Welcome to summer. I know it’s summer because I’ve had to sleep with the window open the last two nights. And this morning when I woke up, there was a crispness to the air; it was cool and overcast, like a cool and overcast summer morning.
Summer is normally the time of year we’d all be arguing over which magnificent defensive midfielder we all want at Arsenal. I’d pick someone (or a few people) and there would be the people who say “you don’t have a clue about football” and the people who say “stats don’t tell the whole story” and so on. Then we would all have a long argument over which player we wanted, deeply structured arguments with facts and feelings and all manner of evidence to back them up, knowing all along that Arsenal were never going to sign a defensive midfielder.
Summer is also the time where we would normally play “Arsenal transfer bingo” and lovingly make fun of Arsene Wenger* saying things like “if we find top top quality” and “buy buy buy”. But this summer is different, this summer we don’t have Arsene Wenger to kick around anymore. This summer Arsenal are having a good old fashioned clear out.
It’s starting at the staff level. Wenger is gone and so are a lot of his best friends. Boro Primorac and Gary Lewin are both gone. And there are a number of reports that Steve Bould is waiting to see who is appointed before he decides to renew. I’m not going to say a bad word about anyone departing because I don’t know them or how they worked. Arsenal’s defense was a mess, but it was a mess before Bould and there were some signs that he did make some changes that worked. Set-play defense was one area that I think we improved since Bould came in to the team – but I haven’t looked at the data to say for certain. If one of you wants to make a 7amkickoff style chart I’d love to see it.
I’m not defending him to the hilt and actually I don’t care if he stays or goes. I assumed he would go, just like everyone else. Arsenal were stagnant for many years – Wenger only recently introduced tactical briefings which the players got on iPads – and I assumed that the new manager would want to appoint an entirely new backroom staff to modernize things.
That’s a shocking suggestion to some and I understand why. The club has been doing things one way for 22 years. Wenger was very much connected to “old school football” and was a complete loyalist to his staff. But the reason we had to ask Wenger to step down was because we needed a fresh approach, to everything. And I mean everything: defense, offence, tactics, match-day preparations, scouting, physical preparation, injury recovery, injury prevention, recruitment, etc.
I’m not saying that everything needed a complete overhaul – we aren’t a club that was just being managed by Sam Allardyce or Alan Pardew – but everything needed to be looked at and most things needed at least a tweaking. I feel bad for the folks who lost their jobs in this transition but they just worked for one of the best clubs in England, I’m sure they will have offers soon.
Amidst all this distraction of cleaning out the backroom staff I nearly forgot to mention the biggest change: Arsenal are probably hiring Mikel Arteta to take over from Wenger.
I actually predicted this about six months ago. Seeing him on the bench at Man City I opined about the “world class education” he was getting at City and speculated that he could be the next Arsenal manager. Back then the responses were the same as they are now: we need someone with more experience.
What people really mean is that they would rather have Allegri and I totally understand.
It’s funny though, Arsenal aren’t going to land a manager like Allegri. Why on earth would he leave Juventus for Arsenal? I mean that in the exact way that I just said it: it’s completely unrealistic to think that the most highly respected manager in world football would leave one of the biggest clubs in Europe, where he has a chance to win the Champions League every season, to come to a 6th place team in England with a transfer budget of basically nil, with a squad that is in serious disrepair, and with an impatient fanbase.
Managers like Allegri require wooing. Guardiola was recruited by Bayern and then City with massive package deals and promises of getting him whatever players he desired. What can Arsenal realistically offer a manager like Allegri? “A challenge.”
Of course, Allegri’s not the only choice. There’s Ancelotti (who is more like Wenger than people think), Nagelsmann, and a bunch of coaches mentioned who were never leaving their positions or (like Tuchel) were already signed in secret to another club. Would I love to see Sarri**, Simeone, Nagelsmann, or Allegri at Arsenal? You bet! Would they do a great job? I think they would. But it doesn’t look like they were anywhere near first choice at Arsenal.
This morning Hoffenheim leaked that Nagelsmann is staying and that leaves just one choice for next Arsenal manager: Mikel Arteta. It is a bold move to say the least.
Arteta is an unknown. We know that he was assistant to Pep and that counts for something but in terms of his ability to manage a team, we have no idea how good he will be. Reports are that he’s energetic and enthusiastic. That he’s well respected and even loved at City.
I also remember his playing days at Arsenal and he reminded me very much of Pep Guardiola – he wasn’t the fastest, strongest, or best player but he was brilliant at reading the game, reading space, and was a good leader on the pitch. All these count for something, but yeah, he’s totally untested as a manager and that makes me along with everyone else nervous. Nervous that Arsenal might finish 6th again next year.
We don’t know how the players are going to react to this news. However, if there’s any one player who could benefit from Arteta it is Xhaka. When Xhaka came to Arsenal I had him pegged as the “Arteta replacement”. He hasn’t quite fulfilled that promise. But if anyone in the world can teach Xhaka to be like Arteta, it’s Arteta.
That’s not a lot to hang my hat on, I know. Look, I’ll support Arteta 100% as manager of the Arsenal when he signs. Maybe he’ll be a great success and maybe he’ll flop. I don’t know. We don’t know anything about what he’s going to do at Arsenal and it’s kind of refreshing. There will be no “Mikel Arteta transfer window Bingo” card to fill out because we don’t have any clue what kind of manager Arteta is going to be.
It’s kind of refreshing. Like a cool, overcast, summer day.
*I do think some of your impressions of him weren’t so loving and border on outright Xenophobia
**My choice
P.S. I have added the phrase “lego hair” to my ban filter because I absolutely hate it. If you even say “lego” your comment will be filtered.
I think saying criticism of Arteta for lacking experience is a covert way of saying we want Allegri is patently false. I don’t think Arteta has anywhere near the base line experience needed, but I don’t want Allegri either.
Things Mikel Arteta has never done:
Pick a backroom staff
Pick a starting eleven for a match
Pick a bench for a match
Explain to those players not picked his reasons why for his decisions
Field phone calls from agents complaining about their players’ not getting picked
Bench a star player for poor form or effort
Deal with disgruntled players complaining behind your back
Make half-time tactical or personnel adjustments
Make in-game substitutions and/or adjustments
Speak to the media before and after a game
Identify players/positions to target for recruitment
Help with recruitment by reputation and expression of vision
Successfully coach an academy product or young recruit on the nuances of playing center back
Successfully coach an academy product or young recruit on the nuances of playing full back
Successfully coach an academy product or young recruit on the nuances of playing center forward
Etc.
I could go on for another hour.
Even if he had just ONE year of managerial experience I would change my mind. ONE year of successful management in a lower league or for a smaller team and I would say maybe he’s got some chops and should get the chance. But he doesn’t even have that.
Comparisons to Guardiola and Zidane are so outrageous I don’t know how to respond. Both were world class players who managed the B teams before promotion to the big club, and then walked into teams that had Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Ronaldo, Isco, Modric et al. Arteta was a good player but only won one trophy his whole career (the FA Cup) and was never capped by Spain.
If their goal was to divide the fan base (again) then congratulations to the Wise Men, they could not have done better than to pick Mikel Arteta as the manager.
Well made argument, Jack, but I don’t understand the notion of dividing the fan base.
The men who will make this decisions are basing it on rationality, not romance. We dont all have to agree with their rationales, or their choice. But as fans, it’s simple. We get behind the team and manager, until such a time as it’s clear that his methods and tactics aren’t working. As became the case with Arsene.
I prefer experience, because I think that the Arsenal job is a huge one. But I’d welcome the choice of Arteta, if it was made.
Is it risky? Sure. The last time someone looked on paper like they had it in them to grow to match the size of the job was David Moyes.
