Arsene Wenger defends Mikel Arteta over Arsenal’s disastrous start

Posted by

Arsene Wenger has defended Mikel Arteta over Arsenal’s start to the new season.

The Gunners sturggled last term with an eighth place finish and semi-final elimination in the Europa League.

That disappointing campaign meant Arsenal missed out on European football for the first time in 25 years, and despite spending more than anyone else this summer, racking up a spending total of £131.8million, according to 90min, this season has not started well.

The Gunners are rock bottom after three games, losing all three of their outings and conceding nine goals in the process.

And with that in mind, Arteta is unsurprisingly under pressure already as he struggles to ensure his team improve from last season.

Mikel Arteta

Though, he does have one of the most respected people in Arsenal Football Club history on his side in Wenger.

The former Gunners boss pointed out in a recent interview with BILD via the Mirror that Arsenal have played Chelsea and Manchester City in two of their first three games, suggesting there is no need to press the panic button just yet.

He said when asked about returning to the club: “Today the club is in good shape. They had two tough games, the team has potential and I hope they can come back. At the moment I’m just a fan.”

There is, of course, a large slice of irony in that there is talk of a Wenger return given how he was treated at the back-end of his spell at the Emirates Stadium.

MORE: Arsenal prepared to cut losses on major transfer disappointment

Though, Wenger is right about Arteta. The Spaniard may not be performing well, but the fixtures he and Arsenal have hard to kick-off the campaign are hardly a fair platform on which to judge.

Having said that, the manner of some of the defeats have been concerning, and while a sacking would be harsh, the pressure is not.

More Stories Arsene Wenger Mikel Arteta

2 Comments

  1. We have a top4 titles winning squad but Arteta’s Tactical nous as a coach should be questioned seriously.

    Pablo Mari and Holding (though both have the height, power and pass), but not the pace of a typical Arsenal centre back, yet Arteta is playing Tierney as an overlapping leftwing back, leaving Mari exposed?!!! Tierney offers the team more in build up and defensive solidity as a blocking leftback plssss!!!!!

    Chambers (though has the height and pass) but doesn’t have the fullback pace nor centreback power of a typical Arsenal defender, so what is he doing in the team? not to talk of him playing ahead of Bellerin/Cedric/Niles in the rightwing back?? He should at worst be getting game time in the midfield pivot!!!

    We are blessed with wonderful strikers, but Arteta doesn’t know how to use any of them PROPERLY as a Centre Forward.

    In modern football, wingforwards ought to be diminutive (i.e. less than 180cm, say 178cm and below). That’s why Pepe, Auba, Martinelli, Folarin, Smith Rowe will continue to be hit and miss when they are played out on the wing without them matching conquering pace with arch typical technique and fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo or Thiery Henry.

    Arteta is not different from Wenger, he clearly has a blind spot. If not Pepe would not be playing on the wings ahead of Nelson, Saka, Nketiah, Niles and even Bellerin!!!

    We have a squad that’s capable of winning the league but Arteta is too poor a coach for Arsenal. He can’t develop any player, he can’t improve any player. Bellerin with his defensive issues should have been coached into a wing forward cos he has all the qualities.

    Going forward, atleast 2 should be sold out of Auba, Pepe and Lacazette. So that Nketiah, Folarin and Martinelli can be fighting to play up front.

    Also if we must buy a centreback, he must be pacy, slik, powerful and tall.

    Our academy should also focus on signing speedy tall players and develop them into defensive midfielders or centrebacks.

    Kolasinac and Tavares have the potentials to develop into left footed Kolo Toure. They must play ahead of Pablo Mari in our centre back.

Comments are closed