Arsenal have secured the signatures of several new players in this transfer window as they continue their quest to elevate the squad to the next level. The Gunners already boasted some of the Premier League’s most impressive talents, yet there was a clear recognition within the club that added quality would be necessary to mount a serious title challenge.
This understanding has led to strong backing for Mikel Arteta, who has been supported with the arrival of a number of top-tier additions. These new signings are expected to strengthen the side significantly, offering greater depth, tactical flexibility and competition for places across the pitch.
Adapting to New Players and Systems
Despite the optimism surrounding the recent arrivals, there is also an acknowledgement that changes will be required. The inclusion of new players may necessitate adjustments to Arsenal’s current playing system, and immediate success cannot be guaranteed. Integrating new signings often comes with a period of transition, particularly when they arrive from different clubs and are used to playing within alternative tactical structures.
Arteta will be expected to implement tweaks to his existing setup in order to maximise the impact of the new additions. This process will require time, careful planning and patience. The expectation from some supporters is that the new players will deliver instant results and lead the team to silverware. However, it is important to maintain realistic goals during this period of change.
Managing Expectations for the Season
Supporters must be prepared for a season that could involve early inconsistencies. Success is certainly possible, and there is always the chance that the squad will click immediately. However, the more likely scenario is that the team will require time to find balance and cohesion.
Drawing from the example of Liverpool, who saw instant improvement last season after appointing a new manager, it is tempting to expect similar results at Arsenal. Nonetheless, the more measured approach is to allow the new players to settle and adapt before demanding major trophies. If given the necessary time, this squad has the potential to achieve sustained success.
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Patience is the key word for next season. Some terrific buys but they will need time.
Is their no level that some article writers won’t stoop to in their defense of Arteta. Now after 5 trophy less seasons and counting, we’ve now got to wait another 2 seasons maybe for the trophy’s to come.
I’m sorry but that’s absolute rubbish as far as I’m concerned. Arteta has had more than enough backing by the club over his time at Arsenal, and in this window in particular he can’t have any complaints regards being backed.
The time has come for him to justify the clubs belief in him by finally producing a trophy winning team this season. Failure to do so, should result in him being shown the door. And go out and find a manager that can deliver.
How much time does this man need to deliver.🤦♂️
Trophy less, you mean major trophy 🏆?
Charles Lwanga Jnr,
No I don’t mean major trophy🏆, I meant trophy less. Which is what we’ve been for the last 5 seasons under this manager.🤷♂️
You saved my fingers Derek. Thank you👏👏 Only Arsenal 😂😂
Well spoken
@Derek
Despite all our injuries mainly caused ( I agree not all) by referees allowing teams to freely kick our players to injury, did we come 2nd from top or last by one?
From what you have written above, I am certain you believe Arsenal came bottom of the league but one not 2nd from top as the league table shows.
There can be no other reason than that for your attack on Arteta,
Charles Veritie,
And your a perfect example of what my post said in it’s first line. There seems to be no level that certain people will not go to in their defense of Arteta.
I notice you talk about last season, where yes we did have a lot of injury’s, and yes some decisions went against us, (but no conspiracy theory from me by the way). I’m sure decisions went against other teams, but of course we can’t talk about that can we.
But I notice you never referred to the previous two seasons where Arsenal gave the title away. But no doubt you’ll be lining up your excuses for those two failures to.
You accuse me of attacking Arteta, which I’m not. Just because you don’t like what I say, doesn’t mean I’m attacking him.
I find it laughable in the article that we could have to wait for the new players to settle in, which may mean we have to wait beyond this coming season for said trophy to arrive. While I agree that the new players need a bit of settling in time, if their as good as we’re being led to believe, that shouldn’t hinder them being successful this season.
What’s going to happen next, Arteta brings in some more players for the season after next, and they to will need to settle.
As the last line in my original post says, how much time does this man need to deliver. 🤷♂️
Go Derek! Go Derek! Go Derek 😁
Take job from Arteta, you’ll be a better manager than him
Ola,
No I won’t make a better manager than Arteta. But he’s paid the big bucks, and the buck funnily enough stops with him. 🤷♂️
To Derek
From what you have written above, I am certain you believe Arsenal came bottom of the league but one, not 2nd from top as the league table shows.
There can be no other reason than that for your attack on Arteta’s management.
In your first post to which I responded you wrote this:
‘How much time does this man need to deliver?’
I see your comments on Arteta as an attack on his management.
You attack his management so much so that anyone not knowing would think Arsenal come 2nd from bottom not 2nd from top and with the best defence in the league, some great football and PGMO refs allowing teams to kick our our attack to injuries.
We came 2nd clearly this is not good enough for you.
There are 18 clubs below us whose fans would love for their team to come 2nd.
Have you thought of supporting The 0’s? They are not that far from Arsenal. They won promotion last season.
Charles Veritie,
Firstly how many times are you going to mention us finishing second from top and not bottom in your posts. 4 times if I count correctly. And yes your right some of the teams below us would have liked to finish in second place.
But this is Arsenal we’re talking about, a club with it’s history is expected to produce trophy winning sides. Maybe not every season, but on a regular basis over say 5 to 10 periods.
I also see from your comments, that you appear to be one of these fans who want to blame the officials for Arsenal’s woes🥱. An easy excuse to make, and I’m sure if you ask other teams fans, they to could makes cases of that nature to.
And as your determined to be convinced that I’m attacking Arteta, it’s not true. While I’m not meekly bowing down to the great one, like you appear to be. I say it as I see it, and the fact that you don’t like what I have to say, doesn’t mean I’m attacking Arteta.
