Why do we keep hearing that Arsenal are 100% behind Mikel Arteta regardless of form and results?
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta are going through massive change. Quite something for a new coach to be trusted with. There are 3 main tasks that he’s been given or decided that are crucial in turning around the fortunes of the club.
- Culture
- Recruitment
- Sustainable modern footballing structure
I believe the reason that he has the trust of the club is that he is strong in all 3 areas. Many other coaches would want ready-made players and wouldn’t want to fool with culture issues.
I also believe that the club fully supports the concept that change in all 3 areas is going to take longer than the fans want it to but is necessary for any sustained future success.
If the fans get impatient the club has to stand firm in the knowledge that society’s impatience isn’t just ‘the way it is.’ It is a fault in society, not a football club. If ignored, you don’t change your circumstance. The club has to wade through the unrest knowing a brighter day is coming but correctly timed communication is vital.
As fans we have to admit that we ARE impatient and that’s on us. There are times that the cord should be cut, as it was with Emery, and there are times that we can’t let our impatience be the driver.
The focus of this piece is on #3, the tactics, but firstly to briefly explain #1 and 2.
Culturally Arsenal were a mess in the later Wenger years and half of Emery’s tenure too. Player power didn’t rule but in adversity, the rot came to the fore.
Arteta is seen as unwavering in his pursuit of not only getting rid of the rot but replacing it with not just non-rotten players but those that have the optimal attitude for success.
This moves us fluidly on to #2 as the change is evident in Arteta’s recruitment.
Out have gone negative influences in players like Ozil and Guendouzi and in have not just come good players but those with this optimal attitude. Tierney, Odegaard, Lokonga and Tomiyasu have or do lead their national or previous club teams and are seen as top professionals by recruiters. Gabriel, White, Ramsdale and Partey bring a vibe of great positivity and in Ramsdale the club now have a fist-pumper that will ignite the crowds energy. The younger players character is unquestioned. The proof is on the field and Saka, ESR and Martinelli were those that led the way last season when senior players didn’t. The former two in particular.
Look at some of the senior players that have been retained and you see positive energy in ElNeny, Auba and those helping the younger players like Lacazette. Xhaka has his days but he has been retained as he is clearly ‘a needed leader’ at this time.
The energy in the room is changing.
We all started shouting our own versions of angst towards Edu and Arteta recently but the club probably saw that Norwich game as Day 1 in the rebirth of our club. The first day when ‘the new team’ stepped out. You can see why they’d be reticent to consider change when Day 1 has only just shown up.
They have to ride the storm of impatience whilst being alert to what results are telling them beyond the shouting. They may find that Arteta was the coach to get them to ‘Day 1’ but not ideal for beyond. All options are possible.
Moving on to #3, the tactics.
You may have a fresh dislike for the word ‘patience’ by the end of this but what is happening tactically is from a new text book and some of our players have just opened it. Chuck the text book away and you’ll have short term confusion and a limited pool of coaches worldwide that can teach the same ethos.
I speak of positional play or what is called ‘Juego De Posicion’ in coaching circles.
What is Juego De Posicion?
The exact translation is ‘positional play.’
In short, it is the concept of defending whilst attacking in order to control both sides.
The defensive goal is sustained pressure.
The attacking goal is to make pre-planned patterns instinctual for players to an end where telepathic football is possible.
The field is divided into 5 vertical lanes and horizontally boxes that players have to occupy both for attacking and defensive efficiency.
The 5 attacking lanes at Arsenal are taken up by a left-back, left-winger, striker, attacking midfielder and right-winger. Against Norwich it was (from left to right) Tierney, Saka, Auba, Odegaard and Pepe. You will notice that the wide and central lanes are broader and the interior lanes (half spaces) are narrower and harder to penetrate into vertically but are often used as zones to combine in.
To take a quote from the article below…. “The players will have specific tasks and responsibilities within these zones depending on the phase of the game. The unique thing about this concept is that the options are predetermined by the position of the ball. “
I strongly suggest reading this to fully understand ‘JDP’
JDP is a whole new way of playing football. Almost like being told that the textbook you learnt football from was the wrong one after you’ve finished the text book.
Many players struggle especially ‘big players’ as their egos tell them that freedoms are theirs and they’ve earned them.
This system is everybody or nothing. One cog out of place and the whole machine fails.
It is therefore a risk as the trust a coach puts in ‘freedom football’ is arguably less than the trust he puts in players being out of position and failing their team. Players don’t want to be the one cog that breaks the system.
So, what is ArtetaBall?
Arteta is forming not just a team with the right attitude, athletic and age profile but a hybrid team that can play this organized yet flex system and adapt to the needs of the game and take advantage of them.
