Of course, all the headlines will be about Mbappe’s final games for PSG, but from a Gooners perspective, some might be interested to know that Ainsley Maitland-Niles has a likely chance of starting for Lyon against the French champions in today’s Coupe de France, although maybe not in the position he wants.
This could be the 26-year-old’s third medal of his career and his second since winning the 2020 FA Cup. His teammate, Alexandre Lacazette, is looking to lift the same cup he raised over a decade ago with his boyhood club. Lacazette has scored 53 goals in his second spell in France, becoming the club’s all-time greatest scorer.
This is the same week where Sead Kolasinac added the UEFA Conference League to his CV.
There’s often a lot of talk within our fanbase about how poor a squad Mikel Arteta inherited when he returned to the Emirates. That’s often used to justify him being allowed to terminate contracts and why finishing 8th and 5th should be viewed as ‘progress.’ By that logic, have Spurs and Chelsea ‘progressed’ this season? That doesn’t seem to be the view shared by Ange Postecoglou or the majority connected to Stamford Bridge.
Of course, the current version of Arsenal is as good as it’s been in decades, but this is about giving more respect to those who have contributed to our history. The Gunners have won 14 FA Cups since their existence, and the class of 2020 contributed to one of them—the last trophy the club won—while several players have gone on to lift more trophies since.
Martinez (GK)
2021 Copa America
2022 World Cup
After 12 years of being patient in North London, the keeper wanted assurances about his future before agreeing to extend his contract with Arsenal. It was unrealistic to expect any manager to give guarantees, and Arteta was happy for Martinez and Leno to share game time, believing competition would bring out the best in both.
The Argentine should have had the self-confidence to back himself and prove that he was better than the German. Given the money invested in the position since, a compromise would have worked for all parties.
The 31-year-old has become a national hero with Argentina, with their Copa America and World Cup wins built on his penalty saves. He’s become famous for being an expert at stopping spot kicks, particularly through his dark arts and game management.
Something happens to his personality on the pitch because off it, he seems quite a sensitive and emotional young man. Go back and watch his post-match FA Cup Final interview.
Maitland Niles (RB, LB, DM)
UEFA Conference
After loan spells (and relegations) at West Brom and Southampton, Maitland-Niles returned to Arsenal having burnt bridges while not becoming the midfielder that only existed in his mind. Only the 26-year-old knows if he could go back in time and listen to Mr. Wenger, Unai Emery, and Arteta, who saw his best position as a full-back.
That was the role that saw him starting Cup Finals for his boyhood club and getting capped by England. How many kids would bite your hand off for that? If Jose Mourinho doesn’t view you as a DM, then you need to be listening. The Roma boss selected Maitland-Niles only eight times and didn’t bring him on in the UEFA Conference League Final.
Any top sports professional should back their ability but also be smart enough to listen to the experts. Thierry Henry, Lauren, Toure, and others all put pride aside to learn a new role.
As recently as January, Lyon wanted to offload Maitland-Niles six months after leaving England. under new management, he’s played more often and could feature in the Coupe de France showpiece, just not in midfield. He could end up with three medals from three different countries.
Kolasinac (LB)
Europa League
Spent the last few months of his time with the Gunners knowing full well his employers wanted him elsewhere. Arsenal practically tried to let Schalke keep him for free after a loan to Germany, but after relegation, they couldn’t afford to make the deal permanent. So, six months later, they eventually agreed to release him once Marseille made it clear they’d be willing to take on his salary. Not the first or last time the French club would benefit from us wanting talent off the wage bill.
He’s played a lot more frequently in Italy than he did in France or his last year in England. Atlanta was relieved he overcame an injury to play in Wednesday’s Final where he played the full 90 minutes. If you said when we released the defender that years later, he would be playing in the Champions League, how many people would believe you?
Luiz (CB)
Copa do Brasil
Copa Libertadores
Campeonato Carioca
It says so much about the man’s personality that his two best games as a Gunner were the Semi Final and Final of the FA Cup. After that, like many South Americans, he chose to spend the last few years of his career back in his homeland. He’s won three trophies back in Brazil.