(who managed Arteta at Everton)
My theory on this choice is that Junior is of the impression because he struck gold with the LA Rams coaching choice, the same template will work here; pick a young assistant and give him a shot. The fallacy is that the NFL and top flight football (soccer) could not be more different.
If it works out, I will come back on here and say I was wrong. My thing is that this squad has a lot of problems, he is not that recently removed from those problems, he’s a Wenger legacy player, what does he know about constructing a defense, etc…. too many issues for me.
Oh all that I agree with. I just don’t think that fans should, pre-emptively, get too heated about this.
1. How good a player you were is virtually irrelevant to how good a manager you’ll be. The only way it really matters is the respect you’ll get in the dressing room, but that will dissipate quickly if the players can see you’re a bit crap at your new job.
2. Yes, Pep and Zidane had those world class players in their teams, but their goals were correspondingly higher than Arsenal’s will be next season: they were expected to win La Liga and/or the CL right away, or face the sack. Immediate pressure was huge, and they delivered. And neither made significant additions to strengthen their squad in the first season (Pep brought in Alves and an unproven Man United reserve defender named Pique; Zidane’s squad was virtually that of Ancelotti and Benitez). Pep, in particular, inherited an extremely talented but wildly underperforming squad, and immediately had to make tough personnel decisions with troublemakers like Ronaldinho, Deco, and Eto’o, plus build the team around Xavi/Iniesta/Messi in a way that it hadn’t been before.
Of course, we have no idea if Arteta will end up like them. But the point of bringing up those cases is as counterexamples to the lazy generalization that bringing in someone with Arteta’s lack of experience simply *cannot* be a good idea.
3. I’ll grant you that experience with the B teams is an advantage those guys had over Mikel. But out of that long list of the things he hasn’t done, you don’t think he might have had *some* influence over those things happening at City, and might have learned *something* from watching Pep do those things??
4. The bottom line is this: is Arteta an outstanding managerial talent or not? Does he have what it takes to take on Pep, Klopp, etc? We need someone who’s got the innate ability to be a coaching bad*ss.
If he doesn’t, then worries about his lack of experience are beside the point. If he does, then a lack of experience isn’t ideal, but it’s only one of any number of potential obstacles that can be overcome. He’ll need to be shown a bit of patience by the club and the fans, but if he’s shown that, and he’s got what it takes, he’ll likely deliver. Probably not by challenging for the title in the first year, but getting back in the top 4 is a realistic target.
A lot of the strongest candidates have ruled themselves out for one reason or another. Someone with lots of experience, but who is only above average at best in terms of talent (e.g. Rodgers, arguably Benitez and Enrique), would be worse than someone with the ability who just needs the experience.
5. Is Arteta an outstanding managerial talent? None of us have any idea (though how highly he’s thought of by others is circumstantial evidence in his favor). But you know who are in a MUCH better position to provide an informed answer to this question? Ivan, Raul, and Sven. They’re not morons. They genuinely want to bring success back to the club. If they think he’s got the talent to be the next big managerial star and bring us success, then that should be enough for us fans–who don’t know most of what they know–to put our faith in Arteta at least for the first season, rather than dismiss his appointment as a bad idea before he’s even started.
My argument with regards to his playing ability is this – when you were a great player you have additional license while learning on the job. The star players on your team will give you some leeway out of respect. Otherwise the only coaches they’ll listen to are the ones who proven themselves the hard way a la Mourinho, Klopp, Wenger, Pocchetino who were all mediocre to poor players themselves and had to fight their way up to being the top guy.
Mikel Arteta is going to struggle in conflicts with Ozil, Auba, Mhyki or Ramsey what to do because he was never as good as any of them and he is unproven as a manager. That is very very hard to overcome.
It’s an interesting argument, but I don’t think it gets you very far. I mean, you only have to look at example after example of amazing players immediately being crap managers when given a chance. Obviously we don’t know what happens on the training ground, so maybe those guys are always accorded respect for a while by their team’s stars, respect that lesser players aren’t given (though Arteta was a much better player than a lot of successful managers). But if those former world class players are no good at managing, that respect can’t last long.
By contrast, someone like AW, who was a crap player and an unknown when he arrived–yes, he had serious experience in France/Japan, but that wasn’t experience that made the British Arsenal players in the mid 90’s sit up and take notice–almost immediately got his squad on board. This was based on his personal gravitas and charisma, as well as the impressiveness of his training and preparation methods.
There’s no reason to think that if Arteta “has what it takes,” he won’t be able to do something similar. And as I said, if he doesn’t “have what it takes,” then a lack of experience is the least of our worries…
He’s an intelligent guy with a ton of hands-on experience managing his fellow players in the captain’s role and a hunger for coaching knowledge. I think he can figure out these little details and I’m 100% certain that the club can help him.
The fan base will always be divided. Never do things for the people who hate you, they will never be satisfied anyway.
Apparently, Arteta has done almost all of those things.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-mikel-artetas-importance-to-pep/1sb79795r2ige1uo5984djkey4
I expect now that you’ve read that Goal.com article, Jack, you will be giving 100% support behind Arteta.
If he decides to take the job.
Beyond that, isn’t he too recent a player? It’s as though we’ve appointed a player-manager. When has that worked out in the last 20 years?
Hey fine, if he’s the manager I’ll give him some respect, time and space. But I won’t do the “100%” support thing – I don’t even support my own kids 100% of the time.
Last year I said the route forward for our club was as a super-Ajax, a super-Dortmund… young, in-house developed talent, screw the transfer market and buying guys in their mid-to late 20’s. I love what I hear Mislintat is up to so far – identifying Malcom last January, Mavrapanos on the cheap, this Turkish Schalke kid for CB, bids being lined up for Leno, in Max Meyer’s ear… yes, yes, yes, yes. The youth teams are doing very well. We’ve got AMN, Nelson, Willock, Holding, Chambers. Now what this needs is a great coach, a great teacher to bring this generation in. We’ve zero evidence that Arteta is such a teacher, but I guess we’re going to see. Time will tell.
I’m not sure you can say we have zero evidence of Arteta’s ability to teach players football. A number of reports today* are citing how he’s worked with Sterling and been directly responsible for his better form this season. Sure, taking a side role in a larger production is different than being the main man, but at least he’s performed well in that role.
Also, to your point that Arteta-the player was not good enough to draw respect from the big names in the current squad, doesn’t the fact that Arteta captained the biggest names in this squad, i.e. Ozil, Ramsey, Koscielny, et al. mean they already know and respect the guy?
*I read several reports in the British tabloid today all saying how good Arteta will be for Arsenal. All these reports were so similar in content that it makes me wonder whether they were “fed” to the media by the club to mould public opinion. All the more reason to believe the deal is very close to being done.
I agree with you 100% Jack. I think this would be a catastrophic appointment and an act of self-indulgence and irresponsibility perhaps unprecedented in elite sport. And I mean that in all seriousness.
If it’s Arteta, we’ve got to give him room to fail early. Back him all the way. The board will have different expectations of course, but we fans have got to let him know that if he finished 7th and trophyless in his first season, that that’s ok.
In fact, that’s my attitude to pretty much anyone (except maybe top, top proven coaches like Luis Enrique. Expectations will obviously be higher).
It may get worse before it gets better, but the honeymoon period cannot be infinite. As someone who has wanted Wenger gone for 4 years, I’m under no illusions that good times will return instantly.
I have my preferences, but in truth, I’m fine with whomever is appointed. If it’s Arteta, we need to be patient and let him grow into the role. It’s a huge job.
As I said on here recently, I’m in the (apparent) minority who’s excited about the appointment of Arteta.
Buvac (what happened to him?), Nagelsmann (unlike Allegri, I don’t think it’s 100% certain he’s out of the running, given that it was the club, and not him saying it), or Jardim would also have been attractive to me personally.
