Today’s post is by PA regular Double Canister.
“He is Arsène Wenger on the pitch.”
I was prompted to write this after I saw a tweet to George saying as much and felt I could expand a bit on why I believe it is so.
I would have to state my conflict of interest first – the only Arsenal shirt I have ever put a name and number on the back of – ever – is Arteta No 8.
Mikel is far too highly skilled as a footballer for what other teams and commentators see as the classic Defensive Midfield role. He is not Makélélé, thankfully. He is not quite like Gilberto Silva as the Invisible Wall. We all know he is a better all-round footballer than Flamini. He is the man behind our multiple sexy attacking threats up front and the mind-fielder and is the oil in the engine of the Arsenal midfield. His contract expires in January 2015. He will be 32 years old this March, we may be seeing the best of him right now.
Arteta is a deep-lying playmaker. He wins the ball, see things, sees players – makes passes, and as was said by others – he can see the pass beyond the first pass. There is no one else in the English league I would compare him to. He is always available as the recovery pass. He hardly ever gives the ball away. He is not as psychotic as Roy Keane was though. He does the heavy pressing for Arsenal, and with Rosicky, they can both form a proper tiki-taka (the other half of what Barca used to do so well) and do what has to be done to press and win the ball back.
Pivot ye not
So what does Arteta do so well? Is he something like a trequartista or a regista? No, not exactly. In Argentine and Uruguayan football, a playmaker is known as an enganche – literally meaning “hook”. In basketball it’s called the point guard. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, they are expected to run the team’s offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right players at the right time. Above all, the point guard must totally understand and accept his coach’s game plan; a point guard is a coach on the floor, who can handle and distribute the ball to teammates.
Situational awareness
It leads to a deeper question: what kind of football does Arsenal at the moment play under Wenger?
Wengerball!
Is the simple answer, but what really is that?
New Wengerball© is a unique blend of possessional, direct, and total football. I have often argued that the traditional DM role is obsolete at teams like Arsenal, we expect our players to be complete; defenders attack – attackers defend. You know – Total Football style. We also expect our midfielders to possess extraordinary levels of energy and skill (and a bit of nous too). We don’t use a holding midfielder anymore, as this would restrict our attack options by using up one of the midfield positions. Each and every one of the 6 players in front of the defence is an attacking weapon. It is a lightning quick pass-move system. Throw in one or the other of our two overlapping fullbacks as well. Teams we play against don’t know from where – or who – the next ball towards their goalmouth will come. Most English teams usually operate with only one recognised playmaker; Arsenal usually have 4 or 5. Arteta’s role as the point guard requires unusual skill and adaptability, combined with intelligent positioning. Look as Gerrard struggles so desperately whilst being converted into the same position so late in his career.
Festina lente
And what has this to do with asymmetric warfare?
There is as a phrase used in the military ‘Slow is smooth, and smooth is quick’. Arteta will ensure he (or at least one other covering player) stays around no further forward than centre circle when everyone else is playing school yard football. Lying deeper, he can orchestrate the movement of the whole team. His starting position is quite deep, probably due to fading pace but that is rarely exposed as he is usually first to react to loose balls. Mikel rarely gives the ball away. He gets criticised, unjustly, for making some side and back passes but he is no Carrack – there is a logic to what he does – the ball will be moving forward again after the next pass, often to one of the killer attackers like Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla or Ozil. The point is he can keep recycling the play from side to side, front to back, keep the passing rhythm, the tempo and speed impossibly high, until the opposition falter or make a mistake – and then BOOM!
Why he is Wenger’s brain on the pitch
Arteta has discipline – he will stick to the task. How many late goals have the Arsenal scored? How many late goals are conceded when he’s around? It often takes 70+ minutes to break down teams who play against us with a parked bus. In the last 20 minutes, when Arsenal are still usually trying to make sure of the result in the match, you will see some very interesting things happen.
Santi, Rosicky and Theo will typically keep swapping sides. Sanga may drop back into defensive mode and Monreal or Gibbs will be the one pushing forward.
The first 70 minutes were merely feints, the real XXXX comes now. Ozil becomes alive, new attack angles appear everywhere. Defenses can’t cope, but we need Arteta to be the one pinging the ball around to make it happen. His passing from the deep positions has to be spot-on reliable – and it usually is. Lying deeper, he has an oversight of the entire game from his usual position around the centre circle. He can move up or back depending on the situation and provides the extra body to an attack or a defence. Oh, and he will take one for the team if he has too. A +70% tackle success rate but he is not shy about the odd rugby tackle on an opponent if that is the last resort, and accruing the inevitable yellow card if he sees that we have been left too exposed behind him.
This photo of them – they are soul mates
Arteta has the intelligence and senior experience to understand what must be done. Both never had international careers. It’s Arsenal or nothing for them both now. Their careers will not go on for much longer. It has to be done now.
