Mikel Arteta has undeniably rejuvenated Arsenal, taking us from the doldrums of the late-stage Wenger era and the car crash that was Unai Emery’s tenure to being competitive on multiple fronts. There is no doubt that he is a very good manager. But the question remains: can he win the biggest trophies?
Fans rightly gave him plenty of grace over the past two seasons when competing against Manchester City, one of the best teams in history—not to mention financially doped to the gills—and failure to convert promise into titles was overlooked. But the expectation was that when PSR, luck, and old age finally caught up with City, as they appear to have done this season, Arsenal would be poised to dominate the league for the next few years.
Instead, the Gunners’ quality has dropped. The team looks fatigued and out of ideas, and last summer’s transfer window must go down as one of the worst since the infamous 2015 season when Petr Čech was the only signing.
As such, though no one is suggesting the club should make rash decisions, it is not unreasonable to ask whether Arteta is the man to take us where we want to go. He has overseen an excellent rebuild, the foundations are in place, but can he finish what he started? Though I’m not convinced either way, if we haven’t won either the Premier League or Champions League by the end of the season, it’s a valid conversation to have.
The main question is: “Who else would we get?”
Well, it turns out Mikel Arteta isn’t the only good manager in world football, and there are several names that should be put on the table as potential managerial targets if we don’t win something major this year. As the key criteria is whether such a manager can win trophies, this is not simply a question that can be answered by looking at the Premier League, where Pep has been the only winning manager for the last few years (and Klopp appears done with management, at least for the foreseeable future).
Here are four options from outside the Premier League who have trophies under their belts:
1. Xabi Alonso – Tactical Visionary with an Eye for Development
Alonso took the helm at Bayer Leverkusen with the club in an even worse state than Arteta found Arsenal, replacing Gerardo Seoane with the team second from bottom after eight Bundesliga games. His first game was a 4-0 win, and he brought them up the table to finish sixth that year.
The next season, he won the double, beating Bayern Munich to the title and winning the domestic cup competition, while also reaching the Europa League final. Impressively, his team went unbeaten in the league, doing an “Invincibles.” He achieved this on a small budget, using a mix of young talent, astute experienced signings (including former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka), and playing an exciting brand of football that saw them average 2.4 goals per game and concede just 24 times in the league all year.
This season, though Bayern looks back on form, Leverkusen are still pushing them every step of the way and sit just four points behind them. Considering Leverkusen’s small budget and the fact they are now competing in the Champions League, where they are fourth in the table (just one place behind Arsenal), Alonso has shown that he is not just a one-hit wonder.
Surely, if there is any chance he would come to Arsenal, he cannot be overlooked.
Suitability rating: 10/10
2. Zinedine Zidane – Proven Winner with Gravitas
Few managers in world football can rival Zinedine Zidane’s résumé. Three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid underscore his ability to deliver silverware at the highest level. Zidane’s calm demeanour and ability to bring the best out of top players should make him a prime candidate for Arsenal if we ever want to win the biggest prize in European football.
Stylistically, Zidane managed to be pragmatic without being dull. His tactical style revolved around simple systems and finding ways to deploy multiple impactful players in their best roles rather than forcing players to fit into a rigid framework. In contrast, Arteta seems to have removed the creativity from every Arsenal player not named Bukayo Saka, all in the name of following patterns of play.
Zidane’s stature in the game would also attract marquee players, giving Arsenal a crucial edge in the transfer market.
That said, he has not managed a team since 2021, and whether he would be open to taking up the job at Arsenal is hard to determine.
Suitability rating: 8/10
3. Simone Inzaghi – Master of Tactical Flexibility
Of the top three leagues in European football, Serie A is likely the one about which English football fans have the least awareness. But over in Italy, Simone Inzaghi has quietly established himself as one of Europe’s smartest tacticians.
Inzaghi took the reins at Inter Milan after the departure of Antonio Conte, who left the club despite winning Serie A due to a rising debt crisis that led to player sales and salary cuts. Since arriving in 2021 (18 months after Arteta took the helm at Arsenal), Inzaghi has fought through such budgetary constraints and won one Serie A title, two Coppa Italia titles, three consecutive Supercoppa Italiana titles, and reached the 2023 UEFA Champions League final.
