John Collard- Arsenal action man Arteta
Mikel Arteta ( He may look like a action man figure, but he is the most consistent player in the league.)
Hello Gooners I wish you all well.
Alexander Song (Who)? That’s right, he has moved on and so have we. In a strange way it seems we have a better team than last year and that’s without the unfaithful Dutchman. Mikel Arteta is a joy to watch, no airs and graces and just gets on with it. What really does impress me with the Spaniard is the way he has the ability and method to change his wonderful game.
For Everton he was the flair, the man that would score the goals and make it happen, but now he does the same for Arsenal but in a much different approach (Incredible). I don’t think there is one Gooner on this site that can challenge these views. A strong and trusted player that I’m sure most of you would like to see first on the team sheet.
I think this blog is more of a homage to a player I’ve seen being a really true professional footballer of the utmost brilliance. It really is a pleasure to watch at times but it’s not all flair and skill but the direction and passing ability and movement that he has to start a wonderful attack. It’s also great we have the wizard Cazorla and the great Jack to return (Things really are starting to get good).
Also, in my eyes and I’m sure others, he is a worthy candidate to wear the captain’s arm band. In my honest opinion I believe Arteta’s game is hidden within the shadows to the non Arsenal fan at times. But any football fan with any common sense for the game can see the pure craft the man has for the game.
It also impresses me that he never has a bad game (Steady as always) Gooners, do we not think Arteta is worth a Spanish call up?. Yes we all know how many great players the Spanish team has but in sheer respect to the man who was the under-21 captain he bloody deserves it. Some hasty Gooners may come on here and say I sing his praises because he is an Arsenal player (Maybe so), But any fool can see Mikel is a credit to the premiership.
I also am led to believe Arteta’s pass rate was the second highest, or first, in Europe last year (Amazing). So my question to you is, have we not got the most or one of the most consistent players in the premiership or maybe even Europe right now. I’m not saying he is the best player in the world but the job he does is without question as good as anyone else out there right now and last year.
Gooners, give me your assessment on Arteta and how do you feel the midfield pass merchant has done for our great club. Do you believe I praise him much too highly and question my views on his ability and think when Wilshire returns it will be him that gives way? Or tell me what your midfield would be when everyone is fit. One thing is for sure, Wenger has a major headache to come when all our players return. But one thing’s for sure, Arteta can’t be dropped. So what the hell do we do? Gooners I thank you for reading.
Totally agree. I must admit I didn’t see this role as a DM in him when he arrived and he is better than Song who was not as positionally aware as Arteta. He is the foundation of the midfield.
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Supported,ARTETA deserve more than a praise,he should be awarded as a 2ru legend,because he never give up 2 d future.
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Arterta will be always there for arsenal no matter who they buys or who returns
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He reads d game so well,his interception last season against man city at d emirates,before he scored dat scrimmer and the one at west ham for how equaliser shows a lot about him.
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Yes, completely agree. You are not overstating the case. Arteta has been immense. He’s in excellent form, but in truth he’s been close to this level for the last 5-6 years. He’s a brilliant professional, one of Wenger’s best signings to be sure. He also is a fantastic pro for youngsters like Wilshere, Coqueline, and Frimpong to study as they hone thier prodigious talents.
I know it’s a bit off-topic, but when you consider how great a midfielder Arteta is, how well he’s playing, and that he is continuously frozen out of the Spain team, it’s hard not to reflect on the number of top-level midfielders that country has at it’s disposal currently. It’s mind-boggling really.
David Silva, Santi Cazorla, Sergi Busquets, Juan Mata, Xabi Alonso, Arteta, Fabregas and the two greatest midfielders in the world, Xavi and Iniesta…amazing collection of talent. And half of them (barring Busquets, Arteta, Fabregas, and Alonso) are pygmies—don’t think any of the others are over 5’7/5’8. Makes fine comedy of a so-called English Golden Generation of Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, and Scholes. (And the number of international trophies between the two groups only adds to the laughter). For my money Scholes is clearly the only one that would have any chance of seeing meaningful playing time among that Spain group.
And in truth, in England’s emerging generation I see only Jack Wilshere with the kind of technical ability that approximates what Spain have and what is so consistently produced at the Barcelona Academy (which produced Xavi, Cesc, Arteta, Busquets, and Iniesta, to name a few).
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Absolutely right. Great blog.He is share class.
There is nothing wrong with you or any other Gooner biggin-up one of our players.
It makes a mockery of the transfer market when you see how much other players cost who could’nt lace his boots.
Liverpool paid 15 million for Joe Allen.
Not sure why Song has been singled out though.
They played together last season and complimented each other well.
Song’s contribution was positive and deservers our respect and gratitude, not sarcasm.
Arteta replaced Fabregas so surely the comparison should be made between the two of them.
As long as Spain are doing the business, he might have to wait for that call up but he seems happy doing well for his club like all good pro’s should.
I do not think young Wilsher should walk back into the side if we are winning. Strengh in depth is a dream situation.
It’s been too long since we had this kind of luxuary.
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Song was well overated.
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Over rated because he left. Not when he was making all those assist for RVP last season.
