Mikel Arteta, success or failure? - Merged thread.

[nut flush gooner]

I have been so impressed with not only the turn around of the team, but his attitude and the standards he sets. My biggest fear was he would be a push over, but he is clearly in control of the team. He has made some wonderful signings and he is a good tactician. We have a really good press & off the ball shape. Something we had never had with Wenger or Emery. I mean for fuck sake, we havent conceded from a corner all season, where as our defensive aptitude from set pieces used to be a running joke under Wenger

Other fans are starting to comment on his antics on the touch line - leaving the technical area and constantly issuing instructions. And when other fans are starting to take notice of these things, it means they are paying attention to Arteta. To that point, Arteta seemed to be involved in the game, where as Gerrard stood with his hands in his pockets looking like he was holding in a shit. Arteta is positive too. claps the team and encourages them. I used to loathe Wenger constantly berating the 4th official as it sent a negative vibe to the team.

Arteta is actually a quality manager in the making. He deserves being linked to the PSG job, mind you im not worried about him leaving.

I think the potential new deal offered to him is thoroughly deserved & I hope he signs it (he will - no danger of Arteta being swayed by PSG). I have no interest in discussing our managerial situation, its Arteta

Yeah, this part of the forum should be called the agenda thread. Amazing how people are almost moving the goalposts just so that they can say they told you so. It's almost like an obsession/bloodsport.

This is the long and short of it, top 6 is fine. Top 4 would merit a long-term contract for Arteta. He has developed a squad that can deal with every team outside of the top 4. The harmony of the team is something we haven't seen for years. I said he should have been sacked in December 2020, before the Chelski game after the Everton loss. But I am grown up to admit they did the right thing keeping him. The team today is playing good football, has resilience especially away from home, and perhaps another £150-£200m investment this summer (which Stanley does have) will put us right up there with the big boys next season.

[SteveO 35]

This period now is starting to feel a bit like 08/09 and what the owners/manager do next is probably going to define the next 5 years or so

That team, full of wonderful young players like Fabregas, was allowed to break up and we were picked off by the Chavs and Citeh and went backwards. A team that was always 2-3 players away from being genuine contenders. Back then the stadium debt was fresh and a real issue but 13 years of record gate receipts and commercial income, mean that can't be used as an excuse anymore

Roll forward to today and we have some of the best young footballers the club has ever produced/signed - Martinelli, Saka, Smith Rowe - for years me and many others have bemoaned the state of the academy but we've actually got some talents coming through finally. These players need to form the cornerstone of the club's ambition and all of them need to be locked into big deals

Like that time in 08/09 we need 3 or 4 key additions that will likely cost £150m-£200m to decide if we really want to play with the big boys or content to be on the fringes of 4th. Saliba can easily be the third centre half that's needed, but Clive needs to be gone in the Summer and a proper partner found for Partey. We all know a top grade centre forward isn't going to come for less than £60m+ and we could be going into the Summer with Lacazette and Eddie leaving, meaning we'd likely need to sign two players in that position

If the club do that well Arteta has a chance to write a successful new chapter in the club's history. If they don't, I can see it becoming like Wenger's later years which would be hugely frustrating and would ultimately see the likes of Saka leaving the club. Only the odious wig wearing c.unt can decide....

[nut flush gooner]

This period now is starting to feel a bit like 08/09 and what the owners/manager do next is probably going to define the next 5 years or so

That team, full of wonderful young players like Fabregas, was allowed to break up and we were picked off by the Chavs and Citeh and went backwards. A team that was always 2-3 players away from being genuine contenders. Back then the stadium debt was fresh and a real issue but 13 years of record gate receipts and commercial income, mean that can't be used as an excuse anymore

Roll forward to today and we have some of the best young footballers the club has ever produced/signed - Martinelli, Saka, Smith Rowe - for years me and many others have bemoaned the state of the academy but we've actually got some talents coming through finally. These players need to form the cornerstone of the club's ambition and all of them need to be locked into big deals

