Mikel Arteta | Lego Pep watch

Gopher Brown

Full Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2013
Messages
4,547
I was trying to remember the name of the other person that Moyes bought with him :lol: He was the one that looked like Moyes just picked him up from the pub on the way to Old Trafford right?

Fecking hell, to think we allowed this clown to dismantle a title winning set up and bring these men in. It still gives me nightmares to this day.
I feel bad now, tbf, I don’t know the first thing about Lumsden, but he probably wasn’t the right calibre for us.
 

Skills

Snitch
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
42,081
They were at least familiar with the club and the setup. At the very least it might have made the transition a bit easier for Moyes. Not saying it would have gone well, but it made sense to at least keep someone around with a bit of experience at this level.
Would've made feck all difference really. There job is to help execute exactly what the manager wants his team to do. The coaching staff are just puppets, and the puppet master is who really matters.

People lost their shit a few years ago about one of Klopp's coaches leaving, who was meant to be the 'mastermind' behind his system. It made feck all difference as Klopp's won a CL title and PL since then.
 

trims

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 7, 2015
Messages
190
Supports
Arsenal
About time Arsenal stopped getting jammy wins against better teams than them, completely against the run of play. That was never going to be sustainable.
Other than Liverpool last season who are the better teams that we've been getting jammy wins against, against the run of play?
 

Blood Mage

Full Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Messages
5,931
He's a better manager than Ole and Lampard IMO but Arsenal's squad is still terrible. Their summer business hasn't been impressive.
 

Cheimoon

Made of cheese
Scout
Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
14,339
Location
Canada
Supports
no-one in particular
Uhm, going 1-0 up against the run of play through a fluke goal is being in a winning position? I suppose you can talk about a trend if it happens often enough, but today, could anyone reasonably say that Arsenal were ever in a winning position....?
 

ayushreddevil9

Foootball hinders the adrenaline of transfers.
Joined
Jul 11, 2015
Messages
10,276
Uhm, going 1-0 up against the run of play through a fluke goal is being in a winning position? I suppose you can talk about a trend if it happens often enough, but today, could anyone reasonably say that Arsenal were ever in a winning position....?
Do you understand what 'winning position' means in this context?
 

trims

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 7, 2015
Messages
190
Supports
Arsenal
City and Chelsea in the fa cup?
You must be getting the Chelsea game confused with some other game. After the first 15 mins Chelsea were always second best and they didn't register a single shot on target after the first 10 mins. A quick glance at the fa cup final thread here supports that.

Against Man City, they were impotent the first half without a shot on target and we could've been 3 up if Auba and Pepe took their chances. We got away with the Sterling miss but other than that, Martinez only had 1 save to make the whole game. It was more good defending by the team rather than being Jammy.
 
Last edited:

Liver_bird

Full Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2015
Messages
6,684
Location
England
Supports
Liverpool
The stats won't suggest they were any better than their last visit to anfield, however they do appear to have a certain resoluteness to them. It clearly looks like they're playing for him. With the quality of player available to them, i think thats about as much as you can ask for. Top 4 would be a brilliant season for them.
 

FootballHQ

Full Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Messages
18,249
Supports
Aston Villa
Arsenal always do well in a cup context, Emery also got them to a cup final beating Napoli and Valencia along the way who both finished top 4 in their leagues that season.

They can do it in a one off setting as proved in the FA cup yet again, it's the doing it over 38 games that is the issue.

The not winning at a top 6 away ground since Jan 2015 is a bit of an issue and it's not like their record was amazing before that date either when you think Wenger last won at Old Trafford in the league in September 2006 and Chelsea in October 2011.

Interesting their next away is at Man. City. Given Leicester have just put in 5 there and Aguero and Jesus will likely still be injured that's a game they should be getting a draw out of imo rather than another limp defeat particularly with Arteta's inside knowledge.
 

