Well, lovely Arsenal people, the time has come. Mikel Arteta has won just one game in the month of April since becoming Arsenal manager. That is six Aprils and only one win, the one against Sporting Lisbon. The criticism to play better football was deemed an agenda, but results have now caught up. The constant mistakes of the manager have come back to hurt us at the end of the season once again.
Arteta simply does not rotate his squad enough. He says that he needs his best players fit at the end, but he runs them into the ground. Saka has played so many full matches where it was not necessary, and now he is out. Instead, we have Noni, who too often runs the ball out of play when he receives it.
A worrying mentality on and off the pitch
But the psychology of the team is by far the most concerning aspect. It is basic knowledge that when you are behind, you hurry and do not waste time. Instead, we take too long over throw ins and corners when we are 2-1 down against Bournemouth in a title race. The players do not even sprint to collect the ball. This behaviour suggests fear, uncertainty, and a lack of desire. It is something other teams recognise and exploit.
Bournemouth did not even need to sit in a low block. They did not have to, because we do not have an effective attack. I felt sorry for Gyokeres, because he tried but was isolated.
There is nobody with confidence on the ball. For most of my life following Arsenal, we have been a team comfortable in possession. Now Odegaard is the only player with that quality and he is injured. But even if he were available, would he have changed anything? He, like the others, reflects a manager who appears cautious. Arteta did something we needed at one stage, he introduced a more pragmatic side, but it has gone too far and we have lost our identity.
Is Arsenal’s identity being lost?
This team seems capable of winning matches in only one way, by scoring first and then defending. That has been the pattern for much of 2026. Now performances have caught up with results, and next week Manchester City could end our title hopes. They have been inconsistent at times, but against Chelsea they showed the mentality of a team that wants to win. Against Bournemouth, Arsenal looked like a team that does not enjoy playing football.
It is easy to criticise individuals, Noni and Martinelli for inconsistency, Trossard for poor form, Zubimendi for safe passing, Raya for slowing the game down, but is it really just the players? I look at Arteta, I listen to his press conferences, and I do not see the urgency. I do not see a manager desperate to change things or push for more positive football. The identity feels negative, and the mentality feels flat. That will not suddenly change before next week.
Prepare yourselves for a difficult Wednesday, as we may well go out to Sporting. Even if we progress, it is hard to see us winning the Champions League. In the Premier League, it feels like the title is now in Manchester City’s hands. They play with attacking intent, they ask questions, they look like they want it. What do we look like? What is the feeling you have right now?
Frustration built over years
This is not professional behaviour at the highest level. Do you think Ancelotti would coach players at Real Madrid to slow the game down in those situations? We should have learned these lessons years ago. Villarreal, Sporting, Olympiacos, missing out on the top four to Spurs, losing leads, falling short in title races. If this happens again, it will feel like a fourth missed opportunity in a row.
I have spent more than 20 years following this football club, but it feels like failure is being accepted. There is now a contract until 2033. Since January, I have wanted the season to end. I used to enjoy football, it is why I started watching Arsenal. What we are seeing now does not resemble the club I once loved. It feels like the soul has been lost.
I have been called negative on this forum, but look at the football and decide for yourself where the real negativity lies.
I am done for this season and will not be posting again. As for the future, it all depends on whether this club shows the ambition that I believe it should. History suggests otherwise.
What do you think Gooners? Is this frustration justified, or is there still belief in Arteta’s project?
Reader Opinion – Mitov
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I think we are just a mess now and Arteta needs to calm down and stick to basics. Can he do it? I don’t know but there seems to be no gameplay when we play. Everything we do just looks a bit random and hoping for the best.
There’s definitely no urgency or no desire to win.
I don’t understand, MA and the players should be fired up for being called bottlers, losers and spineless jellies. I know I would. Shouldn’t the berating of rivals motivate them?
The issue is , we lack odegaard to knit our play, he drops deep to make himself an option when raya passes out or to just create numbers.
In midfield he initiates attacks, recycles possession and finds options.
