at Chelsea, and I see direct comparison between him and Pepe. He is at much higher 250k wages, while Pepe was only at 140k and still got bashed around left right and centre. Arsenal should simply steer clear of him – 60mn + 250k wages will get you most of the best players on market – should definitely not splurge that on a bit part player who doesn’t have a clear position and will not directly improve the team – need to spend that to buy a clinical striker instead!
Let me know what you guys think about this? And how do you rate the other transfer dealings of Arteta at Arsenal?
Cheers
Nayan
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I don’t think there is much more to cover as youve pretty much said it all.I would,however,add Cedric Soares to this list who was never really going to be much use coming from the periphery of Southampton’s first team squad.
I can only hope that Munich’s interest in Kai Havertz prevents Arteta from making what could be a monumental mistake and potentially a waste of more than £100m if his fee and salary are to be believed!
Why not Balogun. Everyone seems to assume we will sell him, but why?
This is now calling a spade a spade;Arteta is stubborn and highly subjective in his approach to issues
– Willian: He should’ve been assigned on the left wing or in a central position, where he could have more options to dribble. By the time he was moved to the left wing, his confidence had been destroyed. His performance for Fulham showed that he was a victim of a wrong assignment
– E. Martinez: He asked to be our EPL GK, which would’ve relegated Leno to cup competitions. I think Arteta didn’t want to ruin the dressing room harmony
– Maitland-Niles: I think he was talented and versatile, but Arteta might’ve thought Maitland-Niles wasn’t suited to Arteta’s system
– Smith-Rowe: Maybe our medical and coaching staffs saw his potential to be a very useful player in the upcoming season. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets shipped out before the new season starts
– Vieira: He just had his first season. Remember how Odegaard performed when he just came and Vieira did well in some EL games last year
– Jesus: Our defense would’ve suffered without his high-pressing effort. He missed a lot of chances and struggled physically after recovering from his long-term injury, but his work ethic was far better than our previous CFs
= Tierney: We played with a conventional LB since 2018 and couldn’t finish in top four, because that tactic was so predictable. Our inverted-LB tactic almost made us win EPL and Tierney isn’t as consistent as Zinchenko in tight spaces
– Havertz: I’d also prefer to prioritize a new CF, but Arteta may need a tall left-footed AM to replace Xhaka
You have really excelled yourself this time GAI by suggesting our lack of success can be attributed to the fact that we played with a conventional left back.If only it was that simple but there have been hundreds of reasons for our failures since 2018.Time for you to change the record from your obsession with all things inverted.
Should we keep watching Tierney whipping long-crosses from the byline to our diminutive CF?
We used that old tactic for many years and never got close to EPL trophy as we did last season
It might work if we had a towering CF to receive Tierney’s long-crosses, but the teams that used that kind of tactic couldn’t catch the top two teams in EPL table last season
We were not successful because we lacked qua!ity in a number of positions.It had precious little to do with tactics.Had we not conceded so many soft goals due to the gaps left by using an inverted LB, we may have got closer to Man City.Has that never occurred to you?
The strengths of the inverted-LB tactic outweighed the weaknesses. Our final league position, goal difference and intense competition with Man City showed those
If the conventional LB tactic was effective last season, Man City would’ve used it. Yet they became treble winners without that kind of player and the best two teams in EPL didn’t use the old tactic
You have obviously never played the game.Man City used a back three for the majority of last season and included no fewer or 5 centre backs to win the treble.Our chaotic system was nothing like theirs which is one of the reasons why we caved in when the going got tough.The fact that City have more top quality players than us was of course fundamental to their success.
Grandad, i think it was their solid system that was fundamental to their success and our flimsy system that derailed us.
In my own opinion…
For all the good that MA did and still continue to do, I cant seem to get past the swift banishment of Matteo Guendouzi from the Arsenal team. Rarely have we landed on such a player that fits right in with our team as MG, and at such age and with such ferocity and determination in his play!
I have a feeling that with a player like him in the squad, Arsenal with have the luxury of having that extra gear in difficult matches, with his tireless running that seems to energize everyone around him.
He is young and arrogant yes, but nothing a one-on-one dinner with the coach one nice evening couldnt solve. Good players doesnt have to be nice all the time
IMO, letting him go is a loss. If MA could tame Xhaka, he certainly could have given MG a try…
Pride once again, on the parts of both parties, got in the way of success
I have to disagree for what I consider to be an important reason at the time.