One Song….We’ve only got one Song…. Remember that?
Unbelievable.
Gratitude is high on your list eh?
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I’d like to add goonern4 I believe jack is without a doubt one of the greatest young talents I’v seen in a long time. Aka paul gascoigne
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Agreed
But if we want to bring the glory days back we have to play players on merit.
He’s been missing for a year.
After the Liverpoor game we were wetting ourselves about Diaby, and Cazorla, and rightfully so.
If they are fit and playing well, do you think Jack should leap frog them back into the side? You’ve just made a solid case for Arteta which i agree with.
Let’s just celebrate our riches and let Wenger earn his millions making the right team selections.
Jack will need to be used slowly anyway.
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Goonern4 thanks for your great views. And I must admit I nearly always agree with you. But to be fair I played a good standard of football myself and no doubt like yourself I’v seen great good average and bad players down the line. I think to be fair my friend you are a song fan. And there was a lot of gooners at the ground that was not. It’s a flip of a coin. Yes he did have so good games but he also had some shocking ones also. Song in my opinion was overrated buy some gooners he was good at doing the dog work and set up a few good goals. But then let’s look at the bad games he did have. Now maybe like myself you also have a season ticket and watch the games the tv does not show. Song would not make are midfield if jack was in full swing now. Arteta carzola and jack would be without question starting with Podolski and theo or oxlade. It’s maybe a tad unfair to say to footy fan and being loyal because I know song was not either. He wanted that move and good luck to him. It would seem fair to say people have all sorts of views. To be fair I rate arshavin when played in the centre a class act. But no one will agree with me lol. You rate song as I have seen on many of your posts I really just think that’s what it boils down to. Song in my view was a steady player but was overrated but I wish him well. It’s not fickle it’s just my view. He did a job well at times. But as Gary Neville said on sky sports arsenal don’t miss him. For me arteta is doing a better job as a dog merchant and carzola going forward is better. But goonern4 don’t get me wrong I agree with all you say but on song yes good player but also at times very slow and lazy at others. Plus I’m sure like helb and overmars and flamani he will be wishing he never left because apart from the barcalona wage song never had it so good. Wenger made him into a good player but no more.
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Agreed Song was really not the greatest. Im not fickle, i can just see he was not as good as some say. Arteta is without question doing a better job.
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I can always respect your view even if we disagree.
what i liked about Song was his committment while at the club. He was no Vieria but at a time when so many players think the sun shines out of their backside.
He kept his head down and gave 100%.
Sorry to take up so much time talking about him when the question was about Arteta but over the years we’ve had many Alex Songs. Parlour, Hillier,Selley, Morrow to name a few.
My point is, they all made a contribution for us and i’d rather we just said cheers.After all we are the first to complain when our ex players taunt us about not winning trophies. (Cole & Nasri)
He could have done the same, but has shown respect for us as fans and Wenger as the coach who made him.
Arteta IS better than him but that should not diminish his effort.
cheers!!
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John collard. Wengers love child. Great blog mikel does do the job well. And does look like a action man pmsl.
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guys any idea wat happened to justarsenal.com??
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Arteta is no doubt one of Le Professeur’s finest signings, ever. The stats are there for all to see. Last season was arguably the most incredible and satisfying season of the Wenger era, all the titles and trophies and unbeaten records aside. To recover as Arsenal did from the horrendous start is in my opinion remarkable. Spurs recovered from a similar situation when Redknapp took over but never at any point of that season could they compare to the achievements that Arsenal produced last season. Everyone credits that recovery to RVP, as his scintillating season progressed. Little did we know then that it was a showcase to the tiresome Scot in Manchester, an audacious and self centered audition for the mythical ‘theatre of dreams’. His inabilty to grasp the fact that the great thespians of any generation owe their sucess and legacy to those who pay, day in and out to witness their genius, and who pay homage to their skills and sucess, are the ones who future generatins remember. RVP has squandered that right, not only because he walked away from the captaincy of one great club to become a bit player at another, but because he was too short sighted to realise that winning is not what counts. Money is a non-issue. He confuses trophies with success, a bit like a ladies man who seduces one after another but someday is left to wonder why he is growing old alone.
Mikel Arteta had as much to do with Arsenal’s revival last season and will one day become a club legend. He will be remembered for unselfish and professional attitude. He left Everton, one might argue for similar reasons to RVP. But in fact he didn’t. He left to have an opportunity to play CL football. He didn’t leave becasue he thought he would win tropies but because he could particiapte in the beatiful game at hte highest level. RVP was a joy to watch last season and I hope someday he looks back and realises that those who enjoyed watching him most would never assualt him for not producing trophies.
Mikel Arteta should become captain of Arsenal in time, meanwhile I for one cannot wait to see him entertain to the highest level. Wilshere has big boots to fill, but they dont belong to the genial Spaniard. And lets not forget the delightful Rosicky who when he returns will make for some mouth watering entertainment.Exciting times ahead, vive Le Professeur
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What a great one in arteta, I love his humility and consistency. For me he’s our beSt player for now if it were to be another person he would have contested carzola’s position. This is surely our season the jinx will be broken up gooners
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Arshavin will return also.
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