Mikel Arteta admits his depleted Arsenal side came through a ‘big test’ against title-challenging Manchester United after rectifying a few issues in the first half.
The Gunners extended their unbeaten run to seven games in the Premier League with a 0-0 draw at the Emirates and while a draw was a frustrating result, the boss says it’s a sign of progress.
Here’s what he had to say when he faced the Sky Sports cameras.
On the game…
It was a big battle, both teams wanted to win. It was a really competitive match. They had some moments in the first half, we had the biggest moments in the second half. To make the difference, you need to score when you get the big chances that we had.
On switching Martinelli for Willian at half time…
It was a tactical decision. It was something that we weren’t doing right and it’s something I thought Willy could do better. That’s why I made the decision. It was about a few things, some things we had to treat to be much more aggressive like we were in the second half, press much better, we were closer, we regained the ball high and had better options with the ball. It was nothing to do with Gabi or his work ethic or whatever, it was just a tactical decision.
On if the result is a sign of progress…
It is and considering the circumstances and all the players we don’t have, it was a big test for us and I think the team turned up and showed how much they wanted to win the game.
On missing three big players [Aubameyang, Saka & Tierney]…
Yes, but I think everybody that was involved tried their best and gave a really strong performance. We had some bad decisions in the first half where we lose the ball in some dangerous positions. The moment we corrected and were better in our high press, the team looked different. We were there to win the game.
I wonder what was the tactical reason for a Arteta to bring on Willian for Martinelli?
Everybody will be thinking the same think…
Tbf we looked more dangerous in the 2nd half..
Not sure it was down to willian though
Watch the first 10 minutes of Willian. He looked totally panicked when he had a couple of openings. Then I did see him beat a man off the dribble before Pogba fouled him. Still feel like he’s phoning it in, he’s not interested in taking risks or doing more anymore.
Not interested, or just doesn’t have the ability anymore?
Both
By Willian’s [at Arsenal] standards he had a blinder. By normal standards he was pretty lukewarm. He did some work on defense. He ran around a bit. Had a sore knee for a while.
It has to be. Willian played well, barr the tepid shot when he had that chance.
It was a tactical decision. It was something that we weren’t doing right and it’s something I thought Willy could do better. That’s why I made the decision. It was about a few things, some things we had to treat to be much more aggressive like we were in the second half, press much better, we were closer, we regained the ball high and had better options with the ball …. Zzzz…. I only saw William walking around the field… Strolling… Half interested… And then he shitted on the easiest chance of the night. I’d rather have put willock or… Read more »
He’s just a sucker for willy… who isn’t?
I didn’t see him beating the man off I’ll have to get my eyes checked
It was to double up in defence. Arteta is a joker. If a young player is any less than one of the best three players on the pitch he gets subbed/dropped. No with on the ones who need a run. Blind faith in the non-runner.
Yeah the double standards are odd. Willian has been able to phone in stinker after stinker all season and he’d never hook him at half time like that. I didn’t see anything _wrong_ with Martinelli performance, though he certainly hadn’t influenced much going forward to suggest that Willian could do that better is more than a stretch. Very odd man management, again. The best thing to happen this season was arteta being forced into playing ESR, Saka and Martinelli that one game, and then doing so well he couldn’t really go back afterward.
Agreed – surely you bring on Odegaard?
Apart from a good defensive header, Martinelli was anonymous and we completely lacked potency on the left, usually our stronger wing. It’s definitely not de rigeur to say it here because of Blogs’ ant-Edu/anti-Willian campaign, but we were better in the second half, particularly down the left.
Okay, but that is not down to Willian. The guy just passes backwards, offers absolutely nothing.
Mikel could’ve talked to Gabi and tweaked his play and the whole team’s. Of course he is there and knows best but Willian didn’t justify the change.
Guy like Gabi can score in a moment of brilliance. You kind of never expect that from Willian, maybe in his Chelsea days but not anymore. I hope Gabi can be given more minutes to regain his pace and confidence. You can see his determination on the pitch.
Exactly the reason auba stays on and wouldn’t have been brought off at half time or the 90th minute if he had been playing there
Sorry Domi I just made exactly the same point as you. You were more succinct – I’ll stop waffling.
Didn’t see FreeWilly haring back to nick it off Rashford as he lining up to score?