Guendouzi’s behaviour at a crucial time post Wenger and Emery – when from my perspective the players were in charge and not the manager – was ill judged and immature. The club was facing an extremely difficult period and allowing further disruption would be catastrophic
Like or loathe Arteta, it was imperative that a strong character was leading the team
I am glad Arteta got rid of Guendouzi. All the trouble, egotistical individuals that thought the world evolved around them were brought back right down to earth by Arteta.
I had had enough of such mayhem stirrers, our previous 2 managers over indulged them and gave them this false sense of invincibility. Arteta came in and poured water on all that nonsense and it did not hurts us as a team. We keep improving and progressing with individuals that want to learn and help our club move forward.
I strongly disagree with this.
Matteo needed to leave IMO.
Arteta did not take Xhaka, Xhaka has never been a disruptive presence in the squad. Xhaka has always had the respect of teammates and manager since his younger days, nothing new with Arteta. Xhaka’s effectiveness got better under Arteta, yes!
This article seems to be inspired by the pending signing of Havertz.
The gaffer has made quite a few blunders indeed, hopefully we can put a few things in perspective, and be cognizant of the fact he’s still around the learning curve.
E Martinez: This was a tricky one and can be pordon.
William: Was a good idea that didn’t work, its rumored he has left with a pisspot load in payoff.
Maitland Niles- The kid was as stubborn as a mule, maybe we should have sold him.
Smith Rowe – A sleeping giant, the jury is still out.
Fabio Vieira: Maybe the biggest miscalculation, maybe due to the gaffer learning curve.
Teinrny: Is one of two best left back in the land , hence it cant be a blunder, I suspect the gaffer have not yet master the skillset of tweaking a player
Havertz: This potential signing would show that not only is the gaffer learning but learning fast.
The gaffer certainly has made blunder such as the handling of Saliba, the purchase of Lonkango, Vieira etc.
Still the gaffer has done remarkable well overall, by dislodging the deadwood, slashing the wage bill, making Arsenal one of the most exciting club now.
He has effectively turn the capital Red and effectively wrestling away all bragging rights in London.
Many more blunders than the 8. Salibas handling, Getting nothing for Lacca, Matteo Gouendouzi handling, letting Leno go for peanuts, not utilising Trossard, when an un influential Jesus returned, letting Willock go. The mistakes need to be cut down because i am sure people can come up with many more.
We cant say yet Haverz will be a mistake.
You are making things up.
Saliba has been handled perfectly and is now a real jewel.
Guenduzzi is a trouble maker, who is no good for a team in the long run.
Leno? Exactly who would have paid us many millions?
Trossard has done a good job, but in no way should he be picked over Jesus.
Willock is a decent player, and we made good money out of him. But in no way is a star, we have let go for peanuts.
Lol agreeing with an article complaining we didn’t sell ESR/Niles and simultaneously moaning about selling willock. As I read the article I thought the usual suspects will lap this up but would be the same ones complaining if we sold them like we did Willock. Sure enough right on cue your comment is here highlighting the absurd paradox perfectly.
The rewarding of a reported £300,000 plus a week to Aubameyang, even after dealing with the nigh on identical situation with Ozil.
Apart from that, tend to agree – now what would be interesting, Nayan, is your top eight success stories, just to even it up for everyone!
Ken1945: Very well give it some balance, now that my appetite is wet.
– Willian, Jesus and Viera: 2023 summer is the first transfer window we can really compete for top talent. Until now Arteta and Edu had to gamble with Top-teams rejects (Willian failed, Jesus worked pretty well, as well as Odegard and Zinchenko), or unknown entities like Viera and Sambi. There was not much alternative.
– E. Martinez: Arteta likes to play from the back and preferred GK who can do that well. Legitimate consideration.
– Maitland-Niles: He was never talented, since Wenger’s days I thought he is mediocre – poor technique, poor awareness, nonchalant borderline lazy. For decent 1v1 you don’t keep a player, and not for nothing he did badly in his loan spells.
– Smith-Rowe: Was coming back from injury when every point was crucial for us in the title race, so you don’t really want to make changes, given he can only come on for Odegard who did well. In any case, I doubt ESR can handle the high-tempo high-press game we play, I do not think he has the stamina, power, and aggressiveness to be part of our system, and by keeping him Arteta probably has too much faith in him.