And no I haven’t thought about supporting the O’S. Why should I, the good thing about this forum is we can give our opinions whether everyone agrees is open to debate. But don’t tell me to support someone else because you don’t like my train of thought regarding Arteta. 🤷♂️
Blamed the officials for some of Arsenals injuries ,I would like to know which ones .
Thought all our long term injuries were muscle problems picked up in training ,I might be wrong but I would love list where a direct opponent injured one of our players resulting in time off .
@Charles Veritie
You seem to be laying undue emphasis on the fact that we came second last season. Go check it out, the stat by which we came second was one of the worst for a runner up team in recent times.
Every other average season, our performance based on the points we gathered would only earn a fourth or just maybe a third place finish.
We finished second basically because the teams behind us were poorer than us. And to put as it is; Liverpool won the league as easy as they did because we handed it to them earlier on in the season. They weren’t particularly exceptional towards the end of the season.
What you believe is your choice anyway.
Arsenal have been second three times in a row. This certainly demonstrates a level of consistency. It was indeed disappointing that Arsenal’s points total dropped. However, the way the season panned out has to be taken into consideration.
People are running down the manager and calling others fanboys because they have assessed the season and recognised the issues that hampered the team. Many of these issues are outside a manager’s control.
I believe some bookies were paying out for Liverpool to win the league in FEBUARY and that says it all really .
You’ve said it all. Thank you! This is the season he will either get the fans on board or completely lose them. It’s simply unacceptable to go this long without a trophy spending this much money especially. Mikel is not the best manager in the world and not sure why some folks act this way and that nobody could possibly win a trophy at this club besides for him. Arteta is out of excuses. Time to succeed or the hierarchy needs to start thinking of a different direction to go in.
Perhaps I’m simply sheltered somehow but I haven’t noticed anyone acting like or stating that Mikel is the BEST manager in the world or for that matter that NOBODY could win a trophy at Arsenal but him. That would be a big assumption to make based on what has occurred during his tenure or his most recent results.
I was just thinking the same thing
Then work on your reading comprehension. “Acting” vs “stating” a good start.
Only if you work on comprehending “or” first. Thanks for clarifying that at least you don’t believe folks are stating those absolutes.
You’re absolutely right. No ambitious Arsenal fan would tolerate the rethoric of “Arteta needs more time”. It’s either he ships in or ships out.
Thourough scouting and feasibility studies ought to have been carried out before going for the new recruits. Factors such as adaptability and compatibility with Arsenal tradition should have also been taken into consideration or else, someone has to loose his job. Simple!
Yes!
They might as well rename the club Arteta FC, rename the stadium Mikel Arteta stadium, give him lifetime reign of Arteta FC and appoint his son as a crown manager to take over after him.
Demolish all the statues of individuals (who actually gave their all to the club unlike Arteta who only takes) and replace them with the statues of Arteta in various poses.
All banners in the stadium should be of Arteta’s pictures. The Emirates logo on the kits should be replaced with Arteta’s face. The “Visit Rwanda” text should be replaced with “trust the process” or “have infinity patience” or better still “phase one all over again”.
The club motto should also be changed. How about “trophies do not matter” or “trust the process” or better still “phase 1 to 6, repeat”.
The author of the piece has given a reasoned perspective. It might be useful for you to give a sensible response outlining why you think this is inappropriate, if you disagree, rather than this kind of silly rant.
I think he just did?
No less so than the author of the article.
Personally, Arteta has done a good job transforming Arsenal into a title contender. For me, the weakest link is the left wing – Martenelli. Trossard is no better although he is versatile player. Strengthen this area, Arsenal can win the Premier league and Champions league.
David, there’s more chance of the Pope getting married than a responsible response from the above poster concerning our manager.
HD as long as there are no trophies to show for it six years later you have no leg to stand on in your never never ending defense of Arteta, which some time back crossed the line of credibility into fanboyism.
@HH
I have two legs to stand on. Sorry to learn of your lose of legs.
Congratulations for your good fortune Charles.
HH, fanboyism, that’s a good one 😂. Much like I was under the previous manager at Highbury, when in the 99/00 season we finished second, 18 points behind Man Utd and got knocked out of the domestic Cups in the early rounds and finished 3rd in our CL group.
Remind me of how many trophies we won between ’05 and ’14 ? 🤔
Remind us, how much was spent those years?
Plus the manager had shown, with the right players he could win trophies.
Millions were spent.
The manager chose the players that were signed during that 9 year trophy drought !
Herr Drier,
Yes Arsenal spent millions under Wenger. And yes he did have a trophy drought for nine years. But he also had a great amount of success in credit.
What doe’s Arteta have. While I personally believe that Wenger stayed 10 years to long at our club. Just out of interest, how much longer do you personally believe that Arteta should get, given the backing that the club have given him.
He will huff and he will puff and will continue the thread until you are bored to oblivion, but l I doubt he will answer that question.
HH, unlike you, I answer questions that are put to me 😁
Derek,
You make an interesting point about having previous success being in credit for AW. I guess that is largely to do with the change from Highbury to the Emirates with its financial challenges and the fact that Chelsea and City were in the throes of dominating the league due to oodles of money and nothing to rein in the amount that was poured in.
Arsenal lost out along the way. As for Utd, Fergie has so far been irreplaceable and the ownership there makes me shudder even though they have thrown money at it. Arsenal had a very different business model and the opposite to what City and Chelsea were able to do legally (until proven otherwise) It was about having an enormous head start. Liverpool rubbed along nicely (enormous credit for that with Klopp and having many important trophy successes ) without the financial implications of moving to a new stadium even though it has been substantially redeveloped ( I read approx in two phases for £107m) This compares favourably to Arsenal which cost £390m many years earlier and the capacity is broadly the same.
