This morning when scrolling through Twitter, I spat out my tea at something I read:

Arsene Wenger built a dynasty on signing players and converting them into something else – Emmanuel Petit from central defender to defensive midfielder, Lauren from defensive midfielder to right back, Thierry Henry to winger back to a striker and Robert Pires from attacking midfielder to winter. I would not say Mikel Arteta has a similar reputation, and to claim it is his biggest flaw is simply disengenous.

Now before people claim “pile on” and “ignore social media”, it was tweeted out by an account with nearly 27,000 followers. These sort of “micro influencers” have a duty of care to get things right. But we all know they simply spend their days telling mistruths to earn their advertising revenue.

So lets look a little deeper into what was said. The accusation that Arteta’s biggest flaw is that Arteta signs centre backs and plays them at right back or left back, signs wingers and turns them into central midfielders and vice versa.

Now I presume in defence, “Ifeoluwani” is talking about Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Ricardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie

Jurrien Timber

Signed from Ajax with the intention of him becoming our first choice right back, Timber had played nearly two thirds of his pre-Arsenal career at full back. He has since gone on to become one of the best right backs in world football. He is also fantastic cover at centre back and left back. Could probably also play defensive midfielder. Did someone say Dutch total footballer?

Ben White

In Ben White’s first season at Arsenal (21/22), he struggled at centre back. In 22/23 he was moved by Arteta to right back and became one of the best in the league, forming a brilliant partnership with Bukayo Saka as Arsenal launched an unpredictable title challenge. He would have got a lot more caps for England at right back were it not for England being stacked with options at that time and a fall out with Steve Holland.

Had he been fit this summer, Ben White would have been England’s first choice right back and we might have won the World Cup.

Ricardo Calafiori

Before joining, Calafiori had played 41 senior games at centre back, 44 games at left back. Signed as our first choice left back, and also someone that could cover centre back if needed. Most recognise Calafiori as a unicorn player who can dominate wherever he is on the pitch. A success (when fit).

Piero Hincapie

Over two thirds of his appearances for Bayer Leverkusen came at either left back or left midfield. One of the best left backs in the Premier League.

What is clear is that Mikel Arteta has a preference – he likes his left backs to also be comfortable playing inside. In Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Ricardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie he has 4 full back options who play the game exactly he wants it. This is not a flaw. This is a clarity in thinking and successful recruitment,.. You would struggle to find anyone who would criticise any of the 4’s signings. Excluding the odd online attention seeker.

Moving into the midfield, we have Leandro Trossard and Eberechi Eze. These are the only two that you could make a case for that Arteta has tried to “change their position”

Leandro Trossard

What a signing Trossard has been. There is no debate. And he has contributed at Arsenal on both flanks, more centrally and further upfront. Trossard’s versatility is an asset, not a flaw. And he has changed so many games for us playing left wing.

Eberechi Eze

Removing the debate as to whether Eze has been a flop or not, Arteta has not changed his position.

Like Trossard, Eze is a versatile attacked. Whilst his preference to play centrally, he has spent much of his career on the wings. And he has continued that at Arsenal.

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In summary, the only flaw I see is from an individual deciding to moan that Arteta attempts to change players positions. He does not. Hr just likes versatile players who are comfortable no matter where they are on the pitch.

Football has moved passed rigid 442. Almost every team now looks to recruit “total footballers” where centre backs can play out wide, full backs can cover centrally, defenders can push into midfield, midfielders can play out wide to help overload, and so on.

It really is just a load of attention seeking old waffle. But hey, she got her $3 from Elon and a bit of attention from London’s biggest Arsenal blog. So she will see that as a success (I am assuming gender here).

And ultimately, all players mentioned above, Eze aside, excelled last season and have been fantastic signings.

Keenos