He has in White a modern defender who has excelled in a 3 and 4 man defence complimented by Tomiyasu and Gabriel who are more aggressive and better aerially. Midfielders that can slide into a back 3 and midfielders that can flex between a single pivot, 2 man pivot or 3 man midfield.
The attackers are the game winners and where the most hybrid options are available.
Saka can play everywhere, ESR plays anywhere across the attacking third, Pepe can play both sides and is most effective when in central spaces. Odegaard plays central or right and deep too. And on….
‘ArtetaBall’ has the JDP as its core principle.
It then adapts to the opponent.
It then adapts to game state.
So, it’s hard to define as one thing because it isn’t. Modern football is a coaches game and no longer player dictated. It’s about sustaining pressure and taking advantage of weakness.
Over time a keen eye will spot repetition and see the ‘style’ they desire to see. Arsenal fans are having the biggest struggle because ‘ArtetaBall’ is the opposite of ‘WengerBall’ as one is hyper-focused on structure and the other radiated freedom. One at its peak was heavenly and the other at its low ebb has been monotonous and dull. The reality is that with time ArtetaBall can be fluid and beautiful but have the defensive structure that WengerBall didn’t have post-Invincibles.
Why doesn’t Arteta play the same team and system?
I think he knows he has time. I think he’s playing the long game. Getting Auba used to playing left wing and striker. ESR used to all areas. All-knowing that in the long run he can move his chess pieces around and the players will understand the JDP roles and the team will be able to adjust to any and all game states and win.
Who else is doing JDP?
Guardiola is often credited as being the author at Barcelona but as with much he designed he often points to Cruyff as his inspiration.
Utd under Van Gaal did JDP but got as far as the defensive organizational side until the fans turned on him. To be fair, it was a very dull version.
City and Liverpool utilize JDP. City are much further down the road with elite starters and bench options and their automatisms are in place.
Liverpool have focused their JDP more on the ‘sustained pressure’ piece and use more vertical and direct passes compared to City.
As both are further along in the process we see their ability to play with a far quicker tempo than Arsenal. We will get there too.
How will players fit?
Firstly, Xhaka has been retained due to leadership but also down to system. He is the ultimate positional player. He fully understands it and is rarely out of position. Arteta likes Xhaka because he can control him.
Saka is the most interesting one though. Are we going to give him a permanent position or continue to lean into his versatility? Personally, I think Saka will become a top-class attacker but could become a world-class left wing-back. His most effective games for me have been as the overlapping player in Channel 1 rather than in the half-spaces. I think he could become an assist monster but may never fully justify being a winger if he doesn’t get 10 + goals a season as all the very best wingers do.
Odegaard is a pivotal Arteta piece. If we stay 4–2-3-1 then he is the #10. We are now seeing him being trained in deeper spaces likely with him having a role in a 4-3-3 with freedom to wander between the lines and become the 10.
As mentioned before, there is pressure on Pepe. When the club sold Willock without trying a 4-3-3 with a late-arriving goalscoring CM, they decided to lean into Odegaard and ESR. The hope is that ESR can become a goalscorer and that Odegaard can reach his assist potential to justify his inclusion. This leaves the main goalscoring threats as the front 3. Saka isn’t convincing there yet and Auba/Laca/Balogun need to fire.
The central midfield is evolving quickly. We see Arteta experimenting recently with 1 DM pivot and two 8’s. We see 2 DM’s and ESR and MO in front in a box shape. Will we see Arsenal sign a DM and free Partey to play as an 8? Will Lokonga be trusted as the DM? What is the pathway for Patino and Azeez. Both are ideally DM’s but Patino has the ability to play anywhere in midfield and in the long run could end up being the best midfielder at the club.
Do we focus on 4-3-3 and try to bring Bellingham back to England? We nearly got him before and as I watch him scoring vs Besiktas I’m reminded of his goalscoring potential as a 3rd man runner beyond his general excellence as a midfielder. Would need CL football to do that, I’d say.
In the back I was very surprised that we didn’t replace one of Chambers, Holding or Mari with Mavropanos who is a more athletic alternative to White and Gabriel and has played both sides. Perhaps the club see a full season of first choice as more beneficial at his stage of development.
I’d love to think that AMN can establish himself in midfield as his toolbox is perfect for modern football. I just wonder if his inconsistent passing will keep him sidelined. I think all would agree that AMN as a Right Back option is far better than Cedric or Chambers. If we go back three then AMN is our best option at RWB beyond Tomiyasu.
What of this ‘patience’ we need?
