Mikel Arteta Thread

[Özim]

Also we were shocking defensively at the start of last season, we only improved towards the end of the season (probably won't last and I would expect us to go back to what we're good at next season if we don't sign anyone decent defensively in midfield).



Boom.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Also we were shocking defensively at the start of last season, we only improved towards the end of the season (probably won't last and I would expect us to go back to what we're good at next season if we don't sign anyone decent defensively in midfield).



Boom.

first four games, 1 goal conceded. shocking start defensively that. then the goals in the next few games came from individual errors with no blame attached to arteta. keep trying though

[Ollie the Optimist]

He still played and from memory he didn't offer anything coming forward so he must have been helping his fellow defenders.

Stupid decision the play him as DM, what next play Walcott in goal?

in a season where he didnt play as DM, someone else did, we were poor defensively. in the next season, we play arteta as DM and improve to second best defence in the league. and you are calling that a stupid decision? if thats what you think is a stupid decision, then you need help

[Niall_Quinn]

This Arteta thing is just another route to getting at Wenger I suppose. If not Arteta then who plays DM? Who could do the job there? With some evidence please, not just kicking out names.

[Cripps_orig]

This Arteta thing is just another route to getting at Wenger I suppose. If not Arteta then who plays DM? Who could do the job there? With some evidence please, not just kicking out names.

This may sound a crazy idea but how about sign someone who is actually a DM and can play there instead of playing pubbers out of position?

[Niall_Quinn]

This may sound a crazy idea but how about sign someone who is actually a DM and can play there instead of playing pubbers out of position?

No, your argument is Arteta is pointless. It's not his fault if we don't sign players, in fact he was in the papers this week urging Wenger to get the chequebook out. Fact is we didn't sign players. So who plays in that role then? Apart from this pointless player Arteta?

[Marc Overmars]

in a season where he didnt play as DM, someone else did, we were poor defensively. in the next season, we play arteta as DM and improve to second best defence in the league. and you are calling that a stupid decision? if thats what you think is a stupid decision, then you need help

Of course Arteta played that role in his first season, it was why Song was relieved from that duty and became quite effective creatively.

[Cripps_orig]

No, your argument is Arteta is pointless. It's not his fault if we don't sign players, in fact he was in the papers this week urging Wenger to get the chequebook out. Fact is we didn't sign players. So who plays in that role then? Apart from this pointless player Arteta?

That role just doesn't consist of doing whatever it is Arteta is doing.

He can do more. He can be more creative. Pirlo plays in a similar position but you don't see him being pointless.

I'm not Wenger. I don't know who else can play there. I do know that Arteta can do much more

[Ollie the Optimist]

Of course Arteta played that role in his first season, it was why Song was relieved from that duty and became quite effective creatively.

fair enough he played there first season, song goes, arteta becomes sole DM at club, we improve to second best defence in the league. its just backing up my point that he isnt average, and that it wasnt a stupid decision to play him there

[Niall_Quinn]

That role just doesn't consist of doing whatever it is Arteta is doing.

He can do more. He can be more creative. Pirlo plays in a similar position but you don't see him being pointless.

I'm not Wenger. I don't know who else can play there. I do know that Arteta can do much more

Is he pointless or not? No, he's not Pirlo but neither are thousands of other players. He's not Messi either. But he does a job for us that, seemingly by your own admission, nobody else can do better. That's not the definition of pointless.