– Tierney: As was mentioned, our inverted-LB tactic almost made us win EPL and Tierney can not play that role. We better bring someone who can.
– Havertz: A top talent who can play in Xhka’s, Odegard’s, Saka’s, and even Jesus’ positions. Hopefully, we can sing him.
Regarding ESR, he is also not pressure-prove. When the opposition presses us he lacks either physical strength or dribbling ability to deal with it. His only solution is to fall and hope the referee will give him a free kick. His inability to deal with oposition’s press cost us in the last few games of the 2021-2022 season.
Furthermore, to the naked eye, it appears he has too much body fat for an athlete, and maybe that is why he gets injured so much. If he can lose some fat and add some muscle and learn how to deal with oposition’s press, he might become a decent player.
‘E. Martinez: Arteta likes to play from the back and preferred GK who can do that well. Legitimate consideration’
Not sure what you meant by this – Leno was terrible playing out from the back, but martinez was very good. Are you saying EM’s sale was a mistake for this reason?
It’s easier to list the ones they got right because it’s a smaller list. But it’s irrelevant as long as they have learned and won’t repeat the same in the future.
As I said above, this summer is the first time we can compete for top talent. It is not that until now we got it wrong, but that until now we had to gamble with other top-team’s rejects or with unproven players. So naturally some gambles went well and others did not. There was not much else we could have done, as players with a high demand rejected us outright, like Vlahovich. Edu and Arteta did wonders in that situation and in spite of some unavoidable misses, brought some top talents and brought us second place. I don’t see a reason to complain. Look at Tottenham who had CL to offer to top talents and were better positioned than us in the transfer market for a few years, and look at the state of their squad now, despite investing big money. We had a much smarter strategy that paid off.
Cant argue with that but we still had a very healthy transfer outlay.
Yes we have
But is that wrong?
Will Newcastle overtake us because they can afford to Reggie? Most likely
We have been given the financial tools to nearly compete with the BIG spenders and finished second
And still we are knocking Arteta
Just because Emery is doing well at Villa we get all sorts saying he was let go too soon. He’s better than Arteta
But when we needed a big guy he didn’t cut it and I was unimpressed
We have had 3 and a half seasons that stRted slowly but have got us to second place but still the crap comments come in waves.
The transfer window has just opened but it’s been an anti Edu and Arteta field day already
Sorry to have replied to you particularly vociferously as I’m not picking on you but my general feeling of despair is I’m weary of negativity before a player has been signed or the season has kicked off
I think it’s best if the term “anti Arteta” isn’t used to describe fans cos it gives the idea of one who dislikes the manager when in fact many are just pointing out what they see as errors the manager has made. Wenger and Emery were not spared too. No one hears “anti Wenger” or “anti Emery”.
Also, as at now, Emery qualifies as a better manager than Arteta because of his achievements at clubs with much smaller budgets and prestige. It’s no slight on Arteta at all but the cold hard facts. You also mentioned that Emery didn’t step up for us when needed but you didn’t mention that he had no support from the board and his recommended players were not signed. Saliba, Saka, Martinelli even Guendouzi were his players who were on a meteoric rise when Arteta came in. Arteta has done well (really well if truth be told) but that doesn’t make him above criticism. That’s why I hardly understand the term “anti Arteta”
I’m afraid I disagree.
There are clearly people who have set out their stall to undermine and denigrate Arteta. This article is a case in point. Many of those praising the article are people who always wanted Arteta out and have never passed up on an opportunity to try to undermine how he has transformed things at the club.
There is a difference between a blunder and a contentious decision or mistake. Some of those transfer decisions may be considered errors in hindsight but most are at best contentious. Referring to them as blunders was deliberate in order to portray the decisions in the most negative way possible.
Your argument about Emery is simply opinion. It is not “hard facts”. One could equally argue that Arteta is a better manager as he has taken Arsenal from at risk of being simply a mid table team (which is where Emery left us) to now being one of the strongest sides in the PL.
Most of us are all for fair criticism but some will solidly counter unfair and unbalanced rhetoric.
Where have I used the term anti Arteta?
