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MIKEL ARTETA: Is he the problem?
[Quotes from Arsenal players, former Arsenal managers, pundits, club legends/former players, and managers]
![MIKEL ARTETA: Is he the problem? [Quotes from Arsenal players, former Arsenal managers, pundits, club legends/former players, and managers]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E05Mh1iXoAMC7ON.jpg "MIKEL ARTETA: Is he the problem? [Quotes from Arsenal players, former Arsenal managers, pundits, club legends/former players, and managers]")
[Quotes from Arsenal players, former Arsenal managers, pundits, club legends/former players, and managers]
It's OK to have lost patience with the manager after this poor season, but this thread dispels the idea that it's dumb to still back him. The squad believes in him, and many respected professionals in football believe that he deserves a proper transfer window to improve results.
Arsenal have been very inconsistent this season, but it isn't blind faith to back a manager who's implementing an identity which has been evidenced in improved results against the top 6, and has had to deal with a bloated squad and mass restructuring at boardroom level.
PART 1: Arsenal players on Arteta
Bukayo Saka ( http://Arsenal.com , 19/20)
(1/2) Mikel is amazing you know. He manages to give so much detail while at the same time being so clear. It's just amazing to have such a great coach. The future looks bright and that's why I'm happy to be here.
(1/2) Mikel is amazing you know. He manages to give so much detail while at the same time being so clear. It's just amazing to have such a great coach. The future looks bright and that's why I'm happy to be here.
(2/2) He's someone who understands the players, understands the club and all the ideas that he's bringing in. He has a clear strategy of how he wants us to play and we're just really excited to work with him.
David Luiz (Sky Sports, 19/20)
For me, Arteta is going to be one of the best coaches in the world. I have had the opportunity to have many coaches during my career.
For me, Arteta is going to be one of the best coaches in the world. I have had the opportunity to have many coaches during my career.
Granit Xhaka (Sport1, 19/20)
With him you immediately notice that he has a very wide-ranging, long-standing know-how that he passes on very well to the team. He is absolutely professional, pays great attention to discipline, team spirit, is open and direct in communication.
With him you immediately notice that he has a very wide-ranging, long-standing know-how that he passes on very well to the team. He is absolutely professional, pays great attention to discipline, team spirit, is open and direct in communication.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ( http://Arsenal.com , 20/21)
Mikel is bringing something very nice and everyone wants to follow him.
Mikel is bringing something very nice and everyone wants to follow him.
Thomas Partey ( @thomaspartey5, 20/21)
The coach had a great influence in my decision to join this team and even though we had some bad results I know we are building something good together.
The coach had a great influence in my decision to join this team and even though we had some bad results I know we are building something good together.
Dani Ceballos (Eurosport, 20/21)
He’s the soul of the club and he’s lucky that the players trust him 100%. Arsenal need him, in part because he takes the initiative most of the time.
He’s the soul of the club and he’s lucky that the players trust him 100%. Arsenal need him, in part because he takes the initiative most of the time.
Hector Bellerin (beIN SPORTS, 20/21)
(1/2) As I say, we have to, as players, take responsibility [for the losses] because I think we all know that Mikel and his coaching team give us all the tools that we need to win all the games.
(1/2) As I say, we have to, as players, take responsibility [for the losses] because I think we all know that Mikel and his coaching team give us all the tools that we need to win all the games.
(2/2) [...] The way that Mikel plans these games, all the knowledge that they give us before we step on to the pitch is second to none.
![(2/2) [...] The way that Mikel plans these games, all the knowledge that they give us before we step on to the pitch is second to none.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E05Nq88XsAI3G3D.jpg "(2/2) [...] The way that Mikel plans these games, all the knowledge that they give us before we step on to the pitch is second to none.")
Martin Ødegaard (VG, 20/21)
...He is incredible. I have a lot to learn from him. I just need to “sharpen my ears” and pay attention. He is fantastic.
...He is incredible. I have a lot to learn from him. I just need to “sharpen my ears” and pay attention. He is fantastic.
Kieran Tierney (Sky Sports, 20/21)
(1/2) The manager is a genius. A football genius. You can see we are all loving working under him and me especially, I love it.
(1/2) The manager is a genius. A football genius. You can see we are all loving working under him and me especially, I love it.
(2/2) Every day I’m learning, he has shown me a new light onto football. I’m seeing it a different way now and I’m watching other teams and looking at tactics and that’s just because of the way he has made me think about it.
