Arsenal has struggled to make significant progress in recent seasons, and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has suggested this could be because the Gunners have already peaked under Mikel Arteta.
This marks the third consecutive season in which Arsenal has been in contention for the Premier League title, yet they once again appear likely to fall short. Last season, after returning from a mid-season training camp in Dubai, the Gunners were in unstoppable form, pushing the title race to the final day before ultimately losing out to Manchester City.
This time, they could face disappointment at the hands of Liverpool instead. However, the question remains: will Arsenal ever be able to replicate the extraordinary level of performance they displayed in the latter half of last season?
Carragher does not believe so. He feels that Arsenal has already reached its peak under Arteta and may struggle to return to those heights again. Speaking on the Overlap, as quoted by the Daily Mail, he said:
“I think we’ve seen peak Arsenal under Arteta.
“I think last season, the second half of last season I was looking at Arsenal thinking wow, this is a team this.
“I was watching them week in, week out and thinking I’m watching a team that’s as good as any team in Europe here. The last 18 games, you won 16, drew one away to City and lost one at home to Aston Villa. That three or four-month period, I’m not sure Arsenal will get back to that.”
Arsenal’s challenge now is to maintain consistency over multiple seasons, which is the key to winning the Premier League. It would be disappointing if that exceptional run last season turns out to be the best spell under Arteta. If Arsenal truly wants to claim the league title, they must find a way to sustain that level of performance rather than seeing it as a peak they cannot reach again.
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
My fear is that he is not evolving and keep on making the same mistakes. We are stagnant if not regressed. His best season was 21/22 season when they played exciting fast attacking football but he changed that to slow sideway possession heavy football. He is risk averse and only wants to go for tried and tested than giving a chance to the youth. He prefers versatility than specialty. He doesn’t have plan B with tactics, player selection and purchases. He shouldn’t stay beyond next season if he doesn’t win EPL or CL.
Could t agree more
Already talk of a rebuild .
Hes done ok steadied the ship so to speak ,now let’s get a someone to get us over the line before all our better players leave for pastures new and we have to spend another billion .
In my opinion Arteta has not shown an ability to adapt or evolve his tactics when things are not working; no plan B.
His obsession with possession too often leads to possession without purpose; just endless side to side and backwards passing. Add the slow buildup, and the defenses have time to organize before we even get into their third of the pitch.
Teams are countering our static positioning, and are learning to stop chasing, and instead keep a disciplined backline and we go toothless. Even our fully fit squad struggles too often to break opponents down.
Just look at the last match against Forest, Nuno went to a back 4 because he knew Arteta had Merino at striker and was not going to change the setup.
Artetaball has taken us as far as it can; I appreciate the top 4, but I’m a bit greedy and ambitious and would like the club to take the next step and win trophies.
As far as Arteta, he simply has to deliver next season, even if a new SD takes the lead in transfers.
do you really think we can tolerate/accept another season under Arteta? why prolong the agony?
If I was asked for my views on the major failing of Arteta I would have to highlight his utter intransigence when it comes to our tactical set up.His way is the only way and that is unlikely to change during the remaining tenure of his time with Arsenal.I could go on to pick holes on his recruitment policy, but that has been covered so often by so many on JA that any further input from me would be rather pointless.
In the picture, he looks the spitting image of himself 🤔
It seems to me that MA has shown us that he has two different styles of playing, the last two seasons, where we played adventurous and exciting football that saw us so close to winning the PL and this seasons offering that sees time wasting, back and sideways passing, with the fear factor of conceding goals dominating our play.
So what has changed?
His insistence of playing square pegs in round holes, despite seeing that it didn’t work (Partey at RB) – likewise inverted stubbornness has seen the likes of Tierney sitting on the bench while our left side has remained the weaklink – his failure to secure a top striker, while letting four attacking players leave (I have sympathy regarding this by the way) – the excuses he’s used for defeats that have left him open to ridicule this season – no plan B have all added up to the feeling of “after the Lord Mayor’s show”.
But here’s where I have an enormous amount of sympathy for MA.
The sudden loss of Edu and the time it’s taking to replace him – the red card decisions that have cost the club many points, despite the apologies from the PGMOL – the prolific amount of serious injuries this season, including season ending results for Havertz, Jesus and Tomiyasu while long term layoffs for Saka, Martinelli and White.
