Mikel Arteta has waved away suggestions Arsenal have become one-trick wonders with their prowess from set pieces and laid out his ambitions for the club to be the best on every conceivable level.
After scoring four goals from corners in a single week, the Gunners have earned plenty of praise for adding a new dimension to their game, even being labelled ‘corner kings’. However, this success has also drawn some snide remarks from pundits and opposition fans, seemingly irked by the transformation of a club long criticised for lacking physicality – particularly during Mikel Arteta’s playing days.
“We want to be the kings of everything,” explained Arteta ahead of Sunday’s clash at Fulham.
“On set pieces, the best in the world. High press, the best in the world. Attacking open spaces, the best in the world. Atmosphere in the stadium, the best. The best at everything.
“Before it was about, we didn’t score enough. We were soft at defending, we didn’t have [the right] mentality. We weren’t physical enough. We could not challenge the top teams. 22 years, 17 years, 20 years without winning away from home in the big matches.
“We want to be the best at everything. We want to have the best academy, the best individual development for players. The best of the best. Recruit the best players, best coaches. That’s the aim.
“That’s the objective. If not, we have to go and do something else.”
In the aftermath of Wednesday’s win over Manchester United, ex-Red Devil Dimitar Berbatov compared Arsenal to Stoke City – a reference to the Tony Pulis era at the former Premier League club. They were remarks that came across as both lazy and conceited.
Arteta wouldn’t bite when asked about comments deemed to be an insult. “I understood very well what Berbatov said,” he remarked. “It was in the best possible way. We’ll take it as a big compliment. 100 per cent.”
While the manager is delighted his staff, particularly set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, have been the subject of praise, he pointed out his squad still has room for improvement across a number of areas.
“Well, that [praise] is great. Obviously, we are very good at a lot of things. We take it as a compliment and just as fuel to be better because we are not perfect at all.
“Even in that department or defending set-pieces, we can conceded three chances [on Wednesday]. The three of them were coming from that [set-piece] kind of situation. So there is a lot to improve and the margins are always there for us to explore and try to get better.”
Having closed the gap on league leaders Liverpool to seven points, you sense the manager is bullish about his side’s title chances. This was real chest puffed-out stuff.
No doubt it’ll boil even more piss.
We’re simply the best!
Better than all the rest!
A good strong Irish surname you have there
Typical of critics. ”Arsenal can’t score from open play etc etc”
Dude, we’ve scored 16 goals in 5 games. Give it a rest.
I don’t know how many times Pulis’ Stoke scored a goal like Trossard’s against West Ham (going back only one match). I’m not sure how many times *a season* the old West Brom teams had a pass like Ødegaard’s.
“it’s good to be the king” –
Mel Brooks
I really wish our luck with Injuries get better. Ben, Gabi, Cali, and Tomi are massive players for us to be missing. Getting Timber who is so versatile at the back was a huge bonus for us. I wonder, In a perfect world with Ben White and Califiori back, what position will Timber play? Also Kiwior had a good game which should hopefully boost his confidence. Just worried a bit about his pace and how easily the guy at Sporting went past him.
We’re the kings of injuries!
King of my castle – Wamdue Project
King of Snake — Underworld
King King – The Red Devils (but thankfully, not those Red Devils)
Endless years of “Another zonal marking goal allowed, Arsenal are too soft and naive, same old Arsenal” are seamlessly replaced by “Arsenal can only score from set pieces, same old Arsenal”. Haters are going to hate.
Dimitar Wankertov – I’m sure he’d have been great at defending those corners.
I can see him now leaning on the near post in his silk jacket blowing smoke at Gabriel, big Willy and Timber as they terrorise Fulham. Blubatov once said “I looked cool with a cigarette” … hope he needs a few to ease the stress of a 0-5 loss on Sunday at Craven A Cottage.
3 ex united players all coming out trying to shape a new narrative with our style of play…to get eyes on our aggressiveness in the box on corners. The old boys club who got their way all those years now begging to see if the league will do what? get on us like they did about ”wasting time”? Its disgusting behaviour imo and if the league does react then its blatant corruption.