Mikel Arteta Thread

[Marc Overmars]

Arteta needs to man up and start playing some forward balls with intent.

At the moment he's doing the same job as Denilson.

[Boss]

Should have been a replacement for Rosicky/Arshavin, not Fabregas/Nasri.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Should have been a replacement for Rosicky/Arshavin, not Fabregas/Nasri.

He is isnt he?
still havent and no doubt wont replace Cesc, Nas

[Kano]

Id rather Wenger bought someone in June instead of panic buying cos he got his arse handed to him by the Mancs.

it wasnt panic buying by the looks of it

“It was agreed between me and Chelsea to wait until the last day so see if they bring in another player. I knew I had a few offers and when Arsenal came it was an easy choice.”

[Cripps_orig]

Mikel Arteta has played a key role in Arsenal’s recent resurgence, according to manager Arsene Wenger.

Arteta has improved steadily for the Gunners since arriving from Everton for around £10 million on transfer deadline day, and on Saturday capped an impressive performance with the third and final goal in a 3-0 win over West Brom.

Wenger revealed he is pleased with the speed at which his summer signing has adapted to a new style of play, and believes the Spaniard’s ball retention skills have become an important asset to the team in the absence of the injured Jack Wilshere.

"He is an important player for our team," the Frenchman told the club's official website. "He is really a player between Song and Ramsey or Rosicky and that gives us continuity.

"When we need to keep the ball he can achieve that - Jack [Wilshere] can do that as well. But with Jack missing he is a player who can keep the ball when it is needed.

"He is adapting to our game. If you look at the stats in the Premier League, Arsenal are the team who play the least balls backwards.

"That means when you have the ball it is not only a question of decision-making, it's a question of opportunity. It's about how many players you have in front of you - if you have players behind you have to play it backwards."

Despite being in good form Arteta is unlikely to get a call-up to the Spanish national team, but Wenger believes this is more a result of the country’s wealth of talent than any failing on his player’s part.

"In a different way he is like [Ryan] Giggs," he added.

"He had the bad luck to play for Wales who never went to a big tournament. Arteta was born in Spain where they have plenty of midfielders who are absolutely outstanding.

"What maybe didn't help him is that he was very young and he did not move to clubs who were maybe as glamorous as they should have been.

"At the time he went very young to PSG when they were not going very well. After he moved to Rangers to try and convince Spanish managers he deserved a place in the team and then to Everton.

"It shows what I always say - 90 per cent of a player's career is the club. It's the club who makes the career of the players.

“If he was English he would have an international career here."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...portant-player

Has he? Wheneverive seen him, hes been Denilsonesque

[Ollie the Optimist]

wenger means that he keeps the ball when under pressure, delievers good passes, really helps out the defence and makes good tackles to help us. and yes he has done that, you wouldnt know that as you only watch highlights

[GP]

He's been excellent.

[Cripps_orig]

wenger means that he keeps the ball when under pressure, delievers good passes, really helps out the defence and makes good tackles to help us. and yes he has done that, you wouldnt know that as you only watch highlights

Must be recently cos he was a bit shit throughout september and most of October

[Master Splinter]

He's been excellent defensively in most games, but put in his first all-round excellent display against West Brom.

[Syn]

He's been excellent defensively in most games, but put in his first all-round excellent display against West Brom. That said, Benayoun or Rosicky should be starting ahead of him.