Inzaghi typically employs a 3-5-2 formation that balances defensive solidity with high-possession football. Where available, his system allows for swift transitions from defence into attack. While this style may not suit Arsenal’s current squad (no one wants to see Saka at full-back), his ingenuity and tactical balance, combined with his ability to win big trophies, would make him a welcome addition to Arsenal if adapted to the players we have.
Suitability rating: 7/10
4. Julian Nagelsmann – The Modern Innovator
At just 37, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has already coached Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Hoffenheim, building a reputation as one of the most innovative minds in football. With his ability to implement pressing football, his trust in young players, and his preferred formation of 4-2-3-1, his philosophy would complement the strengths of Arsenal’s current system.
The key question with Nagelsmann, however, is the same one that haunts Arteta: not, ‘Is he good?’ but, ‘Can he win?’ His track record of improving poor and mid-level teams is excellent, as shown at both Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig—though Arteta has proven this as well at Arsenal. However, while Nagelsmann does have a couple of trophies under his belt, winning the Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup with Bayern, it’s hard to put too much weight on success in the one-horse race that German football typically embodies. His mid-season sacking from Bayern and early Champions League exit perhaps reveal the same weaknesses that currently plague Arteta at Arsenal.
That said, while he may be on a par with Arteta, his incredibly young age suggests he might have a higher managerial ceiling.
Suitability rating: 7/10
Conclusion
While Arteta has rebuilt Arsenal into a serious club once again, should we fail to win now that the opportunity presents itself, the club should remain open to alternative leadership. Arsenal has done this before, replacing Bruce Rioch when Arsène Wenger became available, and it changed the club forever. Perhaps, if a better option presents itself in the coming year, we should consider doing the same.
For me, barring a Premier League or Champions League title this year, if there is any chance of prising Xabi Alonso away from Leverkusen this summer, I’d do everything possible to make it happen.
Jamie Bambrick
No one had heard of Wenger when he was appointed as our manager, having been plucked by David Dein from Grampus Eight in the J League. Big names with impressive records are not always the answer.
The mentioned managers except Zidane have made it themselves without the financial help Arteta has enjoyed. And speaking of Zidane, he is the kind of a man you want when you have open checkbook like Arteta has enjoyed for the past five years.
Zidane would never have accepted mediocre players that have been majority of signings under Arteta.
Xabi Alonso is what some think Arteta is: a genius, a special one and the real deal.
There are countless managers available who will do twice better with half the salary Arteta is getting.
If Arteta was Villa or Forest manager they would have been either battling or already relegated by now instead of competing for top 4 or the CL itself.
Great comment as per usual HH 👏
Thank you Dan Kit.
Arteta has undoubtedly made mistakes, but fairness in our assessments is crucial. We have seen numerous managers at Manchester United (or other Clubs) who couldn’t replicate what Mikel Arteta has accomplished at Arsenal, even with similar or greater investments. Beyond his errors, Arsenal have also faced unfortunate circumstances in the past couple of years (also this year- the injuries, red cards), losing the title to City. His stubbornness in avoiding signing a proper striker and bolstering the front line as effectively as he has the defense has been noted. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t overshadow the respect deserved for his achievements and the progress he has brought to the club in recent years. By the way, it is curious how many people here seem to think that simply changing the manager is an instant recipe for turning the club into champion. I don’t think this would always be as smooth and effective as they believe.
Accomplished as in ?
Returning to top 4 is the answer Dan. His hand-picked squad continues getting ousted from domestic cup competitions on the regular, and are not at the level to be a threat in the CL.
Odd how Wenger got mocked for top4; even after 20 years straight! Yet now it seems an “accomplishment” with Arteta.
Also, wasn’t Wenger getting bashed for not delivering trophies in his latter years, but now with Arteta the same fans call others “entitled.”
The hypocrisy is strong in some, they are so invested in Arteta rather than Arsenal that they simply can’t let go enough to even consider another manager.
Durand
It’s been interesting reading your points of view over the 5.5 years I’ve been following JA.
I’m invested in Arteta because he is our manager. I assume most ordinary people are as well and were equally as invested in Wenger as I was
I believe you are wide of the mark regarding the investment shown to Arteta by some posters – probably me as well – over the club itself. I can’t think of anything more absurd. We may have a different opinion on the way the club moves forward but it’s nothing more than that .. just an opinion
Lately it seems that people lining up to do the same to Arteta as you state was done to Wenger.