Eze – doesnt do that, he is an individual and at times it as if we have a player less when he is on the pitch.
In attack we have a striker who is very limited in gyokeres. He is easily marked out, cant control a through ball or latch onto it very well. Doesn’t meet crosses , hence why our wingers have struggled with him, unlike jesus, havertz and merino, will drop deep to create confusion to opponents. So when eze and gyokeres start its effectively two players less, unless a team gives space and loose with marking. Our wingers are double marked and when they pass back into midfield we dont have odegaard who will find other options
Before his injury, calafiori would invert into midfield and link up with trossard very well, so even if gyokeres or eze were invisible in the game , we were still making life hard for opponents.
Arteta hasnt managed to find a way to incorporate eze , he knows he isnt like odegaard, so he has to change his set up to utilise eze’s vast skill set.
Gyokeres isnt good enough- 18 goals he has scored but how many of those have been winners? Havertz or jesus should be starting . Merino has been a huge miss as even the wingers linked with him very well. Why norgard hasnt been played in these last few games is odd, because a midfield three would probably take the pressure off zubimendi.
I dont care how we win, what I care about is that arteta is insistent on this set up for over a month , which we have won through luck and ultimately lost in two cup competions and are starting to throw the league away.
His comments about academy graduates needing to step up, was very odd , because as nwaneri and myls are being linked with moves away, how many opportunities did he give them? Nwaneri’s loan is a good lesson, for myles its clear he isn’t a lb but no opps given in midfield this season. Selling them because its pure profit, sends out the wrong impression to our youth players. Why did arteta etc make so much effort for them players to sign , meet their parents and assure them arsenal were the right club?. Why would dowman or marli salmon decide to sign professional contracts ? If after signing game time becomes minimum and then the manager is saying they have to step up when called upon ? Why show arsenal any loyalty, they can sign for a club who will meet the the promises made.
Its been a bad month for arteta and his tactics, set up, insistence on gyokeres playing – is the reason the team are losing confidence .
Ultimately for him… if he doesnt win the pl or cl , he has no actual excuses , he has a squad, Injuries happen, he should be able to change things , if a signing isnt working out or effecting the game plan then drop him . We have no fluidity in our play , fine but still get a result .
If he doesnt win and stays on …. the entitled fans will bring back the toxicity of years before and ultimately there will be his most loyal supporters also questioning why he hasnt been moved on. Arteta transformed the club and made us relevant again…but now its his own undoing which is hurting the team.
If berta isnt working on gyokeres exit already then its clear he isnt as great as everyone makes out he is.
Pep would have benched him by now, chelsea would have put him in the bomb squad, Liverpool wouldnt play him.
Whilst Arteta might have killed Arsenal’s identity for free flowing entertaining football from the Wenger era, he certainly hasn’t killed Arsenal’s ‘boring, boring Arsenal’ identity from years gone by.
As long Arteta keep winning trophies, he will give us a serial winner identity, the most important identity of them all, if you ask me
No, he has not killed our identity, we have only been playing this way for a season, and can adapt quickly.
And no again, the title has not slipped away. Yes we are not in a great moment, but this can change in one game, and let’s hope it’s against Sporting. Yes we have City next which will be tough, however I am backing our boys to get something out of the game.
Cheese and rice! Can people just settle down a bit.
Doubling down on the negativity in one article, with only 6 games to go… Let’s at least keep the faith until the last whistle, then make as much noise as you want!
Whether Arteta has killed their identity is a good debating point. But I will say that he’s certainly been more pragmatic than he was in the seasons 2022-2023 and 2024-2025.
Something I find strange to be honest, as the defense was still good back then when we played more expansive football.
OOPS! I meant 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Apologies. 🤦♂️
The 1 win in April meme is not true.
Sporting is the only fixture we have won this month, unless I am missing something?
Well lovely people the time has come to correct the author of this article. He states that we have won just one game in April since Mikel has become our Manager. The truth is that in the PL we have won 9 !
