Ahead of Saturday’s draw with Aston Villa, Mikel Arteta spoke with Sky Sports’ Patrick Davison about the fragility of managerial life, managing expectations, his approach to preparing teams, his inspirations, and fostering the right culture at Arsenal.
Here’s a transcript…
On the mood around Arsenal being subject to huge volatility, the most he’s ever experienced…
Well, it is volatile because you have certain expectations. And when the expectation is to win, it’s volatile for all the teams that are in that category. It is volatile because you are there or you’re not good enough, that’s it. And not good enough means a result, it doesn’t necessarily mean a performance in sports, but we have to accept that.
On how he avoids swinging from high to low…
Just having some perspective, analysing what we do, analysing the data, striving to be better but understanding as well that a lot of the things that we do are right, because if not, you just throw everything away and it’s not right.
On whether he leans on data to understand if his side played well or if he relies on the eye test…
More than that is you have a game in mind and we understand a game that we want to play that’s going to give us the best chance to win it. How similar that game it was? And if that game has been shifted, how good we’ve been with that game that we had to play. And xG is one thing, but xG has to be really well analysed, there are a lot of factors because you can get very frustrated with it as well. So it’s the dynamic of the game, what was the sequence of play, how it happened, who was involved in that, how accurate we’ve been in every phase, it’s a lot.
On how often games go as he expects…
In periods of time, a lot. Understanding why it goes the right way and the wrong way. So that’s not too difficult to predict.
On football surely being impossible to predict, for example, Arsenal going one-nil down against Sp*rs after dominating…
Yeah, but if you defend a second phase of a corner at the edge and you turn your body, it’s very likely that you’re going to concede a goal, a deflection or a penalty. So that’s probability. I’m not surprised about that. I was really annoyed that with everything that we’ve done, we haven’t scored, now we concede.
On when he started analysing football in granular detail…
[When I was ] 14, 15 years old in Barcelona, they changed the world to me. It’s like the sky opened and I said, this is a different sport.
On Guardiola citing Johan Cruyff as the man who opened his eyes and whether he had such a person in his life…
Well, Johan was the influence of everything when I was in Barcelona and La Masia at that age and all the coaches that worked in the academy, it was the same because he was the one that injected that vision, that passion and understanding for the game in the manner that he did. And then from there, obviously, the game is involved. Pep took the game and his vision to a very different level. And then all the other coaches that have helped us to get where we are.
On whether Cruyff is football’s greatest innovator…
For me, yes. For me, I fall in love with that team. Honestly, I was six, seven years old, completely fall in love with that team, that way of playing.
On how that love manifested itself…
Everything, everything [posters and kits]. I had everything at home. My dad used to send me to bed. If Barcelona was losing 1-0, I was going mad.
On whether he’s calmed down since…
Now, yes. Now I just suffer enough with Arsenal. I don’t suffer with any other team, believe me, I have enough. And just when I see my kids play, that’s as well I get [nervous] because I really want the best for them.
On the fragility of being a manager and how quickly a project can fall apart…
We always say that it’s the culture that creates, but that’s internal. And that’s like, I use the word drizzle all the time. It’s like not a lot of rain, but it’s always raining. And you go there without a jacket and after five minutes, I don’t need a jacket, it’s not raining. And then you are soaking wet, you know? That’s what we need every single day. Because if you don’t do it every day, in five days, in five weeks, in two months, it cracks and then it’s done and you have to start again. Because that’s how cruel the game is.
On whether this season has seen more drizzle than usual…
It’s all about expectations, honestly. And it happened with our families, with my kids. What do you expect from my kid? To get to his room and everything is tidy, go to the toilet and they flush it every time, and the toothpaste is in the right place, and they eat and they’re always in time and they’re always dressed. It’s not like this, I’m sorry. And we want everything perfect, but this game is very imperfect. And we want to be the best. And when you are there and the level of margins are so small, that’s what it is.
On how he deals with those expectations…
The worst ones are mine. I look and I’m never happy. I always look and I always have this stuff and you always want to be better and you should be better – we are late on the press, we don’t have the right timing, look at this structure, we haven’t anticipated this issue, we didn’t plan that well, they made the change that it took us three minutes instead of two. It has to be like this if you want to be better than the opposition.