SueP
I was just pointing out the discrepancy we see and read between the managers.
For example, trusting their decisions, believing in their process so to speak.
Wenger finished top 4 for 2 decades consistently. Yet, people felt perhaps the belief in his process was gone. Fair enough he couldn’t right the ship.
Arteta doesn’t have that resume of success, but if some fans don’t have belief in him they are not proper fans?
I’m not accusing you of this SueP, or labeling you in any way. I merely have a difference of opinion regarding our manager.
I don’t want him sacked for the record, but I think it’s good he is on the hot seat.
Next year clear goals and metrics should be in place to hold players, manager, and ownership accountable.
For example, top 4 minimum as it was for Wenger and Emery. Going further in FA Cup than we have last couple years, to show growth and progression.
I’ve been on board with Arteta, just feel that it’s time to see results after 5 years and 3/4 of a billion spent.
👍👍SueP
I would also say Howe ,who as earned his stripes .
He’s put together probably the best midfield in the prem and got them working like a team ,imagine if the so called sky six didn’t have a hold on the rules what he could do with the abit more budget like Arteta , pep and the likes have been given .
Same league as Arteta. Surely if we changing the manager we go for someone with a proven track record of winning trophies. Roberto Mancini is my shout.
Not really, he’s not had that big opportunity,he carries himself like a proper manager that as come up the hard way ,doesn’t rant and rage and make excuses ,got the better of our so called world class manager 3 out of our 4 last meetings with a inferior team and less monies to do it on .
If it did t work you move on ,always Arsenal first not manager first not sure why that is so hard for some to come to terms with .
At Arsenal, we need the spirit of replacing coaches when they are not performing well. Our coaches are usually too comfortable to be replaced, no wonder why we have no league tilte in 21 years and counting. A coach has already amassed 5 years without success/trophies- the league in particular, but most of the fans are continuing saying let’s give him more time. Imagine. Even Kroenke himself, after he took over the club, no premier league success, just making profit and tje highest cost of tickets in tje league is ok for him. And the fans are also comfortable with it, as long as we are in the champions league it’s fine, though not winning it. Thera an inherent problem at Arsenal
On the question of whether Arsenal can win trophies with Mikel Arteta, my opinion is that they can. They came very close in the last two years, when none of us expected it. This year I don’t see it as likely, mainly due to referee decisions and injuries to our key players and not Arteta’s mistakes.
He is criticized for not getting a striker with ease in scoring. From what I read, actions were taken, but the ones we wanted didn’t want to move at this stage. We definitely need a central striker. Havertz helps develop the game, defends, covers spaces, doesn’t make wrong passes, but he doesn’t have ease in scoring. Very few have this ability, namely to see where the goal is, even the goalkeeper, before they execute.
If there are other good coaches to replace him, of course they do. But he is not the current one. Arsenal is still being built and is being built with Arteta’s plan, a plan that has shown that it works. We are now competitive, we impose our game. We do not play to steal games as a small team. Trophies are not the only panacea. A trophy can be won due to circumstances and a mediocre team, it has happened.
To take the step forward we need two good additions to the attack. Also, Saka needs to come back strong like before. We miss him a lot, now it has become clear how good he is.
This spirit makes our coaches feel in heaven. 6 years and 750 million and plus the second highest paid coach in the league, and he’s still building a team??? When will be the climax??? Trophies in football matter a lot more than anything elsi
PLEASE BE CORRECTED
Arteta is not just the second highest paid coach in the league.
He’s the second highest paid coach in the WORLD
dgr8xt,
The saying goes, a fool and their money are soon parted.
In this case it’s our owners that are the fools.🙄🤦♂️
If it took 5 years for my building to be built, i’ d sack the contractor.
A good coach with a good team AND we have a good team, will be able to compensate for sakas absence but an inflexible coach is rarely able to. Arteta will not win us a major trophy, in fact not even a minor one now its his squad. I actually have no issues with ourcteam JUST the way thwy are managed, micro to the nth degree. A quick throw can open up the opposition BUT what happens? His tactic leads to our player being carded. He plays to his tactics rather than to the team. See how usually martinelli or any of our llayers break only to slow down and wait for the oppo to get back.