We think back to last season and watching Arteta literally micro-managing every kick and movement from the sideline as if with a joystick.
It makes sense now as a coach trying to teach his JDP principles. It was as if the players were in class. They couldn’t tell the fans this as we wouldn’t have had the patience to buy into a ‘teaching season.’
Part of me wishes they’d explain JDP to us but they also don’t want to reveal strategy and don’t want to have to explain why it will take time. Time is needed as some of our players aren’t the ideal pieces and if the club communicated that they would feel insulted. A new striker, centre midfielder and if Pepe doesn’t produce more consistently, a new winger will show up. I think the club are looking at Gnabry into his last contract year as the best opportunity to get a consistent goalscoring hybrid winger.
The problem the club have though is that the fans are wise enough to see that this ‘ArtetaBall’ may be starting to reap benefits, but what we have a large kink. Over the last season the glaring issue was over when you get ‘set up’ and when you transition at speed.
This has led to fair criticism that the football is robotic and boring, which is fair.
I think this will make or break Mikel Arteta as the structures around him are now solid enough to where another JDP coach could take over fairly seamlessly. The only issue the club might have is that there are only a handful out there that are trying it successfully.
Many coaches won’t touch JDP because there are absolutes/questions that they don’t feel comfortable to answer. Players needing to know their roles as they change based on ball position and game state. Many coaches might understand the general JDP structure but aren’t familiar enough to know the details.
The future?
The truth for me is that the club under Arteta can get there and look less robotic in the process.
It requires Mikel Arteta to stay humble and be open to a clear mind on his teams faults and not get too stubborn.
It requires fans to understand that Day One of this project was probably September 11th 2021 even though this is his third season. All else prior to this date was largely cleansing and teaching.
Personally, I’ve accepted that I’m ok with this season ending in a similar league position to the last two as long as we see obvious progress as the ‘new team’ learns the text book.
I think that the 2022/23 season could easily see a big change in league position and see Arsenal challenge in the Top 4 and even contest the league as I see so many positive pieces being changed.
All of this will depend on if we can control our noise and fight our instinct of impatience.
Mike McDonald writes the transfer blogs here @LeGrove as well as the post game ‘Positives, Needs and Hopes’ @Gunnerstown. He also writes ‘Coach Mike’s Clipboard’ for The Gooner Fanzine.
Follow him @Mike_Mmcdonald
P.S. You know the drill. 👇👇👇
So you are shooting down an FA Cup and your excellence counterpoint is that you have a nice car.
Sociedad playing some champagne football against PSV
My counterpoint is that Harry Redknapp has an FA cup. So what
Harry Redknapp can also afford a nice car. Trophies are elite, if you don’t have any, you should probably steer clear of degrading them.
So if Wenger won three FA cups in four years (2013-17) while he was no longer good enough to manage Arsenal- as went the popular Legrove wisdom,
can then Arteta’s FA cup win be promoted as proof of his managerial acumen?
Asking for a friend.
Pedro
Why didn’t you extend that trophy courtesy to Emery.
Pedro
Keep on paying those ticket prices then
Pedro you dont know if I have trophies or not. Do you? I know we both don’t have an FA cup. No need to take it there. Artet has proven little and recently has shown nothing worthy of your adulation
“We smashed them at home” Lol!!!
In a game we had to win and they didn’t.
Are you really that naive?
You’re sounding like others on here who gloated that we beat Burnley 5-0 at home when nothing was riding on the game and Burnley were already on Skegness beach.
Graham Potters credentials are far superior to Arteta’s, if you don’t know that then you need to do a bit of background reading.
Dissenter, because Emery didn’t win any trophies at Arsenal. Why do you care about Emery?
Dave, a season ticket at Arsenal this season is £600 for a lot of people this season.
Sly
I don’t know why we are clinging on to this manager. He wasn’t a Legendary player and his football so far has been atrocious. It is just some fans including pedro, not having the balls to say they were wrong. There are so many better coaches out there. It doesn’t even have to be someone who will only come if we are investing millions. There are coaches working wonders on ridiculous budgets. But somehow Arteta spending 200 mil and having no style yet is acceptable. It is ridiculous.
Pedro
Now you are mistaken. The cheapest season ticket I got offered was £1100.
Ostersunds FK comes to mind.
Please don’t belittle his achievements at this club.
He has earned his credentials by working his way up and has far superior philosophies to Arteta.
Pedro you deleted my post calling your sanctimonious ass out?
Dave, I’m not mistaken. My cousins, who hold my tickets, told me it’s £600 this season.
Arteta fcuked up against Emery because Emery is the better manager/coach.
I know, it hurts.