Like that time in 08/09 we need 3 or 4 key additions that will likely cost £150m-£200m to decide if we really want to play with the big boys or content to be on the fringes of 4th. Saliba can easily be the third centre half that's needed, but Clive needs to be gone in the Summer and a proper partner found for Partey. We all know a top grade centre forward isn't going to come for less than £60m+ and we could be going into the Summer with Lacazette and Eddie leaving, meaning we'd likely need to sign two players in that position

If the club do that well Arteta has a chance to write a successful new chapter in the club's history. If they don't, I can see it becoming like Wenger's later years which would be hugely frustrating and would ultimately see the likes of Saka leaving the club. Only the odious wig wearing c.unt can decide....

And this is the thing Steve, we malign Kroenke loads. But he is a very shrewd businessman. And he before Abramovich was thrown to the lions, had pretty much the same wealth.

Today, Chelski are fucked unless they can find a billionaire that is prepared to write off literally billions to keep the project going. The fact Abramovich lent the club £1.5 bn says it all.

And Chelski's valuation at £3bn, should tell Kroenke everything he needs to know about Arsenals potential. Arsenal was valued at £2bn when Daniel Ek started sniffing around. Kroenke only needs to invest a few hundred million more to make us competitive, and in turn, increase our market cap to £3bn and the rest if we win the league again and go deep in the CL. Now not many businesses can offer that sort of return for a relatively small outlay.

[SteveO 35]

This period now is starting to feel a bit like 08/09 and what the owners/manager do next is probably going to define the next 5 years or so

That team, full of wonderful young players like Fabregas, was allowed to break up and we were picked off by the Chavs and Citeh and went backwards. A team that was always 2-3 players away from being genuine contenders. Back then the stadium debt was fresh and a real issue but 13 years of record gate receipts and commercial income, mean that can't be used as an excuse anymore

Roll forward to today and we have some of the best young footballers the club has ever produced/signed - Martinelli, Saka, Smith Rowe - for years me and many others have bemoaned the state of the academy but we've actually got some talents coming through finally. These players need to form the cornerstone of the club's ambition and all of them need to be locked into big deals

Like that time in 08/09 we need 3 or 4 key additions that will likely cost £150m-£200m to decide if we really want to play with the big boys or content to be on the fringes of 4th. Saliba can easily be the third centre half that's needed, but Clive needs to be gone in the Summer and a proper partner found for Partey. We all know a top grade centre forward isn't going to come for less than £60m+ and we could be going into the Summer with Lacazette and Eddie leaving, meaning we'd likely need to sign two players in that position

If the club do that well Arteta has a chance to write a successful new chapter in the club's history. If they don't, I can see it becoming like Wenger's later years which would be hugely frustrating and would ultimately see the likes of Saka leaving the club. Only the odious wig wearing c.unt can decide....

And this is the thing Steve, we malign Kroenke loads. But he is a very shrewd businessman. And he before Abramovich was thrown to the lions, had pretty much the same wealth.

Today, Chelski are fucked unless they can find a billionaire that is prepared to write off literally billions to keep the project going. The fact Abramovich lent the club £1.5 bn says it all.

And Chelski's valuation at £3bn, should tell Kroenke everything he needs to know about Arsenals potential. Arsenal was valued at £2bn when Daniel Ek started sniffing around. Kroenke only needs to invest a few hundred million more to make us competitive, and in turn, increase our market cap to £3bn and the rest if we win the league again and go deep in the CL. Now not many businesses can offer that sort of return for a relatively small outlay.