The irony; if willIan had been playing in that position at that moment it’s almost certainly a goal because he just wouldnt have been close enough, quick enough or had the same desire to get there. His reward….taken off so his replacement can waste the best opportunity of the match….perfect!. ….see what you did there Mikel. Nice management….again
Martinelli didn’t play as we are used to see him playing, sure, but even defensively he contributed more than Willian. Remember when he came all the way into the area to tackle and win the ball back.
Willian werent as bad as he’s been, although he lost most dribbles and squandered that chance, he at least got some participation in (which shows how bad he has been playing). But I really dont see what he brought that Martinelli couldnt offer tactically.
Willian did a bit of tracking also, I remember him blocking Wan Bissaka Cross near our corner flag
The point is that Martinelli got taken off after a below par half. He might just need a bit of time on the pitch but wasn’t given it. The youngsters have to play out of their skin to stay on. Willian can be below par EVERY game. I’m not really anti Willian – I would like to see him do well. Right now he is not performing and I cannot understand why Arteta sticks with him. I’ve watched the guy play 10 backwards passes in a row, lose the ball walk around lazily and not press. Would Reis Nelson or… Read more »
Martinelli is easy to like as a player, energetic, brave, and talented. (And that great bit of defending!) I am confident (pretty confident, you can’t be sure) that with more experience he will turn into the player that Arsenal supporters already think he is. I don’t like Willian at all. But he was much better in the second half than Martinelli was in the first. Willian took some of the workload from Lacazette, who got little help in that respect from Martinelli. I think Arteta was right–though I screamed at the time.
If that’s what he waned from martinelli then here’s a novel idea, tell him at half time and see what happens. You know, like he does if one of his favourites isn’t playing well. It was an opportunity to take him off and bring on a guy he knows no one was to see (which is probably the only reason willian isn’t starting any more)
Martinelli is a natural left footer whereas Willian could track inside Wan-Bissaka and take him on his weaker foot
Wrong Gabriel mate. Martinelli’s right footed.
I think the tactical reason was pretty obvious for me. Willian was so bad that united’s right back didnt bother defending too much cause they knew Willian was shit and it opened up space for Cedric…that’s why we had good moments down the left. We lulled them into a false sense of security on our left…a tactical masterclass!
Probably this was not only tactical. I believe Martinelli is still protected to prevent any injuries. That’s man management and there are so many things inside the club and on the training ground we, as fans, don’t know of.
Martinelli still doesn’t seem to have 90 minutes in him, no sense in pushing him too much
The ability to hold possession on the left better. In the 2nd half we were able to sustain pressure much much better and play the ball in their defensive half. In the first half we were countering and run and gun, but the pressure just kept coming right back at us. Of course It also Didn’t help that Partey’s turnovers were a problem this time out. But yeah, Willian gave us better combination play and possession to keep pressure on them and off of us. Sometimes it’s useful to pass backwards rather than take the high risk option every time… Read more »
Willian will always remain an enigma. He is well respected in the PL, which is why Utd respected him, and AWB paid more attention on defending, which made us look better.
Right now, Willian is like Walcott, put him on, defender gets scared, but so does our fans
I distinctly remember Willian taking an innocuous challenge and then hobbling around, gesturing for an assessment and to be subbed around 10mins after he came on.
He wasn’t hurt, he just didn’t fancy it. He was scared. I don’t understand why Arteta persists with giving him chances above others.
Let him have a few weeks off, rebuild some confidence in training, then give him a run out vs Benfica, and at the same time give the current opportunities to someone more deserving.
So much for non-negotiables.
He tells us. Wanted to be more aggressive and press better and higher. Something willian obviously does way better than martinelli who NEVER stops doing those things. What utter garbage! Whatever the reason he didn’t tell us. Either that or he just decided not to communicate to martinelli exactly what he wanted dine differently. My suspicion; he wanted to give willian more game time and martinelli is the easy option. Willian is his project. Wants to prove he’s a good signing even if it costs the team and the club and let’s the supporters down who ARE the club. Stubborn… Read more »
Playing with willian on the field is playing with 10 players. He’s there running all over doing nothing. We watch all our players perform but ive never seen such a useless player ever. He does nothing. Cant keep the ball. Cant get the ball in the net. Willian should have a backpack on him while hes on the field. He can be Arsenals waterboy. Run around to all the players while being on the field. Theres no better job for him. Hehehe
That was a bit harsh for Martinelli, even if our left flank attack seemed more threatening after Willian, who gave one of his better performances tonight, came on.
