Mikel Arteta admits he’s sleeping less, working more and doing his best to encourage those around him as he attempts to turn Arsenal’s form around.
The Gunners have taken only one point from the last four games and pressure has increased on the boss with the club labouring in 15th place in the Premier League after a worst start to the campaign since 1981/82.
While the Spaniard has the full backing of those inside the club and a majority of fans, there’s no denying that further rotten results will see dissenting voices grow louder.
Speaking on Thursday ahead of the Gunners’ final Europa League group game, Arteta said:
“The demands for this football club are the highest. We are not getting the results in the league that we all expect, of course, the pressure is increasing. But more than the pressure, I would say the responsibility of all of us to make it happen next Sunday and start winning football matches, which is the most important thing.
On coping with the pressure, he added: “I always work harder. I sleep less and I try to encourage everybody that is next to us to be positive and to believe in what we do. This is how I approach the situation.”
Interestingly, having analysed Sunday’s defeat in the North London derby, the boss believes that his players’ performance exceeded that at Old Trafford when the Gunners beat Manchester United 1-0; our last victory.
We’re not so sure about that. But he seems adamant.
“It’s strange to say but we played much better against Spurs than what we did against Manchester United,” he said.
“Against Manchester United, we scored a penalty and won 1-0. We had an incredible performance but then we lost the derby 2-0 so obviously, we cannot talk about that because we have lost the game.
“We cannot be so analytical just with one thing in the work that we do because there are many other factors that contribute. But obviously, we are here to win football matches and that’s the only thing that people see at the end.”
I am still obviously on arteta’s side as I want him to succeed, although I have lost a lot of confidence in him lately. Seeing comments like this, that we played better vs spuds make me worry a bit more as I didn’t see that at all.
“We cannot be so analytical just with one thing in the work that we do because there are many other factors that contribute. But obviously, we are here to win football matches and that’s the only thing that people see at the end.”
Also, this part sounds patronising. Like, he is a pro so he sees more than us mere mortals, who only see win or a loss. Worrying as well.
Er. He *is* a pro and you are not?
Yeah, it’s the problem with too many of our fans — undiscovered footballing geniuses.
of course not, the thing is, when the manager starts to argue, even a bit with fans, then it’s red zone for me. No need to put down a fellow fan.
Fans can’t be wrong or overly emotional in their views and judgements of the team they love?
Did Arteta get into an argument with fans?
Why not?! Most of our fans are thick! Are you seriously saying that it’s wrong to argue, “even a bit”, with those idiots on AFTV, for example?
But that is the truth, you only see and win and lose at the end, experienced coach will see there is an improvement compared to the previous matches
To be fair against United we were under siege the entire game. The way we defended was what made it a great performance. Against Spuds we had most of the ball (I know that was the cunt’s plan). It tells you that Arteta does believe in controlling games. This sitting deep and springing counter attacks I don’t think is his vision. Maybe in his mind he was pleased with our possession and just feels we have to unlock the attack. He’s not wrong, but the comments about crosses is concerning. Who the hell knows!
We did manage to stop them from counter attacking pretty effectively as well.
Just not quite effectively enough
It really was effective enough if we were the type of side that dented the net with some regularity.
My thoughts as well. Maybe I was just a bit surprised that more passes connected at the Lane than I expected, considering our style of recent.
It does not matter what Arteta believes in. We simply has not got the players for possession based football. Alt least not if that also includes scoring goal occasionally.
In all fairness to the guy we conceded two wonder goals. That’s not to say they weren’t preventable though. Or that I want to see Arsenal play 44 crosses. On another day we would’ve scored and Son would’ve missed. That’s football. It wasn’t like the 6-0 or 8-2.
Whether Arsenal get anybody in in Jan doesnt matter. Arteta could get someone from any Village is of no consequence. The important thing is to start winning.
When I watch videos of how Abu was scoring for fun ,he shd be given support.
Other teams have wised up and cut off the supply line . Thats why he’s struggling.