20/4/22
Chelsea 2 vs Arsenal 4
23/4/22
Arsenal 3 vs Man Utd 1
3/4/24
Arsenal 2 vs Luton 0
6/4/24
Brighton 0 vs Arsenal 3
20/4/24
Wolves 0 vs Arsenal 2
23/4/24
Arsenal 5 vs Chelsea 0
28/4/24
Spurs 2 vs Arsenal 3
1/4/25
Arsenal 2 vs Fulham 0
20/4/25
Ipswich 0 vs Arsenal 4
Dear Konstantin, please do your homework before writing anymore articles.
Where does Konstantin get his info from?
Probably from a microwave?
We all make mistakes HD and I’m sure Konstantin will see this post and apologise..
I’m surprised he didn’t wait till the end of this April before writing the article, as that would have completed his point, despite him getting everything wrong anyway.
Whatever happens this season, this would be a perfect article to refer back too for reference and discussion
Ken, Konstantin’s not the only one making “mistakes”, as Liam Harding in his article today, stated that Bournemouth beat us 2-1 at The Vitality this season, when in fact we won 2-3. And he also hasn’t shown up yet to apologise. I know these guys aren’t pro’s, but a little more care’s needed if we’re to take these writers seriously.
isn’t that entitled ?
why do you need an apology?
For getting it completely wrong.
For making me believe the BS.
you believed it ?
you just said you knew it was 2-3 lol ?
can’t be both
It wasn’t me who spotted the error, but CorporateMan. Check it out on “Did Arsenal Just Hand Momentum To Man City In The Title Race.”
And yes, I did believe it at first, or more to the point, I didn’t disbelieve it.
wow so you didn’t know we won at the Vitality lol ?
shocking knowledge
Yes, terrible wasn’t it. I put my hand up to forgetting, but that’s what happens when you reach a certain age. It’s got a name, if only I could remember.
😂😂😂
very good lol.
…not unlike believing somebody or other on here once blaming the Liverpool fans for rioting in Paris.
👏👏👏👍
True Ken, but a little bit of research goes a long way…
didn’t you say you heard Odegaard would be out for the season
did you research that ?
Wow, he can actually reply to me 😯
Yes I was told that not long after he got that injury.
Didn’t you write an article about Liverpool fans in Paris ?
Didn’t you research that ?
so maybe he was told the wrong information as well lol
I’m not the one asking for others to say sorry.
To me it’s a blog and some of us are going to know more then others
give the lad a break lol
Then he should have done due diligence and researched it before making a fool of himself. Simples…
like you ?
you make lots of mistakes
knowledge is shocking and I have had to correct you on lots of things but never has anyone asked you to say sorry
I haven’t asked anyone to say sorry 😀.
I’ve made a few mistakes, not “lots”, and when I have made mistakes I admit it, unlike you.
it is is
2nd September 2025 ( can send you link if you don’t believe me )
you wrote
Three more Finals since ’94 and not one win is truly shocking.
I had to correct you
4 European finals mate
you said
Yep 4, my mistake. I forgot Paris in ’95.
did any ask you to say sorry ?
so I was telling the truth
so your a liar , you haven’t always known
seen through you for years
you didn’t know Messi and Neymar had played together
you didn’t know how many finals we been in
you didn’t know Wembley been knocked down
you made up Odegaard was out for season .
you made up who is man of the match
I can even send a link where you make up that a player is on a yellow card when he isn’t
this is why I don’t answer you as I truly think your knowledge is shocking
so don’t you of all peeps try to gang up on someone for getting something wrong
The awkward moment when you call me a liar 😂😂
Again I reiterate, when I’ve got something wrong l admit it, you on the other hand don’t.
Any chance of you answering my question about the Tuesday Club, or are going to do your usual and swerve it ?
mate you don’t know Neymar and Messi played with each other or how many European finals have we have been in
so I really don’t want to engage
I’m simply stepping in because your picking on someone
only added examples because you said it’s not true
even Ken said give the lad a break
So I corrected KM on how incorrect he was in saying that we have never won a game in April under Mikel and you have gone off on one 😂😂.