Why hasn’t Jardim been more significantly linked? It’s an odd one. Is it that he seems too dour?
Ok, here’s a left field idea that I think’s intriguing:
Maybe we could lure Buvac away from Liverpool and hire him as Arteta’s assistant? That way we add a bit more of the right kind of experience. Why would he leave Klopp? Well, maybe they’ve had a legitimate falling out. Or maybe he just wants a new challenge, but he knows he doesn’t have the personality/desire to have to be the public face of the club, deal with the press, etc, so he prefers to stay as a #2 rather than a manager. Maybe we’ll offer him significantly more money. Maybe Sven’s a buddy and when it became clear that Ivan was leaning strongly towards the novice Arteta over Sven’s pick (presumably Nagelsmann), Sven thought, “hey, I know a world class #2 for him.”
I like Arteta a lot, but it feels like it’s more important than it would be for many other managers that we get him the right right-hand man to succeed.
Traditionally, managers pick #2’s who they’ve played with or worked with in the past. It has to be someone they trust, they know will share a vision for how things are done and they feel will be able to tell them when they’ve put a foot wrong. Wenger was unique in that he took on Pat Rice who was a hold-over from the previous, but that’s unusual.
If you’re wondering who Arteta would bring in as #2 I would suggest we look at his playing career, probably somebody from his days in Spain (because frankly, there’s nobody at Everton and Arsenal is too recent).
See my comment below about, e.g. Carlos Queroz and Steve McLaren.
I’m sure if we really researched this, rather than thinking of examples off the top of our heads, we could come up with dozens of cases where the number 2 didn’t have a close relationship with the manager before being hired.
Obviously you have to have a relationship built on trust. That doesn’t mean the guy has to be your best mate from playing days (Arteta’s good mates with Xabi Alonso, btw, but not sure if he’s got his coaching badges).
Santi! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Buvac’s not going to come and work for Arteta, someone 20 years his younger that he has no prior relationship with. Comon now.
agreed.
Don’t “come on now” me. At least not without a better argument to back it up.
I said it’s out of left field, meaning I think it’s unlikely. But it’s not unheard of for #2’s to be people who have no close relationship with the managers before, e.g. Carlos Queroz and Steve McLaren at Man United, just off the top of my head. And if someone has been entrusted with the authority of being the manager of an elite football club, it’s not crazy to think they’d be expected to command enough respect to work with immediate inferiors who are older than them. In fact, given Arteta’s inexperience, it totally makes sense that you’d get an older guy (whose personality means he doesn’t fancy being the head honcho) to be his right hand man.
Whether Buvac would want to do that at a new club when he’s already got a great relationship with Klopp/Liverpool is the real question, but I listed some reasons for why he might jump ship.
Dont want to be a thread hog, but…
PFo, intriguing suggestion, but a few counterpoints, if I may.
You are, without intending to, making an argument against Arteta. Though you don’t say so explicitly, youre giving the man a nursemaid.
Two, managers choose their own assistants. So Faria always went where Mourinho went, and so forth. If we make a bold pick and then pick his number 2, you’re undermining your bold intent.
Arteta, if it’s him, will pick someone HE is comfortable with. It could be someone like Paul Dickov, an ex-Evertonian teammate who is now a coach. It could be BFG, Per. I wouldnt want TWO inexperienced figures, but Per actually was something of a Wenger consigliere. He imposed and collected fines, and he ran a very disciplined ship with timekeeping, external events etc. Of course full-on management is a much bigger task than that.
In the end, Arteta would be wise to pick someone with Arsenal DNA, who has coaching and managerial experience, or at least a coaching badge. Vieira is obviously in that mould, but he’d be too much of a rival to a young manager in his first coaching role.
The point about a strong Number 2 is taken, though.
Per is going to be academy manager.
I think both Bould and Lehmann will be in the mix for the assistant’s job, though more likely it will be someone from outside and Bould will either just be a coach or choose to leave.
I like the things happening at Arsenal. If they are to overhaul.. this is the time. So I believe the Josh Kroenke visit earlier this year was nothing but a secret audit of all things going on. Working with the modern structure is fine. But I also hope the new manager still have his freedom in this system to choose his players and support staff.
i agree 100% with bun. arteta is not only young but he has zero experience as a manager. ZEE-RO! when people tried to put him in the same category as patrick vieira, you simply can’t. vieira has managerial experience and has done an outstanding job managing an mls team (that features a bunch of young players).
i have tremendous respect for arteta as a player and i’m sure he’s popular as an assistant coach but it’s a different kettle of fish when you’re the boss. the arsenal job for arteta right now is too much too soon.
agree 100% not with bun but with jack action.
Do you watch MLS and NYCFC regularly? Can you really say with any sort of confidence that Vieira’s work there makes him a better candidate than Arteta?
I do. I like Vieira a lot and I think he’s a good manager. He would be a top pick at Arsenal. Real shame he wasn’t in the mix.
Maybe because he’s a ManCity man now. I know it hurts to admit that but it’s true.
I think Vieira would have been the very solid pick to make the entire fan base happy. Young, a legendary player, our own Zidane, but far enough removed from the current squad that he has no sentimentality towards any players. Has the stature to sit an Ozil down and tell him he’s loafing and not earning his paycheque. Not to mention the young players in England, France and Africa that love a chance to play for Vieira and makes recruitment easier.
I would have preferred one of the young German coaches as options 1 and 2, but if they weren’t going to come through I’d have pushed for Vieira. But by the sounds of it they didn’t even talk to him.
How did it come down to Allegri or Arteta? You couldn’t get two more disparate choices. It’s so confusing.
I will wrap my head around Arteta and come to terms with it. And I will simultaneously downgrade my expectations for the next two or three seasons while he learns on club time.
I’ve read some rumors that Vieira’s still in the mix, but Arteta seems to be the top contender right now. I’m fine with either, but Arteta edges it for me on account of his proximity to Guardiola!
i watch atlanta united and nycfc whenever i catch them on. vieira’s got a very talented and, minus david villa, a very young team. he was voted the #1 manager mls players would want to play for, receiving 26% of the vote out of all 23 managers in the mls.
can i, categorically, say that vieira’s a better coach than arteta? no and that was never my point. i’m simply saying that, right now, today, he’s better suited to be the arsenal manager because he has experience and a favorable reputation as a manager. arteta has neither experience nor reputation in management.
do i believe arteta is tactically astute? yes, but so was gary neville and we saw how his time in valencia went. management is more than just x’s and o’s.
But what x’s and o’s..tactics.. do his team play?
I think tactics and coaching are the most important thing for Arsenal right now. Arsenal have the structures there to support the manager in other areas. We’re a pretty close run club anyway. Arteta has been club captain and knows the drill with the media and how it is within the club. He also seems up for a challenge.
I like Vieira too by the way, and his appointment would also fit into the Arsenal way of doing things.
I have no inside knowledge but does it not seem awfully Arsenal-ish to wait till PSG made their move before even contemplating announcing Wenger’s replacement? I wouldn’t be surprised if Unai Emery rocks up at the Emirates.
As to Allegri and Juventus, it’s a job, he’d be moving from the 9th most valuable team in world football to the 5th (maybe 6th?) That may not sound like much but in reality Arsenal = Juventus + Atletico Madrid!
Arsenal are massive underperformers*, we have a defensive system expressly designed to make defenders look terrible that really doesn’t contribute all that much to our attack. Apart from the lack of CL next season, it’s an ideal project for a manager who thinks he can improve on “run around like headless chickens and hope not to concede” while getting paid lavishly to do so.
*my quick and dirty analysis is that we would probably have been third if we had a defensive system that could cope with our defenders making minor mistakes.