On whether he’s easy to work for…
That’s not a question for me.
On whether he tries to be…
I like to be challenged. I like people really to say what they think and I like people that are accountable for their jobs. And especially passionate. If you are not passionate about what you do, I think I’m a very difficult person because I’m very demanding. So I need you to love what you do. You do it for an hour, for 10 hours, love what you do because that’s why we’re here and we have to be contagious and transmit that energy to the team.
On plans to develop the team not developing because of this season’s various issues…
Yeah, for sure. A lot of things. But we need to now be really consistent in the things that we are so good at because we don’t have time to train them. And we already have certain players playing in different positions, in different roles and we cannot put more [tactical] demands [on them]. They already have a lot of demands. Putting more demands is tricky. There’s always a trick and every game has three specific messages that we want to accomplish to be efficient.
On the team being given three specific messages for each game…
Yeah, sometimes one.
On the type of message he might give…
It can be one very specific thing. It can be an Achilles tendon of the position. This is the Achilles tendon. Too much information is not information for me. It means we cannot dissect the game. We cannot filter the game in a way. It’s a lot of things that have to happen and then try to understand how we get there in different ways. That’s it.
On whether being second in the league and third in the Champions League represents a crisis…
I don’t know. I think perception versus reality in this sport changes pretty dramatically. So I understand that.
On how close he is to building his ‘dream’ Arsenal team…
Far because that dream is constantly winning major trophies. That’s what we have to try to do and that’s the ambition of the club.
Interesting.
Jesus
Injured.
So close to winning the PL three seasons in a row, he is doing a lot right and not being very lucky when we have dominated games and not come away with three points.
We’ve come a long way with him from the years before. let’s hope he gets what he needs (less inuries, bad refereeeing decisions, a top class striker and our full support) to take the final step up.
Lots of words and not a lot of content for someone who says “too much information is not information for me.”
I understand what he is saying.
I.e. he only has a few messages at game time and they are macro/hinge points about what determines the way the game will go. If there is too much information discussed at that point it becomes counter-productive. The players after all, are operating on previously accumulated information and their own instincts and abilities, so they need simple important directives about the game.
I’ve applied this principle myself when coaching kids, albeit at a much lower level.
Well, yeah, kids are shorter, by and large.
You don’t build a dream team by falling to recognise that you need to sign the players to score the goals to win you the games to make you great 😕
It becomes predictable, just go back in time to Xhaka. Negativity and the inability to comprehend that there is a reason(s) why only one team, one manager can claim victory. How full is someone’s glass, are they living a journey or seeking a destination…the internet gives the “empty glassers” way way too much influence. Arteta is a brilliant manager, our team plays with grit and class. Wabi Sabi… beauty in imperfection.
People just cannot wait to get the digs in on a simple interview. Football fans are half the problem of the modern game.
Yeah, gone are the days when they’d simply beat the shit out of each other.
Superb and concise!
I remember the days when just getting in and out of a game was all the stress involved in watching footy. The worst was always from other clubs fans, now the worst is always from our own clan.
100% I swear social media has created a generation of mouth breathers, half of which weren’t there in the Wenger hinterlands or Unai’s tenure. I’m disappointed with how the season is playing out, the league was ours for the taking, that we have choked is annoying, but to shit on the man who literally rebuilt our club from laughing stock to challenging year after year is insane to me.
Do you not think that saying Arsenal have “choked” is an example of the problem? Do you not think that believing “the league was ours for the taking” is an example of the sense of entitlement that leads “supporters” to such excessive attacks on Arteta? Why was it not Liverpool’s “for the taking,” or Chelsea’s, or Newcastle’s? I want to repeat something I have said before: if Havertz misses a sitter, it is football. It is not a war crime.
No it’s not a war crime but havertz does miss a lot of sitters and we could do with better upfront if we are to win the league. Pointing that out is not being “entitled” it’s constructive criticism of a team that is close to winning it all, but still seems to be incapable of addressing the glaring weaknesses that (for two and half seasons now) have prevented us from being champions.
i love this! true talk!!!!
I still believe.
Always the same four or five people on here who do nothing but slaughter the manager, players and club every time. They are relentless in their negativity.
