Mikel Arteta says he always explains his selection decisions to his players and insists ‘clarity’ is important when trying to manage their emotions.
For the most part, the Gunners have benefited from a very settled starting XI in the Premier League this season with minutes handed to those on the fringes of things in the cup competitions.
However, with only nine games remaining, all efforts focused on the Premier League run-in and lots of players available, it’s obvious the Spaniard has a job on his hands keeping everybody in the dressing room happy.
Last month it was revealed that Arteta had even rebranded his substitutes as “impacters” with the aim of making his players feel more involved. That he has five subs to play with certainly makes his life easier.
“It depends on the moment,” he said when asked how difficult it is managing competition for places.
“It depends on what we want to do and the qualities that we’re seeking, and the relationships that there is.
“When you have five changes you have the ability to change the game. It’s much better to have this problem because at the moment they’re really good.”
On talking to his players about the decisions he makes, he continued:
“We normally do that. Especially with the players that are in contention to understand what we needed and why we made that decision.
“So it’s clarity and when there is clarity, I think the emotional state of the player is much better to be ready for the club and the team that we are going to be facing on Sunday.”
Arsenal currently have 19 of their 23 first team players available with two, Mo Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu, sidelined for the rest of the season and two, William Saliba and Eddie Nketiah, still hoping to play a part in the coming seven weeks.
He wouldn’t be drawn on his team news before Sunday’s clash with Liverpool but he’s positive his side can reverse a winless run in the league at Anfield that dates back 11 years.
Great managing, shows why the whose squad are so positive together!!!
As a leader/boss you have to be clear in all you do and clear in you instructions and demands
In football, nursing, whatever.
COYG
given the game is likely to be more open than many of the sides we’ve faced in recent weeks, could KT be in for a surprise start?
Nope with Zinchenko in we can try and dominate the ball more and make it less of an open game and more of a hopefully controlled performance on our part. KT a very useful option to come off the bench in the 2nd half depending on the state of play
What do we need most in this game, control or defensive compactness?
Ideally both but I reckon we need to go out and control the game like we know we can. Defensively they’re weak and their strong point will be counters. More of the ball we have, more chance of us threatening that back line and limiting their chances of countering
I’m not sure it’s as much about having the ball as about not losing it in our own half or in sensitive situations, that’s where Liverpool really thrives. Letting them have the ball in their own half isn’t really an issue, in fact sometimes it might be helpful so that we can also put pressure on them and do to them what they love to do unto others, force turnovers and attack them when they’re not organised. Trying to crack their defense when they’re set will be difficult at Anfield.