Bankz, take that shit to Reddit mate, it’s embarrassing that you are taking offence to me deleting insulting comments about me.
Pedro
At what point do you completely lose faith in Arteta? Because somehow a single win is what it takes to get you to turn your tune. What is the goal this season? What do you expect from Arteta? What should get him fired? And Why do you think he is such a great coach, despite 2 years of mediocrity?
Because he has let you down so many times before this. I remember that post after the Europa league semifinal loss.
Not if your on the waiting list, youve probably had those for a while.
Would you renew at £1100?
I can assure you that is what the box office offered me
Pedro
One thing is certain at this point.
Lots of old posters have seen you for the stubborn goat you are.
You’d rather drown than admit you were wrong.
When Arteta finally gets kicked out, I pray you lick his ass to wherever he chooses to go
Dave, absolutely. I’d always renew my season tickets.
Habesha, I tell you when I wouldn’t lose faith… right after we’ve dropped 150m on a squad of very talented young players that fit the profile needed to move the football on.
Bankz, I have a better idea of what is good for the future of Arsenal than most. I like the idea of the project, I like the make-up of the squad, I’m not going to waver because people are screaming ‘fire’ in a theatre.
Its improbable for all of us to be likeminds but if there is one thing that’s undisputable its the love we share for Arsenal. Its absolutely ridiculous that people whose only pastime is to condemn everything Arsenal every minute complain that there are some who despite feeling lime shit because of the bad shape the club is crave some light. I believe Arteta hasn’t live up to expectations and would want him move on as soon as possible but I feel ever worse of coming here daily to be reminded relentlessly about the bad job the manager is doing. How… Read more »
Pedro, Thanks for this post, very interesting. I really enjoy it when you mix the opinion posts up with this sort of analytical posts. I was vaguely familiar with JDP but this was educational. I do think you’re willing to give Arteta a longer leash than he deserves. To me personally, finishing in a similar league position as last two seasons is not remotely acceptable. I get your arguments but with every strategy, in football or otherwise, being right is less important than being right at the right time. If we keep pushing the target date for getting back to… Read more »
‘Bankz, I have a better idea of what is good for the future of Arsenal than most’
Just no. On so many levels. No.
Pedro You’re coming across as a very condescending individual. What’s got into you? You know nothing. You think you do but the reality is you don’t. Writing the way you do is a special talent but don’t disrespect and lose a sense of reality here. You even glorified Gazidis for goodness sake. What gives you the right to talk down to so many posters who are merely pointing you out. Can I give you some advice. Stop making a fool of yourself and thinking that your own background and credentials are superior to that of your customers. It’s not a… Read more »
“ I have a better idea of what is good for the future of Arsenal than most.”
Ya think ?!
You need to lay off the kool aid fella
Pedro
I still hope you are right and Arteta becomes that genius coach that you think he is. That means I get to watch Arsenal play beautiful football again.
The next four or five games will decide his future as a coach. He needs to show there is something that he is building.
But sadly I see this ending one way.
The boardroom, Emirates stadium, Saturday, September 11th, 10.54pm. Arsenal have just beaten Norwich City 1-0 to gain their first points of the season at the fourth attempt. The Brotherhood of Arsenal’s Sincere Trusted And Really Dedicated Servants (B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S) are meeting to discuss the club’s current position. The normally reserved and traditional formality of such meetings is nowhere in evidence. The chaos that would have greeted any who bore witness to the night’s events were as far removed from the norm as one could ever imagine. The huge mahogany table had been pushed against the far wall and now held a… Read more »
A bit weird posters getting upset Pedro won’t admit he was wrong about Arteta.
Why should anyone care?
Not like anyone other than Kroenke admitting this will have any bearing on what happens next,
Habesha
I can’t see KSE sticking with Arteta if he doesn’t deliver over the next 5 games
They may be a naive ownership but they’ve really pushed the boat out with investment
Arsenal has to succeed for them
Contrary to Pedro’s incessant narrative new coach recruitment is not rocket science
If we get a decent coach in we’ll see real progress
Another classic Almunia 🤣🤣
Graham, you come on here, shit on trophies, pump Potter who finished 16th last season and is a process merchant, then wonder why there’s a reaction.
Gazidis has Milan back in the Champions League, if he’d stayed, we’d not be in the mess we are right now, that’s for sure.
Habesha, amen to that. Also, think you made a good call on Ramsdale.
Almuniasaynomore
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Graham62
You know where Pedro stands about Arteta, it’s pretty obvious. Most of us who have been here for a minute know where you stand about Arteta
Easy does it.