Overall, I consider myself lucky to have witnessed a golden age under Wenger. It was scintillating. Times changed though, and with it the landscape of the league. There are reasons why Arsenal haven’t won the league for years and it is not just down to AW or Arteta
Interesting question Derek. Seeing as we have been progressing, I would give him 2 more seasons.
Herr Drier,
While we ‘ll have to agree to disagree on this issue, I fully respect your view point. Unlike a certain Charles Veritie. Who just because He doesn’t like what I have had to say, has invited me to support the O’S. Which I thought was rather nice of him. 🤦♂️😂👍
How much in 9 years compared to 5 years of your hero HD? I remember to have asked you similar question in another article some days back.
HH, I see you have answered yourself on the spend by our previous manager. Did you take inflation into account ?
Btw, hero ? I don’t have sporting heroes. For me heroes operate in real life, like I fella I used to drink with, Major Stephen Hambrook MBE R.I.P.
I have checked on Transfer Transfermarket website. Between 2005/06 to 2013/14 seasons, Wenger spent 337 millions and sold 331 millions.
Between 2020/21 to 2025/26 seasons, Arteta has spent 1 billion and sold 235 millions.
Shame on you Herr Dierr shame on you!!
How can you sink so low to lie just to diss our greatest manager?
Don’t forget the inflation rate for the total period of time.
When the amount is adjusted for inflation, you get a different overall impression. An example: £10 million in 2005 is £17,7 million today!
In addition, we shouldn’t forget how the EPL media rights deals have been influencing on the market, in recent times either.
And 10 million pounds in 2020 is 13 million today! I have given the figures care to adjust the inflation for both?
And your figure is wrong. Your 10 million is 16.8 today not 17.7
What lie have I told HH ?
Btw it Herr Drier, not Herr Dierr 🙄
Millions were spent Herr Dierr. My autocorrect button is stuck..
And you don’t know how to fix it HP ?
Yes but not the millions that are spent now. We are a completely different animal now. We made a profit then, we are millions AND millions in debt now. No comparison
More millions are being spent now due more millions being earned through higher PL finishes, getting further in the CL and bigger sponsorship deals.
While we have lost millions in selling players, we can only receive what a buying club are willing to pay. Rather that than ripping up more contracts surely. Also don’t forget the millions that are owed to Silent Stan.
This is true. There is substantial debt at other clubs but Arsenal’s is particularly high.
I am clueless on finances, but unless KSE suddenly refused to finance the club that they own and demand repayment, aren’t Arsenal then in reasonable shape?
Yes, SueP, there is a big difference between debt owed to unrelated third parties and that owed to ownership.
Once the money starting pouring into the PL it was actually no longer certain that Wenger could win major trophies. Sure, he could win FA cups but it took years before even that was possible.after Wenger’s early years.
Wenger won the PL in quite different circumstances to now as there are more teams with huge financial muscle..
You also can’t directly compare costs for different reasons. Inflation is one such factor. Also, the business models of most of the top clubs have changed over time.
Interesting there was no reply when I posted the data but as soon as one mentioned inflation the rest jumped on the bandwagon.
Now since you seem to also know about inflation why not adjust my data for both manager’s and see how they look like?
And how did business models changed? Why don’t you elaborate on that?
Hear! Hear!
Have some perspective David.
HH you are lacking economic understanding, I used the inflation calculator from Bank of England, calculated from 2005 to June 2025.
The inflation rate is correct it depends on period of time, which you obviously don’t understand.
So the bank of England says 300 million in 9 years is equal or worse to 1 billion in 5 years?
And what does your economics says about that? Give me a break!
Did I mentioned that? The problem is your narrative and your subjective understanding. I was never against Wenger.
Now we should use our energy to support our club. We have became one of the best clubs in Europe again, and big titles have not been more likely in almost two decades. COYG
Okay Didrik Plehn.
You joined a thread where I called out Herr Drier usual purposeful misinformation on Wenger’s spending during the 9 years drought. He always frame it in a way to imply Wenger’s spending in those 9 years were as high as Arteta’s.
I quoted reliable data to disprove his lies yet the way you framed your initial reply was in support of his misinformation. Perhaps inadvertently so.
I find it interesting that you went to quote a 2005 inflation instead of a 2014. Why so I wonder?
Between 2005/06 to 2013/14 seasons, Wenger spent 337 millions and sold 331 millions.
Between 2020/21 to 2025/26 seasons, Arteta has spent 1 billion and sold 235 millions.
Those are the data. Now please adjust for inflation, market conditions and everything else relevant and tell me how those figures are even remotely close.
HH, what “misinformation” and “lies” have I posted ?
I have never posted that Wenger spent as highly as Mikel during those 9 trophyless years, just that he also had spent millions.
Please stop lying !!!
I can understand what this article is saying to some degree. However, I don’t believe that arteta needs more time to win trophies. Liverpool showed that a new manager, coming in with different demands that the players have to adjust to (yes, the players were the same that klopp left behind), can hit the ground running and get results. I expect the way Arsenal play to change a bit. If we continue to play the same way we did against those low block teams, then we don’t stand a chance to win most trophies, especially the premier league. Also managing players better so they don’t end up with so many hamstring injuries (which the improved squad depth will help address). So arteta has no excuses really. Everything he needs to succeed with this team has been given to him. The only thing missing as far as the squad is a top quality left winger that creates problems on that left hand side. Martinelli isn’t the answer for that position. I think he’s one of the players (like jesus and zinchenko) that the team has outgrown. He needs to be sold, he just doesn’t fit the way we play anymore
I think Derek, in his quest for quick success, has got the writer’s argument wrong. He is not saying that the team will not perform well nor is he defending Arteta or any other Arsenal official. He is simply expressing his opinion that the players would take a bit of time to gel properly. He is not in any way insinuating that we shall not achieve success. He might even be wrong in his assessment. I didn’t see any reason to call the writer an Arteta apologist. Some managers like Arsene Wenger always avoided recruiting too many new players at the same time due to that reason. So, Derek, give those responsible for the club the benefit of the doubt. Don’t see Arteta’s shadow everywhere. We are supporters of Arsenal not Arteta or any other person. Some of us have been here for decades. So, labelling people as Arteta’s supporters is not helpful at all. If Derek cared to analyse the heading of this article, he would have been better prepared for the contents! We are all optimistic for the future but we have to be realistic about some pitfalls along the way.