Except to qualify the number of posts over a number of days to justify a second place position being not good enough. It’s borderline ridiculous to be super critical
Blame the board for going for a rookie 3 and a half years ago
Then we should have hired Nagelsman or Conte Rodgers, Potter and Ancelotti
Im not wedded to Arteta but I at least feel he is on a better path than I have witnessed for a number of years
I think dgr8xt has said it better than anyone ever could. If Arteta excusers have not understood him then they never will even if a revelation is sent about the issue.
There are no fans who are against the manager. Very few who are not happy with last season.
We support the manager fully but he is not above criticism. Why some of us take Arteta criticism so personally?
Sue,if Newcastle do overtake us, it will be because of their manager. They have a long way to go yet to be able to compete financially but a good run in the CL and another top 4 finish would make them able to flex their financial muscles. They are still shopping at the bargain store at the moment but that could end with another good season.
Plus Emery did not get the backing that Arteta has got. Maybe we learnt a lot from that, maybe it would have still gone wrong for Emery but as it stands Emery is a top manager and Arteta is still trying to get there. Emery showed Arteta what you have to do to win a top trophy, with an inferior team. Its funny Sue, i dont see negativity, just opinion but i do see shallow people calling others names for having an opinion. ITS OPINION!!!!!!
Exactly Reggie
And when Emery was sitting in and around 11th to 14th you were just as vocal about him as I have been
It was opinion then as it is now but suddenly Emery has been elevated
Sue, when Emery came to Arsenal, i thought he was a great appointment and lucky to get him. It went all Pete Tong for him, i never called for his head but he did have to go. Arsenal was not the best run club then but i think the Krankies have learnt a lot and got a massive wake up call over the super league fiasco.
I believe had the board backed Emery like they have Arteta we would have already won the CL by now.
But saying that does not mean I don’t support Arteta or I want him fired. Just a harmless ‘what could have been’
I just laugh at those that are now all of a sudden making statements like: “Emery was not backed by the board”.
It’s the same people that were calling for him to be sacked, making fun of his accent and English, calling him dracula, Good ebening etc. Weren’t you one of those people that mad life very difficult for Emery? I remember people backing a scrounger (Shirt selling Genius) over Emery. They made life so unbearable for Emery because of that saga but now as always want to flip the script. They are somewhat the exact group that have been anti Arteta since 2020. I just remember how toxic most of you guys made it so unbearable for Emery.
He showed weakness and had to go but the player and fans made it impossible for him to continue. Now the same people are going on about how the board should have backed him like they have done with Arteta?.
🤦♂️
Not surprised by your lies because you are in “that group”. I started commenting on this site after Emery time.
Don’t really disagree.with the article and the posts but I would like to add…
People have mentioned Guendozi but I would like to add the whole handling of Lucas Torriera. I found it quite unpleasant with how we shipped him out after losing his mother and form. Poor sod. I’m seeing it again with Pepe, Holding and Tierney.
The dealing of Leno, MO, PEA and Lacazette was pretty harsh as well. These were once good players that performed more often than none and the way we handled their exits was poor by ostracizing them from the first team, imo?
Also I would like to add Lokonga, Tavares Mari, Soares, Viera, Marquinos and Jorghinio. What a complete waste of resources.
Just to name a few…
👍like i said people will find more. There are lots of players in our club and many have been a success. Its about the mistakes that ultimately need to be limited.
Torreira wanted to leave always did unfortunately the Pandemic meant nobody was buying we gave him reasonable loans collected some cash and then moved him on. Handled perfectly imo.
People forget how devastating the pandemic was football finances outs the pl it was massive..
Too much speculation for my liking.
1. Of course I agree
2. I tend to agree on martinez however, it all hinges on the truth behind a conversation none of us were privy to. If he was getting too big for his boots, it’s understandable why EM was sold, but if it was simply that he wanted assurances that Leno wasn’t still ahead of him in the rankings (which I think would have been more than fair at that time), then I’d say it was a blunder.
3. Again, seems like a big mistake with AMN (so I agree), but it all depends on conversations we aren’t privy to.
4. This is where it starts to get silly imo – we don’t know why ESR had played so little, but we do know he’s had trouble with injuries. We don’t know that arteta doesn’t have plans for how to use him in the side either, and I believe arteta’s even said he wants him to stay this summer. Maybe we’ve made a mistake by not selling him last season, but it’s far from clear that’s the case, yet.