Great points. Surprised Emery hasn’t been mentioned more. It seems his time at PSG has hurt his reputation a bit.
Yes, and also because I think he’s not going to address any of the issues we have. It would be much of the same I think. And I doubt he automatically commands respect among the squad either.
I’m surprised the guy from Valencia, Marcelino, has not once been mentioned. Does he speak English?
You don’t think Emery can organize a defense? I admit to not watching his PSG team except in the odd CL game, but weren’t his teams in Spain quite well organized??
Not saying he’d be close to my top pick.
I haven’t watched much of him either. I don’t claim any tactical insight into his methods. I think he would largely represent much the same as regards Arsenal. He might tighten up the defense a bit (though it won’t be THIS defense really) but he’s not going to have us pulling up trees. It would be a boring, nothing appointment I think.
Emery’s Sevilla teams (that did well versus the big three in La Liga and won the Europa league three years in a row) were incredibly well organised in defence. They had transitioning structures that players implemented depending on where they lost the ball.
The question mark over him is not organising a defence, it’s about setting the team up to batter the bottom-14 teams on a regular basis which is the key to beating City (as United/Mourinho have discovered.)
(this kept failing to show, for reasons I explain down below. Apologies in advance if it repeats later).
PFo, intriguing suggestion, but a few counterpoints, if I may.
You are, without intending to, making an argument against Arteta. Though you don’t say so explicitly, you’re giving the man a nursemaid.
Two, managers choose their own assistants. So Faria always went where Mourinho went, and so forth. If we make a bold pick and then pick his number 2, you’re undermining your bold intent.
Arteta, if it’s him, will pick someone HE is comfortable with. It could be someone like Paul D (whose surname is why I kept hitting the Span Box) , an ex-Everton teammate who is now a coach. It could be BFG, Per. I wouldn’t want TWO inexperienced figures, but Per actually was something of a Wenger consigliere. He imposed and collected fines, and he ran a very disciplined ship with timekeeping, external events etc. Of course full-on management is a much bigger task than that.
In the end, Arteta would be wise to pick someone with Arsenal DNA, who has coaching and managerial experience, or at least a coaching badge. Vieira is obviously in that mould, but he’d be too much of a rival to a young manager in his first coaching role.
The point about a strong Number 2 is taken, though.
It’s pretty obvious that the IRS (Ivan, Raul, Sven) are running this ship now. I agree I can’t see anyone, including Arteta, agreeing to manage a club without at least having veto power over his coaching staff. If they’re deep in negotiations right now with him, then presumably these are the sorts of things that have to be ironed out. A core coaching staff usually comprises around 4-6 individuals. It’s not crazy to think Arteta will insist on bringing in a friend or two, but would also welcome the chance to have the advice of a highly respected and experienced coach at his side–one that Sven already has a close relationship with–provided Arteta gets the right kinds of assurances, e.g. the other guy’s not going to undermine his authority, be pushing for his job, etc. If Arsenal, through Sven, have already reached out to Buvac floating the possibility, this could explain the whole weird personal leave thing he’s on.
As for the nursemaid comment, I get it, but respectfully disagree. You often have these kinds of symbiotic relationships in sports coaching/management: the younger guy and the older guy; the charismatic leader and the “brains of the operation”, etc. By all accounts, Buvac is a hugely talented coach, but his personality means he wants to stay completely out of the limelight, not deal with the press, etc. So if something has happened with Klopp that means Buvac wants to move on and find a fresh challenge, but his personality means he really doesn’t want to take one of the manager jobs that he’d surely be offered, then going to a big club with his old buddy Sven, to work alongside a young manager, makes a ton of sense. On this way of looking at things, Buvac needs an Arteta (charismatic leader-type) as much as Arteta needs him.
Obviously this is based entirely on speculation, and I’ve said it would be a left-field move.
hate to go against the mold, yet again, but for arsenal to sign a youngish manager, the ideal appointment would seem to be patrick vieira. i could see him signing bergkamp as his #2 and arsenal being title contenders in his second season.
vieira has everything to succeed. he has the clout as a former player who’s won everything in football, except the champions league. he has several years experience managing a club and developing young players. he and dennis were the only two players who were ever presents in all three of wenger’s championship-winning teams. these guys love the club. i always said the wenger-ball was really bergkamp/vieira ball because it went away when they left arsenal. vieira is the best fit.
i love mikey arteta but he needs at least one year’s experience before he can be given the keys to the arsenal car.
Unless we break the bank for someone like Allegri and stump for a few hundred million quid, extra patience is required for results regardless of who we bring in. Even Allegri or Jardim and a s$%tload of transfer funds is no guarantee of success sooner than later. And Allegri or Jardim ain’t coming.
Also, looks like the manager I fancied – Nagelsmann – has taken himself off the board.
A reasonable expectation is to get back into the CL places and a top 4 finish. Under new management, that would be a wildly successful season for whoever comes in.
Let’s not downplay the fact that – if it is to be Arteta – he is coming to us from the Premier League champions who broke all kinds of team records this season. Also this is the guy who quite literally learned at the feet of a master in Pep Guardiola and who played the end of his career for another past master. Arteta wasn’t carry the water for Allardyce or Pardew.
Let’s hope that the man from the Basque country surprises us all in the most fashion. If not, he will be probably be the first manager sacked at Arsenal in 23 years and we start the whole thing all over again…
ARTETA WATER…refereshing like a cool overcast summer day. Get yours soon, exclusively at Emirates Stadium and wherever Arsenal play…
Well said. Completely agree.
Is this article 1 of the series you promised for description all the suggestions for new managers?
PFO – you and I are pretty much in complete agreement,
Look, I don’t care who comes in. If it’s Allegri, I’ll expect instant results. If we get them, I’ll be happy. If we get Arteta, then I’ll adjust my expectations accordingly. I’ll expect a fun and interesting adventure, and probably no instant results but a journey with the club, navigating the minefield of this time of transition.
We might finish 7th. With Arteta, I don’t care. I’d be disappointed, but I’ll take it on the chin. If we finish 3rd or 4th, I’d be delighted. It will be fun watching him learn, watching the club experiment with the new structure, modernizing and innovating different parts of the backroom team that have been stagnant for a while.
And PFO is right, experience is nothing more than an indicator of talent (or lack thereof). If Arteta managed Stoke for 2 seasons and was kind of rubbish, does that make him a better (or worse) coach than if we signed him now? Experience counts, but his innate ability counts more. Experience gives us a peek into that, but doesn’t change it.
Arteta would be a scary appointment, but also an exciting one. I’d welcome it, even if it’s not my ideal choice.
In other news, Mustafi is not in the WC squad, not a big surprise, but there goes his transfer value. We’re going to be stuck with him for some time.
Damn.
He’s not even a good passer and I think he’s a calamitous defender. Too bad I wasn’t the only one to see that.
If we can get an experienced CB who’s markedly better, without blowing our entire transfer budget, we should cut our losses and sell Mustafi for whatever we can get (12-15m to a team on the continent?).
Mustafi was a teammate of Arteta at Everton. Just sayin’.
If we’re keeping Mustafi then we really must get a younger (and faster) version of Per Mertesacker. I think Mustafi is more suited to playing the stopper role that Kos played so well for us for many years, rather than on the cover (despite his heroic last ditch tackles) We need someone who reads the game well and ideally is good in the air.
To whom? I don’t think there are buyers. I don’t think even West Ham or Everton would touch him. The most we could hope for is a loan with an option to buy.
Maybe a makeweight in a deal? Buy a young CB from Germany, and send Mustafi the other way .
Yeah, I don’t know, but I suggested the continent. A mid-level club in Germany, Spain, etc, pretty much any country where the intensity of the play isn’t quite as prone to expose defenders’ weaknesses as in the PL. Surely someone would take a German international. He’s not *that* crap, is he? Is he??