DR, I totally agree with your well written post 👏👍
David Rusa,
The piece says. Unpopular opinion, why new signings mean Arteta needs more time to find success.
I see Arteta everywhere as you call it, because he’s the manager. And like it or not, the buck stops with him.
Just how many more seasons do we have to give him to deliver. Are we a serious team that want to win things.
You don’t see the other big teams putting up with managers that take this long to produce trophy winning sides. And it’s got nothing to do with entitled fans, as some people refer to it.
It’s called big club winning mentality, something this club seriously lacks under this current manager.
But I guess these second place finishes are acceptable these days.
Yes, you see other big clubs switching managers quite often. How many come in first in the PL or UCL to win things as opposed to doing worse than the Arsenal? How many have won the PL or the UCL? I discount the EFL, FA Cup or even the watered down Europa because whichever club wins typically depends more than anything on which big club(s) decide to emphasize doing so that season because these competitions are insignificant in comparison.
I don’t know if we will win the PL or the UCL under MA. I see both bad and good things on the pitch which I believe may be due mostly to our manager (as I do with all other clubs). However, as long as the results are better than every club in the league except those very few winning the PL/UCL then I recognize that my interpretation of what I see on the pitch may be at least partially wrong and he can in fact be in charge when we return to the promised land.
Bruised Banana,
While I totally respect your opinion as always, I’m afraid I’m afraid we’re going to have to agree to disagree on this occasion.
While certain aspects of your post I can agree with, I can’t agree regards changing of managers and the fact that they may not bring success to the clubs they take over.
While I agree that there are no guarantees regarding any new manager, bringing success to said team. That doesn’t mean that you just stick with your current manager no matter what, especially one who has had the backing over the 5 or so years that he’s been at the club.🤷♂️
I respect your opinions as well Derek as you don’t go flying off the handle into extremism and insults in efforts to prove you are “right”.
Please note however, that I qualified sticking with MA based on our results being better than every other club not winning the big trophies (of which there are few) as well as what I see are the managerial related functions truly related to being second best. Simply my perspective whether it be for MA or as it would be with any other manager. I do see this as the season that MA will be tested most severely in many ways so you may get your long held wish to see him out.
Bruised Banana,
Point well made, and noted. 👍
Derek
BB has given a pretty fair assessment.
Do you think that the club should have focused on any trophy or gone for the big one? Personally, I want the big 2 before the domestic cups and I agree with BB’s point of view as there are just so many variables. I had a great day out with my brother at Wembley when we stuffed Villa, but it’s not the big prize and like you that feels long overdue.
I wonder if Arteta is sacked and the new winner the club appoints will have it said about him that it was won with Arteta’s players, in the same way that Arteta only won the cup because he had Emery’s and Wenger’s?
Good morning SueP,
Regards the type of trophy that our club could win. Yes of course I to want our team to win the big ones, who doesn’t.
But at the same time, as I’ve said in previous posts, our team is hardly in a position to pick and choose which trophy to go for, bearing in mind our recent lack of success.
And just to add, if Arsenal were to win a trophy this season, I wouldn’t mind Arteta being given a bit more time. Winning a trophy would hopefully give the team a taste for success, which would hopefully lead to the bigger prizes.
But that said, with the way that Arteta sets the players up, and the system that he plays. I very much doubt that this season is going to be any different to the other seasons under this manager to be honest.
I hope he proves me wrong this season, but if he doesn’t. I stand by my stance, that no trophy this season, should mean no more Mr Arteta at the Arsenal. 🤷♂️
How have those teams which have consistently changed managers fared compared to Arsenal? Have they won a lot of trophies? Since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Man United has changed managers more than five times: David Moyes, Jose Mourinho, Luis Van Gaal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik Ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. How many trophies have they won unless you say changing a manager is itself a trophy? So, Derek let us examine issues more critically than just being emotional.
David Rusa
Each of those manager you mentioned won a trophy except Moyes, Ole and Amorim.
Derek is not talking about a particular trophy, he’s talking about Trophy and it can be any trophy.
You can flog those Man u coaches but Mourinho achieved more at Man U than Arteta at Arsenal till date and never spent up to Arteta.
Gunnar achieved the same success like Arteta did at Arsenal.
The only mistake Man U did is given players the power which never happened at Arsenal.
When the author is saying we should be patient because of new players, are we to be patient again when we recruit next season and season after next just because players don’t blendin in there 1st season?
Derek asked a question which nobody answered.
“How many years do you guys think we should give Arteta to win a trophy or a major trophy?” Or should we give him everlasting contact to keep blending in new signings every season as long as we come 2nd on the table?
The first question posited is not sensible and does not deserve an answer.
Arteta has a limited contract and at the end of each year an analysis of the team’s progress will be made. As we also know reviews can take place at other times based on various factors
The second question is just ludicrous.
Bobs,
Thank you very much, the fact that people won’t answer that very question regards new players every season. Arteta’s going to have a job for life if that’s the yardstick that the club go by.