He has not become a lousy plyer overnite though some fans may think otherwise
I am confident the goals will start flowing from him .However to depend on
one player for goals ,is dangerous.Football is ateam game
Agree with Billy krystal. Having been a player,Arteta shd know better than to
throw the kitchen sink at Mourino.
Thats why I get angry when Son is called a wc player.Has he won the FA cup or anything.In the cl final,he couldnt get going.
This is not sour grapes,not oranges
I think he needs more sleep…or less crack
He needs a heavy dose of P45
Tbf, I think a manager with any kind of crack habit would probably be playing a much riskier style of football than Arteta seems willing to try at the moment.
Work smart, Sleep more and encourage Xhaka to find another club. That might solve some problems.
Sleep is very important, and whoever likes to tell people he’s sleeping less (and of course working harrrrdd) is probably on some juvenile egotistical bs and thinks he’s better than everyone else.
Generally speaking …
You should be taught/master the basics and then be confident and relaxed enough to slowly ease into gear as quickly as you can .
He’s oficially lost it…also we have arrived at the lowest ebb of the Emery era, with Arteta in terms of performances. The thing that will keep him in, is that he’s a polititian in the making?..anyway, the question here is, should he sleep with how terrible this team is going forward.
If he can’t see that the problem is that the way we are playing is driving our results (rather than just the results themselves), then he is heading for seriously difficulties
It looks like lost of his plan is working – including the part that needs an Aouar type player to stop us being a defensive team.
We’re way more solid at the back. Our forwards are working harder than ever. But we’re missing the midfield quality to 1) move the ball into the final third quickly and 2) play killer passes often/contribute with shots.
We shouldn’t be wasting this period with Willian. Throw Willock/AMN/ESR in there every game. They have the raw attributes and will likely surprise us (and opposition Defences). They couldn’t be worse…
.. play Özil.
I think I’ve reached the point where I’m actually glad that Ozil isn’t a part of this unfolding comedy classic He can no longer be blamed for the results and our pathetic position in the table, although the Ozil Haters will probably find some inexplicable reason to pin it on him, along with Covid 19, Brexit and the next major hurricane to sweep the globe. If the rumours about the interest from Fernabahce, Juve and DC United are true, then he would do well to quit this circus and finally move on. He deserves better than being dropped to allow… Read more »
Come on, Qwali, of course he can be blamed – he got himself dropped, and that has led to the team’s struggles. It’s still all Ozil’s fault. See how easy that was. It’s what we do here … 😉
He’s been dropped by a guy who doesn’t know what he’s doing.
He’s the man these bad results are down to, not Ozil.
How the flaming fuck can Willian, Ceballos and Willock be better? The proof is in the pudding – we create nothing and our results have been shit. I’ve no sympathy for Arteta. None at all.
Q, you’ve got to calm down. I agree with you and have from the beginning that Ozil should never have been dropped from the squad – we’re paying him, he’s talented, and even if he comes on for the final 10 minutes, he can help us win matches. A mistake by Arteta, to be sure, and I’m sure this will be something he reflects on later in his career and comes to the same conclusion. He is allowed some rookie mistakes, and for all we know, he might rectify it in January. However, I also understand what Arteta was trying… Read more »
Juve?? HAHAHA, not a chance in hell, he’s gona drain Arsenal for every cent!! How can you be so hooked on a player with a weak metallity and body languague, who has not been a valuable team member for donkey years!!?? Like do you love him over the actuall club?
“He can no longer be blamed for the results and our pathetic position in the table”
You clearly underestimate Martin Keown!
Hoping Mikel gets us through this difficult time but if he doesn’t wouldn’t mind trying to nick RB Leipzig manager.Has done wonders with the team.Blew United away the other night with quick passing and movement which reminded me of the cesc Nasri helb roscicky days. Our midfield badly needs an injection of this kind of quality.