“And then he told me,the new formula for success, JDP, joyless defensive play. It was a revolutionary tactic to stifle the opposition.”
Hahahahahaha
Stevie G off to a rough ride in the Europa going down 0-2 to Lyon who strolled to a win.
Less we talk about Sociedad the better, never go full Wenger unless your Brendo Rodgers.
ankz, I have a better idea of what is good for the future of Arsenal than most. I like the idea of the project, I like the make-up of the squad, I’m not going to waver because people are screaming ‘fire’ in a theatre. You my friend, you’re as deluded as they come. Like I said in my earlier posts, anyone with a few brain cells can see you’re making a fool of yourself. Anyone who followed how you criticized Wenger and then Emery knows you’re making a bigger fool of yourself and also knows you’re the definition of what… Read more »
No need to attack Pedro… we all know where he stands.. and its his blog at the end of the day.
The only thing we can hope for is somehow Arteta gets sacked. Not many of us are confident of him moving the team forward.
Now if we go on a 32 game win streak I will gladly STFU.
however, for me, I need to see it to believe it. Seeing it for me is wins…. wins wins
Calling for the head of managers finishing in 5th and 6th to then defend and worship perennial Art8ta is such a bad look. The generational one was spanked by the manager he was ridiculing. It’s clear he knows what’s best for us.
I stopped the long read at “xhaka is the ultimate positional player”. Think you might be reminded of that by Arsenal fans the next time the big doofus gets sent off making a rash tackle…. because he is out of position and too slow to get back.
I give it 6-7 games after he comes back from his latest ban. He also showed fantastic awareness of positioning with his assist to Burnley last season.
Almunia,
Another classic.
JDP – “Joyless Defensive Play”: inspired!
Meanwhile in Pedro’s new Trumpian alternative reality Graham Potter is a “process merchant” because little Brighton finished 16th, when, in the XG table that Pedro used to set such faith in in the old Emery days they finished 7th.
“I have a better idea of what is good for the future of Arsenal than most”
Slow clap….
Pierre
You remember wrongly: Ramsay dropped Greaves
But it’s the reason why Ramsay dropped him which is relevant to the Arteta tenure.
Ramsay was a forward thinker, an innovator. Geavsie didn’t suit his style. But it was easier for Ramsay to gather the people he wanted than it has been for Arteta Arteta has been lumbered by second-rate left-overs, mostly from the Wenger era (notably your beloved.
In passing I’ll add that his 1974 team was England’s best-ever. Poland’s only win against us was the most undeserved I can remember.
great read, glad to see you haven’t crossed over to the dark side.
@Pedro “we’ve dropped 150m on a squad of very talented young players that fit the profile needed to move the football on.” How do you come to the conclusion that they are talented young players after 4 games? “Gazidis has Milan back in the Champions League, if he’d stayed, we’d not be in the mess we are right now, that’s for sure.” Admission that we Edu is a shitty DOF which is needed for you as the trump card to save Tets. Not his but Edu’s fault. Why do I get this feeling that you are setting up the equivalent… Read more »
Well for me I fully understand Pedro’s arguments and respect his position I also like what is happening to the shape of the squad and I think time will tell that we bought well overall. This Summer BUT I have given Arteta the benefit of the doubt long enough. We are at the critical18m mark and he looks as inept as ever Yes he had a number of absences from those opening 3 games. But he still selected Cedric and Kola ffs. His tactics were awful and pulled apart by all 3 teams If it was an aberration that was… Read more »
Englandsbest “Pierre You remember wrongly: Ramsay dropped GreavesBut it’s the reason why Ramsay dropped him which is relevant to the Arteta tenure.” Better to stop there if I was you before you embarrass yourself even more … He was injured in the group stages and never regained his place .. Taken from Wikipedia “At the World Cup he played all three group games against Uruguay, Mexico and France, however, in the win against France, midfielder Joseph Bonnel raked his studs down Greaves’s shin, causing a wound that required 14 stitches and left a permanent scar.[88] His replacement for the quarter-final… Read more »
What absolute nonsense that Wes not be in this mess of gazidis was still here That is such patently nonsense lol Pedro you spend half our time excuses the issues of the current regime as hangovers from the old ones. That horrible wenger squad and bunch of players we had on bloated contracts filling up our wage bill, almost all of them were from Gazidis’ time. Why do we even need a whole new culture rebuild if gazidis oversaw us with a good culture only a couple of short years ago? Oh that’s right our club culture was absolutely shite… Read more »
Sorry Pedro but what’s the basis of this comment?
‘ Bankz, I have a better idea of what is good for the future of Arsenal than most. I like the idea of the project, I like the make-up of the squad’
The reality lies only in the second part of this quote. You *like* the idea so you support it. That’s completely unrelated to whether or not it is actually *good* or best for the club.
