Mikel Arteta Thread

[Power n Glory]

But back on topic. I'm on a roll.

erm dont avoid the question, describe him in one word?

Average!

i never said he was excellent next to a DM either, i said he's better there. i still think he's pretty average as everyone knows.

spot on.

he's a controller, not a tackler. which is why when he's played in the DM role he's average. when he's playing next to a DM he's excellent i.e. the season before last. when he's the DM and expected to throw his body about, make tackles etc, he's useless. you might not need a destroyer but you need a level of aggression to ensure the midfield isn't overpowered. with arteta you dont get that feeling.

buy a DM, stick arteta next to him and watch him flourish again. but as the kingpin of our midfield? do me a favour.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Thank you!

For what?

[Özim]

For what?

Quality Street.

[Power n Glory]

For what?

For the link. It was funny.

[Xhaka Can’t]

For the link. It was funny.

No it wasn't.

[Power n Glory]

No it wasn't.

Yes it was.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

But back on topic. I'm on a roll.



Average!

i suppose thats one way of copping out a debate. until next time

[Power n Glory]

i suppose thats one way of copping out a debate. until next time

This isn’t a good debate, my friend.

erm dont avoid the question, describe him in one word?

What difference do you think that will make to this discussion? Me describing him in one word won’t change the outcome. In footballing terms, I rarely come across the term ‘controller’ to define a central midfield player and it’s even more barmy to say a controller doesn’t help control the midfield. What the hecks his function then? Even by your own definition, you’re describing a player in the mould of Cesc, Xabi Alonso, Xavi….etc.

The season where we had Song and RVP, we struggled to hold possession and he wasn’t excellent which is what you said in your original post.

i never said he was excellent next to a DM either, i said he's better there. i still think he's pretty average as everyone knows.

Here it is.

he's a controller, not a tackler. which is why when he's played in the DM role he's average. when he's playing next to a DM he's excellent i.e. the season before last. when he's the DM and expected to throw his body about, make tackles etc, he's useless. you might not need a destroyer but you need a level of aggression to ensure the midfield isn't overpowered. with arteta you dont get that feeling.

I read your post properly. Can you do the same?

in terms of keeping possession, accurate passing and holding the ball he's decent. in that sense he's a controller. he drops deep to the defence and collects the ball off mertesacker so controls the play. by doing that, he allows the liberation of the other midfield players by covering the gaps that appear with intelligent movement and passing.

This part of his game, I don’t think he does a good job at all. Far too many times I’ve seen him avoid collecting the ball from the back and point for the Merts to pass it wide to Sagna. He’s too slow and can’t lose or turn his marker like Cesc or Song called. They’d have no problem receiving the ball in a tight space, turning and then passing it off to an open man. Hardly any safety and sideways passing from these guys, they always kept the ball moving and this is what I also love about Rosicky. Always on the half turn and knows what he’s going to do before he’s received the pass. Arteta doesn’t look half as sharp as these guys which is why I don’t rate him. But neither of us rate him highly so feck it!

[Niall_Quinn]

I always thought Arteta was Spanish.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

This isn’t a good debate, my friend.



What difference do you think that will make to this discussion? Me describing him in one word won’t change the outcome. In footballing terms, I rarely come across the term ‘controller’ to define a central midfield player and it’s even more barmy to say a controller doesn’t help control the midfield. What the hecks his function then? Even by your own definition, you’re describing a player in the mould of Cesc, Xabi Alonso, Xavi….etc.

The season where we had Song and RVP, we struggled to hold possession and he wasn’t excellent which is what you said in your original post.


Here it is.



I read your post properly. Can you do the same?



This part of his game, I don’t think he does a good job at all. Far too many times I’ve seen him avoid collecting the ball from the back and point for the Merts to pass it wide to Sagna. He’s too slow and can’t lose or turn his marker like Cesc or Song called. They’d have no problem receiving the ball in a tight space, turning and then passing it off to an open man. Hardly any safety and sideways passing from these guys, they always kept the ball moving and this is what I also love about Rosicky. Always on the half turn and knows what he’s going to do before he’s received the pass. Arteta doesn’t look half as sharp as these guys which is why I don’t rate him. But neither of us rate him highly so feck it!

well i want you to describe him in one bloody word because if you're going to try and pick my argument apart then at least be consistent and give me yours. what word would you describe him in?

secondly, he is a controller. he may not control the ball as well as cesc or alonso but he's a different type of player to them. for you to say he doesnt keep possession or have accurate passing is wrong and you bloody well know it. he is the ball retainer in our midfield. what he lacks is the physical aspect. what is he good at then?

the last point i agree with but there aren't too many who can receive the ball under pressure in the premier league. jack is the one that is outstanding at it and never panics; he can pick the ball up in tight spaces and still manoeuvre himself out of tricky situations. but i dont think thats a problem just with arteta, its a problem across the whole of the premier league. for someone who is being completely played out of position you have to give your hat off to him, he's trying and has never been in this position before. still think he's average as a DM but next to one, great.