I really do wish they’d just phuq off and spread their bile and pathological projected negativity on AFTV, Talksport, and Arsenal Truth (if that mug’s still going). Special ‘FYMs’ to those berating Blogs with ‘stick to football’; kunz.
He sets the bar very high for himself, holds himself accountable not giving excuses. It is more than ironic that others feel it is their responsibility to hold him accountable yet they have not achieved as much in their own pursuits and passions. He has a very high emotional intelligence. If you can’t see that, then you can’t see that.
He is accountable and he knows it. It’s part of his job. I guess with your logic only prime ministers can hold the prime minister to account. For the record, I support Arteta for manager at present. This doesn’t mean Arsenal supporters cannot hold him accountable. As for high EQ, such individuals are not usually perceived as arrogant, do not have shit fits over a throw in at the half way line, and do not belittle opponents by saying Arsenal “dominated” a match that they lost.
The fact that we are not strongly linked with any strikers so far this window indicates two things. 1. We won’t sign anyone. 2. We have someone in mind, but things are complicated and we hope to pull it off on deadline day. Also, Kiwior has to go. We need someone we can trust to cover for Saliba and Gabriel. This moving TP to right back is getting silly.
Partially agree on Kiwior but I don’t think it’s worth the bandwidth to move him on now, unless the cash we get for him can go towards a forward.
You’re not wrong about decent cover being required. Not just for Big G and Saliba, but Saka as well. But imagine you’re a stellar CB or RW in the making, with tons of game time in a top 6 league. Arsenal come knocking and say that you’ll be competing with Saliba or Saka for a starting spot. Would you go? Getting good cover for our best players is bound to be tough.
If we’ve learned anything over the 5.5 matches Saka’s been injured is that we need an upgrade on Saka not cover. In 16 league starts this season Saka has scored 5 goals, (4 in open play) and in the 5.5 matches he’s been out his replacements on the right have scored 3. We improved from 1 goal every 4 matches to a goal every other match. Not only that but our points per match is up from 1.94 per match to 2.2 per match. Saliba on the other hand is our best player and very difficult to have adequate cover… Read more »
Wow this is quite possibly the craziest thing I’ve ever seen commented on this website. Kudos.
What’s wrong with it, is it wrong?
Well I’ll take your word for it on the goal contributions, I don’t particularly care but sure we’ll assume that’s correct and you’re right.
Objectively, yes, it’s very wrong.
If you frequently watch Arsenal games- as I presume you do- it’s very clear he’s an incredible footballer and quite frankly the only two players who could be argued to be an upgrade are Salah and Yamal. The former is nearly 33 and the latter would cost £200m+.
For what it’s worth I wouldn’t take either.
I watch him every match and my eyes tell me he’s a good player but certainly not exceptional or world class. His goal scoring is politely described as below average in his position and could easily be upgraded, from a goal output perspective he’s our 3rd best winger. Neither is he a scorer of great quality, match winning goals. Comparisons with Salah are quite frankly comical, if Salah played for us we’d be top of the league. I don’t know why the comparisons are made or what purpose it serves. As a team we’re missing individual moments of attacking quality… Read more »
You’re entitled to your opinion…. but you’ve failed to mention Saka’s 10 premier league assists, and when you include that with his goals, it’s basically a goal contribution every game. He also has 4 goals and 2 assists in 5 champions league games. And that’s this season, mostly without Odegaard, his stats have been excellent in the two seasons before (16/9 and 14/11 G/A in the league). And he’s still only 23 years old. You say if Salah played for us, we’d be top of the league. But if he played in front of Partey instead of TAA, and without… Read more »
I haven’t included assists because I don’t agree with how they’re compiled. They’re not assists but final passes, I don’t agree that a backward of square pass to a teammate who scores a 25 yarder is an assist, of which both of Saka’s “assists” to Partey are and i’m not picking on him because don’t think Odegaard’s pass for Tossard against Spurs was an assist either, or Martinelli to Calafiori against City to pick just 2. Gabriel was accredited with an assist against Palace after the ball rolled down his leg FFS!! Saka’s expected assists is 5.8 not 10, which has… Read more »
“Saka’s expected assists is 5.8 not 10, which has nothing to do with him, he’s the beneficiary of his team mates good finishing and highly effective set pieces.” Well I think that’s the first time I’ve seen someone describe Arsenal’s finishing as “good” this season. I also find it remarkable that you don’t consider Saka’s delivery to be a factor in the effectiveness of our set pieces. You also say Saka is awful at shooting, but failed to address my rebuttal to the Salah comparison, and how that affects shot quality. And yes our right hand side has scored more… Read more »
