Arteta at the Crossroads of title winning Process
By Karl
May 29 2024
Arsenal FC have just completed their second title challenge, If winning all your home games and drawing all your away games gets you 76 points, an 84 point season and a 89 point season is enough to assess the position of the club, and not question the manager’s process and progress.
Arteta spoke about a process when he first joined the club as manager and said we had to respect it and we will get it right but clearly now his process is at a crossroads.
Getting to challenge for two titles wasn't as smooth he probably thought it would be after a great start that had an FA Cup semi final win vs City leading to a banner at Villa saying “Back Arteta, Kroenke out.” but there was a lot of learning to do.
From what we can see of the earlier days of Arteta, fluid play from his fullbacks was key to his managerial style, having players like Ainsley Mailtland Niles star in the FA cup run, and then going on to buy Tomiyasu and Tavares who are on paper both-footed fullbacks showed the direction Arteta wanted to go. The plan in theory was fluidity, whatever side pushed up, the fullback would be able to support the attack on the outside or inside making his sides unpredictable. Arteta's first half season finished 8th, then 8th and 5th we saw this a lot but throughout this time of Arteta's trial and errors' there were tell-tale signs of the future Arteta aimed for.
In tight European games when Arsenal were losing and about to be knocked out, Arteta opted to play Xhaka left back to save games, also he had already started Emile Smith-Rowe and Odegaard together in a midfield ahead of a DM. Inverted fullbacks ball-progressing and an very 'attacking' attacking midfield was always a goal.
At the start of the 22/23 season the additions of Saliba, Zinchenko and G.Jesus put Arsenal in what seemed to be a surprising title contending position. It was after the failed attempt for top 4 in a Europe free season which was well documented in the All or Nothing documentary. Arteta finally got his inverted fullback in Zinchenko after a failed attempt to bring in Martinez from Ajax. Now Arsenal can set up in a 3-2-5 attack, having fluidity from defensive areas which led to a title challenge. The progressive passing of Zinchenko, Partey and later Jorginho made Arsenal an exciting attacking gung-ho team that would score in the first 20 mins of games.
The season ended and Arsenal fell short defensively, which Arteta set out to fix, bringing in a more defensively sound Timber and Rice, and a more daring with his feet Goalkeeper Raya. Arsenal's 3-2-5 was mirroring City's treble winning 3-2-5 with more defenders on the pitch and more recycling. It wouldn't surprise me if the more defensive style was planned a season earlier with Martinez. Arteta wasted no time in trying to get Kwior in the team and putting Partey RB to get Kwior, White, Saliba, Rice and Partey as a solid base that allows attackers to express themselves more. Although this was only a couple of games because of an injury to Partey, the team still went with Rice as the 6 with the team relying on set pieces and lacked ingenuity even with the likes of Trossard, F.Vieira and Havertz all in the 8 role for half a season, but also Zinchenko wasn't linking up with the midfield as well as he used to. A trip to Dubai in January led to White inverting and Jorginho reinstated into the side which gave Arsenal an end of season run with only losing once in 18 games.
Although both seasons were title runs they are very different, the end of the 23/24 season became a hybrid of the both the defensive style and gung-ho style with Jorginho and Partey in the team, but their availability, age and the outlay on Rice shows there might be another effort to get the defensive system going.
Arteta is stubborn in his philosophy and his preferred philosophy seems to be another attacker next to Odegaard and not a box-to-box CM player. Rice's position next season will be the deciding factor. If Rice is in the 6 there will be a need for a front-line with more players that can take-on defenders. It may return to set piece reliance. We will see more pressure on the attackers to do something with the ball individually which is why we never seem to get performances from the left side. The left side got their goals from moments of brilliance while the right side has a network in place.
Martinelli's lack of goals this season may be a result of the less transitional football. More defensively sound players in the midfield usually leads to less midfield dominance on the ball. If Rice is further up he will be involved in the press and our attackers could play in transition. Going in the market for a like-for-like Jorginho or Partey makes space in the squad for less talented and pacey wingers who can rely on long-balls.
My personal preference in this transfer window is the latter. I believe Rice should have been brought in to replace Xhaka. We need a replacement for Partey with similar attributes. Being defensive could work if you're planning not to lose like we saw at the Eithad but the next step should be controlling midfields at the Eithad. Arteta is at the crossroads, should he stick with the original plan that he seemed to have planned a long time ago, or stick with a style that has worked for him with the not so ideal personnel.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:06:09:09:03:39 by Padre Pio.
Save me writing an article on the same vein!
He shouldn't fix what is not broken but instead a Plan B and to master the art of squad rotation with 15 to 16 regular starters, supported by the rest of the squad.
Pep always played 15 to 6 regulars to maintain the fluidity of his tactical formation.
The other aspect is to substitute "like for like" when even chasing results and not to disrupt the tactical formation when the issue is only to score with plenty of chances created and opponents parking the double-decker in the box to get a result.
This is the nucleus for 2024/25 and the key to success is to buy the right players to strengthen the 2023/24 squad into a title-winning and silverware-winning squad for the next 4 seasons:
..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... Raya
... White ..... Saliba ..... Gabriel ..... Timber
..... Odegaard ..... ..... new DCM ..... ..... Rice
... Saka ..... ..... ..... Havertz ..... ..... ..... new LW
A healthy Timber is like a new signing.
But a new attacking LB, plus RB as well, needed as backup to White and Timber.
