Garth Crooks has claims that Mikel Arteta has done better than expected with Arsenal this season, despite claiming that we are ‘running out of steam’.
The Gunners were clear favourites to finish in the top four at the international break, with some claiming we could even catch a faltering Chelsea side who currently occupy third, but it has been a disaster run of results since.
We lost Kieran Tierney ahead of the clash with Crystal Palace, while Thomas Partey pulled up during that fixture, with neither now expected to be made available to return this season, injuries that appear to have really taken it’s toll on our side, but despite our team seemingly dropping out of the race for the Champions League places, Garth Crooks insists that Mikel Arteta has impressed.
Whilst naming Fraser Forster for his Team of the Week in his BBC column, he made the above claim.
“Southampton took a hammering from Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week but recovered brilliantly to put another dent in Arsenal’s Champion League ambitions. Had it not been for keeper Forster, the scoreline against Chelsea might have been considerably worse and he was superb again for the Saints, making a number of outstanding saves against the Gunners. Forster has been playing well, a point highlighted by his recent selection in Gareth Southgate’s England squad. Arsenal, on the other hand, are starting to look like a team who are running out of steam. I must admit, regardless of where they finish this season, Mikel Arteta has done a much better job than I had anticipated.”
On the back of three straight defeats, some have moved to criticise the Spaniard, and that is unlikely to get much better as we now face the daunting challenge of trying to end our run of defeats against Chelsea, with Manchester United and West Ham waiting after that.
While I don’t think there is any chance of Arteta being moved on at this point, nor in the summer, not even if we was to see out the rest of the season without a win and miss out on Europe altogether, I think it is fair to ask the question. What we need to ask however is whether this squad has outdone itself which would be a credit to Arteta, or whether the team overall has actually underachieved.
I don’t recall many claiming that fourth was the worst-case scenario for this side when the transfer window closed on August 31, so why should it be the point of reference now?
Patrick
HA HA HA Garth Crooks the Tottenham cheer leader praising Arteta for a good job, when they yet again look like being underneath them in the league for another season. What a p**s taker.
I can see that big fat tongue in the side of his cheek.
I like his honest opinion here.
He said “Mikel Arteta has done a much better job than I had anticipated.”
Now this his opinion on the manager, hoe about the team?? I guess that sum it up.
Arteta might have progress as a coach but definitely the team are yet to progress with him.
Anything can be label as achievement for him considering he has never managed before.
This is why 8th positions twice was overlooked because he just started his career. but you wouldn’t tell me that position is good for Arsenal or be impressed with it or say they have gone beyond your expectations with that position.
For a team that has no European distractions, out of all cup competitions and playing one game a week? I’m sorry I can’t accept anything but a 4th place finish. Anything less is no progress. Honestly I don’t even know why he’s still at Arsenal. His style of football is boring, plus he lacks man management skills, too quarrelsome and unforgiving with his players….and that attitude is making us lose out on good players. Guendouzi is an example the guy is too good a talent and till this day I still don’t think what he did warrants the treatment he’s getting from the Arteta. I mean we have Lokonga playing for us over Guendouzi? What a joke
It does not matter if we weren’t backed to finish 4th circumstances change we more or less had one game a week and Totts and Man utd have been shockingly sh*t even replacing managers and West Ham have been in Europe. 11 defeats, on course to finish scoring less and conceding more than last season after Arteta spent a fortune on the defence not to mention losing 3 games in a row twice this season and counting. Yeah he’s done remarkably well 👍
It would be ironic if after last season, Chelsea changed the manager that wasn’t upto it for improvement (got it) and Spuds and utd do us after doing the same. But lets not worry about teams improving after sacking an under performing manager, we are Arsenal and trust the process!!!!!!!!!
One thing is certain we will not improve under this manager Reggie and supporters can fool themselves all day long that a process takes time, Arteta and Edu have sold this youth project to the owners to buy time for themselves because both men are completely out of their depth. We have a manager who’s using basketball analogies to excuse his shortcomings and supporters are bought into this ? The future is bleak mate.