And as for David’s post below. Having read it, that’s why I find it difficult to really take a lot of what he says seriously. Of all the contributors on this forum, he’s one who seems to defend Arteta no matter what.
Just a quick example: The blaming the ball debacle after losing the first leg at home against Newcastle. This was the same ball that Arsenal had scored 12 goals with in the previous 3 rounds, and Arteta never had a problem with ball then.
On several post’s throughout that Day, David come out in defense of Arteta, putting different spins on what Arteta said about the ball or what he meant, so much so that I wasn’t the only one to notice it. And some poster’s even said that David was starting to make himself look silly with his quotes.
Bobs,
I’m referring to David, and not David Rusa. Just to clear up any confusion. 🙄
How many teams would love to swap places with Arsenal? We should learn to stop being pretentious! What were our previous positions before Arteta came? Were we in any European competition at the time of Arteta’s appointment? Who says that moving from 8th, 7th to 2nd for three consecutive seasons is not an improvement?
Were we in any European competition at the time of Arteta’s appointment?
These statements shows you’re are really Arteta’s FC
The only Manager who never qualifies for any European competition since 2000 till date is Arteta.
So what are you on about?
Get your fact right before you argue bro.
And sacking and hiring manager is to improve squad not do worst or same as your predecessor and more reason why we’re spending big every season.
So why are you surprised that Arteta is performing better than them?
Do you think there is no other manager that can do better than Arteta with his current squad and more backing?
AVB was sacked and Mateo who relegated Westbrom won the CL with same AVB’s players
Chelsea sacked Lampard and Tuchel ( A manager who can’t win it with PSG)used Lampard same players to win the CL.
Klopp left Liverpool without competing in the league( he came 3rd, far points from Arsenal’s 2nd) and with most of his players aging and yet Slot came in and won the league with Klopp’s same players.
Heard about Raineri? He won the league with Leicester City (what he can’t do with Chelsea team) I doubt Pep can even win the EPL with that squad but he did it.
I’m not saying Arteta can’t win everything in Arsenal but people should stop talking about Arteta as if he’s the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.
2nd place finish might be his limit. Remember Avram Grant(Manager with most finals without a trophy).
So if Arteta is not winning a trophy, then let another manager take over.
We take risk by appointing him and we can take risk by appointing another. It must not come to a moment when he himself say “I waited too long” just like Wenger
@Bob
Your response has left me with little to write about in response to what some people have posted above.
One of the issues with some of our fans is their comfort in settling for being “the best of the rest,” simply because, in their words, “we never reached this level before Arteta.”
That mindset reflects a deep level of mediocrity.
Worse still, many seem more emotionally attached to certain individuals in the club than to the club’s actual success. They resist the sale of underperforming players and now push back against replacing a coach who is underachieving.
To them, nothing could possibly be better than the status quo, and that’s truly disappointing.
Twinlights,
Excellent post. Ambition is the name of the game, and winning trophy’s along the way.
While finishing second 3 seasons on the trot represents a level of consistency, the last time I looked you don’t get any trophy’s for it.
AMBITION! AMBITION! AMBITION.🤷♂️👍
No one is settling and everyone wants to do better. It’s just a matter of how.
Exactly BB
Beggars belief that any supposed Arsenal supporter wouldn’t.
5 seasons
1trophy won with predecessor players
Another 200m
Major trophy this season or sacked.
Only someone who doesn’t care would say different
I hope Artetas mindset is not fashioned on this kind of reasoning.
We are likely to see at most only 3 new players in our starting 11, Zubi,Gyokeres & a L.w. That does not give Arteta any room for excuses because the 3 are actually intended to make the team better than last season and not to hold us back.
Just change the formation from the usual 433 to a 4 2 3 1 which will allow a CAM to play behind the C.f in that position 10.
This will make us attack more directly instead of playing Odegaard far too wide as a winger which limits proper service to our forwards.
We have a good defence and a promising forwardline if we upgrade the L.w. We just need to ensure our midfield is functioning at its optimum and we will have a fruitful season.
If you include dual 8’s and inverted wing backs, it’s already a different system than the first two second places. Very different. I’m convinced we have been playing 2 7 1 all year – the 1 often false though unlikely in Yok case whose talent is more off the shoulder.
Arteta feels the route to a trophy is to get even greedier and riskier with passes out from ever higher sweeper keeper – and a 2 7 1 formation where not enough ball winning defence protection is in the DNA makeup of the midfielders. everything I have been explaining here was there in abundance against Spurs and all Prem games in 2025.
So not only had Arteta already changed it before 2025 even began, let alone recent window opened, he’s broken it – with the current broken system we will be lucky to make top 5 is overly focussed on beating low block, not enough in the personnel and method to get clean sheets. We are no longer contenders for anything major.
I don’t dislike anything about Arteta – set up was bit of a basket case when he took over, and he’s done a good job overhauling it. But the truth is, the 2 7 1 isn’t as yet yielding strong enough performances – its going to take at least one season of hard work just to make us top 4 and stay in CL again until we are back in contention for major honours again hopefully as early as 2026/27. It’s been a good summer of recruitment, and the new signings can help. But the coming autumn and winter months are going to be very disappointing and nowhere near expectations the way we have been playing.
Who says that only three new players will be used? Do you mean to say that the other players were signed as decorations? How many competitions are we involved in? Do you appreciate that a big squad is an asset when you are involved in many competitions? Why then do you say that the rest of the players will be bench warmers? All successful teams have big quality squads and that is what Arsenal is doing right now.
