It’s a strange stat, but one that’s quite fitting with 2020: Mikel Arteta has managed more games as Arsenal manager without fans in stadiums than with.
Since lockdown in March and the resumption of football in June, all fixtures have been played behind closed doors.
However, the British government announced this week that when the current set of restrictions ends, a limited number of fans could be allowed back – with a maximum of 4000 per stadium depending on the tier each region is in.
Speaking ahead of our Europa League clash with Molde on Thursday night, the Arsenal boss was cautiously optimistic about the return of supporters, and admitted it’s something he and the club are hopeful will go ahead.
“It would depend where we are in terms of the infections,” he said, “but it looks like we’re going to be able to host some of our fans in the stadium which is fantastic news.
“We have been working really hard as a club, the club has a really good project and everything is almost ready to try to accommodate everybody in a safe way.
“There are still some details that are not confirmed that makes next week a challenge but the club is trying its best because myself, the players and the staff are all desperate to have them back watching the games.”
It remains to be seen if London is going to be in that category, and until the roll-out of vaccines next year, chances are the amount of supporters in the ground will be extremely limited.
Arteta also admitted that while current form is an issue, it will take time to put right some of the problems he’s inherited.
“If you see the results that have happened in the Premier League and why teams win or lose games, the margins are minimal,” he said.
“Teams are winning with one shot on target or with two shots on target. We want to improve that, of course we do. But as well there are many aspects that I am really happy with, enthusiastic and optimistic about.
“When I see the young talents we got here and the future that we can produce for them, it’s things that get me really excited.
“We know that we are going to go through difficult periods because you don’t change issues that have been going on for years in a small amount of time, it’s all about the context and how we are working.
“It makes it harder but we know that we are Arsenal and our aim is to be the best all the time.”
If the fans are so important to the team, the results and the sport, then one question please.
Why are they treated with contempt and derision by the owners?
Really buddy ?
What, because the finally (maybe) put their hands in their own pockets, you think they have done us proud?
They lost me the day they took generation old shares off gooners. And they certainly have done little to win me back since.
Yeah fair on that point . It’s just the owners don’t care how Mikel does the becoming-successful thing and Mikel is the one tasked with getting the results as such is the ‘only’ one who cares about the fan effect on players right now.
I’m desperate to get some form back!
I suspect every club is. It’s certainly a more pressing issue for us than the other “big” PL clubs as we rely upon matchday income more than they do. However, it will be quite some time before anyone gets more than a token crowd at best so we’ll have to manage.
Good news is that at least Arteta didn’t repeat his previous, rather embarrassing, comment and blame our poor performances in part at least on lack of fans (8th last season despite full houses at the Emirates tends to undermine that one).
In just a few of years we went from midfield consisting of Ozil (in his prime), Cazorla, Ramsey, Wilshere, Coquelin to midfield consisting of Xhaka, Ceballos (who isn’t even our player), Elneny, and now Partey as well. If anyone wonders why we haven’t been able to control games, create chances, play attacking footbal… there’s your answer. Our midfield is no better in any way than midfield of any other mid-table team. I wonder how we managed to fall so far so quickly. Of course each player had/has its own problems and flaws, but the difference in quality and characteristics of… Read more »
I happen to appreciate and enjoy our players and manager. Their commitment, their team spirit, this process, the youth, the growth. I am excited to see who rises to the challenges. I wish our fans better felt and expressed what we expect from the team. Arteta acts and seems to earn respect and player response, I can live with some mistakes when we have those qualities.
I’m not sure the fans are desperate to watch the fare that is currently being served up. It would be like lining up for the reopening of your favourite restaurant in anticipation of them serving up stale sandwiches with no filling. Highly dissatisfying to say the least.
(Agreed)
What is highly dissatisfying is you using ‘dissatisfaction’ as the adjective to qualify the experience of consuming Stale sandwiches, forget the anticipation, makes it worse
Be careful what you wish for. Smme players might not get the reaction they hope for with current form.