Mikel Arteta ran an interesting interview on Arsenal.com. It looks like the club is trying to rapidly move the news cycle to more positive musings and what better way to do that than have the manager tell you why he’s excited about the future.
The topline takeaways:
- He’s building a culture based on mutual respect
- The players better come back hungry
- He thinks the project is on track, not ahead of schedule
Good times.
It is really interesting listening to him and how he approaches the human side of football. It’s a theme with the really young managers these days. They understand that the game is different, managing people has changed, and they are servants to the players.
It’s very similar in business. The top-down hierarchy of old is dying, players expect contact, they want all the details, and they have different expectations of what work-life should be. I think that’s why managers like Jose struggle to connect with modern players, players don’t expect to be dragged in the media. I winced when I read the new Giants coach is making players do laps when they make mistakes… it’s not how players expect to be treated these days.
It’s also worth noting that the players are different. In my opinion, they are more informed and smarter than they’ve been in the past. This new generation grew up on FIFA and Championship manager, so they’re all FUT and data nerds. They’ve had access to ALL football content via their devices since birth. They understand complex systems and approaches to the game. They have a stack of data associated with their careers that helps them develop.
Our last coach really struggled because he lacked the deftness of language. If you can’t connect with players at the very base level of comms, building culture is going to be very tough. Thankfully, we’ve addressed that with our latest set of coaches. Next season, I hope we see a progression of the culture.
It’s kind of nuts that we’re a mere 11 days away from the Community Shield against Liverpool. I’m not sure how much we can expect to change in that period of time. We have one new signing to boast at the moment, hopefully, Willian changes how we function going forward, but it’s not looking like the shift in squad profile we’re dreaming of.
Not that I’m blaming the club here, not many have done big business yet… and straight after the Community shield, we go into an international break.
Rumours are really heating up now that Arsenal are going to be the chosen club of Gabriel. I’d imagine there’s been some weirdness that we have a different negotiation lead, but it all sounds fairly positive. There seem to be a lot of journos seeking to be the truth-tellers of the window. Reading between the nonsense, it looks like Napoli would love the player to replace City-bound Koubilally… but, if they can’t land him, they’ll make do with Sokratis.
I like that plan. Gabriel is where Arsenal should be aiming in terms of profile. He’s mobile, technically gifted, and 22 years old. He’ll become a better player at Arsenal, we really can’t lose with a fee as low as £22m. To be honest, I’m struggling to come to grips with why the number is so low? But whatever, I’ll take it, and pray that he and Saliba are the new Sol and Kolo.
Arsenal are reportedly telling Villareal they want £30m for Matteo G. I think that’s a fairly low sum for someone of his talent, but I guess this is the market for him. It’s very interesting how low the interest in him has been so far this window.
Outside that, we’re on a slow news day for sure!
Enjoy the semi-final tonight and I’ll see you in the comments.
Pedro
Bamford came back pretending to be a friend of himself sending word from Bamford, aired a list of grievances he’s been compiling since he’d been banished, and demanded that a couple old bets be settled. Monday morning I think it was. Genuinely hilarious stuff, couldn’t believe my eyes.
Agree Overmars, nice outlook on matters so far.
Hopefully we’ll see some outgoings and that’ll maybe determine the aggression we pursue Aouar and others.
Looks like we’re slowly piecing together a squad for next season that’s better suited for Arteta-ball. Love to see it, though a few key ones remain to sign.
Does anyone seriously believe that Arsenal would have secured services of Coutinho? This was never going to be a realistic acquisition least of all after
the Bayern v Barcelona game.
Arsenal will hopefully complete purchases of Partey and Gabriel costing around £67 million and secure loan of Ceballos. That is probably manageable this season.
The club needs also to focus on sales/loans to balance the books both on transfer fees and wages.
How many goals would a front 3 of Sanchez-Auba-Gnabry get?
I am worried that nothing might change in terms of our latest recruitment policy especially now that Edu is the one heading it and his representative is non other than the one and only Kia Joorabchian. I hope i’m wrong but that man being his agent worries me, i’m genuinely scared that it might be business as usual on the recruitment front.
You signed your wager in blood. Better fucking keep it.
Or else.
