Normally after anything other than a win I would have a media blackout. Today however, I'm so ambivalent that whatever crosses my eyes crosses my eyes and I accept that.
No matter how well Arteta has done, he's always had his doubters and now they're all piping up, pushing for his sacking.
I just saw a post by James Lawrence Alcott about one player you wish your club never sold and he suggested ours is Xhaka. I couldn't disagree more.
Henry's comments about the team's performances and how the issues were apparent from the second game are poignant too.
Especially on the back of the Ramsdale sale, Arteta was basking in the reputation of being ruthless. But if we're honest, it's just one player that fell out of his favour. The evidence says that he's stubborn and isn't ruthless enough.
At the level we're trying to be at, there's no free spots in the squad everyone has to play and be able to play at the standard we set. Problem is, he kept the likes of Nketiah and Nelson and didn't play them. Now he's doing it with Nwaneri, who he says falls short off the ball.
He's set standards and even when we fall short of those standards, he refuses to adapt. Trosaard has stinker after stinker and he still stays on and then starts the next game. It's not just Trosaard, Partey is another issue. He flatters to deceive, being nearly useless defensively. It's no surprise we concede more this season.
With Ødegaard out, Arteta sacrificed both Havertz and Trosaard to try and fill the gap and it didn't work, despite some results suggesting otherwise. To bring Partey into the squad, we sacrifice defensive stability and Rice. It doesn't make sense.
The whole reason I was so excited about Merino was for that left 8. Replacing Xhaka finally. Because Martinelli, who is often isolated needs stability and support and we need to be less dependent on the right side. Arteta decided to put Rice there.
Gabriel has said that we don't understand all that has happened with his injuries but a more ruthless manager would've moved him on, because we can't rely on him and even when he comes on, he's great defensively but offers nothing in attack and unfortunately for him, goals win games.
Arteta just seems to be out of ideas and it's giving his critics ammunition. I'm personally not wanting him out, but it's unacceptable to take the giant steps backwards that we have. Especially when the issue isn't quality but tactical.
Do you think I'm being overly critical? Is he having these conversations with his team? Because he needs critique. An echo chamber is bad for everyone, especially our club and our ambitions.
Honestly, next game, I wanna see Rice back at DM, Partey and Trosaard on the bench. Nwaneri starting and to see us actually trying to win rather than trying not to lose.
A healthy sized update. Fantastic work everyone.