Mikel Arteta | Lego Pep watch

Josh Kroenke on 2021/22 campaign:

"It’s been a rollercoaster of a season. I say that with a smile on my face. To think back to where we were after three matches, Mikel and the team have done an amazing job stabilizing the ship. I wanna thank you guys for sticking with us through all the ups and downs."

Josh Kroenke on summer transfer plans:

"We've got plans in place to continue to strengthen the squad. Now having match day revenue and having fans back in the stadium has been great. We continue to provide whatever support we can for Mikel and continue to push the squad forward to achieve our goals."

Vinai Venkatesham on expectations:

"Given how much change happened last summer and given the age profile of the squad, the reality is with four games to go, we are a bit ahead of where we expected we would be. We are still behind where we wanna be, and that’s competing to win the biggest trophies in the game."

Vinai Venkatesham on summer plans

"That’s our focus this summer: how can we strengthen the squad? How can we get closer to competing? We are confident that we are on the right path."

The board is very happy with Arteta and hence the new contract. The board is the only one to determine if Arteta is still a good fit for the job, and they think he is, for next season at least.
 
AltiUn said:
City, Liverpool and Chelsea have very good defences and some of the best keepers in the PL. That's why they've conceded half the goals Arsenal have. Arsenal don't have a very good defence and certainly don't have one of the best keepers in the league, they have the 6th best defence, teams with similar defensive stats to them include Palace and Brighton. I don't mind people thinking they do because it keeps Arteta in the job and he's garbage, so I'm very happy if people believe that.
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The truth is somewhere in the middle. We’ve conceded 41 goals. Nearly a quarter of those goals came during our disastrous first three games which massively skews the figures.

Generally our defence is pretty solid. However, the entire back five is 24 years or younger and defenders peak later. Also, there is always the possibility of a Xhaka meltdown at any moment.
 
Daydreamer said:
The truth is somewhere in the middle. We’ve conceded 41 goals. Nearly a quarter of those goals came during our disastrous first three games which massively skews the figures.

Generally our defence is pretty solid. However, the entire back five is 24 years or younger and defenders peak later. Also, there is always the possibility of a Xhaka meltdown at any moment.
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The idea that a whole squad will eventually go two levels above their current level because they're young is definitely not accurate, a lot will remain at their current level, some will regress and only one or two will make the step up especially playing in a squad without already established stars to lead the way.
 
Conor said:
You're misunderstanding, it's not about questioning why Arteta didn't finish above those teams, the question you should be asking is why Arteta is your manager.
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It depends on the path you want to take the organization. Are you on a development or a transformation path. That decision would lead you to either hire a manager for short term success by spending money OR hire a young manager, who brings his own players in and take the time to develop the team. The problem with modern fans is the lack of patience. People seem to think that one or two full seasons is enough for a new manager to get their players, ideas and a culture into a club, it's not.
 
Cascarino said:
I agree that the two situations don't have anything to do with each other, and that ETH is far more experienced. Arteta not having a clear style of football is wrong though, and one of the reasons the "Ole = Arteta" analysis that we see keep seeing in this thread is so lazy. People can disagree about how much they like the approach or the strengths and weaknesses of it, but I can tell you to a player how Arsenal approach games, same way that I can for Chelsea or Brighton or any team with consistent gameplans and approaches. I couldn't do that with Ole, bar a basic counter attacking approach relying on star quality and individual moments.

Even comparing this season's Arsenal to last season's Arsenal, you can see a marked difference in how they approach games, both in terms of their off the ball work and what they do on it, even in terms of player 's positional play and the areas they funnel their attack through is very different.



I don't put much stock in terms like cultural reset, but I also don't really get your point. They signed him on a free and binned him off after one season when it didn't work out. He's targeted younger players and it's something that the club is obviously focusing on.
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What do you think got Utd to where they were under Fergie? You underestimate the importance of culture in affecting any kind of change. A football club and a team are no different.
 
Il Prete Rosso said:
What do you think got Utd to where they were under Fergie? You underestimate the importance of culture in affecting any kind of change. A football club and a team are no different.
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That's not where I'm coming from, I don't put much stock in terms like "cultural reset" because supporters know little of the ins and outs when it comes to these big clubs. So it's just a meaningless buzzword.
 
Trex said:
The idea that a whole squad will eventually go two levels above their current level because they're young is definitely not accurate, a lot will remain at their current level, some will regress and only one or two will make the step up especially playing in a squad without already established stars to lead the way.
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Yep, totally agree. I’m not sure anyone’s suggesting all our young players will go up a couple of levels. Development is not guaranteed to happen and it may not be linear when it does.