It may be the first time you’ve seen it described as good because you don’t look at the numbers. Saka’s corners are an element but just an element to our set pieces and the reason I know that is 1) we’re just as effective from the other side, 2) Gabriel disproportionally scores from them. If i was going to rank the reasons that we’re effective from corners they would be 1) Our 4/5 runners/blockers, 2) Gabriels ability to get on the end of crosses, 3) the cross and 4) opposition panic As for being more productive because Odegaard’s playing,… Read more »
Still think that comparing Saka and Salah without considering the differences in their teams styles and players is a big mistake, and focusing on non-penalty shot efficiency far too narrow a stat, especially given how close they were in G/A last season. On top of that, you’re also ignoring creativity and defensive output. Don’t agree with your ranking of set piece factors either, and I think it’s instructive how much less effective our set pieces appear to be without Saka or Rice taking them. Now, I’m not saying Saka is a perfect player, certainly there’s a lot he can improve… Read more »
I think our corners are put into areas that the goalkeeper would be able to catch if not for our blockers, for me they are the major factor.
As for your issue of style of play, why don’t you apply that to our other attackers? They could all be the best player in the world under the perfect conditions. The truth is this is the team he plays in and those are the numbers he puts up. If he could he would but he doesn’t, it’s a simple as that
The biggest problem at the club right now is the culture. It’s a culture that has been promoted and inculcated by the owners. It’s a culture that accepts mediocrity and failure.
“Fourth is a trophy” sums up everything that’s wrong with this club.
Until there is a change in culture this club will continue to go nowhere. We need a winning mentality. And that starts at the top.
I couldn’t disagree more.
The “fourth is a trophy” thing was 10-15 years ago at a time when we were financially hamstrung from the new stadium and Wenger did miracles to get us into fourth and CL football year after year.
In my opinion, the culture we have now, that Arteta and his team have cultivated, is one of never being satisfied with where we are (in a pretty good place in my view) and striving to always improve and get better. We are not ‘there’ yet, but we’re on the right path.
Really? Then why haven’t we bought any players in this transfer window when we are absolutely desperate for some?
The owners only care about top four. We have just about enough at the moment to secure CL football for next season and so that will do.
The mentality around the club makes me sick.
We have become a joke.
The window isn’t closed yet…
They haven’t bought any because if they bought the most gettable player instead of the one that improves this team, you’d be in the comments slaughtering the manager and the player for not being good enough 2 months from now.
This has no credibility whatsoever fats. We have challenged for the league the last two seasons and so fourth is a trophy is just bollox now. We are second at the moment and context needs to be applied when critiquing us. Some shocking ref and var calls, injuries and suspensions play there part. Rodri out of city and look what happened. Take van dyke out of Liverpool and see them struggle. Context my friend.
There are a few issues, but culture isn’t one. We have a group of players that have been selected not just on ability, but also on mentality and attitude. It is evident that this is a group of players that enjoy working together, and that in turn appeals to players who want to be part of that culture. We can now attract some of the best players in world football. Four of the thirty ballon d’or 2024 nominees play for Arsenal. We are attracting players that the best teams in the world want to sign. It wasn’t so long ago… Read more »
You’ve embarrassed yourself here fatgooner, take a break till Feb 1st
I do find the amount of hate he gets from opposition supporters to be hilarious. Many are desperate for us to sack him, and I think that’s pretty telling. In contrast, I was desperate for United to keep Ten Haag for example. From where we were when he came to now is night and day, but we did a bit more on the transfer side of things to get over the line.
Big Ange can stay as long as he likes too
I find the amount of hate he gets from some so-called Arsenal supporters to be astounding, to be honest. They need to go back and watch some of those late Wenger matches, and Emery matches, and see how awful we were. A decent forward to share the load and lift spirits is desperately needed now.
Or they need to get off social media because its doing them no justice.
Think for those who grew into the internet we’ve managed to mostly see the change and ridiculous bullshit social changes that has come with it.
For those born into the internet… They think its the real world.
