hello. I’ll give you some quick news on Saturday.
If you watched Mikel Arteta’s press conference yesterday, you would have come to the same conclusion as me. That means a January arrival is somewhat unlikely, if not impossible. The manager was asked what he would look for in a striker this month and said:
First of all, it doesn’t help any of us to have someone who can impact the team bring a body. It’s about someone who can immediately impact our performance and bring something we don’t have. It is very difficult to find it in this market.
I think most people can understand it, but it doesn’t do much to scratch the itch we might have for new arrivals. He was then asked about how much he spends on forwards during his time at the club and went on to say:
In a front-line position compared to what other clubs have done and how much we have spent there, we have been very far from that for many years. Firstly, we already have some very good players and there are many essentials to achieve in the squad over that period.
We have certain limitations and there are a lot of gaps and a lot of things that need to be covered to be the team we want to be, and can those players handle it even if they wanted to? Sometimes it’s just not possible.
So when you hear him say that the January market could be difficult and limited, that doesn’t sound particularly positive. My glimmer of hope this month goes back to what I wrote yesterday and the profile of the player who could be the most realistic arrival. Forget big names and big transfer fees. That won’t happen. But maybe there is room for a younger player.
Now going back to Arteta’s first comment about how he will look for people to ‘influence the team’, the implication that they have to be ready at a moment’s notice is inconsistent with the low profile players I am talking about. I suggest. That doesn’t mean the player isn’t useful, and with a summer looming with question marks over the futures of Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling being sent back to Chelsea, they’ve already brought in someone. This is someone who can settle in and develop even during the final months of this season and pre-season.
Do I think that’s likely? If I were a gambler I wouldn’t invest my money in this, but it’s definitely something I could do from a financial perspective. And Arteta himself has reflected on the fact that we have spent far less money than most of our rivals on signing strikers, perhaps something those in higher positions should consider as we head into the second half of this season where there is still a lot to play for. There will be something. I don’t think spending is the only sign of ambition, and while it is fair to point out that Arsenal have spent a lot of money in recent years, there is a feeling that we are missing opportunities to strengthen, and I don’t think that is the case. If it is perceived as contributing to poor outcomes along the way, it will greatly impede understanding.
In the meantime, we need more from our players and, while not the most obvious candidate from a goalscoring perspective, Mikel Merino is someone who could step up between now and May. He explained why in an interview with the Evening Standard:
When I came back I didn’t have a proper pre-season to prepare my legs, body and lungs for this fast-paced league. But now, I think I’ve reached the highest level physically. And yes, see you in the future. A bad thing might turn out to be a good thing because I will be fresher at the end of the season. Who knows?”
Everything started clicking for me. I finally started to understand everything perfectly. I know the rhythm of the team. I know the rhythm of the training session. I started building relationships with everyone on a deeper level that took time. I think this is the perfect place for me.
I’ve previously written about why I think Arteta wanted to sign him, and we’ve seen flashes of what he can bring. Stepping up and doing it more consistently would be very useful. Because while there is a lot of focus on the forwards at the moment, we should not ignore the fact that what they do in the phase of play before the ball is passed to them is possible. Help us be more effective as an offensive team. It’s not just about Merino, it’s about our central defenders and central midfielders. We need to reinvigorate Martin Odegaard as soon as possible.
What you can do tactically to change the tone is part of what we discuss on Patreon’s Preview podcast. If you like something, you can download it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/fa. -cup-preview-119720548 ($6 per month). Mikel Arteta always says his first job is to get more out of the players we have. Is he doing that now? And how can he adjust his tactics to bring more of a threat to his team? It’s all there. Enjoy listening!
Lastly, as a very busy and active football website these days, one of the cornerstones of what we do is reader interaction in the form of comments. Both here and Arseblog News have vibrant and busy comments sections, but they need work and moderation. Please read this (it also has to do with the donkeys here) and let’s do our best to keep the discussion civil because it’s so toxic. hmm… Basically everywhere else.
Okay, we’ll leave it at that for now and be back tomorrow with more information and a full preview of the FA Cup tie. Until then, have a great Saturday.