Story was that Coaching Team is working to convert Skelly as LB.
He got good attacking instinct.
Tomi and Kiwior are adequate backup to both CB. We wouldn't be so lucky as 2023/24 season where the Twin Peak played almost the entire season (Saliba did but Gabriel missed 1 or 2 games).
Definitely a new DCM as starter with Jorginho as backup and Rice as emergency no. 6.
Zinchenko is good LB backup and certainly can improved further. But he is also a good backup as LCM to Rice late in the game.
Havertz is the shadow forward, who drops deep to linkup with midfield and has the knack to drift into box as no. 9.
The crossroad is to buy a no. 9 but what kind of tactical formation to bring out the best of Havertz and no. 9 in the team when they both play together?
Or is it a case of either one to start only in team selection?
Odegaard?
We need another creative playmaker. Perhaps Saka to up his game to another level as another creative playmaker to complement Odegaard.
The primary reason why we failed in our title bid is mainly due to Martinelli retrogressed into a mediocre winger and Saka struggling with injury and fatigue to make a difference from April/May.
Exactly the same as Fabregas, being overplayed, and struggled with fatigue and minor injury during the key March to May period.
Yes, Arteta is at a crossroad:
One is a happenstance,
Twice is a coincidence,
Thrice as bridesmaid is gross incompetence.
Oh well, Arsenal may be another "Mickelson", that perennial bridesmaid, always 2nd to a Tiger Wood at his peak.
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” Saint Thomas Aquinas
And they got Odegaard numbers and why he struggled to breakdown 5-5-0, especially against Everton where they preferred to block the centre and ceded the flanks to Arsenal.
Klopp Gegenpressing is to push teams to the centre where their midfield is strong. But their Defence led them down and it is their Defence that cost then dear.
All EPL teams are using video analytics and they got tons of datasets to plough thru' this summer to improve their defence and how to start teams like Arsenal from playing.
Arteta team lacks vertical passing and prefer to continue with the possession-based short-passing, patiently worked their opponents out of position, with Odegaard executed an accurate pass or a 2022/23 Saka dribbled thru' the line, create a split-second clear space and shoot accurately to the corners.
It is those quick half-touch vertical passes that is lacking to surprise double-line defence during quick transition after ball is won that is missing in 2023/24 season. EPL teams will wise-up to 2023/24 tactics and it is up to Arteta to coach the team to develop half-touch and vertical passing for quicker transition than 2023/24 season.
Right Flank Triangle of Odegaard, Saka and White are beginning to develop better understanding together with Havertz who tends to move towards right flank instead of left flank. What is missing is quick transition from Odegaard with half-touch vertical pass to Havertz and/or Saka running into clear channel in the box. It is Havertz 1st season with us and will Odegaard and Saka develop better understanding with him to execute swift transition to create more clear scoring chances.
Left Flank Attack is in disarray and need sorting out during pre-season training with a new no. 9, a new LW to push Martinelli and to groove in Timber and/or a new LB.
Zinchenko? Kiwior?
Will they stay or leave?
Every season always evolve, every season will see managers come out with new tactics to defeat their opponents.
It is a matter of will Arteta remains as predictable as past seasons and got find out next season.
Liverpool was in transition, replacing the midfield, and a defence racked by injuries and a demotivated Salah not pulling his weight.
Chelski was in disarray and Poncho got their acts together in May, only to leave.
Like Arteta, Ten Hag needed 2 seasons to clear away the debris left by his predecessors and if he is not sacked, he will have a settled side next season.
Man City?
Major surgery needed to rejuvenate the team, replacing ageing or complacent players, with young and hungry players ready to battle for more honors. They will have the funds to buy new players with bulk of the money coming from selling those underperforming players, and also ageing players like Bernardo who desired to leave last season.
They can be the new Invincibles next season especially Pep had learned from 2023/24 seasons how not to lose those winnable games. I can't see any EPL team that can defeat Man City when Pep rejuvenates current squad with better and hungrier players, especially sorting out the Defence and a no. 10 backup to KdB and Foden.
Arsenal?
We were unbeaten against Top-6 teams in 2023/24 season and lost to Bottom-14 teams - Fulham, WHU, Newcastle and Aston Villa.
Since we were unbeaten against Top-6 teams, why shouldn't we be unbeaten against Bottom-14 teams?
It will be very tough to remain unbeaten against Top-6 teams next season.
But he cries for Arteta's head if we aren't going to win the league. 🤔🤔🤔🤔
"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."
Quote:Boston Gooner
Merl can't see any team beating City.
But he cries for Arteta's head if we aren't going to win the league. 🤔🤔🤔🤔
'cos Arteta is a serial loser who snatched Defeat from Jaws of Victory, two seasons in a row.
And Arteta set a new record of leading 282 days and yet lost the title.
Man City was there for the taking for last 2 seasons, and Arteta bottled it.
Next season?
I can't see any team beating Man City nor can I see Arsenal can remain unbeaten against Top-6 teams next season like this season "6W 4D 0L".
This is the primary reason why we should win the 2023/24 title:
Unbeaten against Top-6 teams with 6W 4D 0L = 22 points - the best result we ever got against Top-6 teams since 1992/93 start of EPL.
And Arteta bottled it yet again.
If you are contented for Arsenal to remain the perennial loser as Top-4 team forever under this bottler, so be it.
Loser.