Exactly - Ek was sniffing around when you'd argue our value was at its lowest. Arteta was struggling, the team looked to be going nowhere and the talk was about wholesale change. £200m compared to his overall wealth and the increased value of the club thereafter is next to nothing. Just hope he sees it that way too, because we know he isn't renowned for actually selling any of his franchises. You'd hope that he would look at the 160m invested last season and see that trend already because the club is in a very different position as a result of it. There must be some serious wage savings too with the likes of Ozil and Auba off the books

[StuartL]

Year after year of finishing 4th under Wenger myself and many Gooners rightly wanted Wenger out now we have Arteta who after spending more money than any club in Europe last summer is struggling to get 4th place in a season when we had no European football to hinder us. .And the deluded are out praising Arteta. Does anyone really think we will finish top 4 next season if we have European football to play?. I dont

Where did you predict we would finish at the start of the season Ernie ?

After our first 3 matches, with 0 points, where did you think we would be at this stage of the season ?

We have jettisoned the trouble makers, the lazy disinterested only here for a payday - think Willian, Luiz, Ozil, Mustaphi and Arteta, by the end of the summer will have His team, committed to playing for The Arsenal.

He wasn’t my choice as manager, by any means, no experience, very young, but we have improved without doubt, we have matched Liverpool and City in games and been unlucky to lose recently.
We still have a way to go, the defeats to Everton and United shows that, but by and large we are a far more solid, structured team, who are now playing some lovely football.

I can’t see the Kronke’s saying last year was a one off, we clearly, were in for Vlahovic and were willing to pay the fee and wages, which must have been sanctioned - so yes, we are still recruiting.

Even if we finish 5th, we are better than last season, the fan base is united off the pitch, the team is united on it - at last we have Victoria Concordia Crescit back. Victory through harmony.

[Ernie71]

Year after year of finishing 4th under Wenger myself and many Gooners rightly wanted Wenger out now we have Arteta who after spending more money than any club in Europe last summer is struggling to get 4th place in a season when we had no European football to hinder us. .And the deluded are out praising Arteta. Does anyone really think we will finish top 4 next season if we have European football to play?. I dont

Where did you predict we would finish at the start of the season Ernie ?

After our first 3 matches, with 0 points, where did you think we would be at this stage of the season ?

We have jettisoned the trouble makers, the lazy disinterested only here for a payday - think Willian, Luiz, Ozil, Mustaphi and Arteta, by the end of the summer will have His team, committed to playing for The Arsenal.

He wasn’t my choice as manager, by any means, no experience, very young, but we have improved without doubt, we have matched Liverpool and City in games and been unlucky to lose recently.
We still have a way to go, the defeats to Everton and United shows that, but by and large we are a far more solid, structured team, who are now playing some lovely football.

I can’t see the Kronke’s saying last year was a one off, we clearly, were in for Vlahovic and were willing to pay the fee and wages, which must have been sanctioned - so yes, we are still recruiting.

Even if we finish 5th, we are better than last season, the fan base is united off the pitch, the team is united on it - at last we have Victoria Concordia Crescit back. Victory through harmony.

After spending more money than any club in Europe no European football and no cup football after january we should be expecting a 4th place finish shouldnt we?

[Clummo99]

I have been so impressed with not only the turn around of the team, but his attitude and the standards he sets. My biggest fear was he would be a push over, but he is clearly in control of the team. He has made some wonderful signings and he is a good tactician. We have a really good press & off the ball shape. Something we had never had with Wenger or Emery. I mean for fuck sake, we havent conceded from a corner all season, where as our defensive aptitude from set pieces used to be a running joke under Wenger

Other fans are starting to comment on his antics on the touch line - leaving the technical area and constantly issuing instructions. And when other fans are starting to take notice of these things, it means they are paying attention to Arteta. To that point, Arteta seemed to be involved in the game, where as Gerrard stood with his hands in his pockets looking like he was holding in a shit. Arteta is positive too. claps the team and encourages them. I used to loathe Wenger constantly berating the 4th official as it sent a negative vibe to the team.

Arteta is actually a quality manager in the making. He deserves being linked to the PSG job, mind you im not worried about him leaving.

