Originally Posted by Fist of Lehmann
Ditto. It was never fancy names we needed, it was graft, staying power and experience to give the squad more backbone.
Ditto. It was never fancy names we needed, it was graft, staying power and experience to give the squad more backbone.
"In a different way he is like [Ryan] Giggs," he added.
"He had the bad luck to play for Wales
... class backhanded compliment.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...-us-more-solidWenger - Arteta has made us more solid
Mikel Arteta has been a key factor in Arsenal's ever-increasing solidity, according to Arsène Wenger.
The Spanish midfielder was a deadline-day signing from Everton in August and has slotted into the role vacated by Jack Wilshere after the England international underwent ankle surgery.
Arteta has contributed goals and assists to the Arsenal cause and Wenger believes his all-round game has helped lay the foundations for an unbeaten run that now stretches to nine games in all competitions.
"Mikel is an extremely important player in our team because he has both sides that make a team good," Wenger told Arsenal Player.
"He is consistent going forward, technically fantastic and he works very hard for the team. He is an organiser too and does the job defensively in vital parts. We look solid at the moment and he has to take a big part of the credit because he does both jobs offensively and defensively - with quality.
"I am very happy with his defensive job and he is rewarded for it because he plays. If I play him it is because I am happy with the job he does and if he had not done such a consistent job defensively he would not be in the team.
"I believe that Mikel Arteta is a winner and on the pitch he does what is needed to help the team win. That's what I rate."
Arteta.
Maybe we should move any Arteta discussion here?
Never going to happen. This is the Mikel Arteta thread and this is GW, so the thread can only drift off to be about something else.
I've spoken about him before, I know, but I've been really impressed with Arteta's influence on the team and the consistency of his performances. He's not flashy, he's had to curb a more natural instinct to get forward – something he did at Everton because he was probably the most creative player in that team – and he has added such calmness and composure to the midfield as well as positional intelligence.Mikel is an extremely important player in our team because he has both sides that make a team good. He is consistent going forward, technically fantastic and he works very hard for the team. He is an organiser too and does the job defensively in vital parts. We look solid at the moment and he has to take a big part of the credit because he does both jobs offensively and defensively - with quality.
There was one moment in the second half against Dortmund when it looked initially as if Song had been left to mark two players as they came into our half. As it happened Song won the ball back but Arteta had dropped back, in front of the back four to cover and provide a defensive option had they managed to work the ball back inside. And it's things like that which go unnoticed but which have played a big part in our increased defensive solidity. A canny signing and one I wish Arsene had made two seasons ago. Better late than never though.
Good defensive play by midfielders - good DMs - are often overlooked because they aren't as obvious as scoring goals at one end or goal line clearances at the other. But when that goes missing, an otherwise good side looks rubbish. The guys standing just in front of the back four are a crucial part of the defence.
Arteta is a GHEL and knows the score with this league.
At first I did expect a Cesc lite, but then I realised Rambo does that job and Arteta is actually a new entity for our midfield. A tireless and disciplined worker.
We will see the value of Arteta when a chump like Diaby plays.
I bloody well hope so because if we're still defensively solid but manage to get our attacking flow and possession game back without him in the team, then I can't see what the fuss is all about.
Chamakh is an AWFUL player.
Für eure Sicherheit
What does this guy offer us? Another anonymous performance from him. At the end of August we had people claiming that Arteta was a great signing, and that he'd provide the creative void left by Cesc's departure. But the same individuals have now adapted their argument, claiming he's doing a good defensive job and that's what this team needed. He's flattered to deceive, and we're going to regret signing him in the Summer rather than a better quality player.
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