Bellerin (RB)
Copa del Rey
To prove our loan policy was based on getting players off the wage bill rather than giving them a chance to impress the manager, Bellerin played 32 times for Real Betis, winning the Copa Del Rey for his boyhood club. His reward? His contract was ripped up. He deserved a better sendoff, considering he had moved to the UK as a teenager, grown into a man in London, and contributed to their FA Cups.
Now, can you see why I get angry when players like Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson get pay rises?
Ceballos (CM)
2 la Liga
Champions League
Club World Cup
Super Cup
Copa Del Rey
He had a solid loan spell with us, but no one lost any sleep over his stay not being permanent. The 2022-23 season was his breakthrough year in Spain, playing 46 games in Madrid, easily the most he played for Real in one season. That earned him a contract extension. Mostly though, he has been a squad player during the club’s successful period, still waiting for age to catch up to Modric or Kroos. Some reports suggest he’s committed the sin of verbally agreeing to join Atletico!
Xhaka (CM)
Bundesliga
Granit was not really a reject, but his success should be noted. Said it before, if this were a movie, some would say Xhaka deserved to get the last laugh on a section of our fan base. At one point, the midfielder was leaving the UK because of the scale of abuse he and his family were receiving. Some wished death on his wife and a desire for his daughter to be diagnosed with cancer. Those people don’t deserve the happiness of seeing any trophies lifted.
While in Germany, Xhaka has been rewarded for his good decisions and has been validated to be himself, refusing to change who he is. I said in the summer it was a mistake for a young dressing room to let one of its few leaders leave. A partnership of the Swiss captain and Rice would have won us the title. He lost his first game for Leverkusen only this week. He could win the German domestic double this weekend.
Pepe (RM)
African Cup of Nations
I will never think good man management is to take an asset and simply give him away because you have given up on him, not when you’re being paid to get the very best out of the resources you have. Contributing to 9 goals in 28 games in Nice doesn’t warrant you being released at the age of 27. How can that happen in the same summer when Reiss Nelson gets a pay rise? The Ivorian contributed to 8 goals in Turkey. His highlight of the season, though, was winning the Africa Cup of Nations. He featured in every game for the hosts barring the Semi-Final and Final.
Aubameyang (Striker)
La Liga
For factual accuracy, it’s important to note that the 2022-23 season was easily the least productive of Aubameyang’s career, managing only 3 goals in 21 games for Chelsea. By the time winter came, the striker was excluded from the club’s Champions League squad. The irony is that the worst year of his career was the same one where he received his highest accolade. Before his move to Stamford Bridge, the 34-year-old had played only 9 minutes for Barcelona. According to the rules of La Liga, this qualified him for a winner’s medal when the Catalans went on to win the League. His contribution had actually been greater in the second half of the campaign before, when he scored 13 times in 23 games. That was when Arteta was giving Barca a goal scorer while we were missing out on 4th place because of our lack of having a goal scorer.
Torreira (DM)
La Liga
Super Lig
Turkish Super Cup
Certainly, the player’s homesickness during his time in North London was a significant issue. His father pleaded with Arsenal to morally do the right thing and financially facilitate the Uruguayan’s ability to play for a club in South America so he could be close to his family, especially after the death of his mother during COVID-19. Despite this desire to be close to home, his journey has taken him through Spain, Italy, and now Turkey.
Although he was mostly on the bench when Atletico Madrid won La Liga, his loan to Fiorentina was designed to cover his wages while winding down his contract. Galatasaray brought him in for just 5.5 million, where he has since won the Domestic Double.
Sokratis (CB)
2 x Super League
For the final 6 months as a Gunner, the defender was paid to sit at home. A manager should get the best out of the resources he has, not pay a player to do nothing, especially when you’re playing Kolasinac in a back three and finishing in our worst position for a quarter of a century.