Sad thing is…It may well become the real world.
Honestly asking: is this Arteta hatred from Arsenal supporters on YouTube, at the pub,or where? On this blog, I mostly see criticism about lack of a great striker, debate about his tactics, and the perennial TP@RB. There’s very few “Arteta out” comments. As for his being arrogant, that’s also debatable. In these interviews and pressers, he’s doing a job. The job is not always to be candid; hardly ever, in fact. Nonetheless, I can totally see why supporters of other clubs call him an arrogant twat. It grates somewhat to go onto a BBC HYS with 2,500 comments and 90%… Read more »
This is one of the few sensible Arsenal sites and I’m very grateful to Blogs for keeping it so. Arsenal has more than it’s fair share of idiots who live to denigrate the manager. I honestly believe that aftv and other parasites who use the club to generate clicks have contributed to the toxicity around the club, by encouraging negativity and making a laughing stock of the club and the manager for money. Mikel Arteta has the best win percentage of any Arsenal manager ever, has taken this club from being a banter club to being title contenders, while dealing… Read more »
Well said and I fully agree.
the truth is only one: when going into the market, every year you need to improve the team; this summer’s transfers (in and out) did not improve the team.
It’s hilarious/sad that 10 people downvote this true statement. How can you think otherwise?!
First, if SKY said it was raining I would look out of the window just to be sure. They are part of the mechanism in this country that creates an atmotphere that borders on hatred and personal villification towards teams like Arsenal and Arteta in particular with their know nothing and, frankly, biased “pundits” who build teams up all season and then watch as none of their so called predictions come to fruition. Sky is not the be all and end all of sporting knowledge, least of all our national sport. Their pundits are old Footballing has beens and in… Read more »
Initially owned by Murdoch.
Now owned by the Yanks who have zero understanding of what news is. They only know entertainment.
Says it all.
I agree with everything apart from “teams like”. ETH was more ridiculed than hated. Outside the Kop, Klopp hatred was hardly universal. For people disliking Pep, Citeh fans cup their genitals and point to ill-gotten trophies. Ange, like ETH, is starting to get ridiculed, but hardly hated. Slot, Iraola, Nuno, Frank, McKenna are heroes to their clubs and respected by other clubs. Maresca and Howe come across as very measured. Sure, the pundits stoke the flames to burn Arteta, but he started that particular fire. Still, I believe we can win trophies with him – but never a PR battle,… Read more »
I love this man.
Very much agree with today’s positive comments. Team badly needs the fans behind them now. We haven’t fallen apart, yes we’re struggling but who wouldn’t in our situation. Were still alive and there’s plenty to play for. Coyg
Go back to the formula that should have won us the title 2 years ago. He over analyses tactics and possession, totally lost the plot he has. We’re predictable, too reliable on set pieces, too slow, utterly boring to watch and poor-except Rice – signings being far too obsessed with multi functional players. Can’t be easy for players to have him on the side of the pitch as he’s far too animated. Project had failed
apart from failed project, in total agreement I’m
We’ve definitely taken a step backwards in our development this season and i think most of us had hoped our summer transfer business would be aimed at improving our attack and opening up a bit instead he went with a doubling down on duel winning. As the season’s gone on he’s actually gone even further down this path with the introduction of Lewis-Skelly at left back, who is the very definition of a duel winner. A player who in different times I would have been hugely welcomed but in this team of functionality over form seems like a tactical regression… Read more »
Ffs, I’m now reading about Evan Ferguson and Igor Jesus. If that’s the best we can do, I’m not feeling inspired.
I back him 100 pct. Even including questionable choices. I doubt we can find a manager that want this club as passionate as he want it. As the players want it. So for me it’s on the Kroenkes. They are main responsible for what was able to happen last summer. They are the main responsible now. If they don’t act its on them. They are the ones leaving Arteta and the boys in an close to impossible situation.
Im still happy with him and most other clubs would have him as Manager in a heartbeat. Not saying he is perfect at all. But nor is anyone.
However some decisions baffle me. Surely on Saturday it was an ideal chance to blood a young academy winger rather than a past it Sterling? Fans would have been fully behind the player not on his back. Maybe just maybe it could have made a difference and also given the player their first step as a pro. Saka and Nwaneri also started somewhere.