I love the analysis bro, I want to believe that during Le Prof era, buying five six player is avoided because of gelling together of the team, the cohesion, the understanding, the movement of the team, takes time, but thats not an excuse for me arteta this season, Andre berta as done wonderfully well, so if arteta applies the right tactics arsenal should win the league with 5 matches remaining….
I wonder if Liverpool will be saying the same🤔
Liverpool have signed stick man wurz who is going to be owned by the physicality of the Prem League. In first 10 minutes against Newcastle he’ll disappear into Row Z never to be seen again. How much for Etike? His career has been a train wreck but for 1 season, and even then scouts who said he starred this week warned he goes missing in action every other week. I’m so gutted Liverpool have given up the pursuit of Isak – I wanted them to spend £120M on him. Isak and his entourage are panicking – he’s always been injury prone – Howe literally wraps him in cotťon wool and tucks him up in the bottom drawer of the wardrobe till next match day – but now Isak realises his hamstrings are going and he won’t get another move, the big pay and big sign on fee – fading away in Toons sick bay is as good as it gets. Liverpool have dodged the bullet wising up just in time and it really annoys me! And how over reliant on Salah was Liverpool last season? Single handedly involved in 97.7% of everything that went well. One single point of failure between Liverpools weird squad finishing 8th not first this season. Of course, the overly fanatical Liverpool fans don’t see the real world like this – Liverpool fans never live in real world, some have even gone to the Professor someone in the pub knows who can laser out of brains memory all seasons they didn’t win a trophy, which he does for a lot of money using a funny kind of blue lightbulb – and Liverpool fanatics horror as this season unfolds is going to be the funniest thing EVER – fixture list helped them into a rhythm last time, they have the worst fixture list of anyone this time out! They’ll never get going, will always be off the pace in their title defence.
Just a shame our lost its mojo playing rubbish team is in no position to capitalise this season.
You know how to bring a mojo back? You don’t Reggie – you wouldn’t even know where to find real ones.
I couldn’t understand a word of what you are saying, sorry. Plus, what on earth is this 271 you are on about? Sorry, you have just lost me.
Reggie,
I believe the 271 was a bus that used to go to Highgate Village, Via Holloway Road. Until it was taken out of service. Now you will need to get a 263 Via Holloway Road to go to Highgate Village.
I hope that helps. 🤣😂👍
That’s not even 3 miles! Why would you take the pleb wagon – walk it!
Why are we so abysmal defending corners in 2025, if tweaks haven’t happened? Arsenal 25/26 edition will struggle for clean sheets, that’s so flipping obvious the main problem stopping us winning trophies now. What are you watching if you can’t see it? You think this side has 2 or 3 goals in it every game to make up for the lack of clean sheets and can’t hold leads anymore?
Moon Girl,
I wasn’t saying I was getting the Pleb wagon as you call it, I was just giving Reggie a heads up on what the 271 was, with a bit more information to boot. 😂👍
I just realised you’re having a bubble about timetables. You two gents are proper naughty. I imagine you both in snakeskin suits and crocodile shoes, so you don’t need the laundrette but taking your wardrobe to a vet.
You didn’t answer question though. If no tweaks then how come we gone from solid defensive record to looking like conceding every time attacked?
Morfin into 2-7-1 innit?
Moon Girl, and what if people have a serious health problem that restricts their walking to a few metres ? Or if they’re old and it’s pouring down with rain or snow ?
It doesn’t matter if it’s raining or snowing when you’re wearing a snakeskin suit HD
It only snows in the countryside. I know because I live there, and I’ve seen it snowing.
That explains it Derek. Thanks.
Reggie,
No problem.👍
I disagree with this author completely of the 6 players we just signed only 2 will get into the team straight on, implicating that we have about 90 percent of our team still starting, we should be going all out to win this season, and i believe if they fail to do that Arteta Out period. The other players can adapt on the bench and be ready to perform if they are needed.
You are right, there will be minimal initial changes. My problem is, the squad is becoming unbalanced and not enough variation. If Gyokores is to eventually start as a 9, where does Haverz, Martinelli, Madueke, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus and IF we get him Eze all fit. It looks a bit haphazard and lop sided.
Most likely some of the players mentioned will leave before the window is closed. The idea is probably to have at least two quality options for more or less all positions, in some positions you will probably need three. Most of our players are versatile and can play in at least two positions.
Goal posts are shifting so much we might actually score more
I think the goalposts for some fans are moving 😂😂 not surprising though.
Reggie,
It really amazes me that Arteta keeps getting the freedom pass that he does. And he’s not even reached the Pension age yet either. 😂🤣👍
I wonder what has happened to our fans. They have gone all spursy.
Well some.
I think the writer of this blog has moved the goal posts so far, as far as Arteta is concerned, they are now lying outside our stadium.
Return from our attacking midfielders has been very low. That needs to improve. Rice and Ode Don’t score enough. They miss more begging chances than score. Eze will be a direct threat to their dominance just like Martinelle. Ode is likely to have reduced minutes. The same with Rice and Martinelle. No sentiments. Since Eze can play LW, 8 and 10 these guys will be seriously looking over their shoulders. Initially Eze might be starting from the bench before he finally dislodges any of the above trios. Sentiments apart Rice supports number 6 more than playing number 8 role. Ode plays behind Saka and in front of Ben White more than his actual role as number 10
Eze will cause Rice, Martinelle, Ode to double their efforts or become bench warmers. That’ll be the beauty of signing Eze.
It’s par for the course that not every signing will hit the ground running. I just have my fingers crossed that none are duds and any adjustments are quick
We seem pre disposed to find fault with our transfers & our manager and automatically believe Liverpool will run away with the title because of their summer business. I read a post from a previous article that we’ll be in a dog fight to finish in the top four. Not much confidence expressed there. That’s ok though, but then we’re classed as arrogant if a belief is expressed that we can win the league. I believe we can, but I’m not saying we will, having not done that for close to a quarter of a century.