Thank you Mike. I cannot pretend to fully understand some of the complex coaching and tactical plans in this, but what you say does seem to provide some sense in what we have and are continuing to see. I hope the patience you mention is forthcoming, something had to change from Wengers ways. And the club are not in a position to buy success , to a degree they have already tried that and it has t worked. Arteta , whether he succeeds or fails, is clearly a deep thinker about the game, it would fit that he is at… Read more »
It now makes sense why you were running about the tiers of football fans Pedro
You believe because you used to go to games and because you spend a lot of time and effort writing blog posts and making podcasts etc that it somehow makes your subjective opinions more correct than others.
I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that.
Opinions don’t become more right and less subjective just because you write a blog etc. on what possible basis do you know more about what’s good for the club than most arsenal fans?
That quote reminds me so much of wengers classic ‘everyone thinks they have the pretties wife at home’ comment
Also Pedro as someone in marketing who is always talking about optics, I find it surprising that you come out telling people ‘I know more than most fans’ lol
This kind of comment never looks good…
Graham you should know ‘Trophies are elite’ shame on you. It’s why we haven’t won a league in well over a decade and never won a CL cup only ever being in one final. The also ran trophies that are a lottery until the quarters playing and losing to Championship and 2nd divisions teams prior. Same with the EL cup generally you only have to play 3 decent teams at then end of a very long season. Best to let Pedro toe the company line as good sycophants do. Arteta’s coaches are full of them. Wouldn’t surprise me if ADC… Read more »
So Pedro is Prince Harry
AFC Forever is Megan
Sid is Randy Andy.
Arteta is Bo Jo
Round is the fav corgi
Stan is the Queen
Josh is Prince Phillip in his play boy days.
In other words The Arsenal is a right royal cluster Fuck and Sid will love his title although Andy would cry standing next to Andy in the showers.
just a little satire to move the day along.
standing next to Sid*
Just a bit of fun before Arteta makes most of us lose our shit against the way we play against Burnley tomorrow.
/Users/admin/Desktop/WhatsApp Video 2021-09-15 at 21.33.06.mp4
sorry copied wrong link
Just watched the highlights of the Europa League and the Europa Conference League. Many here poo-pooed the Conference league but there was some entertaining football played in the games. What does Arsenal have to show for? ArtetaBall, Arteta’s JDP shit show or whatever you call it, tune in on Saturday and you will see it at Burnley.
MD I thought it wasn’t one of Pedro’s brightest moments laying out what Arteta is planning for all the other managers to read.
Loose lips sink ships and tell others how to beat us.
Pedro’s full of cunning stunts with is Arteta love in.
his*
artetaball sounds hideous
I hear next week’s YouGov chat topic is ‘Does Pedro need an intervention?’
Bacary I don’t think intervention will help Pedro by his own words just doesn’t care.
Arteta tunnel vision sickness is a tough one to beat. Pedro’s had it for what? 3 years? With no sign of returning to the place he was before.
As with cocaine: with Arteta you can check out, but you can never leave.
Fortunately, Arteta sickness isn’t contagious to the intelligent – only numpties suffer the sickness.
Pedro
We will definitely improve with a full week’s rest between match and most of the new players are looking decent.
I haven’t yet heard an answer as to why Arteta has such an appalling record when the team is trailing at half-time. Surely, that is an indication of something, right? I seriously would like to know if you see this inability to recover from a deficit as a problem?
A trip down memory lane-some decade ago till now… —— PedroMay 10, 2012 23:05:32 nothing is going to change?Hmmm….Podolski in the bag.Pat Rice gone…Steve Bould in.Give it a rest.Things are changing massively already. —————————————————— SDEMay 11, 2012 08:04:43 Reply Yeah..Pedro the same way things were changing massively at the start of the season,only for worse..Hmm..Let’s see an overall snapshot of the season..Start of the season.. Cesc out Nasri out Traore out Eboue out Vela-loaned out Bendtner-loaned out.. Denilson-loaned out Changes were coming..Big transfer of note collapsed-Mata deal-ends up@Chelsea.Hmm..de ja vou moment..Needless to say we proceed with caution,or with… Read more »
I am enjoying thoroughly a break from Arsenal football. Never thought how much it would impact my viewing habit and interest in AFC when there is no European football on offer. The guy over on Arseblog got it bang on: “The lack of midweek action is going to be an issue this season, because things are going to feel really slow. But for fans, it means twiddling our thumbs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays when we’d much prefer to see the lads out there. Without that, it’s more complicated. How much playing time are young strikers like Flo Balogun and… Read more »
Newcastle want a centre back and a striker. Make some money on Lacazette or Nketiah while we still can and sell them Holding or Chambers.