The whole German international thing is a fluke anyway. He came from nowhere, he had played the U21 and was lucky that the fullback situation in the national team ist still pretty dire. He left Germany very early and is pretty unknown there. Besides that no one in the bundesliga can/will pay his wages, he’s not good enough for Bayern who are well-stocked anyways, and certainly no mid-table team, they would’ve to be supplemented and they’re certainly not paying upwards of 15 mio. Also besides that, the Bundesliga is pretty much Pressing Central, I don’t think he’d look too good there.
As did imothyt, but elsewhere in the blogging Goonerverse– I’ve been expressing the idea that Mikel Arteta would likely be the club’s next choice as manager. Since January, actually.
In addition, back in January I’d also predicted, within a week, the date of AW’s announcement that he’d be stepping down.
Predictions based on several observations, involving timing, mostly assumptions from a KSE public relations perspective– with respect to Arsenal Football Club; a global brand of Kroenke Sports Management (KSE).
KSE has, within the past two years, appointed 3 head coaches to their U.S. sports franchises (NFL, NBA, NHL). Two with no previous head coaching experience; one with just one year. The youngest, 30-year-old Sean McVay of the NFL Los Angeles Rams turned around a poor team the first season (from 4-12 to 11-5) and the Rams made the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Personally, I felt that Wenger might have stepped down after last season’s FA Cup triumph. But agreed to stay on to ride out the storm of this season, allowing the new backroom team the year or so they needed (still need) to complete a rebuild of the squad’s depth.
Had Arsene been able to squeeze out one more minor miracle (Carabao Cup or Europa League), then maybe he might have been able to deliver the buffer time-wise for Sven, Raul and Ivan. Possibly through next January’s transfer window for the roster rebuild. Then a proper search for a new manager– hypothetically with a larger/better selection of candidates– and 4-5 months to ‘do the wooing’.
But it was the seats IMHO. The empty seats on TV. That visual? Was a hit to the global brand that KSE could not withstand– and gradually would not tolerate. The global market–where the real money will be made going forward? KSE made a decision to protect their brand.
As for the predictions I’d made in January?
Based them on what an entity like KSE would do under the circumstances that prevailed through April. All that has come about? Had long been discussed as possibilities in the boardroom. This outcome, just one of the contingencies drawn up– before I ever thought about it. I simply read the tea-leaves well.
Looking at what was probable? I felt AW would leave at season’s end. The announcement the week before the last (Burnley) home match? A marketing decision. Which worked out to a tee.
That it would be Mikel Arteta?
Near-perfect for the role required. For the job that the executive team needs filled.
Arteta was sought by AFC, THFC, and MCFC as a #2. Worked under two of the best-ever managers. Knows better than anyone how Pep and City prepare.
If KSE and AFC are right?
We might be getting a next-generation organization– in just over a year. Almost overnight in footballing years.
Given the circumstances and possible reward? Seems well worth the risk.
jw1
Thanks JW1. Good analysis.
I was on here last week arguing against the idea of Arteta managing the club, but I’ve made my peace with it now.
Really we’re dealing with perspectives rather than known quantities, and that goes for every manager named as a possible successor. Some of the world’s most experienced managers have gone on to fail in new contexts, so I’ve eased off the experience lever in this argument. If Arteta would be appointed, I would be excited to discover whether he could deliver on the promise everyone (who has worked with him) clearly sees in him. That goes for pretty much anyone we appoint. Can they deliver? Who knows.
So at this point, I’m just going with my gut. I’m going with all those pictures in my head of a determined, focused, and driven player. I’m going with the picture I remember seeing a long time ago of him and Guardiola talking pitchside after a match like peers.
That’s all very subjective, of course, but that’s usually how we form judgments. Clearly, however, he’s valued by Guardiola for a reason. That we don’t know that reason is not compelling evidence against him.
I have a good feeling about Arteta.
I can see a lot of different perspectives around this appointment but the one that I keep coming back to is “what a fascinating and bold appointment by Arsenal.”
Arsenal have a long history of being outsiders, of making unusual decisions. From moving the club to North London, to signing Herbert Chapman, squad numbers, the WM, Arsenal fighting to sign George Eastham (the case which presaged the Bosman ruling), signing the first successful non-British manager, building a new stadium while keeping the old stadium intact, Wenger’s youth brigade, and so on.
If they appoint Mikel Arteta it would be one of the most unusual decisions in the history of the game – big clubs just don’t appoint untested managers – but doing so would keep with Arsenal’s long tradition of being iconoclasts.
It’s one of the things I truly love about being a Gooner. It’s not just that we are outsiders and weirdos but that we are successful doing it. So, I have plenty of time for Arsenal appointing Arteta as manager.
It’s almost a win-win. If he fails, what’s the worst that can happen? 10th place or something? If that happens I suppose they can fire him and hire some generic “top” manager. If he turns out to be as good as many people think he will be, then it’s a huge win for Arsenal.
Really well said, Tim.
This is true – we as a fanbase need to be patient and go along for the ride.
For a club that are, as you describe, ‘iconoclasts’, Wenger was starting to become the antithesis of that. It became stolid and boring, outdated and conventional. That’s why I’m not saddened in the least to see the band-aid ripped off. Not sure why someone like Lewin would need to go, but that’s because I don’t know the details of the work there. I do want to see Bould go, but I appreciate he may provide continuity.
I like the idea of a Arteta-Buvac axis. I also like the idea of Mertesacker revolutionizing the youth team and feeding the senior team a steady stream of talent.
About 2 years ago I said one of Mertesacker or Arteta will be a future Arsenal manager – or both. I thought it would be Arteta first. I just didn’t realize the future would come so soon.
Amen.
Last para really nails it.
Don’t forget the Arsenal leadership in development of the women’s game 🙂
I like this writer on The Short Fuse named “pdb,” and he just posted the following, which I found pretty convincing:
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2018/5/15/17356202/arsenal-manager-search-premier-league-lack-of-experience-should-not-be-a-dealbreaker
Overall, though, I’d like to reiterate what claude said above: I really hope the fanbase doesn’t get too heated about this. Should Arteta be appointed, I’d like to see us get behind him, collectively, and I think that will happen, actually.
I’d really expect people to put their grumbles aside and support the new man for a year at least, especially if it’s Arteta. The fact that you hear people talk about continuing protests shows how rotten and spoiled some of them are.
I’m afraid the grumbles and ‘told you so’s’ will start picking up steam as soon as we lose our first game/drop our first points.
Who is/was worse for Arsenal? A “striker” like Gervinho or a “defender” like Mustafi?
It’s Colin Lewin who’s left (Gary’s cousin). That surprised me but I suppose it’s just the way. Primorac, Peyton and Colbert leaving is no surprise. Vic Akers has retired. The most successful Arsenal (women) manager.
Sarri is an interesting pick but does he speak English? Wouldn’t he have other offers like at Chelsea, or if Pochettino leaves, then Spurs? Oddly enough, I could see Wenger going to Napoli as well. Same principle. A good team with one dominant rival in the league. Not a long term project either.
My first choice was Tedesco. But obviously such choices are mostly based on gut. My second choice was Arteta. I don’t know what it is. But he just seems to have that spark. I think he’s got an individualist streak where he’s not afraid of being his own man and making tough calls. Granted I don’t know why I think this, but it is the impression I carry of him. But I think we should hire a young coach and give him time to learn the ropes and make his mark on the club.
Buvac is intriguing as well, and PFo’s idea of him being #2 to Arteta is fun. Unlikely, but fun. It might even be a good fit tactically. German GegenPress combined with Spanish Tiki-Taka, with a distinct Arsenal flair.
