Mikel Arteta made this statement following the Villarreal disaster on Thursday, “We have not been competing with the top clubs in this country for five years. It is not as if this process started six months ago, it started five years ago and you can see this trend. This year is not year one. I think a project has its phases and I am telling you we are in much better position today to be where we want to be very soon, if we do what we have to do.”
That’s quite a statement coming from a manager who was just beaten by his predecessor, and whose team is currently 10th in the Premier League with slim to no hope of a European spot next season.
However, on the flip side, I would also have to agree with Arteta to some extent. Arsenal has been in decline for the past 5-6 years. There have been some terrible signings, along with star players running out their contracts and moving on for free, plus an absentee owner who further stained his own reputation with the Arsenal fanbase by joining the ill-fated European Super League.
Bottom line, Arsenal is a mess from top to bottom. But even with the above mentioned issues, Arteta has a squad that is much better than where they stand today. This is a club that has under-performed and under-achieved. Are Leeds United, Tottenham, Leicester City, Everton and West Ham really better than Arsenal? On paper no, but on the pitch, yes. And, that is the manager’s fault.
Yes, Mikel Arteta is under fire by Gooner Nation.
David Ornstein of The Athletic said this about Arteta’s future with the club, “I think it would be fair on Mike Arteta, in the view of the Arsenal hierarchy, to allow him this summer transfer window and longer to prove he can be successful at Arsenal. So I son’t think his position is under threat.”
I’m sure he’s right. So, are we looking at a change of mangers in the middle of next season?
As I have stated before, the manager’s key job is have his team ready for each match – physically, tactically and emotionally. There has been no consistency with those parts of his job throughout this season. How could a team not be prepared to perform in a do or die second leg semifinal tie? One goal would have lifted this club above the current crap we are dealing with today. Just one goal..one! Plus, the sad ending to Thursday also included a stat sheet showing the Gunners had just one shot on target the entire game. Just one shot, one!
Sure we can bring in 3 or 4 big signings this summer and make the roster look stronger, but if a manager can’t get a team ready for matches on a consistent basis, especially the big ones, then why waste the cash. Just carry one with what you have and hope for the best.
As you can tell my frustrations run deep. I am a troubled Gooner.
Gunner1953
The Gunners defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Wednesday to win both matches in this season’s North London Derby. With the win Arsenal moves back into 2nd place on the Premier League table.
According to The Mail, Arsenal, is in advanced talks to sign Real Sociedad Martin Zubimendi at the end of this season for a reported $61.2-million (USD).
Takehiro Tomiyasu has returned to full training with the first team after recovering from a knee injury. 
Martin Odegaard, “We need to be sharper in the key moments to make sure we get the results we’ve worked for. We have to keep going and keep improving. There is no choice for us now.”
Lol
We all see that he is not up to the job except him and Kroenke. We shall spend a lot of money on useless players like Runarsson, Ceballos, Cedric, Maghales, Willian and yet ignore to develop players like Martinelli, Saliba, Guendouzi, Nelson, Balogun. Then we would a world class keeper like Mar.tinez.
He is definitely not up to the job and has a very poor judgement.