Arsenal played like Man City in the first half and like Arsenal in the second half.
Mikel Arteta | Lego Pep watch
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
In the last 2 summers, Arsenal have spent more than us net, if we create a table of net transfer spend since Arteta came in, we've spent 36m more than them. So, I find it hysterical that people who were going on about our transfer spend are defending Arteta here. And there's a good chance, end of Jan, our net transfer spend since Arteta came in would be less than that of Arsenal.
He's doing a good job this season, but back to back 8th place finishes would end up with the manager getting sacked in any of the top 6 or top 7 (if you want to include Leicester) clubs. And the amount of defence he gets from the pundits for the smallest of things is a bit OTT.
Mind, I think he showed spine in dropping Auba and signing young players, and it does look like players are buying into his methods finally. But these things at any other club are barely worthy of a footnote, where the articles are based on the position in the table
He's doing a good job this season, but back to back 8th place finishes would end up with the manager getting sacked in any of the top 6 or top 7 (if you want to include Leicester) clubs. And the amount of defence he gets from the pundits for the smallest of things is a bit OTT.
Mind, I think he showed spine in dropping Auba and signing young players, and it does look like players are buying into his methods finally. But these things at any other club are barely worthy of a footnote, where the articles are based on the position in the table
Net spend is such an irrelevant way of showing progress. The only thing it shows is the commitment of the owners and the financial power a club has.
Do your net spend figures consider wages? Considering the whole point of our transfer business this season was spend relatively big on fees, but not too big on wages? Considering you'll look at Varane as a cheaper signing than White despite the fact that he actually costs a decent amount more over his contract length?
And to add to that, what does net spend really tell you about if a team is strengthening or not? Obviously it shows the big picture compared to the overall league, but comparing to United is irrelevant. United spent £270m since Arteta came in, Arsenal spent £230m. United wages will also have been probably close to double ours in that time on those players too. Yes, your net spend might be lower, but that's because you've had more assets to sell than we have. That has nothing really to do with your current team though, which you have based off money, strengthened more than we have.
Even gross spend figures are similar, liek you pointed out, and I do get that wages are a better indicator, however, the same argument that pundits/journos used against Utd/have been using against Utd for the past 5-6 years does not seem to apply to Arteta. Hell, even in case of Emery, the spend figures were brought up.
Irrespective, do you really think Arsenal finishing 8th twice in the league despite being part of big 6 (big 7 if you want to include Leicester) would have been acceptable at any club? He's made progress this season, brought better than in previous seasons, but you shouldn't be where you currently are no matter what
No I don't but I think that instead of people turning this into a negative why don't they see it as a positive. The board stuck with Arteta despite that, because they fully believed he'd turn it around and were happy to take some short term pain for longer term gains.
If this was Chelsea or United, yes they'd have sacked that manager, but look where that's got United. They've been in the CL yes but they've done absolutely nothing in it, and now they're facing another potential rebuild.
And also like i've said many times, Arteta finishing 8th in his first season wasn't really down to him. He took over halfway into the season where we were 11th. If you look at the table from when he was in charge that season he was 6th, and won an FA cup. His first season was a success. Last season was disappointing, but again it was largely due to the form from September to December. Then Arteta adapted, dropped Willian, played a number 10 and changed formations, and ever since we've been on the rise.
I just find it so strange that United fans are the ones saying this. Did you guys not see what happened after SAF left? The exact same thing as happened to us, except you sacked Moyes and we stuck with Arteta to see what would happen. It takes A LOT to rebuild a club when 1 man has been almost the dictator of that club for 20 years. The whole structure of that club changes from top to bottom. It doesn't just happen overnight..
Oh, I'm all in for giving managers time. But you also need to realize the long term targets need to come along with short term goals as well. I supported Ole till the end, but had he finished outside top 4 in either of the 2 seasons, I'd have asked for him to be sacked. In your case as well, I can get you not finishing in CL places, but 8th! Surely, you're better than WHU, Leicester; and Leicester, Wolves
Yh but what is short term?
Before this season Arteta was in charge for 1 and a half years. In his first year, he did well and won a trophy and got results which averaged to 6th which is where we were.
And again 2nd season yep i'm disappointed with the overall result, but this was hugely down to the first few months of the season. Arteta then adapted and for the majority of last season we were actually a good side. Unfortunately the first chunk though set us back overall.
If Arteta wasn't learning his lessons, and kept making the same mistakes i'd be on his back. But, he isn't. He learnt 5atb didn't work. He learnt Willian needed to go. He learnt signing older players wasn't working. He saw faults in Aubas behaviour and attitude on the pitch and benched him.
I have always questioned his substitutions also but he's improving there too. He's a new manager, and it'll be a learning curve. But, as long as I see progress then i'm happy. And i'm seeing it.
Now if we finish below the top 6 this season, i'll be more angry and questions will be raised, but lets see what happens.
But appreciate talking to you, this is my last post today but good chat!
True but one of Arsenal's core values has always been to stand by the manager. I wanted Mikel out too amd still am slightly on the fence, but have to respect our philosophy.