Agreed. The whole team did way better in the second half. One can only wonder if Martinelli would’ve buried that chance, but for once Willian was very good.
Shit, I was just reminded by Arteta about that 3 on 3 we had early on and Laca shot from 25 yards.
That was dumb.
Very dumb. Martinelli was in perfect position in the box to his left.
And think about Willian’s passive strike in the box from a good position.
Or just before McTominay went off. We won the ball back and had them outnumbered. I was screaming at the tv that the boy can’t run, he’s out of the game. I can’t remember who, but somebody (maybe Thomas) misplaced the pass out for a throw in.
Yup, Partey. His turnovers were poor today.
And an option to his right as well. Maybe just a rush of blood early on, he’s usually overly generous with passes
There were a number of opportunities like that, a player choosing to shoot a difficult shot instead of passing to runners in the box. I give them some credit for being aggressive, but that one extra pass gives an easier tap-in.
ESR also had an absolute gimme late on – just needed to square it left and prodded a tame shot.
I respected his confidence and drive for having a go at that point; on reflection though he should have passed. Still think he’s very good but not top draw; but neither are we….yet. Hopeful though as good show considering.
TBF Laca did score like that in Europa League and against Tottenham he just took his shot today without any conviction maybe because it was still early in the game or maybe he didnt catch it right he didn’t strike that with the kind of power he did in europa but against spurs, Laca can definitely score from those. I wasn’t too surprised hen didnt pass I was expecting him to take that shot intact. too bad he didnt hit it well thats why we can now talk about him not passing to Martinelli etc hindsight is always 20/20
In fairness, we were better in the second half and Willian was fine. Although I would have backed Martinelli to make a better fist of the chance he had, we did seem to have slightly better balance. Not really much to go on, but at this stage I’ll take some 6/10 performances from him.
This tactical issue does not show on the pitch, don’t see what Arteta see in this Willian he is a complete waste until proven otherwise.
He’s clearly not a complete waste.
Please can Tierney, Auba and Saka all be back for Tuesday. That is now a must win game if we want to stay in the race for top 6
I blame the bar: almost a genius move
I am sure it moved but VAR didn’t have a look once again…
Bruno could have been sent off today as well. Studding xhaka down the Achilles late, no attempt for the ball. Not even a yellow.
I’ve got a bad feeling about Martinelli’s future under Arteta. Hope I’m wrong.
Yes, you’re wrong. Martinelli is clearly the future. Dude just came back from a lengthy spell. I’d rather have him for 45 minutes of every game than none at all. Especially when it’s obvious he will definitely start playing week in week out. He signed a new contract under Arteta, let’s be patient.
Martinelli singed a new contract?
Didn’t know
Yeah don’t think he did. Saka did however and that’s a good start.
Martinelli signed a new contract, along with Saka.
I absolutely feel he is the future. Just got this feeling. 🤷🏼♂️
You are a true gunner’s well spoken
I hope so too. He is going to be a world beater with or without us and I hope he is with us. He’s a future £80 m player, I will bet on it.
Interesting decision. I wonder if it had to do with the United press and Willian being more secure in possession, particularly considering the added challenge Cedric faced in playing on the left.
Martinelli might be more likely to lose the ball, and with Cedric being booked. It might have been a precaution to avoid a second yellow.
Might be. Martinelli did lose the ball a few times. And although we were better in the second half I didn’t see Willian as being the reason
Maybe, but don’t forget the defensive awareness that Martinelli showed in getting back and heading that ball out for a corner. No way Willian would do that.
On the other hand, you could say Gabi completely lost Rashford into the box and was fortunate to make up for it with a scrambling header. I honestly don’t know whether Gabi should have been marking him, and he did make a brilliant recovery to head it away.
Also stopped Rashford 2 other times after [according to Charles Watts & later the NBC broadcasters] Ole told Rashford from the sidelines to take on Gabi any time bc “he can’t defend”.
Content with a draw considering who we had out. Second half we rattled them a bit.
Credit to Laca for getting under Maquire’s skin. We often critique his physicality but he was making himself a nuisance.
Hopefully the injuries heal for wolves 🤞
I feel like Gabi’s defensive effort at the back post gave him immunity from that change. If he really wanted to change things in that area why not swap out laca for willian and put martinelli central…
I thought the same thing at first but then i think we’d have had too many runners uptop and Laca’s link play and dropping deep seemed necessary at half time after a poor first half from the whole team. As it was we dominated start of 2nd half and that may have been a game changer…
Can’t criticise MA too much on it.