I don’t know if Moon Girl is right, but I’m interested to see how Slot integrates his big signings and how he fares in general. It was held as a stroke of genius not to tinker with the team Klopp left behind so apart from a punt on one player with a poor injury record and barely played, Slot has to add new faces and move players on. It’s rare for no changes to occur in a season. It worked for him and he took on a strong re-emerging team in any case, but I’m curious to see it all pan out over the next few months with beginnings of his players forming Liverpool’s future
Unfortunately for Arteta, I think the combination of the lack of any trophy (let’s not stoop to counting the Community Shield) since the F A Cup back in 2019/20 and huge expenditure very probably negates the “give him more time because of the signings” argument.
Every season that goes by without silverware increases the pressure on the coach. Arteta has already lasted (far) longer at Arsenal than he would have at any other major club EPL today on his record.
Arteta could have alleviated that pressure to an extent had his teams won, say, a Europa League and a Carabao Cup in the interim period because at least he could have pointed to that silverware as he pushed on for the bigger prizes of the title and CL. That didn’t happen and as a result, I suspect next season will turn into “make or break” for Arteta regardless.
The deciding factor will probably be money as it usually is. Arsenal’s gross expenditure will surpass £900m since Arteta arrived with the huge spending this summer and, regardless of new players settling in or other arguments, in the end that’s a hell of lot to pay for an F A Cup!
I think that’s a reasonable assumption Bertie. The question is will the Board let him see out his contract or not if the cupboard is bare in 2026?
The unpalatable truth is that apart from domestic silverware we have fallen short for over 2 decades. AW was cut some slack because of his earlier impressive record and top4 but it doesn’t alter the fact that 2 other clubs were given an almighty leg up before financial fair play and that has dramatically changed the landscape of our league. It hasn’t helped Newcastle an awful lot that they have the richest owners. Liverpool were always thereabouts but getting Klopp was a master stroke. Emery was supposed to be ours and in the end ‘Pep’s water boy’ got the job and a difficult task
I’m not saying that it isn’t time for Arteta to prove himself to be a winner. That is, as they say, the hardest part. The league as a whole has been up against it since City had the foresight to employ Guardiola. It’s all about timing
Agree with your observations regarding how the financial landscape changed drastically. You made a good point regarding Klopp and LP being a master stroke; however, even with his prior 7 seasons of experience at Dortmund he wasn’t successful for several seasons at LP. For his first several seasons after his October 2015 acquisition, the broadly accepted narrative was that he just couldn’t put together a sufficient defense to challenge for honours. He didn’t finish 2nd until ’18/’19 after LP pumped the money from the Coutinho sale into acquiring VVD.
Timing is everything.
The lack of trophies is disappointing no doubt. However, this tendency to be so reductive as to suggest that the outlay has only yielded an FA cup demonstrates limited insight, unnecessary arrogance, and a sense of entitlement.
Arteta has been in place longer than most managers at other top clubs. So what? Prior to Arteta, Arsenal were not competitive for the biggest titles in almost 2 decades. Arsenal had also dropped from a team that would regularly get into the top 4 to become largely irrelevant except for cup runs. This was under the manager regularly considered one of the greatest managers in Arsenal’s history.
The focus on the money is also rather disingenuous. Arteta has had to rebuild the squad and the club have spent less than some of their contemporaries over the same time period. Without providing further context it’s quite ridiculous to be quoting what Arsenal have spent. Several of the teams Arsenal are up against were significantly stronger when Arteta became manager and haven’t stopped spending.
Arteta’s Arsenal has reached levels which they hadn’t in years. This manager has one of the highest win rates of any Arsenal manager in history. The suggestion that the next season is “make or break”, is in my view, ludicrous.
There are many variables which a manager cannot control that some people conveniently overlook, dismiss or even more disgracefully misrepresent.
Many people are now predicting Liverpool to be favourites for the PL yet at the same time insisting that Arsenal must win.
People need to allow the season to be played out rather than this unnecessary speculation about the manager’s future. We have a top manager, one of the best in Europe. What he needs is support not the negative toxicity which some people seem to think is the right attitude for a fan.
No Derek, the outlay has yielded ZILCH. The FA cup was won with someone elses spends and team. The outlay since has produced absolutely nothing!!!
Can I ask you a question?
If you think Arteta can win the league or CL (i dont thats my reason for change) How many years (without interim excuses or added phases) do you think we should give Arteta?
We are at 5 now, how many more?
Sorry not Derek BUT DAVID
Just read your post but I responded to Derek above and your reply to David made me chuckle at the absurdity of it all
@Reggie – Which manager has a winning guarantee after he has signed for Arsenal FC?
What?
Which manager do want give us a name, if you have one.
DP
This is the problem because there can be no guarantee.
It amuses me that Arteta only won the FA cup with AW and Emery’s players especially amusing as Emery couldn’t do it.
I often wonder if Arteta is sacked or falls on his sword and the new guaranteed winning coach gets off to a brilliant start, will anyone say it’s only down to him winning with Arteta’s team.?
I might
I have told you before that this is not a question that has a defined answer. I can see that some people have been bullied into agreeing certain time limits based on limited information. In my view this is an inappropriate way to run a successful sporting setup unless you have unlimited wealth and can afford to absorb huge losses. I don’t agree that the outlay has yielded zilch as I don’t assess a team or manager’s performance based on trophies alone. I also disagree that considering and evaluating the impact of variables that a manager has limited or no control over means that one is looking for excuses.
