Match Reaction v Burnley (away).

[Letters]

we're undoubtedly suffering from the fact that Arteta is learning on the job, something he should have done in the championship, or at Fulham or somewhere, not at Arsenal

It was a strange appointment. But I do think there's something about him and if we've wasted a season while he learns then I can live with that if he comes good.
Still not sure if he will.

[IBK]

very good, i agree with all of that

we're undoubtedly suffering from the fact that Arteta is learning on the job, something he should have done in the championship, or at Fulham or somewhere, not at Arsenal

funnily enough i do think he'll learn in time but it's cost us this season and who knows how much better - or not - we'll be next season?

That's it in a nutshell really. As Letters says, we are committed not, so not sure there's any real alternative but to stick with the decision that has been made. For me the jury's still out on whether we will come good with more experience for the manager. It seems to me that Arteta is a bit back to front. I think he has tactical acumen and good ideas, and he seems to have got some structure and balance now (I'll accept that it was inexperience that led to our situation in the first half of the season). But logic says that team discipline and approach - and concentration are the basics. I mean the worst teams in the league all have this - even if their tactics are basic and their players are less talented. Do our errors and lapses of judgment result from managerial inexperience?

[selassie]

2 stand out observations from your post, mate (highlighted). And I think that these (in a very Arsenal way) present both concerns and reasons for hope.

It sounds odd when we have been discussing Xhaka's shortcomings; our inefficiency in front of goal and why we gift points to the oppositon, but our players are better than our league position. The standard reaction of many fans is that we need better players, but bar 1 or 2 upgrades, I think that we have the quality to challenge for top 4. The fallacy is that we have not spent enough. We have spent plenty. We are 4th (I think) in net spend over the past few seasons! I'll grant that we have not been astute - and in particular our player sales have been an unmitgated disaster - as have decisions such as the one that saw Emery walk with a £10M pay off. But we simply cannot hide behind funding. One thing that Arteta has achieved (whether by luck or by judgment) is a first 11 plus back ups in most areas of reasonable quality. His coaching seems to have improved several players footballing wise - yes even Xhaka!

What has not improved in tandem is decision-making; efficiency and consistency. This is why we cannot predict results and is our massive Achilles' heel. And I honestly don't know whether this is something that will improve under Arteta or whether it is a management defect that will continue under him. Is it, for example, a consequence of players being over coached - caught between over complex directions and being able to play their natural game? Or is it the result of the pressure that our inconsistency and pre-Christmas disaster generates - that means that every game against any opposition has the feel of a cup final - with nerves to match?

The season currently has the feel of a vicious circle, where results generate belief that we can progress - only for unexpected failure to put us back in the area of uncertainty. I am still prepared to hope that the consistency will come and turn into a more virtuous circle, but this cannot go on indefinitely. Despite good performances at times, the reality is that Arteta continues to underperform - with the resources at his disposal - in terms of results.

Yep, I'm with you.

This season is a write-off of sorts, Top 4 has gone, a Top 7 finish while possible is unlikely given our inconsistent form and results. Same applies to the Europa, we are good enough to win it on our day, but I don't believe we will.

From next season I am going to judge Arteta on a "results only" basis. The honeymoon period is over now and he has to make it work, another season fumbling around the lower end of midtable is absolutely not acceptable.

Arteta and Edu have done a relatively good job gutting the squad this season, but there is still a fair bit of work to do and the team needs to improve now and start challenging top 4 from next season.

[Mac76]

Yep, I'm with you.

This season is a write-off of sorts, Top 4 has gone, a Top 7 finish while possible is unlikely given our inconsistent form and results. Same applies to the Europa, we are good enough to win it on our day, but I don't believe we will.

From next season I am going to judge Arteta on a "results only" basis. The honeymoon period is over now and he has to make it work, another season fumbling around the lower end of midtable is absolutely not acceptable.