Having regretted the wages that some players had been offered, every trick was being used to make a player feel so miserable they would eventually accept their contract being ripped up. That included not submitting the centre-backs for the domestic or European squads.
Again, if this were a movie, the Greek returning home to win back-to-back championships, feeling valued again, would be seen as a happy ending, while Arsenal could be viewed as getting what they deserve for a lack of class… nothing.
Good luck to Xhaka, Maitland Niles and Lacca this Saturday
Dan
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The article sounds ability harsh on the Arsenal. I’ve learnt over time that a player may work well in one team but be an absolute disaster in another set up.(e.g Torres of Liverpool and that of Chelsea)Thats why due diligence is required during recruitment.
I agree we made mistakes on some players, especially Martinez and Xhaka.But for some like AMN, Torreira,&Auba they made their choice.
I was surprised though that Kolasinac still had it in his tank to perform at that level as I never rated him as a defender for the time he was with us. Congratulations to them.
Trash article if you ask me. All of these players mentioned here bar Xhaka and to some extent Aubameyang are players that simply would never make the grade under Arteta, no matter how much time and effort are put into them. It all boils down to their mentality and in some ways, this article chooses to undermine the good work the gaffer and Edu has done in fine tuning the squad into what it is now. It’s only a matter of time and a few tweaks here and there before we start competing for the biggest prizes football has to offer. I think I’d take that.
Xhaka did ‘make the grade under Arteta’, but it was his wish to leave, and the rumour at the time was that his wife wanted to return to Germany (which he denied). but for whatever reason he was allowed to leave, not rejected. He was a loss, but probably in his last few years now.
Trash article you read and commented on ? Lol
More than making the grade, they were gotten rid of cheap/free, when they had still the game in them. Selling at right time matters, we cannot keep taking losses every year and expect 200m investment
For Dan
Important article as our trophy cabinet is still pretty bare since MA took over, despite the monumental progress in terms of fan unity, playing style & competitive edge.
For me the biggest mistake was Martinez. Then followed by Aubameyang & Bellerin. Xhaka was loyal and MA wanted him to stay but he wanted to go for a new project.
As for the rest I think MA did the right thing.
It will be an interesting summer.
Martinez who wanted to dictate to the manager; Aubameyang who demonstrated poor form and poor attitude; Bellerin who had become much diminished with his loss of pace and dynamism following injury (also forgetting that he wasn’t a great defender in the first place.
Can’t agree that these were ‘mistakes’.
Give evidence where it shows Martinez wanted to dictate the manager. Every single time you post this misleading bs against Martinez.
I have already replied to you on different occasions what Martinez himself explaining why he left, you never reply and when the occasion arises you post again the misleading bs.
For David
Your view on Martinez is a disputed claim as stated by HH. I would rather have him over Raya or Ramsdale even today and definitely a few years ago and he was part of a team that has actually won the only trophy of MA during his reign.
If you replace Aubameyang’s goals with that of Jesus and Nketiah then that does not seem very wise.
True Bellerin did loose his pace but was a very useful squad member and could have been played at RB and right wing.
Guess we are in complete disagreement here.
IGL
Interesting to read your comments
Auba’s later time at Arsenal was blotted by his behaviour. Arteta had made him captain and must have sanctioned his pay rise. To watch a man show no leadership qualities at all and to hop on a private jet to Barcelona to force through a move makes him one man I was ultimately glad to see the back of
Regarding Bellerin, his injury hampered his career. Squad player possibly, but we had rather too many of those and very few game changers who looked way too comfortable
For SueP
I agree with you about Auba’s behaviour but this was a troubled time in his life. I feel the biggest problem for him was captaincy. I really think he was not up to the task as is the case with the closing down. I feel he should not have been captain or given that ridiculous contract plus encouraged and allowed to make runs for the creative players to find him.
I agree with you about Bellerin as a game changer. But I felt the squad was never used including the last season. The overworked players like MO, BS and to an extent MA and LT needed a rest.
I felt ESR and Vieira should have been brought on at the 75 minute mark more often.