Dancfc

Full Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2016
Messages
7,406
Supports
Chelsea
Other than Liverpool last season who are the better teams that we've been getting jammy wins against, against the run of play?
Not just against better teams but West Ham at home X2, Watford home off the top of my head you would have been incredibly fortunate to draw let alone win. There's also the game at Stamford Bridge where we totally smashed you and somehow it ended up 2-2 (you may say 10 men but we should have finished you off 11 v 11).

Arteta deserves a lot of praise for bringing you the FA Cup given your circumstances but I don't feel he's been as great as made out in the league and he's escaping a lot of criticism for the football he's playing, apart from playing out from the back you don't look much different to a Dyche side, I guess time will tell if that's a temporary measure till he gets better players or his actual style but if it's the latter I can't imagine a fair chunk of your fanbase accepting it long term, unless it's getting you challenging for the big two.
 

trims

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 7, 2015
Messages
190
Supports
Arsenal
Not just against better teams but West Ham at home X2, Watford home off the top of my head you would have been incredibly fortunate to draw let alone win. There's also the game at Stamford Bridge where we totally smashed you and somehow it ended up 2-2 (you may say 10 men but we should have finished you off 11 v 11).

Arteta deserves a lot of praise for bringing you the FA Cup given your circumstances but I don't feel he's been as great as made out in the league and he's escaping a lot of criticism for the football he's playing, apart from playing out from the back you don't look much different to a Dyche side, I guess time will tell if that's a temporary measure till he gets better players or his actual style but if it's the latter I can't imagine a fair chunk of your fanbase accepting it long term, unless it's getting you challenging for the big two.
A bit over the top to say we were lucky to draw against West ham when had double the amount of passes and 63% possession. The only stat they had was shots off target. Watching the game we had control in the first half before their goal and in the second half, they never outplayed us. They realised we were useless at dealing with crosses and kept pumping them in, almost getting lucky with a couple. That's how all their chances were created. A draw would've been fair but we did well to grind out a result at the end with a well-worked goal.

Per gameBefore ArtetaSince taking over
Points1.281.83
Goals for1.331.65
Against1.51.08

People question if he really has improved us other than the FA cup. 1.83 points per game is top 4 form and that average is brought down by his slow start. Giving him a 5 game break at the beginning and his points average is 2 which is higher than Lampard (1.72) and Ole (1.94) over the same period.

In terms of style, we lost very creative players like Cazorla, Sanches, Ox, Ramsey and virtually Ozil over the last 2 seasons. We replaced them with Torriera and Guendozi who aren't exactly flair players and Pepe who has been average. Our football was already extremely boring at the start of 2019/20 due to a lack of midfield creativity so not surprised by the limited way we're playing now. Only so much you can do with Elneny and Xhaka. Expect our football to improve if we get Aouar.
 

VorZakone

What would Kenny G do?
Joined
May 9, 2013
Messages
32,879
Not just against better teams but West Ham at home X2, Watford home off the top of my head you would have been incredibly fortunate to draw let alone win. There's also the game at Stamford Bridge where we totally smashed you and somehow it ended up 2-2 (you may say 10 men but we should have finished you off 11 v 11).

Arteta deserves a lot of praise for bringing you the FA Cup given your circumstances but I don't feel he's been as great as made out in the league and he's escaping a lot of criticism for the football he's playing, apart from playing out from the back you don't look much different to a Dyche side, I guess time will tell if that's a temporary measure till he gets better players or his actual style but if it's the latter I can't imagine a fair chunk of your fanbase accepting it long term, unless it's getting you challenging for the big two.
What's wrong with that? If Arteta feels he'll get better results that way I can only respect that.
 