Yet again Still you fail to answer my question. Why am I not surprised.
Still, show me where I’ve asked anyone to apologise to me ?
you didn’t
I said to Jax why does he need to apologise and you said because he’s wrong .
So I’m simply saying you have don’t know Messi played with Neymar and needed corrected how many European finals Arsenal were in yet no asked you to apologise.
Just my opinion but it’s a double standard .
Dan,
Come on now, you say people make mistakes and yes they do. But when you claim that Arsenal have only won once in April in Arteta’s 6 year’s in charge, you really are going to face a bit of stick for being so far wide of the mark.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been guilty of it myself. But never to such an extent that this article has.
yeah but he can’t pick on people when he does the same.
He doesn’t owe anyone an apology.
If I went on BBC right now and saw something was incorrect I wouldn’t write saying can the writer please say sorry to me lol
Dan,
I still don’t know why you’re trying to defend this article if I’m honest. Yes poster’s have got stats wrong, it happens.
But if you’re going to go to the bother of actually getting an Article put onto JA, you’ve surely got to do you’re research, while it’s not as bad in a post. Bad but not as bad, you’ve got to be more accurate surely.
After all and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but if you’re going to come at Arteta regarding his record in April, you’ve got to back it up with facts. Clearly missing in this article, and for you to see it in the same light as some miss guided posts, is a bit of a surprise to be honest.
After all, how many times do we hear on JA about getting you’re facts right. All of a sudden it’s acceptable to be well wide of the mark.
because mate the person wanting an apology equally gets things wrong
I just don’t think anyone needs to say sorry that’s all
but it’s opinions
Derek, your post at 6.53 is spot on and can’t understand why Dan is having a go at HD for what he sees as lying, but backs up the article which is based on a lie regarding April results.
We all get things wrong, even Jax, who would have been at the Emirates tonight, wondering where everyone else was 😂😂
Sorry Jax, I’m sure you’ll come back with a flopar I’ve made 😠😠
Dan,
Regardless of apologies’, will you at least acknowledge that said poster who want to write a piece for JA needs facts to back up their article when calling out said manager in this case Arteta regards records in the month of April in his six years at the club.
of course mate
You should change your name to Pinocchio after posting that post.
so you didn’t say Odegaard was out for the season ?
you didn’t forget how many European Cups Arsenal had been in ( something an Arsenal fan should know )
did anyone at the time ask you to feel sorry for your lack of knowledge?
well you did
I asked Jax why does me need to say sorry and you said because he got it wrong
I’ve always know how many times Arsenal have been in the European Cup, twice. Once under Bertie Mee, where we lost to the great Ajax team and once under George Graham when we lost to Benfica.
My knowledge of The Arsenal far outweighs yours 😀😂
Herr Drier,
Can I ask who you’re post of 5.40pm is referring to.
Derek, it was a reply to Dan Pinocchio Smith.
no you once didn’t know how many European Cup finals Arsenal had been in
you don’t know that Neymar and Messi had played together lol
you claimed to have watched last seasons CL.semi final yet made up who was man of the match
honestly stuff you should know.
so before you pick on others lol
We’ve played in ONE EUROPEAN CUP FINAL in 2006. The others have been the Fairs Cup, the CWC, the UEFA Cup and the Europa League Final.
No need to thank me for educating you .
yeah but do you remember when you forgot one and I had to correct you lol
can remind you if your saying that’s not true ?
education
you didn’t know where we played Liverpool in Cup final lol
remember when you said …well why did we not go back to Wembley then and I had to say because it was knocked down lol
there’s loads
the Neymar and Messi one though made me believe you don’t watch allot of football
Remember the amount of times I asked you which Arsenal player was put on his arse while on the Tuesday Club ? You just done a runner.
As for the ones I got wrong, I admitted I made mistakes, unlike you.