He wants us to pass our way to goal, min 10 passes then ok to shoot and we wonder why we cant score?.
Utd, spuds all now have set piece variations but we havant changed since last season. Sums it all up with this manager
With the money invested, the time allowed and trust. There is a glut of nanagers that would have done better than Arteta. He isn’t a god and he HAS NOT overachieved. In fact he has underachieved. He has done nothing special to warrant the amount of money that has been invested in the team and him.
What I think has happened Reggie ,the fans were sold this process b0loocks (and OFC arteta is an amazing talker )some have fallen into the trap .
Like I’ve said for years ,if Trophies were given out for talking we would be out of sight in the records book .
Its like Patrice Evra taking the pi££ out of us. He says we are a joke because our excuse is always, next season.
Dan Kit,
I agree. You only have to listen to the drivel that he talked after the United debacle.
He said how proud he was of the players in the last two games. And that he loves them, (please bring me the sick bucket🤦♂️).
Really! What’s to be proud of. Against Newcastle we had 26 attempts at goal, and only 3 on target.
Against Manchester United we had 23 attempts on goal, and only 7 on target.
A total of 49 attempts on goal, and only 10 attempts on target.
I’ll ask the question again, what’s there to be proud of.🙄🤦♂️😣
To make it clear MA will be done when the board make it done and until then I will support him as he is the arsenal manger, which detract from the fact that we are frustrating as hell to watch at this moment in time
The first post to ask who we would like if he was go rather then sack him
I personally would like some one in the stature of Flick at Barcelona
Not sure if someone like him would move to the prem or us but that’s my choice
Onwards and upwards
No he would t move to to Arsenal nor would zidanie as Arteta as filled our club up with yes players and no attacking sense between them.
Each and every season we seem to have different people coming up with different lists of potential managers who have mostly gone on to be a disaster at other clubs.
But I do feel like Arteta needs to diversify his style. This season we have become so boring, predictable and disjointed, it’s quite unbelievable what we have become this season. We are already in January (second half of the session) but we still have not gotten going. We keep waiting for the team to get going but we just seem to have stagnated, hit a ceiling and not going anywhere.
That’s all down to Arteta and his players. As I keep saying I do believe that we have a good team but can Arteta take them any farther? Has become very dogmatic in his approach (style of play)? I am just shocked at how terrible we have been this season so far. I just can’t believe it.
DeZebri, Ariola of bournomouth, Inzagi are my realistic bet alternatives
The very existence of this discussion is massively disrespectful to the whole Arsenal Tribe. Sticking together is what you do in tribes when you hit bumps in the road.
I am beginning to doubt Arsenal fans have what it takes to get their team over the line.
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan the lot of you. Sorry for the bad language.
It’s even disrespectful to logic itself, asking the question “has our excellent young manager reached a ceiling with us?” And not even having patience to learn the answer.
We have the best young manager around, based on how quickly he has turned that inherited squad around from mess, to being contenders again. What’s more, cut him in half and he will bleed the name Arsenal.
And what is more. Cutting edge comes and goes for all goal scoring footballers and teams – it’s called form. If goals and lack of finisher has been a problem for Arsenal all along, explain the amount of premiership goals scored the last couple of seasons? Was it a mirage?
cutting edge from this same group has been real, the team right now definitely has the quality to carve both Newcastle and Man Utd open, we saw them do it in recent days!
The goal scoring is not fluent right now because of the age old football reason why: the players putting too much pressure on themselves, as well as the media heaping on too much pressure “must win a trophy”. As well as the fans “if we don’t win the next game the title race is over.”
Jessica Ennis won gold London 2012 by completely blanking all TV and other media for months, for how unhelpful the media was piling on the pressure.
I can assure you, Liverpool have weaknesses too, like everyone has, they can go pop at any moment. Any team can. Massively over-reliant on Salah and VVD to name two obvious ones.
Titles are never over in January. Everyone with a medal will tell you that. So why concede any advantage to Liverpool right now, in how difficult their fans make Anfield a place for visiting teams? Turning Emirates home stadium into a nail biting library doesn’t help. home fans should lift their team to the win, take the pressure off with some belief. To win just needs one spark, one moment, we know one win can lead to another, and momentum. And fans of teams who achieve always play their part in success.