Or else you’re going to receive a *really* angry letter from bamfords friend
Stroller
Once the Champions league is finished, we should see more movement on transfers. Re Coutinho, it all depends if Koeman wants to keep him at Barca and it also depends if we can bring Ceballos back for another year.
Pedro
“I winced when I read the new Giants coach is making players do laps when they make mistakes… it’s not how players expect to be treated these days.”
It’s the oat milk mate. You’re going soft 😂
(By the way I’m an oat milk user too so duno what that says about me haha)
Bayern were something to behold… after their goal scares, they really turned it up… that team will be favorites for a little while if they keep the main pieces together…
PSG better be on guard… i do think PSG will score… should be a great game
“
Arsenal are set to sign Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes after agreeing a five-year deal with the Brazilian.
The Telegraph reports that the Gunners beat Napoli and Everton in the race for the 22-year-old, who agreed terms at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, L’Equipe reports that Gabriel will be announced as a Gunners player within hours.
The centre-back is one of the hottest prospects in European football after impressing for Lille in Ligue 1 last season.
I think the quality of PSG front three will be to much to handle for Bayern . All in all a very exciting match for neutrals . Whenever I see Neymar though , I get reminded of Bamford. Big stage .
Overmars I don’t believe that Coutinho is currently a realistic target notwithstanding his talent. If Arsenal recruit Partey, Gabriel and Ceballos we will need to shift out of the club something like 8-9 players. This will be quite difficult to achieve in view of the high wages some players earn and also their reluctance to leave. For a start we have Mkhitaryan and Ozil still on the books with a combined wage bill of £530K pw plus at least 3 unwanted Centre Backs. Another consideration which is seldom discussed is the need to bed in players into the squad. Last… Read more »
Well some rumors coming out that arteta has convinced AMN to stay and he no longer wants to leave the club.
I think the reason might be Arteta’s selling both Guendouzi and Torriera and he might be planning to use him to back up Partey. Anyway we will see how it will turn out.
Indeed slow news. I’d love to believe the report that Grabriel is jetting to Luiz’ home for a medical on Thursday with the announcement to follow at Edu’ place IF he’d beat Bellerin in a 50m swim, jump higher than Tierney, survive wrestling with The Sok, and won over a head butt with the resurgent Mustafi.
Let’s hope the Gabriel – Auba signings get done by this weekend. Then its Project Aouar. Forget Ceballos.
We just need a DM then and I can see that one rumbling until the gates start shutting in October. I’m not fussed if it is Partey as i would be more excited if we suddenly switched tracks in full Pepe mode by buying someone younger like Soumare for half the money. But we desperately need someone to limit the playing time and defence exposure of Xhaka. Partey would probably bethe most Prem ready option out there.
90% chance of Bayern taking the final. PSG’s midfield pale in comparison. Both forward lines cancel each other out IMO, the match will be decided who has the upper hand in midfield
Who watches the Italian League and German League often?
I’m liking two midfielders from both leagues.
Locatelli of Sassuolo and Laimer of Leipzig
ES – i thought we’d got rid of Mikhi ? Could have sworn we’d done a deal to sell him for zero on basis we took him off the payroll?
One thing we’ve refused to discuss however is Gabriel’s age. I’ll go first, he’s more 43 than 22.
Fixture list out, we’ll know how good we are by october looking at it.
Mbappe will win the CL like he won the world cup single handedly,
Bayern can easily be nullified by the experienced physical midfield of PSG
Tough fixture list with successive away fixtures against Liverpool, Man City and
Man Utd at start of season.
September ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADVERT Ads by Teads 12: Fulham (a) 19: West Ham (h) 26: Liverpool (a) October 3: Sheffield United (h) 17: Manchester City (a) 24: Leicester (h) 31: Manchester United (a) November 7: Aston Villa (h) 21: Leeds United (a) 28: Wolves (h) December 5: Tottenham (a) 12: Burnley (h) 15: Southampton (h) 19: Everton (a) 26: Chelsea (h) 28: Brighton (a) January 2: West Brom (a) 12: Crystal Palace (h) 16: Newcastle (h) 27: Southampton (a) 30: Manchester United (h) February 3: Wolves (a) 6: Aston Villa (a) 13: Leeds (h) 20: Manchester City (h) 27:… Read more »
Away to Liverpool, City and then United in the first seven games.