PART 2: Former Arsenal managers on Arteta
Arsene Wenger (Tribuna, 20/21)
Mikel Arteta has the ingredients to be a very good manager, a top manager. We have to give him time, let them do his job in the way he wants to do it. He's intelligent, he has big passion and a strong character.
Mikel Arteta has the ingredients to be a very good manager, a top manager. We have to give him time, let them do his job in the way he wants to do it. He's intelligent, he has big passion and a strong character.
Unai Emery ( @charles_watts, 20/21)
Arteta and Arsenal is a perfect marriage. He’s a great manager. You can see a clear identity, a clear idea of a game plan. I’m sure Arsenal will be able to grow with Arteta.
Arteta and Arsenal is a perfect marriage. He’s a great manager. You can see a clear identity, a clear idea of a game plan. I’m sure Arsenal will be able to grow with Arteta.
George Graham (Daily Express, 20/21)
(1/2) Arteta is doing a very good job. But while he has improved the players, he has only improved them to a certain point. They have got to have natural ability to get to the next level.
(1/2) Arteta is doing a very good job. But while he has improved the players, he has only improved them to a certain point. They have got to have natural ability to get to the next level.
(2/2) Arsenal have outstanding young players, but they need help. Quality players around them to show them the way.
PART 3: Pundits, club legends and former players on Arteta
Tony Adams (Astro SuperSport, 20/21)
(1/2) The words coming out [of the club], when I talk to my mate Steve Bould who’s still in the club taking the Under-23s at the moment. He said to me, “This guy has got it all, he’s the governor”.
![Tony Adams (Astro SuperSport, 20/21) (1/2) The words coming out [of the club], when I talk to my mate Steve Bould who’s still in the club taking the Under-23s at the moment. He said to me, “This guy has got it all, he’s the governor”.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E05OpeOWUAUYjTU.jpg "Tony Adams (Astro SuperSport, 20/21) (1/2) The words coming out [of the club], when I talk to my mate Steve Bould who’s still in the club taking the Under-23s at the moment. He said to me, “This guy has got it all, he’s the governor”.")
(1/2) The words coming out [of the club], when I talk to my mate Steve Bould who’s still in the club taking the Under-23s at the moment. He said to me, “This guy has got it all, he’s the governor”.
(2/2) He’s the best he’s seen in a long time. He really does understand the game, he expresses himself; he’s very confident.
Alan Shearer (Coral, 20/21)
With the problems Arsenal have had, it's not going to change in six months or 12 months, it's going to take a while to get that football club back to where they want to be.
With the problems Arsenal have had, it's not going to change in six months or 12 months, it's going to take a while to get that football club back to where they want to be.
Alan Smith (Sky Sports, 20/21)
I do believe that he's an excellent coach, that, given the right tools, he could make something happen at Arsenal.
I do believe that he's an excellent coach, that, given the right tools, he could make something happen at Arsenal.
Robert Pires (Tribuna, 20/21)
(1/2) Mikel is young and needs time to implement his ideas but I believe that once he has built his team, Arsenal will be competitive and ready to go toe-to-toe with the great English clubs.
(1/2) Mikel is young and needs time to implement his ideas but I believe that once he has built his team, Arsenal will be competitive and ready to go toe-to-toe with the great English clubs.
(2/2) It’s imperative the supporters stay patient because Arsenal are in transition but the club’s future under Arteta looks bright.
Robin van Persie ( http://Goal.com , 20/21)
As a coach I do think he has the potential to become great. I said that even after watching the first couple of training sessions, or bits of it.
As a coach I do think he has the potential to become great. I said that even after watching the first couple of training sessions, or bits of it.
Santi Cazorla ( http://UEFA.com , 20/21)
I think he's the right man to take the club forward. It's difficult to follow a period like Wenger's – the club has to adapt to another kind of football, another philosophy, another vision of football.
I think he's the right man to take the club forward. It's difficult to follow a period like Wenger's – the club has to adapt to another kind of football, another philosophy, another vision of football.
Michael Owen (beIN SPORTS, 20/21)
(1/2) They have not been really challenging at the top end of the table for quite some time now so I think it's a building process. [...] I think that's what they need now [time for Arteta].
(1/2) They have not been really challenging at the top end of the table for quite some time now so I think it's a building process. [...] I think that's what they need now [time for Arteta].
(2/2) They've chopped and changed a couple of managers since Arsene Wenger. [...] Now it's gonna take a little bit of time to get his ideas across, a few transfer windows...
![(2/2) They've chopped and changed a couple of managers since Arsene Wenger. [...] Now it's gonna take a little bit of time to get his ideas across, a few transfer windows...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E05PncmXsAY7Afq.jpg "(2/2) They've chopped and changed a couple of managers since Arsene Wenger. [...] Now it's gonna take a little bit of time to get his ideas across, a few transfer windows...")