I think the potential new deal offered to him is thoroughly deserved & I hope he signs it (he will - no danger of Arteta being swayed by PSG). I have no interest in discussing our managerial situation, its Arteta

Yeah, this part of the forum should be called the agenda thread. Amazing how people are almost moving the goalposts just so that they can say they told you so. It's almost like an obsession/bloodsport.

This is the long and short of it, top 6 is fine. Top 4 would merit a long-term contract for Arteta. He has developed a squad that can deal with every team outside of the top 4. The harmony of the team is something we haven't seen for years. I said he should have been sacked in December 2020, before the Chelski game after the Everton loss. But I am grown up to admit they did the right thing keeping him. The team today is playing good football, has resilience especially away from home, and perhaps another £150-£200m investment this summer (which Stanley does have) will put us right up there with the big boys next season.

Careful Nutty, the word Agenda is seriously frowned upon on here.

[nut flush gooner]

Year after year of finishing 4th under Wenger myself and many Gooners rightly wanted Wenger out now we have Arteta who after spending more money than any club in Europe last summer is struggling to get 4th place in a season when we had no European football to hinder us. .And the deluded are out praising Arteta. Does anyone really think we will finish top 4 next season if we have European football to play?. I dont

Where did you predict we would finish at the start of the season Ernie ?

After our first 3 matches, with 0 points, where did you think we would be at this stage of the season ?

We have jettisoned the trouble makers, the lazy disinterested only here for a payday - think Willian, Luiz, Ozil, Mustaphi and Arteta, by the end of the summer will have His team, committed to playing for The Arsenal.

He wasn’t my choice as manager, by any means, no experience, very young, but we have improved without doubt, we have matched Liverpool and City in games and been unlucky to lose recently.
We still have a way to go, the defeats to Everton and United shows that, but by and large we are a far more solid, structured team, who are now playing some lovely football.

I can’t see the Kronke’s saying last year was a one off, we clearly, were in for Vlahovic and were willing to pay the fee and wages, which must have been sanctioned - so yes, we are still recruiting.

Even if we finish 5th, we are better than last season, the fan base is united off the pitch, the team is united on it - at last we have Victoria Concordia Crescit back. Victory through harmony.

After spending more money than any club in Europe no European football and no cup football after january we should be expecting a 4th place finish shouldnt we?

That was one summer you don't jump from 8th to 4th unless you buy very well. And most Gooners were saying to Edu at the beginning of this season what the fuck are you doing! Did you expect us to finish above Manure, Spuds, Leicester even West Ham?

If we finish 4th that is amazing, saying that it is expected after the last 15 years is misinformed and borderline arrogant.

[StuartL]

Year after year of finishing 4th under Wenger myself and many Gooners rightly wanted Wenger out now we have Arteta who after spending more money than any club in Europe last summer is struggling to get 4th place in a season when we had no European football to hinder us. .And the deluded are out praising Arteta. Does anyone really think we will finish top 4 next season if we have European football to play?. I dont

Where did you predict we would finish at the start of the season Ernie ?

After our first 3 matches, with 0 points, where did you think we would be at this stage of the season ?

We have jettisoned the trouble makers, the lazy disinterested only here for a payday - think Willian, Luiz, Ozil, Mustaphi and Arteta, by the end of the summer will have His team, committed to playing for The Arsenal.

He wasn’t my choice as manager, by any means, no experience, very young, but we have improved without doubt, we have matched Liverpool and City in games and been unlucky to lose recently.
We still have a way to go, the defeats to Everton and United shows that, but by and large we are a far more solid, structured team, who are now playing some lovely football.

I can’t see the Kronke’s saying last year was a one off, we clearly, were in for Vlahovic and were willing to pay the fee and wages, which must have been sanctioned - so yes, we are still recruiting.

Even if we finish 5th, we are better than last season, the fan base is united off the pitch, the team is united on it - at last we have Victoria Concordia Crescit back. Victory through harmony.