First four away games: Fulham, Liverpool, City, United (followed by Leeds then Sp*rs).
Tough away fixtures.
Wow. Playing away at every one it seems.
Baptism of fire. I love it. Hopefully the crowds will be back in some capacity by the time the home fixtures are played in the 2nd half of the season.
Little to no home advantage while the stadiums are empty..
Let’s go!
Wenger moves on from the list of ‘I almost signed’ to lamenting ‘I never wanted him to leave’ (maybe you should have made promises around game time then Arsene??) “Let’s not forget Gnabry, I bought him at the age of 15 from Stuttgart and he was injured a lot,” former Arsenal boss Wenger told beIN SPORTS. “He’s creative, he can score goals, right-footed, left-footed, good power, good penetration, very, very clever with the timing of his runs. His tendency was a bit too easy, like I told you about with young, talented players. “But he has matured a lot and… Read more »
Andy 1886
Wenger’s failings in progressing young players and then selling them for peanuts or releasing without a fee is shocking.
Yesterday Gnabry [Bayern] and Aladiere [Lyon] highlighted how poor our Academy Programme was in developing young players.
May looks like an easy run in for the 4th place trophy 😜
Stroller, absolutely. A lot of Arsenal fans were very supportive of both players but it seems the club weren’t so keen. I’m sure that both could have been retained had the will been there but ultimately we preferred to prioritise other players who ultimately were not as talented.
“Who watches the Italian League and German League often?
I’m liking two midfielders from both leagues.
Locatelli of Sassuolo and Laimer of Leipzig”
Locatelli has a weak mentality according to milan fans, i think some players are just good in a small club.
UTarse
“””””May looks like an easy run in for the 4th place trophy 😜”””””””
just checked fixtures ( thanks for the link) and by my algorithms we are finishing circa 6th in season 20/21 so we will miss out on the 4th placed trophy yet again (something that used to be a given under AW)
1. Liverpool
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Chelsea
5 .Wolves
6. Arsenal
and you wont be too far away.
Oh here we go again😴😴, Mr Wenger defending every nook and cranny of his past(failed) operation. It’s as if this guy is living on another planet. 1- Wenger cocked on massively on the Gnabry situation. We all saw how good Gnabry was from day one. 2- Why send him out on loan to Stoke? Was it to toughen him up and show him how bad things can get? I’m sure the likes of CG and Pierre will have an answer to this one. 3. I sense Gnabry still loves Arsenal but what was the real reason for him leaving ?… Read more »
cocked up
“Lyon expect to sell Houssem Aouar this summer, according to L’Equipe, but only offer they’ve received so far has come from #Arsenal. Arteta a big fan, Edu in contact with Lyon sporting director Juninho. Lyon haven’t responded to offer of € & Guendouzi. #MCFC #Juventus also keen Newspaper suggests Lyon would have been ok with €40m, but now hope Aouar’s price will be closer to €60m following recent Champions League displays” Looks like we’re making some serious power moves this window, would be amazing if we could pull them all off. Gabriel,Partey, Aouar in addition to Willian would be a… Read more »
I am beginning to believe that Arsenal’s problems were not so much due to our
scouting network but rather the academy and coaching programmes at the club.
It seems to me that there were a considerable number of academy players who failed to progress or became injury prone whilst at Arsenal.
You have to ask some very serious questions about the Wenger programme over last 12 years.
Graham
All very valid points. But basically , you are just nitpicking.
Look at the bigger picture- not the minutiae.
Our Wenger had 2 decades of CL qualification. Undeniable. And rightly or wrongly- that is the name of game in modern soccer.
When our 9th center back arrives shortly. Post Wenger the club will have spent approx £300 million and continuing. A figure already greater than his overall net spend over 20 seasons.
Had we kept Wenger and given him the same budget we would be in better far shape.
No doubt about it whatsoever.
If the plan, according to the government, is to bring fans back in October, then it’s a very good thing that the tough road trips are earlier in the season. Heck who knows if the fans will come back, and if they do, what capacity will be allowed.