So whatever the future holds for us, let’s at least plant our flag here, and give it a damn good go!
COTA.
@MoonGirl
Realness MG…👍🏾
Sorry to have to disagree but Diaz and Gravenberch have been fantastic this season. Gakpo and McAllister have also been very good. Gakpo is actually only one goal off Havertz. The team that can crumble any minute actually turned out to be us without Saka.
He didn’t turn around the fortunes of the club because of his ability. I don’t like when people are selling this dishonest myth.
He wrote off an entire squad and bought a new squad. Any manager could have done that. And since then solution to all his problems has been spending more cash.
You want to see “real” turning around of fortunes? Look at Alonso, Emery at Villa or Inzaghi according to this article.
Mate you’re on the wrong website,
People here think Arteta is God.
I mean all you have to do is look at Nuno Tavares’ performance this season and that should tell you all you need to know about the coaching competence (or lack there of) Arteta.
Heck even Pepe is doing fine in Spain, you can’t convince anyone that Sterling is a good replacement
Tavares had 8 assists in his first 9 games now he’s back on the bench. Pepe has 3 g/a in 15 games.
Tavares had 8 assists in his first 9 games now he’s back on the bench. Pepe has 3 g/a in 15 games.
Bruh, please.
He’s carrying a hamstring injury.
Please don’t just look at numbers on fbref and spread misinformation.
Actually watch some matches…
I have watched games. He’s an explosive player in a slow league which suits his best attributes . Why don’t we see his record at Arsenal, Notts Forrest and Marseille. One in 4 isn’t a good ratio mate.
HH
I would take this squad over that squad . As you say, he wrote off
Let’s be honest. Most of that squads we’re pants collectively as a team.
Our back 4 were so bad.
We were opened up like a can of sardines on many occasions
We certainly were unable to play out from the back. Remember closing my eyes and hoping we didn’t give it away. Lost so many goals from our own making
A mf on its day were sublime but lacked conviction and consistency
I still remember the tag
Soft under belly
Cash had to be spent as we were rubbish 🗑
Allanball I do not argue about the quality between the two squads. My point is Arteta cannot be credited for rejuvenation when all he did was convincing the owners to replace the entire lot.
That could’ve been done under any manager.
He would have deserved credit if he turned those dross players into world beaters but he did no such thing.
You have an old and broken TV which is not functioning as intended. I come and throw it in the trash bin and buy you a new expensive one. Then some clap for me on my skill of fixing your old TV. Do I deserve credit for that?
Nice broken TV analogy 👍
👍👍👍
I wouldn’t disagree with you on that but in his defence and b4 you day or others do. I am not a MA lover I am an arsenal lover.
Would he do the same things as as he did if he had just walked through the door?
Being a novice manager and I know some will say he has had 5 years in the job, but he is still learning his trade. No other top profession you are deemed as classed as a top manager in 5 years. Football in unique industry.
Do I blame the owners for sanctioning the money he has spent. Not a chance. For years silent stan paid pennies and we looked upon other clubs with envy.
AW the true gentleman he was and is will never disclose if he was allowed to spend or he wouldn’t spend. UE as good a manager he is was not allowed to spend because the owners couldn’t trust him. As I said UE is a good manager but imo wasn’t a good fit for us at the time or for him.
I hope MA has good people around him to take good advice because being a manager on your own is a lonely world when you are doing it on your own.
Time will tell if he pulls it off or he falls on his own sword and it will be the king is dead, long live the king or queen what ever way we go.
One thing in life is guaranteed and that he will be sacked or leave at some point in time.
Onwards and upwards
It is my thinking now that the owners of Arsenal do not care about the sporting side of things.
Why would they award a manager in learning the third highest contract in the world? Either they do not know how to run a football club or he is achieving their goals whatever they are.
I believe it’s more of the latter.
Similarity to Wenger, he’s consistently achieving European football revenue and generating sellable assets.
His mediocre coaching skills is not a concern for these Americans.
They most probably intend to cash in on the likes of Saliba and Gabriel and rinse and repeat this cycle of mediocrity for years to come as long as it’s making them money.