I don’t know if Mikel has reached his ceiling as manager of our club and I don’t believe anyone else can, bearing in mind those injuries.
But I can’t see our owners taking the decision to sack him, especially after rewarding him with that ridiculous new contract (will the club ever learn?) unless we miss out on the CL and I don’t see that happening myself.
Great summary Ken. Struggle to disagree with any of it.
Most of th regular commenters on this site are haters. Curious who the fans think we should be as a club? Splash the cash and rotate management every 6 months if the manager isn’t going to win the league. What is going to satisfy Arsenal supporters. You lot must just be flat miserable human beings. We could be United and have gone through how many managers since SAF. How many mgrs has Chelsea been through since last winning the league. I can’t even name them. We have literally lost 8 first team players to injury so the fact we’re 2nd should make everybody happy, but noooooo, we should be winning the league with WHAT PLAYERS? Should we have a Chelsea-esque size squad of 54 players? Get real man. Does Arteta have deficiencies, yes. I wish he could come up with a Plan B, but yet again hard to do when your Sporting Dir took another job.
No mate
I think you will find like most supporters the mood will normally reflect what’s going on in the pitch
So after we beat Spurs or Man City go look back most were super positive
Now 13 points behind Liverpool, out of title race in Feb , one win in last 4 , not sure where goals will come from , injuries and dull football …shock fans won’t be happy
I will defend my peers though ( even those who disagree with me ).
There’s allot of patient people on this site and in the fanbase .
Fans defended him when he was finishing 8th and paying Ozil and Aubameuang to sit at home
You can’t have it both ways .
He’s been praised allot but if you have failed to challenge this season what do you want Gooners to say ?
😂
6 months Todd Burrows, he’s had 5 years. 🤦♂️🙄🤷♂️
There have been many things at play this season that have added up to the difference between Arsenal and Liverpool, let alone the 2 seasons before.
The patient build up that drives me and everyone else potty isn’t a product of this year alone and goals have been forthcoming as the stats will show. It was used more sparingly then when our football was more direct. Jesus returned after a long absence and became productive but is now rehabilitating again It was the lack of another fox in the box to make the most of the chances that were created that invariably piqued my annoyance. It just looks like possession for possession’s sake without the killer’s instinct to score.
Speculating on why a striker wasn’t added in the summer is just that – speculation. We are not flies on the wall like the Amazon series. Was it Arteta’s fault or a decision made elsewhere? The last ditch loan of Sterling surprised me – what was going on last summer?
Nothing stays the same from one year to the next anyway. You only have to look at City to see that.
It’s not realistic to think that injuries haven’t played a very big part as have the red cards. Arteta has also overseen indiscipline – not just the cards but diving, etc too. It’s embarrassing listening to him moan and it doesn’t enhance his reputation or that of the club. However, does that mean he’s reached his ceiling?
Not all teams come out of the traps firing on all cylinders. We were solid enough against tougher opponents than Liverpool who did, and they haven’t looked back. Confidence breeds success and they have Salah in the form of his life. He has stayed fit and Saka is on the sidelines. On the other hand, is the lack of discipline all part of a wider problem created by the style of play? Or has this season’s lack of style been a bi product of trying to manage constant injuries to key players?
Like Ken1945 has written, Arteta looks safe this season in no small part for the reasons he mentioned
The repugnant Carragher is no doubt smirking at Liverpool’s resurgence and we are smarting.
As usual, the naysayers and pretenders are the quickest out of the gate. All set out to make Arteta a target of fans ire.
Arguments about “square pegs” and plan Bs are just silly and suggest that people are just using meaningless phrases in order to create narratives that others will buy into.
I think you have misjudged a number of sensible, mature fans who have responded to this particular article David and as for your comments on the silliness of raising the matter of square pegs you are the one who is failing to see and accept the folly of such a policy both on the playing side and the huge financial outlays involved in recruiting the wrong type of footballer.
Here’s the thing.
Talk about “square pegs” is inherently problematic.
Using Partey at RB, for example, was a considered option given the defensive problems we had at the time and the limited options available.