Much better to travel to Anfield to do battle in an empty stadium than one rocking with crazy rabid fans.
ES
Agreed.
It was all about technical ability and looking pretty.
I note you highlight the “Wenger programme”.
Are you becoming an obsessive?
🍺
“Arsenal have a tough set of opening Premier League fixtures to negotiate, playing Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd all away from home in the first seven games.”
Ah ah ah, thanks – one more time – to the FA!!
“He’s building a culture based on mutual respect
The players better come back hungry”
Mesut LIKES this!!
Yes, it seems we have to play 38 games. Playing all of the teams in the league both home and away. Who’d have thought?
“we are finishing circa 6th”
You’re using ‘circa’ wrong, donkey.
ES
“””””You have to ask some very serious questions about the Wenger programme over last 12 years.”””””
Nitpicking.
Wenger did his job. CL qualification. Twenty seasons of it.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19 & 20
And this new lot ain’t doing theirs. And that’s why we are entrenched in The Loosers Cup again.
And top 4 ain’t coming this season either,
The squad ain’t right. Its all over the place, if truth be told.
Actually CG, I’m not.
I’m highlighting something that was evident to every single Arsenal supporter.
Gnabry was part of a massive pyramid that had been crumbling for years.
If you seriously think that keeping Wenger would have meant we would be in far better shape, you are even more deluded than I thought.
We had been drowning for years.
Morning,
Who pulled our fixtures out the hat, mike dean!
As has been mentioned, at least the grounds will probably be empty still, at least for the first few away games.
After all the doom and gloom about not having a pot to piss in concerning transfers, it’s good to see decent players coming in. But still concerned about midfield.
If Amn is staying I’d rather see him than xhaka unleashed again.
And how long does it take for Auba to pick up a pen and sign a contract!
Chapter titles for Wengers upcoming book…
Early chapters include:
The Double.
Another Double.
The Invincibles.
Later chapters:
Ruler of all I survey.
If only I hadn’t I hadn’t used the transfer budget as if it were my own.
Excuses.
Fulham 15:00 Arsenal
Arsenal 15:00 West Ham United
Liverpool 15:00 Arsenal
Arsenal 15:00 Sheffield United
Manchester City 15:00 Arsenal
Arsenal 15:00 Leicester City
Manchester United 15:00 Arsenal
What a schedule to start!!!
I can only see us going for Aouar if the Ceballos falls through. I can’t see us shelling out €60m.
No chance Lyon accept anything deal involving £20 mill and Guendouzi.
Would have to at least double that to £40m to make them think about it.
Gnabry is the permanent stain on Wenger’s reputation for talent development period.
Yes , he said all those correct things about Gnabry’s abilities , as well as his injuries way back when………just as he’s repeating them now as a pundit from a studio. But the fact he allowed Gnabry to go even near a Tony Pulis type of coach was simply criminal.
I refuse to believe there weren’t any forward thinking coaches in charge of championship clubs Gnabry should’ve been offered to, to continue his development and be given some valuable game time.
Gnabry is the permanent stain on Wenger’s reputation for talent development period.
Yes , he said all those correct things about Gnabry’s abilities , as well as his injuries way back when………just as he’s repeating them now as a pundit from a studio. But the fact he allowed Gnabry to go even near a Tony Pulis type of coach was simply criminal.
I refuse to believe there weren’t any forward thinking coaches in charge of championship clubs Gnabry should’ve been offered to, to continue his development and be given some valuable game time.
Graham 62
Wenger was past his sell by date for 12 years but a liability in the last 4.
The man had tunnel vision towards the end of his reign and was squandering
millions of pounds only grade players and wages.
low grade players
Yes, posting it twice means how strongly I feel about that
ES
“””””The man had tunnel vision towards the end of his reign and was squandering
millions of pounds only grade players and wages.””””””
Like what the club has done since he left.
if Arteta follows up his sensational FA Cup win and makes top 4 this season he will be labelled a ‘generational’ coach by some.
Our Wenger did that for 20 years.(TWENTY)
The Backpass
Locatelli has a weak mentality according to milan fans, i think some players are just good in a small club.