Tyrion

Full Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2014
Messages
5,197
Location
Ireland
He's a better manager than Ole and Lampard IMO but Arsenal's squad is still terrible. Their summer business hasn't been impressive.
I agree but he has been there less than either of the other two. This is the issue with appointing managers with no track record.
It's baffling that Ancelotti is managing Everton while United, Chelsea and Arsenal have given jobs to fan favourite mascots.
 

saivet

Full Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2013
Messages
25,285
They have improved defensively but they are incredibly boring to watch. I know his all round play isn't great but surely Auba should be playing centrally, especilly when it's Lacazette or Nketiah playing there.
 

Guy Incognito

Full Member
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
17,768
Location
Somewhere
He basically has sacrificed their creativity to solidify their defensive game.

Not sure why Auba doesn't start in the middle. And when Luiz is your biggest creative outlet you have problems.
 

saivet

Full Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2013
Messages
25,285
Dont see the comparison with the pep style....yet
Believe he said something about not wanting to play this way but think it's the best to do with the players he has, though I believe that was more him talking about his approach to big games.
 

Chief123

Full Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2013
Messages
12,787
This is an Arsenal side that some on here were worried would be a threat to us for top 4. :lol:

Having just watched the whole match, my goodness Arsenal look shite. Incredibly boring. I’ve watched quite a few of Arsenals games this season and they have absolutely nothing going for them. They couldn’t even break down a weetabix.

Some people actually rate Arteta for being some kind of genius. He plays very cagey, reserved negative football. Anyone can improve a team defensively if you just cut all the attacking threat you have and sit back. Leciester were the only team worth watching today.

The only true interesting part of this game was watching AFTV live watch along at the same time. The complete meltdown after Leicester’s goal went in is a joy to watch. The absolute explosion of Troopz near injury time is a great watch.:lol::lol::lol:

 

Dancfc

Full Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2016
Messages
7,406
Supports
Chelsea
He basically has sacrificed their creativity to solidify their defensive game.

Not sure why Auba doesn't start in the middle. And when Luiz is your biggest creative outlet you have problems.
And it hasn't really worked (unless you class bettering Emery's defense as worked) they still rely on Leno and Martinez managed to play his way to a big money transfer with just over 1 months worth of performances.
 

saivet

Full Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2013
Messages
25,285
I get why he may not rate Ozil, but Arsenal are devoid of creativity and surely he would be an option to come on off the bench.
 

Chief123

Full Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2013
Messages
12,787
He basically has sacrificed their creativity to solidify their defensive game.

Not sure why Auba doesn't start in the middle. And when Luiz is your biggest creative outlet you have problems.
Exactly. Some think he’s a defensive genius. He’s basically jose football in disguise. Just tells the team not to be too adventurous which makes them look very shite going forward. They are clueless in creativity.

Aubamayeng is their best player by a long long distance. Yet he starts on the right. Gets moved to the left. When he’s best in the centre. How has their best player not got a regular position!

Losing only 0-1 instead of 1-4 nowadays is regarded as improving defensively!
 

Sandikan

aka sex on the beach
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
53,106
Always enjoyable when they fail, as they rate themselves a truly top club, despite no evidence of it for about 15 years.

Then you watch stuff like this
 

adexkola

Doesn't understand sportswashing.
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Messages
48,390
Location
The CL is a glorified FA Cup set to music
Supports
orderly disembarking on planes
Exactly. Some think he’s a defensive genius. He’s basically jose football in disguise. Just tells the team not to be too adventurous which makes them look very shite going forward. They are clueless in creativity.

Aubamayeng is their best player by a long long distance. Yet he starts on the right. Gets moved to the left. When he’s best in the centre. How has their best player not got a regular position!

Losing only 0-1 instead of 1-4 nowadays is regarded as improving defensively!
Yes, because one of the idiotic criticisms lobbed at Arsenal through the years is that they took more than their fair share of heavy drubbings. So you'd think them managing to Brexit things and shithouse narrow wins and narrow losses would be praised but alas the bipolar public bipolars
 

Guy Incognito

Full Member
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
17,768
Location
Somewhere
And it hasn't really worked (unless you class bettering Emery's defense as worked) they still rely on Leno and Martinez managed to play his way to a big money transfer with just over 1 months worth of performances.
It works in cup games because you can set up cautiously and the vibe is different.