The derisive comments are particularly unhelpful when quite clearly the manager is thinking out of the box to try and deal with what has been a quite difficult period with injuries. In my view they are cheap shots which are consistent with the refusal to acknowledge the difficulty of managing an injury hit squad.
Liverpool have been one of the best PL teams in recent years. Injuries have been a factor that derailed their title challenges. Yet this is a team that has CL and PL winners. MC have also struggled this season in part due to injuries.
Arguments about getting a striker should make sense in the real world rather than the abstract striker that some people keep talking about.
As for the “wrong” type of player, it would be useful if you could elaborate on this and say who we should have got instead.
There are few teams that been consistently successful in recent times as the league is very competitive. We are competing against other elite teams who have also invested heavily including some who were well ahead of us a few years ago.
😂
David,
Your entitled to your opinion of course you are. But some of the utter rubbish you come out with is laughable at best.
Reading Grandad’s post answering yours, I have to say that I totally agree with.
I’m afraid I can’t take quite a lot of the things you say seriously. Just one example why, after the first leg defeat to Newcastle in the League Cup, our esteemed manager came out and blamed the ball.
More than one person on here rightly castigated Arteta for the comment. But you on more than one occasion I might add tried to justify Arteta’s ridiculous claim in more than one post answering several people who dared to call out such a stupid statement, and you tried to justify it in different ways to.
So much so in fact, that I read one that said you were starting to look stupid for having such a stance. And I bet on reading this, you will have at least thought about responding to this post, and still come out defending such a stupid statement that Arteta came out with.
And sadly, that’s why I can’t take quite a bit of what you say seriously. But of course that’s only my opinion.
I will call out unfair criticisms whenever I feel. Castigating Arteta for that comment he made is senseless and is simply looking for reasons to insult and deride him.
The fact that so-called Arsenal fans buy into such nonsense about a fairly straightforward comment is ridiculous.
David, you say you will call out unfair criticism.
What’s unfair about criticizing a manager who comes out with the ball is different to the one played with in the League.
This was the same ball remember that was played with in the previous 3 rounds where we scored 12 goals with it. But because we lost to Newcastle, it then became an issue. Where was this issue in the previous 3 rounds.
To even mention the ball in the first place made both Arteta himself and the club look stupid. And yet here you are, just like I knew you would come out defending Arteta’s comment again. Priceless!. 🙄🤦♂️
What a fool.
Reggie,
Whom are you referring to.😉👍
Unfortunately Reggie, there are some fans on either side of the divide who refuse to see the positives and negatives of the situation and I give you David and Derek (to a lesser degree) as prime examples.
I’m certain that David thought it was a brilliant idea to play Partey at RB, while Derek fails to see that paying just a third of Sterling salary and seeing if he might regain his form, was a perfectly sensible thing to try out as cover for Saka.
Just my opinion of course!!
I have given my perspective on using Partey at RB previously. It doesn’t surprise me however that a dishonest attribution is made again in other to score points.
Ken1945,
I don’t care how much Arsenal are paying Sterling whether it be in full or a certain percentage. For me Sterling was a signing that smacked of desperation. And it’s not a case of being wise after the event, the moment we got him on loan I knew the writing was on the wall. Come on, the last act of the transfer window and the club brings in Raheem Sterling. really!
All hail the god sent saviour of the arsenal, Mikel Arteta! From this point forth, none shall mention “square pegs” and plan Bs. None shall disagree with David, wisest commenter of all. Away naysayers, away!
MA is 100% right. David is 100% right. No disputes from me. Is this intelligent and meaningful enough, David?
Phrases like ‘ trust the process ,’ and ‘ be excited’ and ‘ values ‘ ‘ principles ‘ , etc ?
😂
Inasmuch as I have been optimistic of resurgence whenever the team has succumbed to injuries and lose of unexpected and vital points, my hopes have dwindled at this point of the season. But my rile is not squarely against Arteta, as injuries have taken their toll and have thwarted his game-plan, coupled by his wanting to play cautiously for fear of arousing the wrath of anti-Arsenal officials. That said, I don’t know whether to blame him or the board for not bringing in the calibre of players required – the ilk of Isak.
He (Carragher) thinks.