This is not a credible perspective. No reasonable assessment of the changes would conclude that any manager could have done it. The only people consistently beating this drum are those who have had very little positive to say about the manager. The same people have been calling for his head since he joined the club and launch into repeated negative talking points whenever we have setbacks. The analogy is just silly.
The owners are far saner than many of the fans, thankfully.
Your statement that ‘any manager could have done that’ is completely wrong. We’ve seen numerous managers at other clubs supported with significant investments and ample time but failed to deliver and build a competitive team. Investment alone is not a guarantee of success; it is only one of the important factors for success.
Misgana I will agree with you if you can give me at least 3 examples among those numerous managers who were allowed to write off an entire squad of underperformers or at least half of them, spent 800 million in hit or miss signings, and soon to be 6 years of empty handed.
HH
I find it difficult to understand why you struggle to see why the entire squad at Arsenal was changed and much was invested on new players. We all know that the squad Arteta inherited was poor (this has been evidenced by the fact that almost none of the departed payers are playing at elite football clubs since leaving). So, significant investment in new players was inevitable, regardless of who was managing the team. While some signings may have been mistakes, the overall investment was necessary to build a competitive squad.
Regarding your point about managers with high spending and unsatisfactory results, again, consider Manchester United. Both Mourinho and Solskjaer, with investments exceeding £360m and £220m respectively, achieved limited success despite signing 11 and 16 players, respectively, in their spell of around three years at the Club. Here, you need to consider that these investments were made on a team that had already undergone significant spending in previous years. Similarly, Everton and Tottenham have seen plenty of managers spend heavily without achieving the desired results. Furthermore, given the French league’s secondary importance to the owners (the fans as well), the consistent underperformance of expensively assembled PSG squads further emphasizes the point that their Managers were failing to deliver as per expectation.
I think your statement is also false and is fuelled by recency bias.
It’s not “numerous”, you obviously have Eric Ten Haag in mind. (Who delivered two trophies btw but wasn’t great regardless)
So let’s say: any manager apart from Eric Ten Haag could have done that…
Spot on Rootkit. He is thinking of only Ten Häag hence I asked him for three names. You will find that all apologist have a tendency of making big statements without any tangible facts or evidence to back them up.
And speaking of Ten Häag they only cite his failure to win the league but play blind to the fact that Man utd did not tolerate that failure. Did they give him a new 15m a year contract?
@HH
Speaking of Emery…😁
He had to write an entire squad off though. A squad Wenger couldn’t crack top 4 with and same with Emery. Have any of the player we sold set the world alight since moving ? Martinez for 2 seasons would be the correct and only answer.
Now I admit that we should have hired the likes if BRENDON RODGERS in the beginning like some of you were pushing for from 2021. May be our fortunes would have been turned around in a positive direction by this season.
Only if the Club had listened to the likes yourself from the beginning. May be we would have lifted all the trophies that are available to be won.
And Aston villa sit in 8th on 30 points. They have regressed so far this season. Emery / Villa have been one of the biggest spender since Emery turned up too. He spend a lot in the summer but his team seems to have gotten worse / regressed.
Isn’t it?
👍
The noise about Emery has reduced a bit except for a few who seem to have become his diehard fans.
It’s important to note that most of us do recognise that Emery is a very good manager and may yet achieve success with Aston Villa. However, that should not detract from the view that he was no longer an appropriate fit for Arsenal by the time he left.
👍
MoonGirl,
I don’t know if your aware of this, but the only people that can get the team over the line are the players on the pitch.
Just Saying.🙄🤦♂️
Stopped reading your comment at the point you said; “ We have the best young manager around”
Have you heard about Xabi Alonso?
Or you just landed from Mars?
Some fans are just too comfortable with mediocrity.
“… from the doldrums of the late-stage Wenger era”.
Arsenal fans will bite off your hands to experience the last five seasons of Wenger:
2013/2014: FA Cup Winners
2014/2015: FA Cup Winners
2016/2017: FA Cup Winners
2017/2018: League Cup Runners Up
Wenger spends a billion, as is the case since he left, he would boss this league even with Guardiola in it. The EPL, contrary to what many say and bar the 15/16 season won by Leicester, has never been weaker in the last 20 years. Arsenal fans truly deserve what they get.
I would have to disagree with you there
AW is one of our greatest managers ever but it got to the stage where he over stayed and should have stepped down earlier but moved upstairs to retain his wealth of knowledge and experience.