We’re not going to hire Allegri. I like him. I think he’ll address some of the defensive issues, and yet apart from the reasons he wouldn’t want to come, I’m not sure he’s what we want. Juventus are not very fun to watch. And they aren’t even as dominant in games as their league record would suggest. They just seem to get away with errors in Serie A. (Is there a stat that can confirm or deny this?)
Outside bet. Nagelsmann. Despite Hoffenheim’s statement.
Apparently the Aussie Rules Football chap, Burgess, who we brought in last year to oversee all fitness issues at the club (seemingly more bad*ss than Shad Forsythe, which I thought was impossible) was the one who made the call on Lewin. A bit sad to see loyal servants like that go, but it’s a results business and if his methods aren’t up to scratch compared to the best of the best in sports medicine in 2018, then it would be irresponsible for us to keep him on. Onwards and upwards!
How old is Sarri? He’s no spring chicken, which counts against him a bit, I think…
Ok, 59. Thanks google (I don’t like you, but you sure are handy).
Sarri is supposedly set for Chelsea, they’ve been scared off Enrique. The firing of Conte is imminent. But Sarri doesn’t speak any English, so that should be fun.
He worked in England as a banker before football. English shouldn’t be a problem.
Yeah, it seems he was brought in to be the department head. Colbert’s days were essentially numbered. In fact I think that was the only way that Wenger was ‘impeding’ the change process. He was protecting the jobs of these guys. Even Law and Rowley were retained in ‘advisory’ roles.
Colin Lewin being promoted to head physio seemed a disappointing move to me even way back when Gary Lewin left us for England. Backroom changes weren’t the hot topic then, but I felt it was a bit too convenient to just appoint the underling cousin as the head physio. Even though I think it is important to keep some continuity to maintain the culture of the club, a promotion seemed undeserved. I’m surprised he was told to leave, but not sad.
On the note of continuity. We’ve got a new head scout, new head of conditioning, new head of operations, new contract guy. We’ll be getting a new academy chief, and most likely the youth teams will also see some coaching changes. (With accusations of bullying. wtf?) And of course a new head coach and first team coaches. And yet, it seems like we’ll be retaining an Arsenal feel around the place. I find that remarkable and think it shows the club and Wenger have managed the change well.
Thanks, Shard, even the most ardent Arsenal detractors can now say we are headless. 😀
I don’t know but our injury record and certainly the recovery from injuries was pretty awful pre-Shad. I think it’s about time there’s a restructure.
Until today, I haven’t been all that crazy with the idea of Arteta as the next Arsenal manager. But now that it sounds more likely, I’m much more excited at the idea. Worst case, he ends up as an Arsenal David Moyes. Best case he could be Arsenal’s Dean Smith. For those that aren’t familiar with college basketball in the US, Dean Smith is arguably one of the 3 best college basketball coaches of all time. He played for a legend in college, Phog Allen. He was then hired by another legend, Frank McGuire at UNC. In Smith’s 3rd season as an assistant, McGuire left/was fired b/c of scandal. Smith took over a premiere college program with no head coaching experience. In 36 years at UNC, he had one losing season (his first), 2 national championships, 11 final fours and retired as the winningest coach in college basketball history. All of this while running an exemplary program. I’m not saying Mikel will have that kind of success, but simply that he could be the homerun hire. We just don’t know. Either way, we got what we asked for…hope.
As long as we also get our own version of Michael Jordan too, I’m in.
To quote John Kerry, “would that it were”
For what it’s worth, Arteta used to tell Wenger (fearlessly and to his face) what he thought. He never hesitated, even when he disagreed with the boss. Arsene loved that. He made him his captain. He (and per) had ferocious personal discipline, and by all accounts hated slackness in the squad. If you think that that translates into player development (and I will wait to see), imagine him collaring Iwobi and making him apply himself more to realise his talent. What is says certainly is that he isn’t afraid to say what he thinks.
That doesn’t make an unarguable argument for picking him, but man, I’m down with it if it happens. He could fail, but I for one will give him plenty of honeymoon time, and if his teams look tactically dishevelled and his defenders can’t defend, I’ll conclude that he’s not up to the job.
Job one is making us harder to beat. I love those NBA chants…. dee-fence, dee-fence. I want, above all, a team that’s hard to beat. That’s job 1 for the new coach.
Other things matter. We give up possession within a pass or two, about 50% of the time that WE win a throw-in. Even adjacent to the opposition box, we NEVER go for an attacking long throw. Little things. Little things that show that were are properly coached in all parts of the game.
Defensive organisation.
Purposeful pressing.
Trying to get a bigger percentage out of corners that we win.
Better, more composed shooting from Iwobi, AMN etc, when presented with chances.
We just do not look a well-drilled football team, and if Mikel or whomever is selected can manage that, that’s maybe 12 points a season.
Maybe that’s why I think Arteta is his own man. He’d often call out the team in post game interviews too.
Not sure how true it is but apparently Arteta is essentially the video analyst for Pep, in addition to being credited with the improvement in Sterling.(and the progress of Sane?)
If that’s true, I think it shows an attention to detail, and an ability to coach at least wide forwards. If Iwobi and Welbeck can start being more effective, I think that’s an immediate plus right there.
Have you read the interview that Arteta gave to the Arsenal website a few years ago where he talked about the possibility of being a coach and his philosophy?
An attacking philosophy and taking the game to the opposition. Analysing the opponent and making them do things they don’t like doing. Dropping players not giving their all. And visualising the game on the Friday, and if it doesn’t go exactly to plan, it’s back to the drawing board. And since then, he’s had 2 seasons under Pep Guardiola. He always seemed in line to take the Arsenal job when he left. I think it’s just come a bit too early for us to be confident in him. But I think I’d be happy with him being appointed.
My one worry is his relationship with some of the players at the club could cause some issues. But maybe it will also be a help when he has to make the tough calls.
The video aspect is telling for me. Before almost all other PL clubs considered doing anything of the sort, Arsenal invested in StatDNA (in 2012). A division of the club whose techniques involve video-driven data analytics. Of the style employed by U.S. pro sports team’s evaluations of athletes. There are far deeper, more involved aspects, regarding scoring of, and algorithmic application in measuring what’s captured via video– but. This type of system when fine-tuned can be predictive in progression or regression of an individual’s performance year-over-year. To know when to buy or sell– or what players might be best suited to a style– or teamed with certain combinations of players– is likely on the verge of being ‘unlocked’ in football– the way it has in pro sports in the U.S.
That Arteta is the guy that headed City’s video analyzing, tells me he’d be ready to embrace a system that may be nearing fruition at Arsenal.
It’s my opinion that recent signings (in the last 22 months) of Holding, Bramhall, and Mavropanos– have been identified through use of StatDNA ‘s data modeling. These players have been ‘bought low’. The upside, in terms of developing any or all– or selling at a good profit is just good business.
jw1
Wow, I did have a bit of a different image of him. Besides the tactical side of things, the biggest thing we lacked is intensity, focus and discipline. If he can get those things out of these players, I’m all ready.
According to the Goal.com article released today, he’s been in charge of improving Delph, Sterling, etc.
Wow. They claim Pep let him run the team on the day. How trustworthy are Goal.com usually? Though this seems exactly the kind of thing Guardiola would do.
If Arteta is implementing Pep’s ideas on the training ground then I think that makes him a very good candidate for the Arsenal job. He’s had a wide footballing experience throughout his career and is always willing to learn. He already knows most of the team, their strengths, weaknesses and personalities. If he can coach them to implement his ideas it would be fun to watch.
Isn’t Goal.com pretty awful? I used to read them a lot but I gave up.
Great discussion guys.
Hope everyone has a memorable summer (for good reasons!). Just suffered a family bereavement and wanted to send out some good vibes. Be good to each other and treat your loved ones like treasure.