Now can you answer which player got put on his arse by a real Gooner, and for a bonus point, which pub did it happen in ?
2nd September 2025 ( can send you link if you don’t believe me )
you wrote
Three more Finals since ’94 and not one win is truly shocking.
I had to correct you
4 European finals mate
you said
Yep 4, my mistake. I forgot Paris in ’95.
did any ask you to say sorry ?
so I was telling the truth
Yep, and I admitted I made a mistake, it’s there in black and white for all to see. Maybe you should try it.
Again, please show me where I’ve asked anyone to apologise ?
I notice you’re still swerving my question about the Tuesday Club. Any chance you can answer it ? If you don’t know the answer just say so.
I can’t keep repeating myself so for the 4th time and after this won’t be responding because he’s got to attention at this point lol
I said to Jax why does he need to say sorry
you then said because he’s wrong
so I’m simply saying if your saying he needs to say sorry because he’s wrong then so should you
But I’m not asking him to apologise to me duh 🙄
If one doesn’t research properly, one makes a fool of oneself – as I did with our home game against Liverpool.
Guess what HD? I apologised!!
Perhaps he forgot about you and your bloodhound instincts mate? 😂
Ken, there’s a couple on here that can’t admit their mistakes.
Some of us are man enough to admit our mistakes mate.
like Neymar playing with Messi and how many European Cups Arsenal played in .
I answered that we’ve only played in the European Cup twice.
no I sent you the article where you got it wrong
not going to keep repeating myself lol.
it’s simple
with your knowledge you can’t be having ago at others
As I rightly pointed out, we’ve played in the European Cup twice, once under Bertie Mee and once under George Graham.
If you think different then thinking is not your strongest point.
I was agreeing with you HD but in a sarcastic way that seemed to backfire!!
How Konstantin can enjoy football and supporting our club I’ll never understand.
He’s doing himself a good turn deciding to step away, it’ll give the rest of us a break from numbing negativity!!
Ken, I know you were being sarcastic mate 👍.
Do you remember in the cafe when I told you about the fine we got 20 odd years ago ? It was for EBT.
Indeed I do and I didn’t know about that either did I?
That’s why JA is such a good site, full of fans who know such different facts and stories about our club, with differing views from around the world.
With such a long history, there are bound to be situations where one gets things wrong and the easiest thing to do when one makes a mistake is to thank the person for correcting them and apologise – then get on with the next article.
What amazes me, is that some fans seem to keep a complete record of what others say, in order to bring up said errors at a later stage.
WHY? Can anyone explain?
I would say that they live a very sad life Ken.
no Ken
you ask for examples so you literally just type into search engine and find them .
you can’t ask for examples or accuse people of not telling the truth then complain when people give you the evidence you asked for
hence I said someone gets allot of things wrong , he said I wasn’t telling the truth so I showed him lol
And I admitted at the time that I had made mistakes.
You would do well to admit your mistakes.
oh I’m not having ago
Ken is just asking why
I’m simply saying because you said I was making up that you made allot of mistakes so I’m explaining that I don’t write it down I just search on the bar
I posted that although I’ve made some mistakes I haven’t made a lot. You really should be known as Pinocchio.
It’s only fair to wait until the end of the season to see if we actually can win something tangible. To do that i understand that sometimes there will have to be tactical changes. At the end of the day, we all want to see us win the EPL and the CL if possible? If Arteta manages to lift the EPL this year playing this lacklustre, cautious and dull form of football, I’m sure we’ll all feel we should trust him more. However, and it does look ominous , that we falter once again just before the finish line, it’s going to be hard to defend him. I know players need to be held accountable for not performing to their best. Especially if fit. Ultimately, it’s on Arteta to make sure that happens. He picks the team and tactics. You would never see constant under-performers under Pep or even Alex Furguson and that’s why they won/win consistently.
We know If we do not win anything this season, what our identity is going to be.
Same as last season Reggie and we’ll all be here supporting the club once again.
At least we haven’t been proven as cheats and awaiting the verdict on 115 plus charges of fiddling the books.