5. Agree with what was said about Vieira – he’s been poor so far, but it’s not a ‘confirmed bad signing’ yet, imo
6. Jesus is a major reason we were anywhere near the title imo, and to say ‘we need a poacher’ is a highly speculative – the team scored plenty of goals without one, and for all we know we’d have scored fewer goals with a more selfish cf. I thought arteta should have used jesus more sparingly at the end of the season when his form was poor (did seem to be favoritism there), but i wouldn’t call jesus a transfer blunder at all.
7. Has it been confirmed that tierney is for sale? If we sell him and don’t replace him adequately, I’ll agree, but until that happens, again, it’s speculation, so not a blunder (yet)
8. Have we even bid for havertz? And what if we did sign him and he was really good for us? It’s unbelievable to make a list like this and include things that might not even happen! What if we sign rice for 100m and he’s underwhelming? Or caicedo goes on to be miles better than him at another club? It could all happen, but as it hasn’t, I won’t call it a blunder haha
So why no mention of lokonga (sorry, you did mention him on second read) and willock? At least you can say that lokonga was quite expensive but didn’t do well for us (can’t see us getting our money back on him as things stand), and willock has done pretty well for Newcastle (strengthened an eventual rival and could, perhaps, have done well for us instead). At least these things have actually happened.
Ladies a d gentlemen
There will always plus and negatives on players
Nothing is guaranteed
There is not one fan out there from other clubs who cant pick out players who have failed to deliver the good and some who have surprised them by turning out to be a star
We are blessed as a club to have the luxury of being able to be in the position of moving on and not sending us I to a free fall financially.
We go again and hope the players coming in are better then the ones going out.
Transfer windows are always a case of missed opportunities for some fans
Onwards and upwards
Yes Alan but we were told that under this new regime we would never see any more deadwood and high salary’s ,Arteta as built up quite an empire regarding deadwood over such a short period of time it does not bode well going forward especially the awful value some of players have that are going out the door .
Mr DK
MA is no different then most managers
We all seem to be fixated on deadwood
It is part and parcel of the game
Will always be and and has always been
the most successful managers of all time have a had trail of wasteful potential players who never performed for them
I really don’t care if we have 2 squad full of maybe players on the books
As long as we keep winning which has to be the be all and end all plus sprinkled with exciting football
I believe we got that back this season
We all should be concentrating on the success and not the negative
We have two much negativity in the world already
And yes SueP
Onwards and upwards
Onwards and upwards Allanball08
Really all guess work about whether the player fits his system or not. Character is another issue and glad they consider it a factor in team harmony and chemistry.
Can’t get them all right, but some were easier to suss out.
Cedric was a mistake, wasn’t that good when he came, still just as poor now.
Mari was predictably slow and rattled under pressure and easily spun. Predictably that’s how he performed and money wasted from the beginning.
No one is 100% right, but Cedric and Mari my nephew could tell were bad deals.
As far as Vieira goes, wasted 35 million on a luxury buy, Ozil 2.0 without resume or talent.
We have better players for positions he can play. Laughable seeing him as a CM; no physicality, not a drop of defense, and can’t play when pressured. Spent as much time as Jesus flopping on the grass.
Loan him and hopefully recoup half the money wasted. Until he grows into a man’s body, changes his attitude, and starts defending anything, he’s a bust; worse addition since Willan. At least Pepe scored and assisted, Vieira has done nothing.
I don’t think the writer watched Jesus this season from his comments.
Every manager makes mistakes, but overall, Arteta, Edu and co have done a fantastic drop when you look at the starting XI compared to when they arrived.
Jen, that starting squad and Matt Smith (who has just been released with a fa cup final medal, having played zero minutes for the 1st team) won MA the fa cup and charity shield, beating chelsea and city in the final and semi final.
I believe that’s the only time MA has beaten Peps city – funny old game.
I’m afraid the article is largely nonsense and as usual an attempt to find something to criticize without providing any kind of balance.
There are probably only two on that list that have any kind of basis.
1 Willian – this had good logic. Turned out a mistake. Ridiculous to call it a blunder. Many saw it as a reasonable transfer at the time. A good solid professional with PL experience who had played at the top level for years.
2 E Martinez – this one is nonsense that is regularly trotted out from time to time by some who continue to have an axe to grind. No matter how good he has turned out to be a manager cannot succumb to ultimatums from a player. There are probably no more than a handful of players in history for which an exception can be made and Martinez is not one of them.