This is a comment on MA despite doing well last season.
There is the problem, looking at Auba’s past and his playing style, He was never a captain material. Although he was scoring in his previous season, he was not suited for high pressing CF Arteta wanted to implement. He was over 30 and losing pace and stamina every passing day. So it was very foolish decision of Arteta to give him pay rise and new contract. They simply had to sell him as his value was high. The same season Arteta deal with Ozil but sadly he did not learn from it and created another problem.
Arteta just creates problem then gives the player free instead of dealing sensibly.
At the time Martinez had just established himself as a top class GK and was told he had a 95% chance of starting in goal for the first game. He felt it had to be 100%. I’m afraid this kind of stance is always going to be an issue for any top level manager; except possibly if you are already a generational player.
Aubameyang’s performances and attitude in that period prior to his transfer were nothing to write home about. Bellerin was not suited to what Arteta was trying to build and had lost some of what had made him such an exciting young player. I don’t think it would have benefited anyone to keep him as a bit part player.
I’d take Martinez as the ‘one who got away’, but following his World Cup antics I’d say we lost a pretty unpleasant person. I always thought Bellerin chose to leave, so am disappointed in Arsenal for not renewing his contract. As for the rest Ainsley could have made it with us if he’d listened to advice, but made his mind up that he was a midfielder, and Xhaka chose to go. Nobody else to cry over TBH.
Agree with the personality thing, but rumour was that he wanted No1 spot and he was never getting that.
He was not denied the number 1 spot. He wanted a guarantee. He was asked to compete for the spot and refused.
He did not ask for a guarantee. He knew and understood competing with Leno neither of them were guaranteed to be no 1 and the manager made clear of that.
He wanted to play regularly for his World Cup dream hence he moved to a club with no competition for spot.
But he’s already in the national team setup before he even had the chance for playing ( due to Leno’s injury) for us.
Either way, I don’t think we missed him
I don’t think he missed us either. It was a good decision from both sides and both benefited greatly.
Happy ending all around!
The same way Ramsdale was asked to compete, right?
For Jax
Agree with you about AMN. He had poor advisors and did not keep his feet on the ground.
He would have been a very good full back. But funnily he was better as a left back than a right back IMO. He could have made that position his own.
IGL,
Mids are often stars, while the full backs just work horses😂.
Bellerin lost his pace and could no longer play RB in as athletic a league as the EPL. Lacazette was a slow version of Jesus. Pepe is being released as we speak. I understand that you do not like Arteta, but come on.
ManU officially with a more successful season than us, completely embarrassing!
MA gladly throwing trophy opportunities away with our pathetic showing in the cups.
Seriously, I remember we are once in this position before, during arteta’s first year. ….. so you think we had a better season that year than this season? Curious to hear your reply.
It pains me when I see a team like man united who had a poor season ended up with a silver medal
I beg to differ. I am not for one minute suggesting that ManU winning the cup isn’t an achievement- because it is, but they didn’t exactly compete in the league – with 29 less points and a worse GD of over 60
They were on the cusp of being knocked out in the semi finals by Coventry.
All the decisions were correct.. They all were decisions that happened the way they should all have happened at the time. Only Xhaka and Martinez would make this current team but the circumstances for each of them at each time meant they had to move on and Arteta made the correct / tough decisions in both.
We moved on and some of us are very pleased about where we are today..
I think what Dan is trying to convey, is the fact that they were not the “dross” or “deadwood” that some of our fans said they were.
The abuse Xhaka got from the same section remains a stain on the club and STILL fans are trying to say that Martinez demanded to be our No. 1 keeper – he asked to start as the No. 1 and be given the chance to prove himself.
Pretty much lol
Very true Ken
Congrats to Utd
Only 1 FA Cup behind us 14-13
Actually it will be nice players having rest and not playing the community shield before our first match.
Is that valid excuse really
It will be interesting to see how Arteta handles the D.M and L.b areas this summer.