Arteta and Edu have done a relatively good job gutting the squad this season, but there is still a fair bit of work to do and the team needs to improve now and start challenging top 4 from next season.

for me an absolute key weather gauge will be their approach to Xhaka this summer - my understanding is that it's either a new contract or ship him out this summer.

if we offer him a new contract it shows Arteta has learnt nothing and is still buying into whatever Xhaka's con-trick is on the training ground that fooled both Emery and Arteta.

if we get rid of him it shows they realise that we need better

same goes for Luiz

[selassie]

for me an absolute key weather gauge will be their approach to Xhaka this summer - my understanding is that it's either a new contract or ship him out this summer.

if we offer him a new contract it shows Arteta has learnt nothing and is still buying into whatever Xhaka's con-trick is on the training ground that fooled both Emery and Arteta.

if we get rid of him it shows they realise that we need better

same goes for Luiz

Aye, Arteta certainly needs to be a lot more flexible with his team selections. Xhaka and Luiz appear to be important players in a Arteta "Arsenal" team, in Luiz's case I believe he is very replaceable with the options we have now, more so if Saliba comes back into the fold in the Summer.

Xhaka I can understand why he gets picks, our midfield options outside of Partey are poverty. I'd happily get rid of them all with the exception of Partey and Xhaka (as a squad option, not starter).

Willian is another problem player, he shouldn't be getting starts ahead of Pepe, it makes no sense whatsoever.

[IBK]

for me an absolute key weather gauge will be their approach to Xhaka this summer - my understanding is that it's either a new contract or ship him out this summer.

if we offer him a new contract it shows Arteta has learnt nothing and is still buying into whatever Xhaka's con-trick is on the training ground that fooled both Emery and Arteta.

if we get rid of him it shows they realise that we need better

same goes for Luiz

Yes - I'd go with that. Can't see Xhaka as a back up MF either so it's all about getting a quality partner for Partey. For back up - how is AMN doing in MF for WBA? Personally I don't favour keeping Ceballos either. So will the probem be avoiding too many changes? Can't see more than 1 CM coming in...

[Mac76]

Yes - I'd go with that. Can't see Xhaka as a back up MF either so it's all about getting a quality partner for Partey. For back up - how is AMN doing in MF for WBA? Personally I don't favour keeping Ceballos either. So will the probem be avoiding too many changes? Can't see more than 1 CM coming in...

from the little i've seesn on MOTD AMN's been doing well but as more of an attacking MF

if the alternative is Xhaka then i'd prefer to have Elneny or even Chambers alongside Partey - neither Chambo or Elneny are as slow or clumsy as Xhaka who is definitely surplus to requiremetns IMO

[IBK]

from the little i've seesn on MOTD AMN's been doing well but as more of an attacking MF

if the alternative is Xhaka then i'd prefer to have Elneny or even Chambers alongside Partey - neither Chambo or Elneny are as slow or clumsy as Xhaka who is definitely surplus to requiremetns IMO

Hmmm Chambers - he did well as a DM for Fulham, right?

Re Xhaka, the bottom line is whether the 8 points he will cost us per season would be matched by the points lost going forwards with, say, Elneny playing?

[Mac76]

Hmmm Chambers - he did well as a DM for Fulham, right?

Re Xhaka, the bottom line is whether the 8 points he will cost us per season would be matched by the points lost going forwards with, say, Elneny playing?

so Elneny sweeps up while Partey takes it forward, also Elneny can play forward too, though he undoubtedly verges towards safety-first but we need some people on the pitch like that I'd argue

[IBK]

so Elneny sweeps up while Partey takes it forward, also Elneny can play forward too, though he undoubtedly verges towards safety-first but we need some people on the pitch like that I'd argue

OK in principle, but firstly, I think we can probably do better than Elneny. Other than the Manu away game, he's done nothink this season other than show he is bang average. Secondly, we need to see whether Partey can last more than 4/5 games on the trot before we can really build a team around him.

I'll say that for Xhaka. He is never injured!