3 AMN – Did not live up to expectations and did not improve himself or prove himself when given opportunities. Probably a mistake not to sell earlier. Claiming it was a blunder is hindsight quarterbacking as he has talent.
4 ESR – The story has yet to be completed. Whatever the decision it is ridiculous to call it a blunder as his ceiling is uncertain and he has relatively recently returned from injury
5 Vieira – He has had one season. He has been lightweight but the jury is still out on his ceiling as he is still quite young. A reasonable project based on his performances at a different level.
6 Gabriel Jesus – Ridiculous to call this a blunder as he has been a key reason for the improvements in self-belief within the team.
7 Kieran Tierney – A good solid defender who has also been a part of Arsenal teams that have failed to convince over the past few years. A number of contributors to the site regularly overrate Tierney and attempt to undermine the importance of Zinchenko to the way Arsenal play. He has also not yet been transferred.
8 Kai Harvertz – this has not yet even happened!
Part of the reason the article is problematic is that the author provides no sensible context. He has simply picked players who have not performed as well as may have been expected or whose transfers he disagrees with and labelled them “blunders”.
✔️
You are 100% xorrect.
And for Tierney it could be added, he has a very bad injury record, and having him as first choice will then include that risk.
Hindsight is such a wonderful thing!
If we all knew in advance what the outcome of our decisions would be, what a wonderful world we would have!
I think we are writing Vieira off too early in the day. I have seen flashes of him that suggest quality. We will know more about him this coming season when there will be a lot more games to play and every player will have more game time
Load of tosh article by someone who just doesn’t like Arteta.
As David above said, so much nonsense!
No he doesn’t like Arteta you are right. HE LOVES ARTETA. read his first line.
How can anyone seriously write about a wrong MA tarnsfer decision that has not yet been made and verY possibly will NOTbe made
CAN anyone please can explain the “thinking ” behind Havertz, a Chelsea player, being called , for the purposes of this article, a bad Arsenal transfer, please do tell me how that works!
Leaving aside that ludicrous matter , what comes through loud and clear in this pathetic article is thwriters agenda ridden antipathy towards our club manager.
You have to ask your self HOW and WHY anyone with any serious intellect could possible get into that state about a manager who has transformed our club for the better. Weird beyond words, IMO
Read the first line agai Jon. Do you not agree on any of these “blunders”
That was not the point i wished to make. So if you dont mind, Mr Censor, I will write as I see fit, use my own words up and hope they get past your censorship type nature.
The point I DID make, which seems to have escaped your notice, is that the article writer clearly has an anti MA agenda.
I have never suggested MA has not made mistakes and have said, as recently as yesterday, that some of his buys are distinctly sub par.
I realise you dont like shades of grey or nuances in posts, but tough, as I DO and will continue writing in non black and white posts, at least WHEN I see it as appropriate.
Unless you ban my posts of course, as you so often do. Sigh!
Good solid Article,showing the limitations of our manager regarding his role in some very dodgy transfers ,I mean I could add so many more but it’s all been said plenty of times so no need to repeat them.
Unfortunately the Author as got a telling off from the usual suspects that for some strange reason cannot accept that our manager isn’t the second coming and will never be .
3 years in and the that deadwood pile is getting bigger by the season .
Why did he get a telling off DK from shallow people? I dont know, he professed his LOVE for Arteta in the first paragraph and then gets told he is an Arteta hater. Some people are not nice.
Reggie
You and dk have never been a favourite of MA from the off
Might have slightly mellowed in recent months and everyone is entitled to there own opinion, which is what it is all about
We all make assumptions as best as we can but will never know the truth as we are not on the inside
It’s all about results and results have proven to be good enough for 2nd this season and a seat at the top table which hasn’t happened in many a year.