Use the money received toward Bellingham or Bissouma.
It’s not going to be pretty this season MD, but keep posting the blog needs consistency with posters that make sense calling a spade a spade. I can be all over the place at times, but I am constant in my end goal of mounting realistic challenges at home and in Europe. I just let frustrations from 2009ish get to me at times, throw in lockdown and other negative issues into the pot that generally affect my (our) day to day life, and for those of us around the world who have held The Arsenal as a big part of… Read more »
Bankz
With on that.
Pedro is the ultimate “hypocrite”.
Even on the podcasts I’ve noted he doesn’t truly listen to his companions.
I’ve got no time for his shite .
As host he should have more self awareness.
Then again, he doesn’t care.
It’s just an Arteta blog.
Graham We know where Pedro stands. Sometimes he comes to his senses and we all think he has found the light, but a day or 2 later its back on the arteta train Its a pattern. But its his blog so he can write what he wants… for me, I want to see the team win… i dont give a shit… if its not winning then there is only way to change that, and that is to get rid of mike and edu and co…. As someone said earlier, its KSE who will be the one who has mike on… Read more »
If arteta really wanted to rip out the dross, he would have started by handing in his resignation.
75m down the drain trying to rectify artetas mistake
Saliba should have been used, and white not purchased
And martinez should have been given guarantee to start the fulham game last season, and told he is no 1 till form or injury takes that away. End of.
Not this you have a 95% chance of starting against fulham BS. That’s the sort of encouragement a teacher gives a toddler when they finally colour inside the lines.
Time for the East Coast gut to hit the sack. Looking forward to watching Saracens vs Bristol Bears today at 2:45pm starting the Gallagher Premiership Rugby. Welcome change in twiddling the thumbs and waiting on Arsenal improvement. Then getting prepared for Burnley bossing Arsenal around and on this blog MOBs venting their frustrations.
But hey all is good and I will take everything back if the table after 38 games proves me wrong.
I’ll tell you where we are at now, there’s the Burnley game tomorrow and it’s being described as a big game. Fking burnley, described as a big game, jesus. That’s how low we have sunk.
No guarantees we will win against the likes of Burnley.
This process is so complicated but rewarding that we have to first go all the down to the first division before we make our way up again.
I am looking forward to Burnley.
A team that does require some planning against.
Lets see if we can put them to the sword
or
hopefully not vice versa…. they will come hard at us. Pumping in those crosses, hard fouls, working the refs etc…
I do think we will score…
But I think they will too.
a draw is not good enough for me anymore.
Lets see some damn JDP
I want to see this thing
I have not seen anything so far, so hopefully this JDP stuff happens sooner…. like now
I have my doubts tho. Seems artetaball never changes tho no matter what you rebrand it as
Conte you still there??
-Currently out of Europe for the first time in 25 years under the stewardship of Arteta. -Finished in 8th place for two consecutive seasons under Arteta. -Spent circa £200 million under Project ‘Artetaball’ with no defined style of play,but has been identified as JDP after 20 months… Currently in 16th place -with 1 goal scored,3 defeats suffered and 9 goals conceded albeit under’Artetaball’ or rather ‘JDP’. -First time in 118 years in England’s top four divisions,Arsenal opened a league campaign with three consecutive defeats and no goals scored in the 2021-22 season. -Chelsea defeat at home was Arteta’s 9th defeat… Read more »
Almunia Hiya mate. Top marks for imagery and dramatic composition. There’s a welcome cutting edge to your stuff as HMS Arsenal sails closer to the rocks. Your latest sketch has set me up for the day. A coked up, fellating Steve Round, and Tets evidently pissed as a rat because one hair is out of place atop his vacant nut. It’s not difficult to imagine the fear, loathing and utter insincerity among these people as they start moving to the back of the gravy train and begin wondering when they’re going to fall out the back. Hope all is good… Read more »
PhD
Not seen you on here for a bit. Been anywhere interesting?
That list reads like a rap sheet. Very forensic and Tets is bang to rights.
Ishola70, Looks like the caveat that I added about the Leno decision may come to play. I wrote that as long as he told both players the same thing, I did not see any problem in telling Leno that he was dropped for a couple of games. Some media are now reporting that was not the case. He allegedly told Leno he was dropped for a few games and told Ramsdale you are the new No1. When questioned about it, he tried to fudge the answer and went back to his playbook of finding the leaker. Leno should be disappointed… Read more »
For anyone disenfranchised with this blog, I hear Tony Atwood is offering some incentives to log on to Untold Arsenal every morning.
