Tag Archives: Mikel Arteta

“Next Bukayo Saka” departs Arsenal

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It was only a couple of years ago that Amario Cozier-Duberry was labelled “the next Saka” by some fans, and being tipped to follow Bukayo into Arsenal’s first team

The 19-year-old now finds himself without a club after Arsenal announced his departure.

Cozier-Duberry highlights just how big the jump is from youth football to senior, and whilst there was a contract on the table from Arsenal, he has decided to progress his career elsewhere.

Considered by many as the best of his generation, Cozier-Duberry’s progress has stalled over the last 12 months and has been overtaken by the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.

His departure will lead to some fans complaining that “Arteta never gave him a chance”, but you have to remember Mikel and his team see these kids day in day out. And when you are in a title race you can not really give minutes to a kid to develop.

The situation reminds me a lot of when Henri Lansbury was cast aside.

Lansbury never really got his chance at Arsenal, despite generating a lot of hype as he came up through the youth system. Just as he got on the brink of the first team squad, and 16-year-old Jack Wilshere burst onto the scene. Suddenly there was no opportunity for Lansbury as Arsenal had a generational talent on their hands playing in the same position.

In Cozier-Duberry and Nwaneri, we have two players of similar attributes, playing at a similar level. But Nwaneri being 2-years younger is the differenc emaker when we decide which one we will focus developing.

The Cozier-Duberry departure comes on the same day a former Arsenal “wonderkid” also departs his club.

At lot was expected of Omari Hutchinson. Then 2 summers ago he decided to turn down a new contract and join Chelsea. He was apparently unhappy that we were proposing to loan him out rather than have him as part of Arteta’s first team plans.

What followed was a year of sitting in Chelsea academy, before joining Ipswich Town on loan. He basically lost a year of his career by moving to West London.

His performances with Ipswich were good enough for the Tractor Boys to spend £22m on him, but not at the level that Chelsea tried to keep him and progress him to their first team.

Everytime a good young player leaves a club, the likes of Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho are mentioned. But for every one of these that go on to be a global superstar (sort of!), there are hundreds of others that just drop down the league.

Whilst I wish Cozier-Duberry all the luck with his career, he is more likely to be playing for Bristol Rovers in 3 years than Bayern Munich.

And the same goes for Chido Obi Martin.

The club have also announced that Reuell Walters is also departing.

Arsenal have an abundance of full backs, so this one came as no surprise and highlights just how far we have moved forward under Arteta.

Two seasons ago I was talking about how Walters could be a good understudy for Takehiro Tomiyasu at right back. These days Tomiyasu is our 3rd choice right back and Walters would need at least 3 players ahead of him injured to get a sniff.

Enjoy your lunch!

Keenos


Arteta new contract, Sesko “the one for Arsenal” and More…

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Mikel Arteta new contract

Not sure why people are debating whether Mikel Arteta should get a new contract.

If you can not recognise the strives forward the club has taken under Arteta’s stewardship, then you are clearly the issue and probably blinkered by hatred.

The club is in its best position off the pitch since we moved to the Emirates. Fans and players are one and we are moving forward. Arteta is the reason for all of this.

Granted, Arteta needs to begin turning these good seasons into silverware, but there is no argument that he is not the right man for the job.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich both had vacancies this. Both enquired about Arteta. And if Pep ever leaves City, Super Mik would be top of their list to replace him.

People will list “Allegri, Tuchel, Conte” and others to attempt to show that there are “winners” available who could come straight in and win us a cup. But that ignores the long term picture and that these have proved themselves to be short-term options. As for the loon that said he wants Arteta sacked and for us to bring in the Girona manager, have some standards!

Players across Europe now want to play for The Arsenal again, and Arteta is a huge reason for that.

Arteta deserves his deal. He deserves to be one of the best paid players in the Premier League. Get the contract signed.

Benjamin Sesko “the one for Arsenal”

Only last week I wrote why I believe Benjamin Sesko was the one for Arsenal, so I am more the interested that the links are intensifying.

Sasko looks perfect for Arsenal. He is very similar to Kai Havertz in the way he plays, but a bit more clinical and instinctive in front of goal. At just 20, he will continue to improve.

Some doubters have questioned his acquisition saying they want a proven goal scorer. I have to disagree.

For a start, Sesko will not be coming in to play week in week out. We will still have Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. Let’s not forget that Havertz scored 8 goals and and grabbed himself 7 assists in the last 13 games of the season. Adding Sesko (at the detriment of Nketiah) will add quality and depth.

And if not Sesko, then who?

Ivan Toney has fallen off since his return to football. He is also now 28-years-old. His England team mate Ollie Watkins thrives on space in behind. He would not suitable to a possession based team who often face a low block.

As for those in Europe, I have never really been interest in Viktor Gyokeres. Whilst he has had a good season, he is playing in Portugal and the fee being floated around for a 26-year-old with one season of top flight football under him is ludicrous.