Much depends on the type of young prospect. For example, our first choice back line are all 22-24. They’ve all played 100 - 200 games. Arsenal is the biggest club they’ve each played for (though Celtic fans would justifiably dispute that). This season will have been valuable experience of sustained high stakes.

Whereas our front line consists of academy graduates aged 20-22. Their bodies are still developing and they’ve actually been carrying the team. There is a real possibility that if we don’t strengthen the squad their development will be harm through being overplayed.

But I think the impact of a years worth of collective experience for a such a young team may be larger than expected.
 
Trex said:
The idea that a whole squad will eventually go two levels above their current level because they're young is definitely not accurate, a lot will remain at their current level, some will regress and only one or two will make the step up especially playing in a squad without already established stars to lead the way.
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also if they do go up two levels they might want to move to a big club
 
This has shades of Ole for them. A series of false dawns but ultimately a limited manager who won't get them where they want to be.

If I were an Arsenal fan I'd be frustrated, and begging for the club to bring in an Amorim or Potter style appointment, just like how I was desperate for us to bring a Ten Hag or Nagelsmann after the end of last season.
 
Kaos said:
This has shades of Ole for them. A series of false dawns but ultimately a limited manager who won't get them where they want to be.

If I were an Arsenal fan I'd be frustrated, and begging for the club to bring in an Amorim or Potter style appointment, just like how I was desperate for us to bring a Ten Hag or Nagelsmann after the end of last season.
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And do we think Potter is a better manager than Pep or Klopp?
 
Kaos said:
This has shades of Ole for them. A series of false dawns but ultimately a limited manager who won't get them where they want to be.

If I were an Arsenal fan I'd be frustrated, and begging for the club to bring in an Amorim or Potter style appointment, just like how I was desperate for us to bring a Ten Hag or Nagelsmann after the end of last season.
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I can see why United fans are desperate to make this comparison but its really a terrible one.

Arteta has some weaknesses with man management but he is tactically very sophisticated and he has shown the ability to work with and improve young players. Ole was basically the exact opposite - a good man manager who was completely clueless tactically and didn't make any players better.

That is not to say that Arteta will end up a smashing success. Its entirely possible that we are looking for a new manager in a couple years. But the comparison is really bad.
 
Powderfinger said:
I can see why United fans are desperate to make this comparison but its really a terrible one.

Arteta has some weaknesses with man management but he is tactically very sophisticated and he has shown the ability to work with and improve young players. Ole was basically the exact opposite - a good man manager who was completely clueless tactically and didn't make any players better.

That is not to say that Arteta will end up a smashing success. Its entirely possible that we are looking for a new manager in a couple years. But the comparison is really bad.
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talking of bad takes

people in glass houses
 
charlenefan said:
talking of bad takes

people in glass houses
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As an outsider, I too thought that Ole was a decent man manager but not a brilliant coach or tactical mind. But I admit to not watching a ton of United games. What would you say our his strengths and weaknesses.
 
Daydreamer said:
As an outsider, I too thought that Ole was a decent man manager but not a brilliant coach or tactical mind. But I admit to not watching a ton of United games. What would you say our his strengths and weaknesses.
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My argument was more that he didn't make players better where the fact is most of the current squad showed their best form under Ole. Only exception being Lingard who showed his best form for us under Mourinho

Ole had a low ceiling which was evident throughout his time and obviously became even more horribly obviously this season which lead to him being sacked
 
charlenefan said:
My argument was more that he didn't make players better where the fact is most of the current squad showed their best form under Ole. Only exception being Lingard who showed his best form for us under Mourinho

Ole had a low ceiling which was evident throughout his time and obviously became even more horribly obviously this season which lead to him being sacked
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IMO, showing your best form under a manager is different than improving as a player in a sustainable way.

Rashford for example clearly showed his best form under Ole, who gave him confidence and used a system that brought the best out of him. But I'm not sure he is that much better today than when Ole took over, despite those being years (early 20s) when you expect to see a lot of growth and development.
 
charlenefan said:
My argument was more that he didn't make players better where the fact is most of the current squad showed their best form under Ole. Only exception being Lingard who showed his best form for us under Mourinho

Ole had a low ceiling which was evident throughout his time and obviously became even more horribly obviously this season which lead to him being sacked
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Ok, I’ve got you. Ole was obviously doing something right to take you to second. And he did manage to get some decent performances out of your players. To my eyes there weren’t too many great team performances. Even your victories seems to be down to moments of individual brilliance, our isolated periods of play.

In many ways he is the polar opposite of Arteta. We’re quite systematic in our approach. Sometimes that leads to beautiful team goals. But it can also cause us to be rigid and unresponsive to the needs of the game.
 