My condolences, Kaius. And thank you for that welcome reminder.
Been there too many times, Kaius, and it hurts. Every single time. All the best.
I don’t need much convincing on Arteta, but we may be reading too much into the goal.com article.
So Arteta briefed Delph. Are we saying that’s in lieu of a Pep briefing, and Pep didn’t need to? Of COURSE he did. Pep is too strong a personality, and too specific a coach in his demands not to. He coaches every minute of every game, and wants every player on THIS blade of grass. Of course one of the jobs of assistant coaches is to relay the head coach’s ideas.
And no, Tim, he was not “in charge of improving Delph, Sterling…” The head coach, Pep Guardiola was. A point we are arguing on this site not so long ago. 🙂
Let’s not make more of Arteta’s role at City than we need to. I’m personally sold on him, but the article, while proving some insight, doesn’t really tell us much beyond the fact as as an assistant coach, he’s incredibly important to Guardiola, who has placed enormous trust in him.
Clearly, Gazidis and his team are working with more information than we have, and the fair thing to do is trust their judgement on this — until such a time of course that it turns out that they backed the wrong horse. IF it turns out that they did.
Like Bunburyist, Im kind of excited at the prospect.
Let’s also add to the mix that Arteta interviewed at Arsenal while deciding on ‘where’ to do his apprenticing two years back. So, Ivan, Sven and Raul are working with far more with regard to insigts on Arteta –than they have on ANY other candidate.
jw1
Hey jw1,
I’ve always been curious about why you sign off on all your comments with “jw1,” given that you’re already identified as the writer of the comment. Serious question, honestly. Is it an aesthetic thing? I get that.
Cheers,
Bb
Long habit, from an early networked system for producing ‘cold type’ electronically (Compugraphic, mid-80s). My typesetters ‘tag’ for identifying jobs/adding comments to a galley of type when printed (to film).
Get asked every several years.
Don’t realize I’ve keystroked it sometimes. Sometimes twice.
jw1
Fair enough! Thanks for responding.
Arteta, the anointed one.
Hope you’ve all seen this work of absolute genius:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2018/may/15/david-squires-on-the-north-bank-redemption-arsene-wenger-arsenal
The picture of a sinking ship with Stoke LOL is a magnificent touch.
Yup. Never miss a Squires cartoon, and that one was a gem.
I guess it is better to take time over deciding on a major replacement for personnel, such as a senior management position for any business, and that includes football ( and yes football is a business, tho some fans insist it is ‘just’ entertainment) — and get it right.
What puzzles me is that terminating AW’s contract cannot have been an impulse for Kroenke, and work should have been done well in advance to find a quality replacement immediately after his contract expired.
Of course I have never tried to recruit a top football manager — so that might be a naive assumption! 😀
I suppose that’s the worry RA.
That nobody was really lined up to replace Arsene, nothing’s worked out with recruiting a suitable more experienced manager in the meantime, and Arteta is the ‘easy’ answer.
Saying that, I have never had to recruit a top level football manager either so… 🙂
Whether you support Arteta or not, Arseblog argues, concerns about his appointment are perfectly understandable.
https://arseblog.com/2018/05/its-normal-to-have-concerns-about-mikel-artetas-rumoured-appointment/
kSe run $h*te sporting organizations from a fans perspective!
NFL is not the EPL.
the raMs schedule will insure a 5-11 season this year.
All the sporting franchises that wretched family has purchased have seen their teams drop from high up in the standings, usually, to mid pack at best.
If these clowns hire Arteta than they have no collective minds to begin with, and gazaDis will be the biggest clown of them all.
pUp and Z only go to the best teams, with unlimited budgets, and the best players in a decade, and fine tune-they are not coming to the Arsenal who have done most things in the last decade in a miserly fashion.
Geez, just when I thought the arc might change.
Opinions are fine.
But facts are undeniable.
KSE have hired 3 new, young, inexperienced head coaches and all three have produced positive results.
The NFL LA Rams were the highest scoring team in the NFL last season– outpacing both Super Bowl teams (Eagles/Patriots). And IMO were a fun team to watch.
The Denver Nuggets finished 9th in the talent-laden Western Conference of the NBA. At 46-36, the Nuggets had the best record of any team in NBA history to not make the playoffs. Their 31-10 home record, and a high scoring average of over 111 point per game would indicate– that they too were easy on the eye for fans.
I’m not much of a hockey fan.
But the NHL Avalanche finished 43-30-9 (W-L-D) this season. A big improvement over 2016-17’s last place finish at 22-56-4.
Those are facts.
jw1
you are cherry picking man!
look at last decade and get back to us.
again rams will suck again-soon
nuggets will find a way to sell talent in 2 years or less and the av’s will do the same.
lather rinse repeat.
Arteta would need a strong character in a secondary role (similar to one he has/had at City). Not sure if Bould is that person, but Don Howe did it for Bertie Mee ( another learner) back in the day, so it could work.
Lehmann!
Yes!!
There’s a story that when George Graham joined Arsenal as manager he walked in on his first day and was greeted by someone saying “hello George”. “It’s Mr Graham to you” was the reply.
Sure Graham had managerial experience but he was wise enough to distance himself immediately from his past at the club; I see no reason why Arteta wouldn’t be able to do the same.
As an aside, Graham was apparently chosen instead of a big push for Ferguson – no idea how true that really is but it indicates a general good sense in managerial picks backed up by the very low number of managers the club has had (even before Wenger)
So Atletico won Europa. Shocker.
Does anyone doubt that Ozil (who sat out our last two league games with an “injury”) would have played today if we’d made the final?
It’s been said by a few players that he’s a bit of a teacher’s pet. The new boss will have to, as they say in England, put a rocket up his backside. How (whomever comes in) manages the divaed and high-maintenance players will be a big test.
If it’s Arteta, he’s going to have to manage the tricky task of distancing himself from former peers. And that is one of the hardest jobs in office management.
You can play through injury you know. Athletes do it all the time. Of course Ozil would have played because it would be an important game. No point risking injury and a spot at the World Cup otherwise.
Are we all assuming it is going to be Arteta? Wenger said he’ll be clearing out his office today (Thursday). Sky Sports say Arteta and Arsenal will hold talks today. Maybe that’s the official signing, and we’ll get an announcement tomorrow. (And photos of Wenger and Arteta together in his office)
If it is Arteta, you’re right about the challenge. But his earlier relationships can be a plus in gaining the respect of the squad, because he held that respect before. The biggest challenge for any managerial hire will be getting the squad to believe in his methods. Nagelsmann or Tedesco would probably face that challenge too (and maybe have less immediate respect from the squad)
Transfer window also opens today.
Arseblog stated Arteta has been in London all week.
jw1
I know Ozil isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but, statistically, he’s been consistently one of be best players in Europe in his position over the last few years when it comes to creating chances for his teammates.
The guy isn’t perfect, he has his share of bad games, but I genuinely believe if you surround him with a better drilled team, a team with an actual plan, he’s only going to be even more productive when it comes to goals and assists.
Ozil’s job, at least under Arsene wasn’t to run around harassing the opposition and snapping into tackles, it was to use his positional sense and vision to create chances for his teammates…..and he has been consistently one of the best players in Europe at doing this since he arrived at Arsenal.
If everyone else had been as successful as Ozil at their job within the team…we’d probably have won the league since he’s been with us.
“Ozil isn’t everyone’s cup of tea”
Was this intentional? Well played if so.
Claude it’s said he’s injured.bin goin on with injections.why not leave it at dat.whats done here is all sfeculations.no one has inside facts at all.wenger just said dein was in on d ronaaldo case meaning dein failed yet there’s bin shouts dat it was all wengers fault.its all second guessing
That’s rights Claude.