After spending more money than any club in Europe no European football and no cup football after january we should be expecting a 4th place finish shouldnt we?

I asked what were your expectations at the start of the season ?

There was a poll on here, most people voted 5-8 I seem to recall, some lower

Our transfer fees were spent on 6 players, all with long term progression in mind, the fact that some have had an instant impact is a huge plus.

What we have, is a togetherness amongst the fans, players, club - everything is on the up.



IF we end up 4th and secure CL football it will be a huge step forward - nobody is saying that is it, we are there yet, still work to be done but from what Arteta says publicly he fully accepts that 4th is still not good enough - we certainly were not going to finish any higher than that this year, so if we do it will have been a good season.

[OneBardGooner]

I am slowly beginning to warm to Arteta...

There is a very long way to go, I know but if - IF we do get 4th Spot that means a more realistic chance of better quality signings, even so IF we do get CL for next season, it will then depend on what signings we make and then how we do in the Prem (seeing as man $hitty and the Scouse Filth look like they are set to battle for the prem title between themselves for the foreseeable future).

So at the very least we need 3rd or 4th next season, a decent showing in the CL (should we get 4th) AND win either the EFL or FA Cup. A Big ask maybe but we have to keep progressing.

I am not yet convinced by Arteta, but he has changed things at the club at all levels so that after wengerTheDictator everyone is now rowing in the same direction and there is once more a real camaraderie.

[GoonerMuzz]

There is no doubt there is more of a togetherness around the club currently and bar scoring more goals we do feel better except against the top teams but I'm still struggling to warm to Arteta, maybe it is a personal thing

I suppose we forget that he is any many ways less experienced as a manager than some of the players as footballers and maybe our expectations are set too high but if we get CL football next season, immaterial of how we strengthen, I wouldn't expect any serious Cup runs.

Pragmatism says we will concentrate on the league and CL

[DB10GOONER]

There is no doubt there is more of a togetherness around the club currently and bar scoring more goals we do feel better except against the top teams but I'm still struggling to warm to Arteta, maybe it is a personal thing

I suppose we forget that he is any many ways less experienced as a manager than some of the players as footballers and maybe our expectations are set too high but if we get CL football next season, immaterial of how we strengthen, I wouldn't expect any serious Cup runs.

Pragmatism says we will concentrate on the league and CL

I'm kind of opposite to that.... I liked him as a player as he was our best most reliable DM for his first two years with us before his legs went. He could read the game and anticipate things that most of our other midfielders at the time could only react to, often too late to be any use. I also fondly remember him joking for the camera post match after he'd had his front teeth kicked out. Can you imagine any modern player doing that?

But as a manager I'm nowhere near sold on him yet. A novice should not learn his trade at a massive club like Arsenal.

I've said for a while now that with the position we are in, and the positions of, and state of, the competing clubs like manure, the scum etc, he has a better chance to get 4th than Emery had. If he gets it I'd back him for another year maybe two to see how far we could progress, but if he blows it and we don't get fourth from the position we are in then that for me is failure, especially after he stripped the squad down to the bare bones.

Despite the childlike bleatings of a couple of deeply unintelligent whiney posters on here about agendas, I'd personally like to see him succeed as it means we the club succeed. But I'm not going to pretend I'm happy if he fails just to keep a couple of idiots on the internet happy ffs.

Also, having said all that, if he hands us a 4 nil win in the upcoming NLD then he attains instant Legend status no matter what else happens!

[augie]

Year after year of finishing 4th under Wenger myself and many Gooners rightly wanted Wenger out now we have Arteta who after spending more money than any club in Europe last summer is struggling to get 4th place in a season when we had no European football to hinder us. .And the deluded are out praising Arteta. Does anyone really think we will finish top 4 next season if we have European football to play?. I dont

Where did you predict we would finish at the start of the season Ernie ?

After our first 3 matches, with 0 points, where did you think we would be at this stage of the season ?