United are being deemed to have had a better season than us coz they won the FA cup today. This has to be wake up call for Arteta that however good we may seem to be,there must be something in the cabinet to show for it.
There is no denying that we have a very good team but the finer details in some areas like the midfield situation and the L.b contribute enormously towards either success or failure. This is in Artetas court and he must sort it soon,no more excuses.
I’m not sure (they haven’t), that they have had a better season than us. They have had a poor league season and have struggled all season BUT unlike us under Arteta, they have still competed and got to finals in cups. When you get to a final, like today, its a one game shoot and they won. They have won a trophy, we haven’t. Does that make a better season? Not for me but they put a trophy in their cabinet this year, we didn’t.
@Reggie it depends with how you look at it.For me we started the season competing for 3 trophies.
At the end,one went with Liverpool, one for City and the last one with United.
The fact that we’ve gone home with nothing means that those 3teams have somehow done better than us.My opinion though.
Reggie
It was a gnats knacker away from Coventry being in the final. Cup competitions are great to win but luck can be a massive factor
To be fair Sue, Utd have been poor in the league but they have remained competitive in cups. A lot more than us. Truth is, they have won another trophy. A team like utd, should be in the CL. A team like us should win trophies. Both missing something.
We won the 1st trophy on offer
Anyone still remember the COMMUNITY SHIELD!
Well said! 😉
It’s interesting to see the comments on here. It’s only a short time ago that so many so called fans were abusing Wenger for getting to Champions League almost every year and winning FA Cups
I am sure the same ‘fans’ are now saying cups are more important and to get into Champions League rather than compete for the title
Surely any sane person would say we had a much better year than Man Utd ( beating them twice !) and are much better place for next year and in the Chanpions League whereas they are almost exactly where we were a few years ago when we won FA Cup
All that said we should be competing better in the Cups and perhaps that is a reflection that our squad players need to step up or be replaced which I think will happen this summer
Winning the Champions League is the big one we’ve never achieved, so just for once I’d take that over all others.
Neil, it was the fact that Wenger classed finishing in the top 4 as a trophy, ranking it higher than the 2 domestic Cups, that ranckled the fans.
It didn’t ranckle me HD, as I could see the financial common sense of it, especially after building The Emirates and having to sell our best players.
As I’ve said before, every club strives for one of the CL spots and, after seeing how much money is made from participating in it, the fa cup was secondary during that time.
How AW managed it, is part of our folklore…. and, of course, he won seven fa cups as well!!!!!!!
It’s hardly a competitive game, but still better to win than lose😉
Yes Jax, a pre season friendly and we aren’t in it this year. I for one wont miss it.
It may not of rankled you Ken, but as I said, it rankled a lot of fans. I do agree that the financial side of finishing in the top 4 was needed to pay for the stadium, as the percentage that was allowed to be spent on the stadium debt from incoming transfer fees was nowhere near enough.
Martinez was a missed opportunity but that’s it for me.
I don’t generally get glassy eyed about departures and of the ones mentioned, apart from Xhaka who showed enormous strength of character – as well as Martinez who was a top keeper, the rest got paid to do a job. Some did better than others after leaving but I actually don’t give a fig tbh except I’m probably being harsh on Bellerin but not the others.
It’s a very well paid job and has its ups and downs. Some do well for certain managers and not so well for others. The fact that Kolasinac won himself a medal with Atalanta is good for him but I don’t recall his time at Arsenal being a huge success or a huge loss when he went.
Ken1945 mentioned the word, deadwood. It’s an unfortunate word but I can’t think of a single one to replace it as a means of describing a player that is surplus to requirements
Sue, Excessive might be more polite😂.
I agree Jax and I only used that word because others seem to delight in using it.
Fancy calling someone that, when they’re on £100k a week 😂😂😂
🤣
Enjoyed your use of words Jax 👍.
Xhaka is the only player I miss and agree that a partnership with Rice could have made the difference in the PL. You forgot to mention he is now an Invincible, first time it’s happened in the Bundesliga I believe!!