Deadwood, who is a success, who has been ill-treat, who should go and who should. Opinions
Results is what counts
Results is how we are measured not deadwood or how much we have lost or made
AB, believe it or not, i have never been against Arteta. I say what i see and hear at that time and have an opinion. It is the liars and shallow people as in this article who throw mud and unnecessary insults, teist facts and start THEIR agenda. I was ver sceptical about Arteta and still are but i want him to improve his mistakes, choices and errors, that is how he will improve. I stand by last season he lost us 4th place and he lost us 1st place this. BUT as i have always said, if he can put right his mistakes,i have no problem with him. Again for me, until he shows he can, i remain sceptical but not a “hater” and not a disliker. I am not wanting anyone in his place at the moment because i believe he has deserved the chance but i am also under the impression he has been given more money and more chance than ANY manager i can remember. He needs to be good enough to take advantage of that. If he had got to this point under the same conditions as other Arsenal managers, i would be more (for the wa t of a better word) admiring. He has been given .ore tools and more ammunition that all, i have higher expectations. I also hope and i have always said this HE SUCCEEDS but i am a hard judge to please.
Teist should be twist.
May i also add, i alway try to answer the article and the peoples posts but when you get idiots that twist, lie and insult you, it does spoil this site. I dont look at people as being negative or positive but as having an opinion. I have always said, respect people’s opinion and challenge it but the minute you insult someone,you show a lack of intelligence and respect and for me,i ignore them. I enjoy talking about peoples opinions positive or negative but i detest keyboard warriors who just ignore opinion and slag people off. IF YOU DONT AGREE IGNORE IT OR CHALLENGE IT. NOT INSULT. That is just rude. There are a few on here who just spoil or try to spoil the site.
And before anyone calls me a liar. I did say if Arteta couldn’t get 4th last season, he should be replaced but i said that earlier in the season, when we were in 4th. I think i did say a top club would have sacked Arteta and they probably would. And up until this season the football we were playing was awful and i did not enjoy watching it. That is why i didnt “love” Arteta but did not hate him.
Reggie
I think you have forgotten
MA is a manager in waiting a.d still a.coach learning his trade to be a manager
The past managers We had already were managers and probably looking to be a good coach
Other way around
Money never buys success
Hard work and ability of luck so the money side in my opinion doesn’t come in to it
Tools and ammunition
Not sure what you mean by that but I do know he had a squad of players he inherited who were big time Charlie’s not delivering the goods
A dysfunctional team
A volatile stadium
An owner who would rather take then give
No young players showing promise on a consistent level
A defence that was rotten
A soft under belly
No leadership on the field
No togetherness on the field
Boring football
Believe he has addressed quite a few of the above
Takes more then spending money and winning things just off the back off money
Our foundation have been collapsing for years
He’s still learning to.manage people and situations
If PSG get MA as alleged reports have it they want him and he goes
Every one and I mean every one will cry on what could have been
Ps
We have become top dogs in London for the first time in years
That takes some doing
Next step. Top dogs in England
Onwards and upwards
Agree !!!! But the learning on the job has been part of the problem for not quite getting over the line and he still has to prove he can do it. Plus all those big time Charlies he got rid of won him a trophy. He still has to prove his way works. Thats where and why the doubts surface.
Reggie
Those big time Charlie’s at the least had to deliver something
They flattered to deceive for such a long time
The club decided to take the view of placing an inexperienced manager in charge.of our club. Not MA fault but he was and still is inexperienced
In opinion his isn’t fit to clean peps shoes when it comes to experience in the job
We are where we are and for what he has achieved in making those club more solid again. Setting standards and reintroducing values and order. People have a short memories and forget thst our captain decided to take and extended leave
Break rules and disregard his team mates
No tell.me we haven’t raised our internal standard
We start inside and then outside
Set good foundation and hope and I do say hope as city are far from finished. We are able to win a trophy again
No one has the entitlement of having a trophy won every year
Not even city.
Well done to him
So according to you we finshed second this season gone with a bigger deadwood pile than when we finished fifth.
Interesting that, as you have unwittingly proved,how EXCELLENT a coach MA must be , to get a “larger deadwood pile than the seasons before” to do so much better, then previously.
In chess terms that is known as”CHECKMATE”.
But you forgot to mention that we won the fa cup and Community Shield with the first lot of “deadwood” while the second lot of “deadwood” has won………..?!?!
KEN, I really should not NEED to point out that winning the FA cup takes only six games but the Prem has 38.
ALL fans who know anything much at all about football know that such as Wigan and Portsmouth have won it in fairly recent times but NEITHER has done anything at all, exept get relegated , when playing Prem football.
I think THAT OUGHT to put your NON contextual post to bed!
But Jon, you forgot to mention that we won the fa cup and Community Shield with the first lot of “deadwood” while the second lot of “deadwood” has won………..?!?!