One of the problems with much of the discourse is the implied argument that all Arsenal need to do is get another manager and everything will be fine. Another is that people point to another manager in a different situation and suggest that because they won a title they must be better.
I don’t agree with these lines of thinking and it is also clear that the owners don’t. The club have embarked on a long term strategy which is robust and in the longer term likely to bring the club major titles.
Well, you’re entitled to your opinion as I am to mine but, unlike you, I try not to disparage people that do have alternative views by describing them as having “limited insight, unnecessary arrogance, and a sense of entitlement”.
However, setting aside your shortcomings there, I think that lack of trophies when matched against expenditure will, in the end, be the determining factor in Arteta’s future at Arsenal.
You see, the problem with your arguments is that you’re not looking at it from a business perspective (perhaps you don’t have one, which seems likely).
From KSE’s viewpoint – and it’s the only one that matters – Stan and Josh will be looking at what they’ve put into the club and what they’ve got out in relation to the other leading clubs in the EPL. The Kroenke family and KSE didn’t get where they are today by supporting second best, or second place, indefinitely. It’s not a natural “go to” position for them and they are likely to go along with it only for as long as it looks like being a stepping stone to first place.
Should Arsenal be trophyless in 2025-26 (which we all hope won’t be the case, of course) then I think they will ask the question “is Arteta really the coach to take us forward to where we want to be?” After six seasons and a fortune in expenditure, I suspect the answer will not be in the affirmative. We’ll see.
Bertie,
I agree with a lot of your post. Well said. 👍
Sometimes we forget just how good a team we already had even minus the new signings. This is largely the same team that garnered the most points of all Prem clubs in the 2024 calendar year(85 points). From Jan-Dec 2024,no PL club had more. With the exception of Jorginho and Partey,all the players who played a key role for us in this period are still at Arsenal.
Yes, the new signings could need time to adapt but I’m not convinced we need all of them to hit the ground running immediately. The only new signing we need to be ready for the first game is Zubimendi because there’s no else in his position who is already adapted to the team (Partey would have been that guy). Zubimendi is an intelligent player and we’ve been following him for a while so I’m sure he’s been aware of our style and what is expected of him for weeks if not months. Fingers crossed he can make immediate impact like Rice.
As for the others, they can be eased in as they continue to learn the system. I believe they will be most useful during the congested run of matches in December and the run in- these two clusters of games can make or break a season.
In summary, I’m not convinced the success of our season is tied to our new recruits hitting the ground running because we already had good players. In fact,they could get into top form just around the times we usually falter- the Christmas games and the games towards the end of the season.
That said,if the other players like Gyokeres and Madueke show that they are ready, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be trusted to start from the get go.
Good points. 👍
Onyango you’re blessed
Exactly the points I want to hear from every Arsenal fans and not lame excuses about new players settling down.
Our fans was saying we would have won the league this season if not for injuries and yet they believe we need to wait another season for new players to blend in?
Now we have a stronger squad than last season, so what is stopping us to start again?
I pray no injuries happen to our players this time around.
Bobs,
Has anyone really said that we need another season for players to blend in?
Wasn’t Onyango just being accused yesterday of being the new David and posting Arteta adulation?🤔
@SueP
That is what the article is implying don’t you think?
The article referred to ‘early inconsistences’ Bobs. So I took it to mean that it was early in the forthcoming season.
The Article is just a wind-up. The author does believe there will be some settling-in time needed, but they also know that you can’t write off an entire season. We only have two new players added to the starting eleven, so most of our new players will have some time to settle in without any pressure
Superb bait article, you just know those haters will rush like moth to a flame lmao
The summer signings are made to propel us one further now. The intention is clear, so let’s look forward to a bigger season ahead. COYG!
Exactly
Let excuses flies in at the end of the season not before.
I hope we do it these time and history repeat itself.
I doubt we need more time we have done much right. Regardless of what we have been doing we can only influence on ourselves, and we no influence on our opponents and they have also done a lot. Soon we will know whether the balance of power has been balanced or not. COYG
Arteta has a lot more time that you think.
And all of it is because Pool will become the juggernaut City was if they add Isak. They may already be unstoppable but adding Isak will make them a dynasty. Unlike us they know what they want and how to get it. Arteta has done ok but he
did cost himself the title since he never bought a superstar goal scorer last 3 seasons but stuck with projects from Chelsea cast offs. Sad really to see a great opportunity wasted. If we were to win a title next couple seasons Liverpool and possible Chelsea could have an injury ridden season. Of course that will take us having a perfect one and lots of luck.
It hurts to write this and i hope i am profoundly wrong.
I can understand the new players needing time to adjust, but Arteta. As if six years isn’t enough? And if there’s no major trophy to show after six years and such an expensive outlay in hit and miss personal. Then of course it’s the fans fault for not being patient and having a sense of entitlement. As though we’ve been treated to beautiful free flowing football along the way.
A great article and debate that followed.
My thoughts go back to when we signed Dennis Bergkamp and how long it took for him to settle in.
The same goes for Henry and Pires, so I don’t think we’ll see the best of any of our new signings for a few games.
Zubimendi will breathe new life into our left side and that will see Martinelli fulfill his potential.
As for MA, let’s wait and see!!
👍ken1945 – I also hope you’re right Martinelli. I had thought the same about Eze long before this season after witnessing how well he coordinates with the left wing and makes anyone playing there so much more effective than may otherwise be.
BB, Eze would be a great signing, but not at the expense of Martinelli – Trossard yes, but not one of our brightest prospects!!
Of course ken1945, Eze is not consistently at Arsenal level as a left winger but he could open things up for Martinelli. Whether Martinelli could flourish at that point, I’m uncertain but I’d like to see.
👍👍