I know what club I’d rather be a fan of! /
Ken, I do not see the charges being upheld, so until they are, they are irrelevant. There will be a whitewash, in my opinion. Its gone on far too long. And the charges, do not affect this season.
Reggie, I think you are wrong on both counts.
I believe City will be found guilty in the summer and it will be point deductions – otherwise the door will be open for widespread corruption of the rules.
Secondly, the cheating has affected the PL every season since it first started and continues today.
That’s why Forest are in a relegation battle this season and why Everton aren’t in the top six.
Let’s assume city115 are found guilty :
They are benefitting from the money they earnt by winning the PL, FA cups, CL etc today and that’s why they were able to buy two top players this winter transfer window.
Look how it has effected Leicester, who are facing relegation and the consequences are always on going.
It will be a whitewash. I don’t see it being retrospective.
They have all ready come to an agreement on some of the charges. The rest are still being challenged. It is so complexed, I see a whitewash.
Why have they not been charged before now, for breeches all ready agreed.
Everyone saying it willbe a record fine, demotion and 30 to 60. Never going to happen. I predict heavy fine and 10 to 15 points max. If at all.
Can you see all the other clubs accepting such an outcome Reggie?
Or the fans of all the other clubs?
Or the owners of all the other clubs?
Just my opinion Ken. What are clubs going to do?
We hear nothing really from the media Sky, or any broadcaster about their impending punishment. It is never mentioned when addressing Citys achievements on TV and no other current manager or player ever mentions it. I think a deal will be done and they will not be punished as some think they will.
Ken1945,
How many clubs are up in arms regarding Chelsea’s joke of a fine?.
Exactly. It is a lot easier to punish lesser clubs. Bigger clubs not so.
Good point but chelsea have also had the label of cheats placed against them and that’s a stain that will be in their DNA forever.
I’m sure Pep won’t want that on his cv.
Derek, Chelsea’s soft fine could have been because of them “self-reporting” the “financial discrepancies” that took place under Abramovic when Boehey’s team conducted due diligence when taking over. They didn’t attempt to cover anything up, and gave full support to the investigation.
Excellent comment of yours at 6.35 pm yesterday. For some reason the reply facilities disappear from comments. Maybe admin gets fed up with the back & forth.
Jax,
I heard that although Chelsea cooperated and reported said misdemeanors, they only did that because they we’re aware that they we’re about to outed anyway.
When put like that, they still got off lightly didn’t they.
I think that will only be in your mind Ken. Chelsea fans won’t care they’ll just see it as their club doing everything that it could to stay on top. It isn’t as if they bribed officials ( as far as we know). Future generations looking at the records of EPL won’t even know about the minute details of fair play rules.
Arsenal’s problem during Arteta’s reign has been two-fold, in my opinion. One, rigidity. Players seem restrained and are afraid or prevented from expression. From thinking. Arteta does all of that for them. So they would be afraid to adapt, to take situations and entire games into their own hands. But the biggest reason why that has been allowed to happen for so long is the club culture. It is not in the calibre of a Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. It is not one of sporting excellence. Until that changes, it will be more of the same. More of ‘we keep going’… I somehow feel Arteta’s job is on the line. I feel a decision has already been made. That’s just from seeing his body language and perhaps reading too much into his words lately. But let’s see.
Joe, there was a scandal in English football way back in 1964, with a player named Peter Swan.
He was found guilty of taking bribes and was banned from football for eight years from 1964 to 1972 while playing for Sheffield Wednesday, who were in the top level of English football at the time.
This situation is still mentioned today.
Then, of course, nearer to home, we have the case of George Graham who was found guilty of receiving cash involving transfer dealings.
That situation is still mentioned today.
So imagine how the fans will taunt chelsea fans when they start chanting they’ve won the lot.
If city115 are found guilty, this will be even bigger than any of the above, especially with Pep as their manager.
The ramifications will be off the chart and will rumble on for years…. just my opinion of course mate.