KroenkephobeSeptember 17, 2021 06:50:26 PhD Not seen you on here for a bit. Been anywhere interesting?That list reads like a rap sheet. Very forensic and Tets is bang to rights. ——- Hi Kroenkephobe, How are you? Always enjoy reading your posts along with Alumnia’s. Thoroughly entertaining, especially given the set of circumstances we currently find ourselves under… As for me,I’ve been busy immersing myself in work and also training for a triathlon. Looking to compete early next year.That’s the aim. So,I’ve given this blog a miss for a while due to time constraints.More so,I think it comes down to many… Read more »
Almunia
Just got round to reading your latest installment of the Arsenal soap drama: The Demise of Arteta, legend only in his own mind.
I mean to all the other PL clubs Arteta is legendary in making it so easy to finish above us. I think Leicester is thinking of erecting an Arteta statue.
No matter hope you’re well and family too.
Keep them coming Almunia you have a wonderfully dark mind.
“A bit weird posters getting upset Pedro won’t admit he was wrong about Arteta.
Why should anyone care?
Not like anyone other than Kroenke admitting this will have any bearing on what happens next,”
Amen to that Tom
Nothing Pedro writes upsets me, and I try not to even respond cos that’s why I was banned last time out. Results, that’s the currency of the game, he gets them he keeps his job, he doesn’t he walks.
Nothing written here can influence that.
That is some fear the triathlon Kudos PhD. Good luck in the race(s). Always good to red your thoughts. K’phobe hope all is good and the weekend is full and the cricket enjoyable. Full ADHD mode for the last few days I’m afraid and as Rory Bremner says he’s very good at upsetting people but they come round eventually. Thing is, it’s so true. Snowflakes are the easier to upset poor things. I mean you can have some real fun with all this woke crap. Don’t deny it, I’ve seen you tear jugglers apart here with few words. I’m sure… Read more »
“Nothing written here can influence that”.
My but how hard they try, RH.
PhD
Respect mate. Good luck with the training and the event. There’s an annual triathlon in our village in West Wales every year. If you get the bug, you should give it a try. The swim is in the Irish sea and the cycling and run feature sone pretty full-on ascents.
feat*
And this talk of Gazidis getting Milan into the champions league is just wrong.
Milan still struggled under Gazidis, until Pioli was appointed, and no it wasn’t an inspired appointment. It was a stop gap while they waited to hand the keys to Ragnick. He just happened to smash all expectations. He gets the credit not Gazidis.
So no you weren’t right about Gazidis.
Villarreal have won a European trophy, first trophy in their history and are in the champions league, dies that make you wrong about Emery or does it work just one way?
Good read.. It would be interesting to have an article about Wengers failures sometime soon ?
I am hoping that MA can in future be a bit more unpredictable an innovative in his approach to
games and handling of players. I saw in the u21 game vs und. that Eddie and Balo both looked
sharp and hungry !! We need a Brazilian in attacking mid in jan.
PHD I know nothing about how you train for such endurance. Do you use any machines, such as cross trainers? Octane make excellent machines adjustable to your hip s etc, The one we have has 4 functions: Walk, Run, Hike, Climb and 40 levels Different to treadmills raised levels and very little hip, knee and ankle impact. As I said I have no idea but the kick boxers who come to train us are super fit and struggle on the cross trainer. Different muscle type usage explains some of it. Octane has a cool range and was started by engineers… Read more »
“Good read.. It would be interesting to have an article about Wengers failures sometime soon ?”
Wenger never failed to the extent the fellow praised in your good read did, maybe you should be placing a request for an article on the failures of the past 21 months, it will be quite a read if written objectively
Hip raise workouts are important
We do not not need Europa Leauge football.
Almunia is far more entertaining.
I can’t understand some of the attacks on here against Pedro, his blog and his opinions. Just read them back and can’t believe the reactions of some….
SURELY, if you don’t like his blog or what he’s got to say, you can just stop reading it? Maybe go and start your own blog?
Why visit here just to attack him? It just doesn’t make any sense why so many would have this feeling towards Pedro, but still keep coming here…..
For clarification Arsenal Season Tickets cost significantly less this season than previously.
The basic price was substantially reduced and there were credits due from season 2019/20.
The overall cost this season was not far short of half of what it was when we played in Champions League.
So some of the comments that Arsenal’s season tickets are still the most expensive in EPL
are I am sure incorrect.
As I posted recently the club appear to have changed their relationship with season ticket holders. We are now being treated as members of the club rather than customers.