The season still has a long way to go until the end, but Arteta seems to be doing well. Especially, it is exciting that there are young players who have come through their academy and are claiming starting places. Their midfield, however, doesn't look too good. Xhaka is still himself, and Partey isn't good at anything particular. Arsenal have spent a lot recently, and I am sure they will spend more. If they get better quality midfielders, they might move into the top four club, just as United are struggling.
I've said it before, I'll always take points on the board over games in hand. This is especially the case for teams fighting for top 4 who's form is erratic.
United dropped points against Newcastle and Wolves. Tottenham games in hand are all away where they've been average, dropping points against 10 man Southampton and struggling to beat Watford.
0 shots on target against a Championship side.
I thought Forest scored tonight?
That is as flat as I've seen us for a long time.
The team contained White, Tierney (for 60 mins), Odegaard, Saka and Martinelli. That's five of our first XI. Plus experience players like Leno, Holding and Soares. That needs to be a strong enough side to deal with a Championship side.
A horrible day at the office.
Oooh great result for Forest!
Their second string like Spurs is rubbish. They didn't bother turning up today and got beat, glorious.
Imagine the meltdown in the media if that was us.
Matterface was quick on the injury and Covid excuses for them.
Matterface was quick on the injury and Covid excuses for them.
Horrible performance. Doesn't help that we have no strength in depth at all. Holding, Cedric, Tavares and Nketiah need binning.
Also the decision to let AMN go to Roma without signing someone first. We have Lokonga and no other fit CM's at the moment.
Also the decision to let AMN go to Roma without signing someone first. We have Lokonga and no other fit CM's at the moment.
I hope this doesn’t dent your confidence for the Liverpool game.
Just one of those days, everyone looked jaded.
10 players missing from the first half of the season, so we had 0 ways of changing that game really but still. Nketiah really should have scored, he's so poor at heading. Forest worthy winners though.
Club needs to sign a CM this week..
10 players missing from the first half of the season, so we had 0 ways of changing that game really but still. Nketiah really should have scored, he's so poor at heading. Forest worthy winners though.
Club needs to sign a CM this week..
Maitland-Niles was MOTM against Watford... and hasn't played since. And now we've sent him to Roma leaving only two senior CMs with Partey and El Neny at AFCON. I cannot make sense of that.
Then at a goal down with five minutes left we take of a RB (Cedric) and send on a LB (Kolasinac) for his first appearance in months due to a bad injury. Why?
I'm generally 'Arteta In', but he seems to have inherited the tendency to overthink things from Pep.
Then at a goal down with five minutes left we take of a RB (Cedric) and send on a LB (Kolasinac) for his first appearance in months due to a bad injury. Why?
I'm generally 'Arteta In', but he seems to have inherited the tendency to overthink things from Pep.
I mean, you saw the bench no? We had no other options really which is sad.
AMN is odd though, guessing they just didn't see the Xhaka covid coming. Sounds like they always wanted to bring in a CM and are just waiting for the deal so we will sign someone. Maybe AMN was just adamant on going.
This match highlights Arsenal's need for another CM more than anything else. There was nothing coming from there all game.
Also, they needed another midfielder anyway as Partey really hasn't impressed in the time he has been with Arsenal. It's only in the last 5 weeks or so, after he was dreadful against United, that he has started to click. And I don't think you can yet rely on him to be consistent.
Also, they needed another midfielder anyway as Partey really hasn't impressed in the time he has been with Arsenal. It's only in the last 5 weeks or so, after he was dreadful against United, that he has started to click. And I don't think you can yet rely on him to be consistent.
Really poor performance, no excuse, but yeah it just shows the depth is pretty poor, and we've seen that a few times this season.
That whole #NoMoreRed white shirt campaign should’ve patently been done at a home game, and against a team that weren’t also red, in a red seated stadium
As it is they’ve just managed to lose in a kit that could’ve plausibly been their away anyway, against an inadvertently pro-knife crime side.
As it is they’ve just managed to lose in a kit that could’ve plausibly been their away anyway, against an inadvertently pro-knife crime side.
At least we will remember the white jersey.
I mean we probably couldn't wear it in the league, and the cup semi final probably wouldn't have allowed it.
So it was now or wait for a home tie which might never come, and now isn't.
Yeah I presumed they must’ve discussed it with someone, ‘cos it just seems like very basic Marketing/PR … I mean the league let us & City wear blank kits for the Munich half century? But then again those come around less a lot frequently, and allowing it for campaigns could be the thin end of the wedge.
Arsenal exit the FA Cup to two-time European Cup Champions, Nottingham Forest.
Dumb pr , what's it even going to accomplish and also backfired.
Another classic performance.
Having been saying work in progress and 6th place finish is the target.
Matter of time that Arteta gets sacked. What a waste of time it has been for Arsenal.
Odegaard has always been terrible. Not sure what Arteta sees in him. He's basically just another Ozil. Someone who just pass and pass but doesn't dare to shoot.
Can see some people don't watch our games.
It is quite funny how some people just come out of nowhere when we lose a game.
Hope he stays forever.
Out of all the cups in January.
Progress.
Progress.
Their season over in January.
Please stay forever.