That might be right. But he looks a calming influence in that Sassuolo midfield.
Ridiculous fixtures, we’ve got TBH
Well CG his 20 years of experience still should have easily delivered a title in 2015 when Leicester won it . Spent nothing that window except Cech . Still not over that season, letting Leicester win it .
Bacaryisgod
Wait, what?
There are terrible parents and humans of all races and creeds and not just blacks?
Fake news alert!
It’s a tough start to the season but it’s better to get those away games out the way. A couple positive results and we could legitimately be in contention for a top four spot by early spring. As Jamie said earlier if we are in contention when fans are allowed back in that can only be a positive for MA and the team. In regards to Anour, he does remind me a little of peak Nasri. Just effortless out there. A transfer window that includes Gabriel, Partey, Anour and maybe Ceballo’s back on loan with more than a few departures… Read more »
11 out of those 7 games and I will be happy.
Just can’t take a loss.
CG
Thing is even if Arteta makes top4 he wont rest there . He is making a title winning squad , Wenger was to use Pedro’s words elite purgatory.
Un
I see your “ black woman celebrates CPS taking away her ugly ass kids” and I raise you with “ a white Texas woman drowns her 5 kids” , and since I’m sure you’ll agree black children are only worth three fifths of white kids your hand is easily beaten.
No pre season to assess new signings so I would expect us to start the season with a pretty similar side which played in the FA cup final..
High risk to put 3 or 4 new players straight in the side, especially players without premier league experience.
Would expect Willian to be OK to start, any other signings will have to bed in slowly..
Maybe use Europa league to give new players a start.
It’s just going to get crazier in the next couple of months. I just hope Trump can get through this campaign in good health because if he dropped dead of a heart attack from a combination of rage and KFC then this country is headed towards near civil war. None of his supporters will believe the heart attack and will say that the deep state poisoned him. Scary times….
Wenger preferred Joel Campbell to Gnarby and we all know how that played out.
Bacaryisgod
The country is headed towards near civil war regardless.
Especially if Trump loses since it’s been clear for along time he wouldn’t concede no matter the results.
Trump dropping dead would probably be a better option.
Pierre
We will simply have to rotate a lot in the first couple of months of the season to avoid what happened to Chelsea in the cup final (multiple long-term injuries to stars due to the intensity of schedule).
There were only 4 weeks between the final and Charity Shield, so I assume only 2 weeks off before pre-season, so no more than an international or winter break to re-charge for another compressed season.
Edu has to trim the wage bill while still providing enough bodies to both rotate and have time to slowly blend the new arrivals in.
For once we look to be getting our ‘in’ business done early. The rest of the time will be maximising our ‘outs’
and recouping what we can.
That is to be celebrated and is a sensible way to run things. Who would have thought?
All elite managers have an ego and Wenger isn’t any different but it would be kinda refreshing to see him admit to maybe making a mistake with a player
( unless he has and I missed it), which all managers do.
Even Guardiola raised his hand and admitted he didn’t do much to advance Sanchez’s career by playing him in the wrong position when he had him at Barca.
“”””Dont these kids lives matter ? “””
Here we fucking go – why don’t you spell your problem out ?
Because some unhinged cunt of a human kills her kids you’re trying to tie it in with your view that “black lives matter is a con” as you put it
How in any way are the 2 related ? Please educate me because I seem to be missing what you’re seeing
Gnarbry would struggle in the EPL just like Memphis Depay,
He would be mowed down by EPL farmers and be injured because of his style.
His mamba would be in so much demand in London he would lose focus.
You heard it here 1st!
“low grade players”
==> low grade Arsenal
You heard it here last!
Dont wrestle with a pig
Im telling you for free!
Edu me a favourAugust 20, 2020 11:35:23 Because some unhinged cunt of a human kills her kids you’re trying to tie it in with your view that “black lives matter is a con” as you put it How in any way are the 2 related ? Please educate me because I seem to be missing what you’re seeing ———— She didn’t kill her kids. They were taken from her by Child Protective Services presumably because she’s a drug addict( looks high in the video) , which only proves that apparently black lives do matter to some, otherwise they would’ve been… Read more »
Im telling you for £1000 !!
“But still concerned about midfield.