We have jettisoned the trouble makers, the lazy disinterested only here for a payday - think Willian, Luiz, Ozil, Mustaphi and Arteta, by the end of the summer will have His team, committed to playing for The Arsenal.

He wasn’t my choice as manager, by any means, no experience, very young, but we have improved without doubt, we have matched Liverpool and City in games and been unlucky to lose recently.
We still have a way to go, the defeats to Everton and United shows that, but by and large we are a far more solid, structured team, who are now playing some lovely football.

I can’t see the Kronke’s saying last year was a one off, we clearly, were in for Vlahovic and were willing to pay the fee and wages, which must have been sanctioned - so yes, we are still recruiting.

Even if we finish 5th, we are better than last season, the fan base is united off the pitch, the team is united on it - at last we have Victoria Concordia Crescit back. Victory through harmony.

After spending more money than any club in Europe no European football and no cup football after january we should be expecting a 4th place finish shouldnt we?

That was one summer you don't jump from 8th to 4th unless you buy very well. And most Gooners were saying to Edu at the beginning of this season what the fuck are you doing! Did you expect us to finish above Manure, Spuds, Leicester even West Ham?

If we finish 4th that is amazing, saying that it is expected after the last 15 years is misinformed and borderline arrogant.

I certainly didnt have us finishing in the top 4, but how you can say that it would be an amazing feat absolutely baffles me Manure and the scum have had awful seasons and have changed their managers mid-season, and the other two competing clubs are the shammers (limited budget and squad size) and wolves (under new management), so finishing above them 4 should be the minimum expected given how the season has panned out for them. For finishing 4th to be an amazing achievement it would have to be done based mainly on our own efforts, and as you can see by our own results against the other big clubs, that really hasnt been the case. If we finish 4th it can be put down to some improvements allied to taking advantage of other teams dips (and both are important), but lets not go ott on the "achievement"

[the playing mantis]

How about we see where we finish before blowing smoke up artetas arse?

We have a tough run in, and misery that i am see us cocking it up and coming behind a laughing stock every other week crisis scum.

Augie is bang on. i will be delighted with 4th, but its an aligning of the planets that means we really should have nailed it. Maybe we will, hope so. if we do its better than we all expected as we were convinced it would be 5-8th, but you cannot ignore the continuing basket cases of our rival, united with that idiot at the wheel for so long, and the scum, well less said the better and leics declining big time too.

All those crapping on about where we were after 3 games, so what whose fault is that? Whats the verdict should we finish behind an awful united and a scum team who have been a laughing stock at various points of the season, spent f all, had the window licker sulking for half the season yet are still right behind us and with a piss easy run in.

[the playing mantis]

I have been so impressed with not only the turn around of the team, but his attitude and the standards he sets. My biggest fear was he would be a push over, but he is clearly in control of the team. He has made some wonderful signings and he is a good tactician. We have a really good press & off the ball shape. Something we had never had with Wenger or Emery. I mean for fuck sake, we havent conceded from a corner all season, where as our defensive aptitude from set pieces used to be a running joke under Wenger

Other fans are starting to comment on his antics on the touch line - leaving the technical area and constantly issuing instructions. And when other fans are starting to take notice of these things, it means they are paying attention to Arteta. To that point, Arteta seemed to be involved in the game, where as Gerrard stood with his hands in his pockets looking like he was holding in a shit. Arteta is positive too. claps the team and encourages them. I used to loathe Wenger constantly berating the 4th official as it sent a negative vibe to the team.

Arteta is actually a quality manager in the making. He deserves being linked to the PSG job, mind you im not worried about him leaving.

I think the potential new deal offered to him is thoroughly deserved & I hope he signs it (he will - no danger of Arteta being swayed by PSG). I have no interest in discussing our managerial situation, its Arteta

I read in the Liverpool Echo that the scousers are planning a raid for arteta and reckon compo of 50k will be enough for us to release him.