We try to play possession football with a weak midfield. It’s never going to work, we’re better off counter attacking as we have pace but we seem shit at that too. Too many players take too long to make key decisions. We have a mentally slow squad in terms of decision making which is bad when we’re out of form. Instinct becomes better when we’re in form so our instinct players like auba, kola and pepe suffer most in these situations. Saka and esr are probs the smartest in the squad and both are under 20. Wenger made a point… Read more »
From what I know of Nagelsmann, I think he would lose his mind trying to coach this group of players in this league.
I kinda agree with the performance at Spurs being better. I think there are signs we are becoming better at dominating games. I understand people saying “they were happy sitting back” and all that but I think it’s overly emphasized. I don’t think Spurs were happy with that second half. If we’d been more clinical they wouldn’t have stopped at least one goal. They made a wonder goal (1 in 10 goes in, maybe?) and we conceeded a fuck up goal made partly by the Partey injury. Rubbish run of results, but it’s gonna turn. Believe!
Spurs deliberately left the possession for us to hit us on the counter, that’s the game plan. It works for them not once but twice now. Why can’t we dominate Liverpool?
Heh. The latest Arteta soundbite.
Sleep less? Your yawn a minute ‘football’ and endless boring club page rhetoric are making me snooze for England.
I still want it to work out for Mikel and don’t see the benefit of another change yet. I think he has a few problems that inexperience are highlighting though: 1 The Pep method has never worked without the best players in the world, so what hope does that system have with our rag-tag bunch. 2 He really should avoid being the 4rd manager to go down with Xhaka at the wheel. Granit cannot possibly be part of a two man midfield with such little mobility. 3 He must learn from bringing in expensive ageing players and not repeat that… Read more »
3 out of 3 right
Let me caveat this with the fact that I *am* concerned about our performances and results, but (and bear with me): The performance wasn’t that bad, just the execution was bad. Firstly, Auba should definitely score that header. And Son, on most other days, doesn’t score that shot. I know it’s very fine margins (and shit defending by Holding and Hector), but if Auba scores and Son doesn’t, it’s an even game. I KNOW results are what matters, and they let us have the opposition, but I really don’t think it’s as bad as I thought it was on Sunday… Read more »
How we bounce back is the true indicator of character in this manager and team.
However… I fear for Arteta, I really do!
Sunday we gonna won the game with 4 goals.i believe that.never give up guys we are the Gunners
Has this guy ever watched a match?A good game isnt determined by the number of crosses you put in the box.We were definately better against united than spurs. More of the reason we shouldnt be gambling with this fella
I don’t know how to say it but is pathetic if @Arteta8 kept on repeating this words we can never beat Mr Morinho, I remember the first meeting this Is What happened spurs play the same way got the same result our coach says the same thing. Now the second meeting the same way the same result the same quote by our coach. Meaning that when ever we are meeting spurs as long as Mr pack the boss is there and Arteta is around the result will be the same. If our manager do not see that his team is… Read more »
The next game is going to be very important. If we see another game with a lot of possesion on 40+ crosses towards 2 players who are not known for their heading abilities, then I would start to worry.
Oh, and if Willian gets another start
Arteta gives me the Garry Monk vibe. Yep hes professional… but you need more.
I thinl we will win against Burnley though. But slight alarm bells on Arteta these days.
This man is totally delusional to call it incredible performance! God save us.
I hope Arteta is just saying this to give his team confidence.
We were not good against spurs. We gave up two counter attacks with sloppy defending. And had, what, 2 shots on target.
Plus, we moved the ball so slowly it was maddening.
On Sunday, if we just lump crosses into the box all match Arteta will have to go because that strategy is pointless and will get us nowhere. Also, if willian continues to play then what is the point of even watching.
I to wanted & hoped that Arteta would be a success. But the pre-season gave me doubts, Martinez leaving & Willian,Ugh coming in + extensions for Cedric, Luiz etc and we are still carrying all the dross we can’t shift out. Plus his 2 main assistant coaches don’t inspire any confidence, 1 is Moyes ex asst the other is Van Gaal’s x asst. If he had made Freddie his no2 would Freddie have had any influence in bringing through our youth into the team, rather than the old dross we all know so well. If Arteta goes how would a… Read more »