Does Arteta really have favourites?

[IBK]

I don't think Arteta has favourites but he seems to be tied up, maybe contractually? For me, we have better alternatives to Luiz. Mari should be played more and Saliba should have been given a chance in a team rather than a proven liability like Luiz.

If Arteta feels certain players are required for certain situations the results definitely speak for themselves. The fact that a good number of us could see what was happening when he basically dumped Saliba and kept the likes Mustafi in front of him. To me that is poor management and the sign of a Mourinho-style manager who will blackball perfectly good players to the detriment of the team.

I don't care about whether he is favouritist or not. I want Arsenal to be back playing CL and challenging for the Premier League.

Basically having Luiz as the first player on the list clearly shows Arteta doesn't care about winning. If he played Saliba or other youngsters instead I would support him because it shows he is trying something different. If it fails, I would expect him to try something else, but not go back to tried and tested failures.

OK Guendouzi is a hothead who needs to improve, Torreira is easily wrested off the ball and Ozil was shite on a regular basis. But surely they deserved a run when we were piss poor? I don't see what they are doing now has any relevance. Saliba is pulling up trees, AMN has gone quiet at WBA just like Gnabry.

Martinelli should be being fast tracked to be Auba's replacement and it's probably too late now but Balogun should be getting some game time.

Pepe is a confidence player and needs lots of it. He's good enough to warrant the odd start.

Willian was a waste of time and money although he can be devastating on his day, but that day was long ago.

Agree about Xhaka - there is noone else to play. We know he makes mistakes and even getting a basic British Isles midfielder, think Henderson or Shelvey, coming to the end of his career would be a cheap upgrade.

Partey will hopefully come as good as people say he is. His final decision seems rushed and not as cerebral as a Tadic (although he is a different player, his final ball is something I'd love Partey to have in his armoury).

Sorry I don't see any positives with Arteta. We've spent a lot of money to slip further behind with no cohesive plan in evidence. And he plays proven failures instead of trying something different.

Interesting points - and as you say I think the issues raised have more to do with what you see as managerial failings rather than favouritism.

Playing devil's advocate - the 'proven failures' that you are referring to are basically Luis ans Xhaka. But I'm not sure I would agree. They are both error prone - but certainly since Xmas they have played really well otherwise. Which is a dilemna for Arteta because 'trying something different' by starting the likes of Saliba or giving AMN a go is likely to result in their replacements making mistakes also - Saliba because he is so young and AMN plauying out of position. Indeed - as good as he has reportedly been for Nice, Saliba has made one or 2 howlers himself - which is totally to be expected. For a young manager - I can see some sense in him wanting to have experienced players on the pitch.

I'm not sure that we can really level the accusation of failing to try something different on a manager who has changed the way we play hugely from earlier in the season, and brought in/clearly developed Saka; EMS; Odegard and Cedric, plus switching up his central defenders on a regular basis?

What you and Ollie point to is the Pepe Willian dilemna. And of course I agree that this is a head scratcher on the face of it. Pepe in particular has done enough IMO both in terms of his performances and by comparison with Willian to merit starting over him. I disagree with what we have seen from the manager over this. But in terms of 'favouritism' I am willing to bet that 75% of fans will have a similar gripe with their managers. Not sure that Arteta is an outlier here. And he (not me) would argue that Wilian is our top assister this season, and has not been error prone or wasteful with the ball...