Why no words on Lacazette? Is he fine?
I think Willian was better today. Not convincing but not as bad as it used to be. Martinelli lacks sharpness because he’s just returning from a long term injury. That’s much expected. I expect him to have games like this for another 2 months or so. Our boy will soon be back to his best.
In no universe is putting on Willian a good decision…
I don’t think Arteta had a choice there. Martinelli was struggling to get in the game (and we saw this in the previous game as well), looking rusty and losing the ball too many times. Willian came on, managed to carry the ball further upfield, we were a threat down that left channel early in the 2nd half. His cut back to Pepe was brilliant, could have been a goal if not for the last ditch block.
I thought Martinelli had a knock. Can’t imagine what tactical reason we would exchange Martinelli for Willian. Martinelli baled us out on two occasions. OTOH Willian did have marginally slightly better results with us retaining more pressure in their half after the break although that could also very much be resultant from an overall concerted push to press higher. Pity we did not have Tierney or Saka on today. Thought Pepe had a reasonably decent game though. He’s improving even if he isn’t 72m worth yet. BUT overall, whilst we may be improving slowly as a team, realistically another 2… Read more »
Remember that header Martinelli dived in for defensively? Willian would NEVER do that.
I have no idea what MA is smoking but I am losing faith quickly.
i dunno what game you were watching. Apart from that header and a dink in box to lacazette, Martinelli offered nothing at all the entire half. Willian should have got an assist for that cut back to pepe. Made a big difference down the left flank.
As long as you forget the three unforced errors he had while dribbling? Yeh he was fantastic!
Fair enough but doesn’t a half time substitution imply to the subbed player that he was poor and is being punished? I’m not sure what tactically we were failing at with Gab that an out of form Willian by default changes or resolves, but of course, Arteta would know that. Just seems like a talk to tell Gabriel what he needs to improve to see if he can do it might have been more constructive? Then sub him at 60 if he doesn’t achieve it. I think these kind of things can really effect a players morale. Especially if he… Read more »
What message does that send to a young star in the making that gave his all!? Replaced by a has been that s been awful All season and looked like he really didn’t want the ball in final 3rd
Cannot see any legitimate tactical reason why Martinelli was hooked off. Then again, the comments say most of you can’t either. Pox on that willy.
Being less mobile than Martinelli, and therefore with less penetration, maybe Willy was sent on to stiffen is against United’s thrusting counter attacks. After a limp start, I thought he did ok.
The only positive from this admission by Arteta is that Martineli is not Injured.
Martinelli was taken off. Olli was heard shouting to rashford in the first half to run at martinelli and take him on because Olli said he can’t defend so that’s why martinelli was taken off. I was gutted when I saw willian coming on its so odd how all of a sudden he became a bad player. Have you all noticed how for years now arsenal has a problem with injuries. Party was very rarely injured before he joined. Now he’s injured regularly also mat ryan joins us and into his 2nd week he’s injured. This injury problem needs sorting.… Read more »
IMO Willian was and still is a complete waste of money . He brings nothing to the table . Why get shot of Ozil and keep dross like him . Beggars belief .
Hindsight is wonderful but, let’s all be honest, Willian seemed a no brainer signing when he became available from Chels for a freebie.The fact that he looks a shadow of his former self is no ones fault but his. Can’t really blame the club for signing him when it was clear that we needed some experience to support our young propects
We were lucky and they were lucky but poor Laca was unlucky.
Willian has bought into what is expected from him, Ozil didn’t, neither did Matteo, and my guess is Saliba also struggled with falling into line. What Arteta has shown is that Arsenal is to big a club for that, yes it in his name but I really can’t understand fans that have been unhappy for decades complaining when someone does the dirty mentality clean up Arteta now does. Willian needs to click, I say this cause it’s key for the success of Arteta, Willian is a convincing run of consistent top performances short to earn anywhere near the same affection
William needs to go…. uselsss
I know the saying about statistics, but I had to check… I thought Willian was decent when he came on and we actually carried a threat down the left in the second half. It surprised me that Martinelli came off at half-time, though bar the last ditch header at the back post to deny Rashford (when he failed to track back initially) and one key pass, he was fairly anonymous for most of the first half. Anyway, the stats… WhoScored?com has Martinelli at 6.9 (higher than I thought it would be) and Willian at 7.2. That’s higher than all who… Read more »