Checkmate !
Haha
Excellent manager !
Haha
Excellent managers are Innovators IE the wengers Klopps Peps not someone who as to copy is best mates ideas
Let’s see what this Excellent manager comes up with this season then come back to me with ,until then 🤫
But I’ve never wished a manger would become Ill so he would leave ,there’s lvls to this game you want to play and your VILE comment will never be topped .
You can come out with your bravado talk as a saint supporter but old fans on here will always remember that comment from you ,so my suggestion would be get back In Whatever cave you came out from tonight because real supporters are here to talk not VILE ones like yourself .
Bye bye 🫡
perfectly said DK, 100% agree
Not but bye, bye at all Mr “oldie”- if you can call very early middle age “old” as YOU do – but instead see you later, when I NEXT WISH TO REPLY TO ONE OF YOUR USUAL TALKING TOSH POSTS.
When, if ever you have the life and experienced widom that PROPER older Gooners have , then and sonly than can you call yourself “old,” son.
Mine would be paying Ozil to sit at home , then finsihing 8th as we had zero creativity
Then giving Aubameyang to Barcelona and failing to finish top 4 because you were relying on Eddie Nketiah and Laccazette for goals
Dan
Are they cast as transfers out?
Honestly Sue ….I don’t know ? Lol
And mine would be not to force that bone idle fraud Ozil out FAR EARLIER, instead of letting him drain our finances, while giving nothing back at all and in the end leaving anyway with us paying his wages for his new club.
THAT WAS a huge mistake.
DAN
In that season Aubameyang couldn’t hit a barn door for us
Done OK at barcca and moved on. Chelski couldn’t get a tune out of him and that was from a former manager of his
As for ozil who had so much talent but couldn’t be bothered attitude
And will go down in my opinion as one of the worst players we had and not because he lacked skill and could get u off your seat at times which very few players can do but for wasting his talent and not committing to the club and fans when called upon
As for leaving him on the bench
Best place for him at the time
We never ever questioned the team who sold him to us RM
seldom do they sell on there top stars . They could probably see the writing on the wall and was happy to take the money and pass on the problem
Do we put him in the class as deadwood as well as
Aubameyang
Mustafi
Koscielny for downing tools
Gallas for downing tools
RVP for wanting to jumping ship
I could go back to Willie young who our neighbours were happy to give us as he was deadwood walking
My point is
No one cares bar winning and where we finish. The news about these guys is now used as chip paper
Onwards and upwards
Allanball08
Well done you for getting it written better than I ever could
SueP
Thank you
Very bored of the subject deadwood
It has always happened and will always keep happening in the future
This season Was great to see vibrant, exciting, football back at AFC.
Great to see passionate fans backing the team and even when we go a goal down
Fans who have fallen back in love with the club again
Given our younger generation of fans to have something to believe in. They never saw the past only heard about it but they now have something they can relate to and see happening for the future
Deadwood. Spit on the subject
Let’s talk about something positive not negative
MA can be frustrating at time with some of his decisions but overall. He’s done an amazing job in turning around this club
Culture has changed within the club and most of the fans again. For the good
Onwards and upwards
Your analysis is spot on all these players and I hope Arteta reads this. As a long standing fan and follower, I had wondered about the these same issues you raised about Gabriel Jesus for instance, and now that we’re looking to buy, a top striker (finisher not peripheral) is key to next season’s success if we are to truly compete. It’s not too late to hold on to Tierney for the reasons you raised and I agree. Partey too is losing his impact(inconsistent) and I hope the management will also fix the weaknesses in the midfield, and come next season Arsenal would have a rich bench ( like for like) to fully compete.
Your analysis is so accurate on all these players and I hope Arteta reads this. As a long standing fan and follower, I had wondered about the these same issues you raised about Gabriel Jesus for instance, and now that we’re looking to buy, a top striker (finisher not peripheral) is key to next season’s success if we are to truly compete. It’s not too late to hold on to Tierney for the reasons you raised and I agree. Partey too is losing his impact(inconsistent) and I hope the management will also fix the weaknesses in the midfield, and come next season Arsenal would have a rich bench ( like for like) to fully compete. He should seel ESR, Holding, Pepe, Lokonga, Tavares, and finalise on Declan Rice, Caicedo, Diaby, and
Cancelo.