Ole was a soft touch and one of the lads. Mikel Arteta will show you the door if you dont put the effort in, just like he did with PEA. There was even a leaked incident in training a few weeks back where Saka was taking the session a little bit lately and Arteta told him off. Doesnt matter who you are, you need to commit.

Arteta is animated on the touchline and energetic. Ole just sat in his chair and watched the game, just as he does know as a fan.

Ole didnt have it in him to bench Maguire, I knew Ole was a soft touch wen he high fived Harry Maguire after he got sent of against Norwich - here is a player getting you closer to the sack and he meltdowns again and you engage him positively. Ole was just waiting to eb sacked, he didn't fight or try to shake the team up.
 
I'm very happy they've given Arteta 3 more years. Their fans must be the most fickle in football. Arsenal got away with one this season because of how bad we were and how inconsistent Spurs, Chelsea and Leicester have been and no European football at all. They won't be so fortunate next season and Arteta will continue to mismanage the players, especially now that they have European football next season, but they won't progress very far in that anyway.

I'm just hoping that Spurs can hold their nerve and get that 4th spot. I can't think of anything worse than Arsenal playing CL football.
 
RedPed said:
I'm very happy they've given Arteta 3 more years. Their fans must be the most fickle in football. Arsenal got away with one this season because of how bad we were and how inconsistent Spurs, Chelsea and Leicester have been and no European football at all. They won't be so fortunate next season and Arteta will continue to mismanage the players, especially now that they have European football next season, but they won't progress very far in that anyway.

I'm just hoping that Spurs can hold their nerve and get that 4th spot. I can't think of anything worse than Arsenal playing CL football.
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Good. Everybody is happy.
 
RedPed said:
Arsenal got away with one this season because of how bad we were and how inconsistent Spurs, Chelsea and Leicester have been
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What are you on about? We are on target for 70 points+. That would get top 4 in something like 9 of the last 12 seasons, including the last 4 or 5 in a row?

But, whatever makes you happy pal.
 
nainaisson said:
Yeah, I'm sure Ajax fans hated winning the league every year and dominating teams like Juventus, Real Madrid, and Dortmund in the Champions League. Who can blame them?

Arsenal fans are strange people.
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Why would I be making this up :lol:

I've gone on fan forums, and i've seen many ajax fans they want ETH out because he's become too rigid and stale, and isn't adaptable enough.

Obviously a few years ago that Ajax team was fantastic, and back then ETH was at his peak, but.. you know things do change..
 
Donaldo said:
I can't keep track of how many random cnuts we have to get back to on here now.
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I would have thought you've got more than enough on your plate with the amount of Gooner flip-flops about. If I was you, I'd worry about those first.
 
I missed us kicking Arsenals butts. Great to have them back in the cl.
 
HTG said:
I missed us kicking Arsenals butts. Great to have them back in the cl.
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It’s been so long I’m actually starting to miss going out to you and Barca in the Round of 16 ties.
 
Mods I have a request that anyone that commented on me in this thread is not allowed to delete their post :lol:. Dont worry, i will @ them later when the season is over. 5th or 4th wherever they finish, was definitely unexpected from a lot on here. So far, Arteta is doing a great job for Arsenal this season. It will be interesting to see who he targets in the summer. I believe they should definitely go for Jesus as one of their target.
 
HTG said:
I missed us kicking Arsenals butts. Great to have them back in the cl.
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Don't jinx us. We aren't there yet. Still time to feck things up, almost tried to do that today!
 
Spurs - Arsenal could be fun. If Arsenal lose this one, I reckon they won't make top 4.
 
cafecillos said:
Spurs - Arsenal could be fun. If Arsenal lose this one, I reckon they won't make top 4.
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Yeah draw and they're in, Lose and they could easily slip up away to Newcastle.

I assume they'll pack plenty behind the ball on Thursday. No need to push up that high and leave 20-30 yards for Son to run into.
 
FootballHQ said:
Yeah draw and they're in, Lose and they could easily slip up away to Newcastle.

I assume they'll pack plenty behind the ball on Thursday. No need to push up that high and leave 20-30 yards for Son to run into.
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Add their last game against Everton who have surprisingly shown some grit in the last few games
 
Arsenal really are the ultimate top 4 trophy club, the hype from the manager, the fans, the ex players, the pundits all talking it up like it's a massive achievement.


Show how far they've dropped off as a club.
 
Flexdegea said:
Arsenal really are the ultimate top 4 trophy club, the hype from the manager, the fans, the ex players, the pundits all talking it up like it's a massive achievement.


Show how far they've dropped off as a club.
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Not a big achievement but considering we've not managed it in the last 5 or 6 years & you've only managed it 3 times post Fergie it's shows us where we have BOTH dropped off as clubs.
 
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