We treated him terribly at the end and shame on all who hounded him out they way they did.
We talk about MA being stubborn on some of his decisions, AW was no different at times, which was just as frustrating.
Difference is AW had trophies in the bank to back it up but the last few seasons you could see we were in the mix for a top 4 but we were never going to challenge for the title .
It wasn’t just trophies with A.W. It was the style with which we played and his ability to spot talent when he saw it. I had the impression that towards the end other club scouts were following Arsenal and trumping us in getting the final deal done. Unfortunately, Arsene didn’t do defenders very well and the road lead to Mustafi, an unreliable Kos., an aging Merttsacker, Jenkins and other disappointing choices.
TH14-TH14,
You won’t get any arguments from me there.
Most objective comments I see here are just affirmation of what some of us have been clamoring about since the beginning of the season.
For me, one move that showed the biggest indication yet, of our owners’ lack of ambition was the decision to give Arteta that bumper deal just before the start of the season.
All because he came second by gifting away the league to city in the manner he did?
I felt they should have waited towards the end of the season at least.
What the new deal succeeded in doing (in the run-up to the new season), is to take away the pressure to win from his shoulders and make him too comfortable. I pointed this out earlier in the season too.
Imo this season is gone.
I don’t see us bringing (if any) more than one player on loan this January which of course will not be enough to change our fortunes.
Another valid question is; what guarantees do we have new players will change our fortune if the coach’s setup and playing style remain the same?
The debate about getting a new coach is a valid one but it matter’s only if our owners are ambitious and care about the fans.
Actually, the debate does not make sense except to provide an outlet for a certain section of our disgruntled fanbase who are glory hunters.
Hence, the unreasonable assessment of our manager being “mediocre” or suggesting the club is not ambitious simply because it does not behave like Chelsea under Abramovich.
We need a Striker now and Arteta is agreeing a deal for Zubimendi for August.
That means Partey will leave this summer.
😅😄😂
These are the kind of posts we need to see and not the ones for players.
WISDOM IS HARD TO GET..THE WISE WILL SEE THE REALISTIC FUTURISTIC SUCCESS THAT THESE MANAGERS WILL SURELY BRING AND NOT A WANNA BE HALF BAKED AND WASTEFUL AVERAGE MANAGER CALLED MIKEL ARTETA..BUT I KNOW SOME OF HIS GULLIBLE SELF DELUSIONAL FOLLOWERS WILL SAY OTHERWISE.
One of the reasons I realised that Arteta is not a good coach is sometimes Martenelli and Ordegard hold i unto the ball when other players are through on goal and they fail to pass. Arteta never correct that.
Nuno Espirito Santos…
Do you remember him at Spurs?
Give him another season and if he can replicate what he has done this season then may be we can suggest him.
But one season hit wonder suggestions that our fans seem to suggest each season are not the way to go. Each and every season there is one or two managers that will overachieve and straight away our fans will jump onto them. But then that manager tunk at some point they will stop talking about him suddenly. Then another one will pop up and then they will jump onto him as the next best thing.
🤞
@Goonster
Fair enough. But to me, his situation at Spurs reminds me of Emery’s at AFC. He is a good tactician/man manager that walked into to a club in chaos, that was looking for a quick fix and got impatient. Just saying
NY_Gunner, Goonster makes a very good point regarding one hit wonders but using Nuno as an example is off the mark imo given Nuno’s history. I believe you were correct in your analysis of his time at Spuds and I was relieved when they were hasty and gave up on him so quickly.
You’re living dangerously NYG. In chaos?
@Sue P
I try Sue. I try…😁
Edu jumping off the process leaving mission unaccomplished pretty much sums up the state of things now. Of course Arteta has the next five months to prove his vision correct but if this current trend of unsatisfying results and team performances continues then I would like to see any one of those above mentioned candidates given a chance. My out there choice actually is De Zerbi. Given our recourses and personal he should be able to redeem his reputation by getting rid of the aging, or underwhelming ones and getting the most of the younger players.
The managers approach /thinking can be understood by the type of players he is brining in. So far only successfull attacking player he has brought in is Odegaard. Saka & Martenelli were already there. The rest he has bought in haven’t helped him at all to take the team forward.
Now to address that they need significant investment.