Mikel Arteta says he’s still requires a couple more weeks in training before being ready for first team action.
The Arsenal captain, who was last seen in action against Borussia Dortmund in late November, underwent an operation in January that saw him ruled out for three months.
The initial return date has since come and gone, however, with Francis Coquelin performing well in the defensive midfield position Arsene Wenger hasn’t had to rush back his Spaniard.
“I haven’t trained enough with the team yet to come back into the side,” said Arteta in his ‘Captain’s Nose’ for the Chelsea match.
“We need to manage the workload on the ankle. I played for the under-21s against Stoke recently, and I’ve been feeling OK, but I’m not in a position yet where I can feel perfect and just go out there forgetting about my ankle.
“I need to train more with the team, get my confidence and build it up. My aim now is to train with the team for another week or two and then be able to say to the boss ‘OK, I’m ready now if you want to pick me.’
“It’s been a frustrating time for me, but I would love to be able to finish the season by lifting a trophy of course.”
Elsewhere, Arsene Wenger has compared Olivier Giroud’s aggression to that of an animal. Playing up the journey his compatriot has made from the depths of France’s third division to life at the World Cup he noted:
“Giroud has a fantastic body strength. Sometimes he became really aggressive when he was challenged, and you do not want him to be.
“Sometimes he needed to be challenged really physically to really become that animal he can be. But on the other hand, Giroud is a player who has improved tremendously technically.
“You take some pictures of Giroud when he arrived, and today he is a different player. If he can combine both, let’s not forget this guy [weighs] 92kgs. When he walks on your feet, you feel it.
“What I admire in Olivier is his mental strength as well. When a guys plays at 20 in the third division of French football and gets up again into the national team, there is some mental strength there, it is not easy.”
For what it’s worth, Arseblog News has always seen Giroud as a sexy beast.
I don’t know what the future holds for Arteta, personally I hope he’s not going anywhere even if he looks to have a hard time cracking the starting XI. He’s been a solid and reliable if not always spectacular member of the team, and his coolness and attitude can contribute to any roster even when he’s not on the pitch. Like many Arsenal players, I find his personality very hard not to like.
Good for another season if fit. Great influence.
I agree, there’s a lot of talk about the importance of having experienced characters in and around the squad as much as to give advice and guidance to younger members as playing every minute of every game. I definitely think arteta is one of those. I’m proud arsenal aren’t the sort of club that just ship off their experienced, loyal players to the states like the mugsmashers and Chelsea.
He should be given some league cup run out next season. He may not be in the same class as Bergkamp, but I do think he was a good attacking player back in his Everton days.
We’ve already seen him sitting in the coaching area rather than the subs bench just behind… I’m hopeful he ends his career with us after next season and just keeps on learning on that bench 😀
Let’s hope the animal in Giroud is out there today when playing against John Terry, in a controlled way of course. I reckon he can beast Terry.
Loving the mental image of HFB accidentally stepping on le prof’s toes!
And today ‘accidentally’on John Terry’s
on John Terry’s face.*
And bollocks.
And soul
Wait, sorry.. My bad.. John Terry doesn’t have a soul.
Knock Him out again? I’d say lets do that. 😀
I admire Arteta and think he’s got some unfair criticism, saying that I think he can be upgraded and should be.
Captains nose? Come on The Arsenal
And a fine nose it is, the captain’s
Its simple…either one of arteta or flamini has to leave. I’d rather keep arteta as we have Coq who is as combative as flamini USED to be.
We need a ne DM; simple as that. We can’t win the league with arteta and Coq as our options. Lets put emotions aside.
I hope he stays for another season. We are just about through the transitional phase and still need those ‘old heads’ around for a while. The invincibles broke up too quickly to help those taking over. Calming influence in the dressing room.
“Elsewhere, Arsene Wenger has compared Olivier Giroud’s aggression to that of an animal.”
Can someone tell me why I’m laughing so hard at this sentence?
Who needs confidence when his hair is perfecto?
Arteta is well over rated by Arsenal supporters. Got nothing against him but i’m a realist unlike the guys commenting. Everton had his best years out of him as a right winger
It’s not necessarily all to do with wanting him to play and be an integral first team member, it’s more that he’s an excellent captain. He’s a lot like Xavi, and I know we don’t like the horrid Barca players on this blog but Xavi is a very good captain and a very good example to young players. Of course Arteta’s not as good as Xavi but those are excellent traits to keep around a football club. It leads to harmony and humility and I think young players as well as players like Wilshere and Coquelin really need that sort… Read more »