Graeme Souness (Sky Sports, 20/21)
(1/2) They've not got enough good players. It doesn't matter what manager they've got in there. You have to look beyond the manager and look at the people who are making the signings.
(1/2) They've not got enough good players. It doesn't matter what manager they've got in there. You have to look beyond the manager and look at the people who are making the signings.
(2/2) These players are not good enough to play for Arsenal. They are a country-mile from where they need to be. They are not a very good team.
Jamie Carragher (Sky Sports, 20/21)
(1/4) There’s no doubt Arsenal are on the way back under Mikel Arteta. I think we’d all say that squad still needs a lot more work doing to it to get back to the level Arsenal supporters want...
(1/4) There’s no doubt Arsenal are on the way back under Mikel Arteta. I think we’d all say that squad still needs a lot more work doing to it to get back to the level Arsenal supporters want...
(2/4) Arsenal's recruitment in the last few years has been shocking. Absolutely shocking. Arteta needs three or four transfer windows. This group of players is nowhere near good enough. Arsenal have a really poor squad.
(3/4) I really like Mikel Arteta. There’s a lot of nonsense around the club - bringing players, buying players.
(4/4) It’s going to take a lot of pain for Arsenal... It’s the players – get rid of them. Get rid of them, stick with Mikel Arteta and get the young players in the team.
Jamie Redknapp (Sky Sports, 20/21)
(1/2) Of course you could go and sack the manager, but the bigger problem is that there's a group of players there and there's only three or four that if you were the manager coming in, you'd say I could trust those players.
(1/2) Of course you could go and sack the manager, but the bigger problem is that there's a group of players there and there's only three or four that if you were the manager coming in, you'd say I could trust those players.
(2/2) [...] Too many of them, no matter what you do, will let you down. It's a team full of kidders right now and I feel sorry for the young players. Arsenal have got to stick with the manager and give him time to get out a lot of the players that aren't good enough.
PART 4: Managers on Arteta
Mauricio Pochettino
(1/2) For me, he’s going to be one of the best coaches when he decides to be a coach. He has the capacity to be one of the greatest coaches in football, for sure. (Sky Sports, 18/19)
(1/2) For me, he’s going to be one of the best coaches when he decides to be a coach. He has the capacity to be one of the greatest coaches in football, for sure. (Sky Sports, 18/19)
(2/2) ...He has experience and the knowledge to do a great job (Tribuna, 19/20)
Marcelo Bielsa (Evening Standard, 20/21)
They have a manager who proposes a style which distinguishes the team. Arteta is a coach who wants to play as he projects. From a tactical viewpoint, if you watch Arsenal closely they show things that I have never seen in any other team.
They have a manager who proposes a style which distinguishes the team. Arteta is a coach who wants to play as he projects. From a tactical viewpoint, if you watch Arsenal closely they show things that I have never seen in any other team.
Jurgen Klopp ( http://Goal.com , 20/21)
Mikel Arteta has shown in a pretty short period of time that he seems to be an exceptional football manager.
Mikel Arteta has shown in a pretty short period of time that he seems to be an exceptional football manager.
Jose Mourinho (Sky Sports, 20/21)
They have a good tactical courage and incredible spirit. They are a good team and he is a good coach [...] I believe with these players and Mikel Arsenal will rise again.
![Jose Mourinho (Sky Sports, 20/21) They have a good tactical courage and incredible spirit. They are a good team and he is a good coach [...] I believe with these players and Mikel Arsenal will rise again.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E05ROGPXoAQ6l45.jpg "Jose Mourinho (Sky Sports, 20/21) They have a good tactical courage and incredible spirit. They are a good team and he is a good coach [...] I believe with these players and Mikel Arsenal will rise again.")
They have a good tactical courage and incredible spirit. They are a good team and he is a good coach [...] I believe with these players and Mikel Arsenal will rise again.
Pep Guardiola (Sky Sports, 20/21)
(1/3) I am pretty sure Arteta is the right person to take them back to the position they were. When the club supports him there is no better person to do the job than Mikel.
(1/3) I am pretty sure Arteta is the right person to take them back to the position they were. When the club supports him there is no better person to do the job than Mikel.
(2/3) I have the feeling he is creating something unique. If he can be supported by the club with investment, get the players they need, they can be contenders for the next years.
(3/3) Mikel knows everything, he is so good, he is so clever, I learn a lot watching his teams, he knows everything about football.