If Amn is staying I’d rather see him than xhaka unleashed again”
Xhaka is an automatic starter come next season and deservedly so. It’s a question of who partners him
“Xhaka is an automatic starter come next season and deservedly so. It’s a question of who partners him” why deservedly so ?
“Gnarbry would struggle in the EPL just like Memphis Depay,
He would be mowed down by EPL farmers and be injured because of his style.”
What about Hazard?
All these links to players have got me expecting an amazing first XI. Just Imagine a 433 consisting
Leno/Martinez
Bellerin Saliba Gabriel Tierney
Aouar Partey Ceballos
Pepe. Auba. Willian
I would expect a top 4 finish with that.
Sid,
May I congratulate you on your poetry skills from the other day. It truly was a work of art. 🙂
Habesha – That team is oozing quality. Its honestly not that far fetched for it to become reality.
We meet Partey’s release clause, pay Ceballo’s wages in full with a mandatory fee at the end of the loan that’s reasonable(under £22 million) and if no one else comes in for Aouar, offer them Guendouzi, straight cash with incentives /add-ons and its a done deal.
Not at all convinced by Gabriel M. Looks like a Brazilian chambers.
“if no one else comes in for Aouar, offer them Guendouzi, straight cash with incentives /add-ons and its a done deal.”
Already offered Guendouzi + 20mil and they told us to fuck off.
So that theres no confusion, one is Gabriel Mag the other Gabriel Mart
My buddies deserve the best left T
Gabriel is a disaster waiting to happen..his highlights mainly consisted of him sliding in instead of tracking or running with defender..perfect sign of someone who is aware he lacks pace..not exicted at all by this signing…but the main man is still Partey..get him and we move to another level..top 4 sealed without a showdow of a doubt if he comes
Gabriel’s hankering for going to ground on the regular rather than as a last resort is concerning. Hopefully Arteta can coach that out of him and he can work on his composure.
The lad’s 22 though which is a baby for a CB and he looks to have the ingredients to go on to be a very good centre half.
Wouldn’t have been my first choice as the type of signing that we’re in desperate need of given we have close to ten CB’s on the books already but it’s potentially a very exciting one given Saliba looks good himself.
shaun
He’s done everything the manager has expected of him. Like Pirlo, he isn’t the fastest but has excellent passing range. Hangs on to the ball a bit too long for my liking but has been working on this too. We need a player in the mold of Alex song to partner him, a ball carrier. Like Pogba’s successful years by Juve, this was largely to do with the fact that he was partnered by Pirlo
No chance that we sign both Partey and Aouar this summer, even one of them would be surprising given how high-profile they are.
Bojangles – So more cash and more incentives, Aouar is great prospect we shouldn’t give up on if we have a chance.
With Gabriel from the YouTube videos he does commit fairly easily, but the passing range is there so I’d be willing to give him a chance at improving his ability to stay on his feet.
Mustafi, Sokratis, Luiz and to a lesser extent Holding are very much what you see is what you get, and we don’t get much!
All of you are making judgments based on youtube highlights. I haven’t seen him play as much and I saw the highlights where he was trying sliding Tackles. Anyway I also read he made 14 sliding tackles where he won 9 of them in the whole season. His Interception numbers are good so I don’t think he has a problem reading the game. I too like a defender who stays on his feet but I haven’t seen him play to make a definitive judgment on him going to ground all the time. If you have seen him play enough times… Read more »
Habesha
Fair but youtube is all we have to go off of though because I’d be willing to put good money on the fact that nobody on here watches Lille on the regular.
Definitely looks a prospect, in him and Saliba/Tierney all goes well we could have 3 of our back four for the forseeable although Tierney’s fragility worries me.
Need a RB cause Hector’s lost more than a step. Probably doesn’t happen this window.
Weagle
Partey and Aouar is very doable, snap out your Debbie state.
Gabriel – 6’3″
Saliba – 6’4″
Some much needed height into that back line
I think it will be Luiz playing a sweeper role behind gabs n Saks.
This could work really well .
Are people sayings gabs is slow.. chambers slow
Weagle
I second CC and i’d also add Thiago..
The world is ours.
Es
Spot on
8.44