But their whole team is a patchwork. Xhaka is a terrible midfielder and I'm surprised he hasn't been booted out. Partey, Gabriel, and Tierney are upgrades on what they have.

From what I hear they did OK in the first half but the longer it was 0-0 the likeliest team to score were Leicester because Vardy could come on and do what he does best.
 

Chief123

Full Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2013
Messages
12,787
Yes, because one of the idiotic criticisms lobbed at Arsenal through the years is that they took more than their fair share of heavy drubbings. So you'd think them managing to Brexit things and shithouse narrow wins and narrow losses would be praised but alas the bipolar public bipolars
Are you really expecting this to be praised? 6 played and 3 losses and look pretty shite in virtually every game so far. It’s a pretty poor objective if the plan is to lose by less goals than you were doing. :lol:

They should have just got Sam Allardyce. He would have reduced the goals that were being leaked in.

This has to be the most boring Arsenal team I’ve seen since i started watching football 30 years ago!
 

crossy1686

career ending
Joined
Jun 5, 2010
Messages
31,668
Location
Manchester/Stockholm
Much like ourselves, Arsenal are a project that is going to take time and investment to get back to where they previously were. They need to give Arteta about 5 seasons to sort that mess out before they're anywhere near challenging for the league, and the same can be said for us. Absolutely nothing will get solved overnight, unfortunately.
 

RORY65

Full Member
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
4,522
Apparently some United fans argue he is a better tactic than Solskjær. I am still ubsure as to why, but I am sure some may enlighten me.
They've both so far shown that they can be effective doing the same thing, playing with 3 centre backs and counter attacking against the better sides but neither has so far been able to find a way of playing that is effective at playing on the front foot which you have to do most of the time as a bigger club. I guess Arteta has been there for a shorter period and has won a trophy (plus overall I think the squad he has is a fair bit weaker) but I would agree that thus far they've both done the same things well and had the same issues.
 

adexkola

Doesn't understand sportswashing.
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Messages
48,390
Location
The CL is a glorified FA Cup set to music
Supports
orderly disembarking on planes
Are you really expecting this to be praised? 6 played and 3 losses and look pretty shite in virtually every game so far. It’s a pretty poor objective if the plan is to lose by less goals than you were doing. :lol:

They should have just got Sam Allardyce. He would have reduced the goals that were being leaked in.

This has to be the most boring Arsenal team I’ve seen since i started watching football 30 years ago!
Bit tongue in cheek. But I remember when Arsenal were criticized for playing pretty football and not being able to grind stuff out so I'm a bit bemused at the criticism

Sam Allardyce probably would have been more expensive, so would have any of your pick off that merry-go-round heap of managers brought on to "steady the ship"

Seriously, what's the expectation of Arsenal? I know very few people had them pegged to finish top 4 prior to the start of the season
 

trims

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 7, 2015
Messages
190
Supports
Arsenal
It works in cup games because you can set up cautiously and the vibe is different.

But their whole team is a patchwork. Xhaka is a terrible midfielder and I'm surprised he hasn't been booted out. Partey, Gabriel, and Tierney are upgrades on what they have.

From what I hear they did OK in the first half but the longer it was 0-0 the likeliest team to score were Leicester because Vardy could come on and do what he does best.
In the first half Arsenal had 11 shots to Leicester's 1. Should've finished the game first half and had a goal wrongly disallowed. Leicester didn't have a single shot on target for 80 mins so it was a smash and grab. We got by far the toughest start to the season so I expect us to bounce back.
 

Nou_Camp99

what would Souness do?
Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Messages
10,274
Arsenal averaging 8 shots at goal (both on and off target) so far this season. Their worst in PL history.

Yet Arteta is a tactical genius according to some Utd fans on here.