Victor Osimhen is another constantly mentioned, and whilst he would be a high quality recruit, his transfer fee and wages would be astronomical. It would leave very little left in the kitty to buy others. I would also be concerned about his ongoing injury issues. Whoever signs him is going to take a big risk and it feels like his career could implode at any moment.

Sesko is the one. I hope we get it done.

20 man squad

A few have raised their eyebrows about Arteta wanting a just 20 outfield players (plus the keepers), considering you can register up to 25 players. I am not surprised by Arteta’s position.

Last season, just 16 players played more than 1000 minutes of Premier League football for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. It is clear Pep favour quality over quantity and backs he can keep his players fit.

Likewise, Liverpool competed with City for so long by having a smaller squad of higher quality.

A smaller squad means you can pay players more, and have a better quality of players. You only need to look at the “players used” table from last year to see that usually, the better you do the less players you use.

What I expect to happen is for us to have a core group of 20 outfield players. And they are then topped up by fringe players and other youngsters.

Arteta knows what he is doing.

Have a good Friday.

Keenos

Arteta has raised the standards at Arsenal – now we need to demand the signings to match his amibition

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Since Mikel Arteta has come into the club, there has been a lot of talk about projects and phases. A few fans have criticised this having seen other managers come into their clubs and reach some level of success.

The difference between Arsenal and someone like Manchester United is that we are not going for short term glory, cups will not paper over the cracks.

Whilst we do need to start converting these good seasons into silverware, there is a bigger picture at play. And that is where the project and phases come in.

Some people are not aware how much of a mess the club were in on and off the field towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s reign and throughout Unai Emery’s.

From ageing, overpaid, underperforming, problematic “superstars” on the pitch to a dysfunctional leadership team off. The training facilities were dated and we were reportedly close to losing our academy status due to the decline.

Mikel Arteta, Edu, Josh Kroenke, Per Mertesacker and others basically stripped the club back and have rebuilt it. Whilst this might not have seen any short term glory (although it has to be remembered Arteta has won the FA Cup), it is putting the club back on the right track for future success.

We saw last season how much we were progressing as a club when we signed David Raya to replace Aaron Ramsdale.

This decision led to some criticism from the club, but Theirry Henry got it spot on when he said Ramsdale was a keeper to take you to top 4, whilst Raya could be the keeper to win us the league.

The fact is, we are now at a stage of the “project” where incoming players will be of a much higher standard than previously, raising the ceiling of the club. They will be players to help us get over the line to win the title, rather than players to help us maintain a top 4 challenge.

As a result, some fans need to raise their standard when they are listing the players they want us to sign.

Bring me Michel Sanchez, Dovbyk, Miguel and Portu to Arsenal and we win the league I saw one YouTuber post on X over the Bank Holiday weekend. This is a perfect example of fans not having high enough standard.

The 3 players and a manger all come from Girona, who had a decent season in La Liga finishing 3rd. But they are a one-season wonder and none of them would raise the standard at Arsenal.

Michel Sanchez (Manager) – Firstly I am not sure why replacing Mikel Arteta is even an option. Secondly, if Arteta did leave, someone like Sanchez would not be anywhere near our replacement list.

It is interesting how some fans preach high standards, demand Arteta be sacked for failing to win the league this season, and discuss us going for Pep, Conte, Tuchel or Allegri, and then also claim that a man who has won nothing in his managerial career would take us to the league. Raise your standards.

Artem Dovbyk (Striker) – The forward has been in good form for Girona during his first season in Spain, scoring 24 goals in 36 games. But the Ukrainian turns 27 in a month and is very much a journeyman striker who has spent all his career before this season in Europe’s minor leagues. One good season does not make a good player. Raise your standard.

Miguel Gutierrez (Left back) – A perfect example of what I am talking about. Miguel is a solid left back, but is not at the standard of Zinchenko, Tomiyasu or Timber. He neither raises arsenal’s ceiling or our floor. Raise your standards.

Portu (Midfielder) – At this point I am starting to think that the original poster has just googled ‘Girona’s best players’ and never actually watched them or looked into their players. If we are looking to raise the ceiling or floor of Arsenal, why would we be looking to sign a 32 year old Spanish journeyman winger? Raise your standards.

When looking at what players we are going to sign this year, it has to be remembered we are now title challengers. We are not in 8th, or just looking to challenge for the top 4.

Arteta has raised the standards of players we can now attract. Fans now need to follow suit and raise their standards for what they demand.

I expect 3 or 4 players this summer (outside David Raya). All of them will either raise the ceiling or floor of the club. If a player you want is not drastically better than someone already at the club, then do not even bother mentioning.

Next we will hear people saying they want us to sign Lewis Dunk or Ryan Fraser again!

Arsenal are in a great place. We just need everyone on the same page, demanding we continue to push forward, sign better players and improve.

UTA

Keenos