Merry Christmas to all it concerns.
I think Arteta was fine in this particular games.....in fact he was very good even, but I would agree that a long term successor should be in our midst.
It does sometimes feel like some people will do anything not to criticise the manager himself directly, including slaughtering the very players the manager himself brought in, without realising the irony. Before the season started I was very vocal in expressing my disappointment about our failure to bring in a forward. We went after Suarez, Higuain and Demba Ba. Suffice to say it was clear we were unhappy with our forward options, yet we still didn't improve them.
I argued that not only did we need a second forward but that he would ideally challenge if not take Giroud's place, not simply deputise. Some vehemently disagreed based on his effect on our game and suggested we simply needed a lieutenant. There seems to be few people of that view now. Pretty much all you hear is that we need a better forward if we're going to win this that and the other...but that was always going to be the case for me even if Giroud has deserved the credit he has got for raising his game.
I have been really impressed with his attitude too even if he does cut a sulky figure when it's not going his way.