[ad_1]
First things first: Mikel Arteta’s job remains one of the safest in the Premier League.
There are no signs of discontent in the boardroom and only an epic capitulation of the Gunners season would alter that stance. And even that may not be enough to convert them. Arsenal is fully invested in Project Arteta.
They recognize their potential and are convinced that their career, and the luck of the club, will advance on an upward trajectory.
But while the people who matter stay on board, others start asking questions about Arteta’s lack of experience. This is your first managerial job after all.
Some wonder if an unwavering commitment to their style of soccer based on possession is simply not possible with the players at their disposal.
An analysis of social media would suggest that some supporters are already convinced that Arteta is not the right man for the job. ‘So unfair’ was how Arsenal winger Hector Bellerin described those views on Friday.
The victory in Sunday’s North London derby would go some way to appease what can be a fickle fan base. The team will ask their own questions. How can a team that performed so encouragingly in early 2020 have suffered a recession?
What they should not doubt is Arteta’s work ethic. The Spaniard leaves no stone unturned to try to stop Arsenal’s alarming form. For example, prior to this season, Arteta sent custom dossiers to new Arsenal signings so that they fully understood what was expected of them.
Similarly, he spent the international break meticulously devising a strategy for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to fire again.
Worried that his captain was spending too much time away, Arteta spent day and night hatching a plan to bring his talisman striker to the central areas, where he does the most damage.
“The way Mikel plans these games … all the knowledge that he gives us before we step on the pitch is second to none,” Bellerin said.
Not that it worked for Aubameyang, who have yet to score a goal in open play since their 4-0 opening-match win over Fulham.
Management must have seemed much simpler back then. Just weeks prior to that victory at Craven Cottage, Arteta had led his team to a euphoric FA Cup victory before defeating Manchester City in the Community Shield as hope welled up forever. But just over three months later, Arteta is navigating negativity for the first time.
Doubts are arising, and it will be intriguing how Arteta solves it all. A win and a draw in their previous six Premier League games put Arsenal in 14th place. They have scored only twice during that sequence, with one of those goals coming from the penalty spot.
The fact that archrivals Tottenham are the best makes their situation even more unbearable. Thursday’s 4-1 Europa League win over Rapid Vienna renewed hope that Arsenal are about to turn the corner. However, as Arteta approaches the first anniversary of his managerial career, the problems are mounting.
The difficulties on the pitch, especially in front of the goal, are clear. But dig a little deeper and you will discover that the problems are not limited to the performances.
A missed Covid test by a player gave Arteta another unnecessary headache, as did a training ground clash between David Luiz and Dani Ceballos, sparked when Luiz was offended by the perceived rude treatment of his teammate of the club’s academy players.
Management turmoil hasn’t helped either. The sudden departure of football boss Raúl Sanllehi in August left an important hole.
The reasons for Sanllehi’s departure are shrouded in uncertainty, but there is a sense that Arsenal misses the Spanish manager’s understanding of modern football. Certainly, they could lose their contact book in future transfer windows.
Executive Director Vinai Venkatesham is a very popular figure at Arsenal and is said to impress as he becomes the club’s main character at the boardroom level.
Coach Edu’s power base has also grown since Sanllehi’s departure, but according to some sources, there is a sense that Sanllehi’s influence is missed.
As Bellerin admitted: ‘Obviously there are questions, and we are not on the best streak. But when you plan to change the identity of the team, the club, change the behaviors, not just on the field, it’s not something you can do overnight. ‘
Eyebrows have also been raised at Arteta’s treatment of Mesut Ozil and Sokratis, two high-level professionals who have been ignored by the Arsenal manager. It’s fair to say that players often don’t take kindly to their teammates being excluded.
There is a consensus of opinion that Ozil’s omission is related to the bonuses on his contract of £ 350,000 a week.
Sportsmail understands that Ozil’s deal includes lucrative win and appearance bonuses. But the decision to exclude Ozil, once an excellent playmaker, has left many scratching their heads given a lack of creativity.
The style of soccer that Arteta, 38, is trying to implement is easy to understand: build from the back, maintain possession and wait for the right moment to attack. It is similar to what Pep Guardiola has developed at Manchester City.
Arteta was a big part of City’s recent success in his role as Guardiola’s No. 2 and it’s only natural that he is influenced by his work at Etihad.
In fact, sending tactical dossiers to potential recruits, as Arteta did this summer, is a ploy that Guardiola himself has used.
But there comes a time when a coach has to find his own path, his own style and his own approach. Trying to imitate Guardiola’s teams is fraught with difficulties, especially since the Arsenal team does not have the quality and depth of City.
The signing of the imposing center-back Gabriel from Lille looks excellent; his comfort on the ball certainly sings to the melody of Arteta. Thomas Partey, who could come back from injury against the Spurs, also has the attributes to excel in Arteta’s system. But that’s not the case for many of the staff, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
There is a feeling that Arteta should play the hand that has been dealt to him and use the strengths of the players he has before gradually introducing his own ideas. “You can’t reinvent the wheel without the right tools and materials,” said a well-placed source.
Victory against José Mourinho’s team on Sunday and it would be a case of ‘Crisis, what crisis?’ Lose, however …
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
[ad_2]
