In the second half of his post-West Ham press conference, which also doubles up as his pre-Fulham media appearance, Mikel Arteta touched on his side’s recent struggles in front of goal, as well as answering questions on the form of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, and the increased tension of the Emirates Stadium crowd.
Here’s what he had to say…
On how confident he is his team won’t panic after a run of disappointing results…
There’s no panic, it’s about trying to do more and do better and win games. If the team plays like this its going to win a lot of games.
On whether his team can win the title playing as they did on Thursday…
If they don’t improve in the boxes, no. But generating the rest, you say it’s a record [for touches in the box without a goal], no? So I don’t think there’s many teams in the league that have done that for many years, so it’s something very positive.
On whether Saka and Martinelli are feeling the strain…
I don’t know. Obviously, there are a lot of games but they looked really good, they looked fresh. When you win, you don’t look at that. They are young, if they are 35 maybe it’s a different question but they have a lot of energy and they can keep going, that’s for sure.
On whether his side lacked a spark…
Without a spark, you don’t generate what the team generated today. It’s impossible! But it’s the final touch, the final action to put the ball in the net or not and that’s what we need.
On tension in the crowd getting to his players…
I don’t know. We want to win, they want to win with us and they are pushing the team to do that. Listen, there is nothing we can demand of the crowd, they’ve been exceptional for us and the only thing we can do is give them more and get a lot more back.
On tension being a sign of increased expectations…
For sure, they want to win and they know the margins are really small and they want to see the team win and this is what we have to do.
On Arsenal potentially being fourth by the time we play Fulham and whether it matters…
No, it’s not. And we can be second as well, and winning, we can be first. We just have to focus on what we can control, there’s no time to look at other teams, you’ve seen how difficult it is for teams on Tuesday and Wednesday and it’s going to continue to be like that because the level in this league is incredible.
I’m positive we’ll win at Craven Cottage and it’ll be a jovial happy new year all over again, but come January we’ll need some reinforcements upfront and sort out our mid partnership (particularly left 8) if we are really serious about winning the league.
Over to you Josh, Vinai and Edu!
what is an left 8? who do you suggest as a solution to this mythical problem.
I don’t think we played badly, just that we weren’t accurate enough with our shots on goal. Any other time we win easily. But forwards and onwards.
I don’t think we played well either. The front 4 created decently, but weren’t clinical and made uncharacteristic mistakes. It was Rice’s worst game for Arsenal and we weren’t great defending their counters. Despite all that their first goal should have been ruled out and clear cut pens on Saka and Jesus were ignored (but we know they always will be). I’d say we were poor and despite that we should have got more from the game. We need to be A LOT better if we are truly ambitious for the title. I think we need a forward in January,… Read more »
There is this French kid who plays for AC Milan who would be ideal for our guys to play off. He did pretty well at Chelsea as well..
Agreed.
Because he rarely rotates players, it must be difficult for the subs to come on and feel the rhythm of the game. Surely giving Smith Rowe or Nelson a starting role over Saka/Martinelli occasionally would help future proof in case on injury or tiredness? As well as freshening up our best players?
I dont get his thinking.
Mick is obviously thinks more deeply about football than Mik.
@LaDéfense: Yes indeed Mik thinks deeply about record touches in the box and how to create that opening channel by passing from the opposition 6 yard box straight to your own keeper and start the process again. By any means under no circumstances shoot at the goal.
We did have 30 shots or something
How many on target?
Other than Saka hitting the post, I really don’t recall sitters being missed. Not for the first time this season, or even last, we were blunt.
I don’t think it’s the first time. We’re not being clinical enough in front of goal. All three of Gabriel, Jesus and Saka need to improve their goal conversion statistics. They’re all below par on the season in the EPL, while all three have looked great in the Champions League. We need more from them. Simple.
Saka hitting the post was probably more difficult than his 2 headers, Jesus header, and Martinelli shooting wide from 10 yards.
Mick might well be more open minded than Mik. Maybe Mick can see the woods from the trees.
I agree, but more than the rhythm are the automatisms of MA’s micromanaged system that are difficult to pick up.
Playing ESR or Trossard rather than Kai it’s like squeezing a square peg into a round hole and so if ESR plays all else needs to be moved around.
Likewise KT or Kiwior for Zinny.
only Tommy can go LB or RB.
Well said, I just go to Brighton and I wonder there is a player there who is not first team, because anybody at can play in any match, isvESR that bad not to have started the West Ham game or not to have come on earlier? Trossard seemed to have picked a knock way earlier and was even limping, yet he stayed on for as long as possible 🙊, and ESR would have been sitting on the bench and wondering what on earth it would take for him to have a sustained play in the team, SMH 🤦♂. Anyway, we… Read more »
“ say it’s a record [for touches in the box without a goal”
Why does this reminds me of teams that have record possession of the ball and can’t win ?
We seem to have entered a new age in football where stats is what counts.
According to the underlying metrics we’ve nothing to worry about. According to people who watch the games the games the results and performance away to Newcastle Aston Villa and Liverpool were not very good, with only 1 goal scored.
What sort of new striker is it that will make a big difference? No point in signing someone who isn’t proven against a low block, because that is the real challenge. Pepe was great. running the length of the pitch onto space (ditto why we let Balogun go). Maybe it is just someone with better chance conversion stats.
Id be keen to revisit someone like Vlahovic. We clearly saw something in him before he went to Juve, and he started well there. He’s not been great since but he doesn’t get a lot of service from a defensive team.
Like you, I am not exactly sure what people are talking about. Excluding a Haaland (a transformative player for whom it is worth changing your entire approach), what number 9 is even theoretically out there? I thought the type of player we missed against West Ham was (to use categories we all understand) Aaron Ramsey (or the 2022 Granit Xhaka), not Olivier Giroud. (Please, not debates about Giroud’s quality or that he was underrated; that’s not the point I’m making.) In other words, an attacking midfielder who can make a late run into the box either to receive the ball… Read more »
And Emile can do it too.
Mateta has a good link up play reminds me of Giroud and is very good at pressing.
He’s not even good enough for Palace, let alone arsenal
Remember when we signed Reyes and it gave us a huge boost for the title run in? We need something like this to not only give us more goals but also to spark something in the others. I don’t think we’ll win the title this season, but an astute signing will at least give us a chance. Without it I’m convinced we won’t finish higher than 3rd.
Glad he also touched upon the fact that the money for Havertz and Raya (future payment) would have been better spent on a striker.