Some of the posters are getting a bit melodramatic about some of the things Arteta has never done as a manager to prove their point.
Explaining to players why they aren’t starting particular games , for example, isn’t something managers do anyway regardless of how experienced they might or might not be.
As s matter of fact , the more established the manager the less communication in that regard you tend to get from him.
LVG barely spoke to some of the United players and so did Mourinho last time at Chelsea.
KDB mentions in one of his interviews that he and Mourinho spoke THREE times when he was at Chelsea.
This one, however, is key.
If Wenger couldn’t resist giving Ozil a “free ride” , I can’t see Arteta taking him to task when he pulls his disappearing act as he often did under Wenger.
As for Atleti winning Europe, Im glad we ran into them in the semis and not the final.
Way less painful to lose in the semis.
It depends on what system the new manager wants to play. I don’t agree Ozil gets a ‘free ride’. He might be a bit indulged in terms of his role on the field, but I doubt anyone tolerates him not giving it his all. His body language is what makes it appear that way, but you don’t get to where he is if you don’t care or work hard.
Arteta was quite vocal as captain when he felt the team didn’t perform. ‘You don’t play for me” if you don’t give total commitment were his words when he was just thinking about being a manager. Coaching under Pep would have only amped the intensity up further.
But you’re right that we don’t actually know how it will pan out. I doubt we know this with any manager we appoint though.
But PFo now has me hoping for an Arteta and Buvac team up. Add Cazorla and it’s easy as ABC.
“Coaching under Pep would have only amped the intensity up further.”
This. A part of it.
Trusting intuition that the two share similar traits of personality. Things that Arteta may have taken longer to discover about his own style of managing– made apparent by seeing and experiencing it from example with Guardiola.
jw1
Arteta a fascinating choice. if true. The lack of experience just highlights how he has been marked out as an exceptional talent and has the confidence of superb managers. Somehow I trust that more than e.g. a couple of good seasons in the Bundesliga, which could have an element of surprise or luck about it, and does not quite qualify as “experience” in the sense of proven ability over the long term.
Basically, unless you’re going for someone like Ancelotti, why not someone like Arteta?
The rumours around the CB and goalkeeper picks are very positive. That Soyuncu kid from Freiburg looks devastating in his highlights reel.
And I see Seri is back in the headlines.
One concern for Seri is that he suffers from chilblains, a condition that causes small, itchy swellings on the feet as a reaction to cold temperatures. “I don’t see myself playing in a country where it’s cold. I hurt everywhere and I struggle to train,” Seri said last year
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15118/11374986/what-would-seri-bring-to-arsenal
Shard, “If it’s Arteta…” is not an assumption that it IS going to be him, notwithstanding the drumbeat and all the sightings of white smoke. 🙂
On your point about instant respect, being one of the troops is very, very different from being the general. I speak as someone who, as a young man, was promoted early, early in my career. Too early, in retrospect. Oh I didnt lack knowledge and talent. I lacked an understanding of how different the view was from the ranks, and from the top of the hill. For me, and for my former peers.
Here are 2 scenarios.
(1) Mesut has been playing at 60% and Arteta has to tell him (alone or in front of the squad depending on his management style) that he’s not happy with his contribution. Mesut is a more celebrated player than he was, and a world cup winning No. 10. He may not take a dressing down (or even mild reproach) that well, from a player 6 years his senior who hasn’t run anything before, whom he knows well on the training pitch, and whom he knows isnt as technically gifted as he is. Or he may take it well. Ozil seems a good guy, not given to histrionics or seeming as if he is up his own bum. I dont see that as being different from office situations, and trust me, it’ll be an issue, quickly.
(2) It’s minute 60, Mesut is having one of those games faffing about and not in the contest, and Arteta puts up his number to be subbed. He does in 3 games running…
That’ll be an issue. Not insurmountable, not necessarily huge, but an issue. I dont think, as manager, his rapport as a former teammate will count for much for long.
If coach Arteta (if it’s he) hits a sequence of 0 wins and 3 losses in 5 and has a game at Spurs next, his rapport with former peers won’t count for much. He’s the boss now. Show us your tactics, and your managerial acumen in restoring both confidence and results — and in coming up with the tactics to get us something out of that game.
Im not picking on Mesut, btw. Just using our most celebrated player as an example.
Oh I agree with all that. The underlying assumption of course is that Arteta has the tactics and the training ground chops.
What I meant from respect among his teammates was that because they saw him as a leader then, even if he puts Ozil into a sulk, the dissatisfaction will not spread to the rest of the squad immediately. One on one he’d still have to deal with their disappointments/grievances, and collectively he’ll have to show them he knows what he’s talking about. Like any new guy who isn’t a big name.
And yes, the players will have to be shown that past friendships have no bearing on their current professional duties. Which can be challenging but I doubt Arteta would take the job unless he knew he could handle that. An experienced assistant would help with this too. Bould and Lehmann can also be ‘enforcers’ if they stay.
Im terribly fond of Mad Jens. True Gunner.
Who among this Arsenal team were here while Arteta was still playing for us?
Among established players Cech, Ospina, Monreal, Koscielny, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Cazorla and Welbeck. Anyone else? Elneny for a few months I guess.
The likes of Bellerin, Chambers, Iwobi and AMN were all youngsters on the verge of, or just breaking into the first team.
So how high is the risk of issues from working with former teammates/friends? Apart from Ramsey, who might leave if he doesn’t sign a new contract, and Ozil, are any of them pivotal players now? And yet, as senior players, they might help solidify support for him as manager.
For a guy who’s constantly criticized for not performing in big games there’s also this from an article last year.
Goals and assists versus the top six Premier League clubs since the start of 2015/16:
Özil – 9
Coutinho – 8
Eriksen – 8
Hazard – 8
De Bruyne – 7
Alli – 7
Silva – 5
Mata – 3
Thanks for that, Jeremy. Some needed perspective.
So Sokratis it is as Bild is reporting. they’re usually pretty good breaking transfers as they’re well connected. It’s a better choice than Soyuncu who is very raw and wouldn’t be much of a help short-term thrown in the deep end from idyllic Freiburg to London. Like I said before, he’s a poper dirtbag, knows every kind of shithousery, so I’m looking forward to that.
If Arteta is named boss and needs an older genuine number 2 who knows, loves, worked at the club, who understands our values and has brought success to the arsenal in the past, there is only 1 name he should go for.. Oh btw this older guy is currently out if work as well. Can u guess who?
Arteta comes in, does well and then Barcelona comes calling, whoo boy.
Why on earth (now that it’s all but a done deal) is Thierry Henry in the frame? I can see Arteta pulling out of this and leaving us with very few options.
Arseblog and Arsenal vision made some good points. Promoting from within, so to say, is a very Bundesliga-ish thing to do. Nagelsmann, Tedesco, Heiko Herrlich and also Tuchel and Klopp all came into their jobs without too much of a middle curve. Some lower league experience, some youth team work and in Klopp’s case, he was player-manager at Mainz. One of the reasons for the popularity besides the willigness to embrace innovative and fresh approaches was also a cost analysis. Hiring good coaches is a crapshoot anyways and especially the same old firefighter kind of saviours are really expensive and lack of development beyond the stabilising effects of those coaches. One only needs to look at the payoffs to Moyes, Allardyce and Pulis and the limitations of their style, those were absurd numbers.
As Tim remarked, the packages for Allegri or Jardim would be massive, Allegri earns 7m€ reportedly, Jardim is on 4m€ (in Monaco tax free). On a 4-5 year contract that’s massive. Maybe there is a good argument to be made, besides just being cheap, that those are resources better spent on the squad. We’re under financial limitations, although I suspect some of the that has been overstated for PR purposes, maybe as a negotiation tactic, that much is clear.