Now watch this and tell me I’m wrong:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98xvudh4aB4
Double Canister can be told he’s wrong on Twitter @double_canister
Positively Arsenal 
post-Brazil pre-season could look like this…
THE ARSE 2014/15:
1 Szczesny – Viviano – Martinez
2 Sagna – Jenkinson – Bellerin
3 Gibbs – Monreal
4 Mertesacker – Miquel
5 Koscielny – Vermaelen
6 Arteta – Flamini – Diaby* – Aneke
8 Wilshere – Ramsey – Eisfeld
10 Özil – Cazorla – Rosicky – Zelalem
7 Walcott – Ox – Gnabry
9 Giroud – Sanogo – Akpom / Afobe
11 Campbell – Podolski – Ryo
Hmm…who would we need to add to repeat?
– with JC back, any need to spend that much on Draxler?
– this Morata fellow?
..till then.
next up…Stoke Shitty!
hope to see Kim K in training
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fkn hate those olympiakos cunts …hate united too….olympiakos is totenham united and chelsea all put together… the scum of the port, corrupting the league and sport giving loan players to 80% of rest of teams and has the refs on their payroll like manure had for two decades, built a ground with the people’s money during olympics and installing a junta on the league to always win the title so as to qualify into champions league without a summer qualifier and pocket the 20-24 mil…theyve been doing that for 17 years running……. stealing …this is utterly sickening…having to listen to a bunch of nobodies claiming moral victories and erasing years of corruption and theft just cause of one night…manu are useless cunts….
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sorry i had to let that out….
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been suffering all night…
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4-0 in first 15 mins at o.t as a minimum and then more and more as the night gets tougher and tougher… those scummers need to be put at their places…their previosu european record was juventus – oly = 7-0 … united needs to break that for the sake of sanity. so useless
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football is unfair …
corrupt thieves and scum from piraeus (not fucking athens) presented as european elite
chelsea winning the champions league
morons chasing wenger out
mourinho still breathing
someone write something grande and positive please ….
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joel campbell is the next thierry henry.
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Untied haven’t won by a 2+ goal margin at home since 4-0 against Norwich in the LC last October. It’s also 30 years since they have overcome being 0-2 down in a first leg of a tie in Europe.
If Olympiakos get a goal, even a 3-1 home win will kick the manure out.
Shame, as we need these gobshites to knock some points off Liverpool and City.
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thank you layksite!!
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Joel Campbell could be Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp and RVP rolled into one, but his return to Arsenal next season would be greeted with derision and much groaning as he wouldn’t cost the club any money, and apparently only cost us about one million back in 2011. Just imagine if he and Sanogo became the most prolific partnership in the clubs history, and all for a total signing cost of one Trevor Francis.
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damn hunter, didn’t know all that about Olympiakos.
Good to know though.
foreverheady,
I just imagined….can’t stop grinning …..AW knows.
Mourinho is sooooooo weak!
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Just imagine if he and Sanogo became the most prolific partnership in the clubs history, and all for a total signing cost of one Trevor Francis.
but thats not what football or the epl is all about mate…this is about spending 200 million on mercenaries and superstars and the soap opera that accompanies the sky/epl carousel …. thats what the people want….it was never about the football….if they cared about football theyd built statues of wenger all across the country and kiss his feet everyday. instead they love mourinho…perhaps he is closer to their culture than Arsene Wenger… it makes sense now.
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the most corrupt club in the world aman….filthy…. bastards from the brothels of the ports….the spawns of whores and sailors ….. with a gay icon as their emblem ….
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wow..we must get our boy JC out of there ASAP then hunter…no 2nd season @ such a despicable place I say!
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any news on Kim K & Diaby, anyone??
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Rumours circulating that NYSE has been told manure have sacked their manager probably rubbish but funny none the less.
Aman, the good thing about any ARSENAL list at the moment is no matter who you write down there are always players you can add. Jon Toral , Issac Hayden and Chris Olsson could all be added to that list if they don’t go out on loan next season and depending on how far we get in the league cup maybe Dan Crowley as well.
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A or B,
True…but having learned a little something from the sale of Nico & Frimp, I can’t bring myself to add the 3 u mention. They ain’t ready yet….&
I fear for Ryo, Afobe & Eisfeld
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A marvellous strike by Campbell last night and irrespective of where he ends up it shows he has real quality. I was also impressed by the way he managed to get Evra yellow carded after just two minutes – sneaky !
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I was also impressed by the way he managed to get Evra yellow carded after just two minutes – sneaky !
michelle platini was in meeting with olympiakos owner/president yday…
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van per$hit missed a seater last night. if such a chance is missed by giroud or bendtner, hell will be let loose.
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aman
i dont really know what is wrong with afobe. he looks strong and skillful to me. maybe those injuries have slowed his progress.
eisfeld will do better in gemany or spain. he lack the strength to play in epl.
ryo? has been injured a lot.
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jc would be playing for us now but for work permit nonsence. how many young and exciting players have been lost to other clubs in other countries due to work permit. hopefully he proves himself next season.
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jc would be playing for us now but for work permit nonsence.
so could yaya toure … a disgraceful law…
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HUNTER 13
next time give us heads up on Greek teams before the game mate. (0(
Still very enjoyable watching manure falter and that JOEL goal . Wow. Kids got VELA touch . Likes to bend them like HENRY.
hope this makes you happy.. LONG LIVE PANA!!!!!!
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Permits never seemed to be much of a problem for Sah Slurgus…
If Campbell had been here this season he could have played when Theo *wails, beats chest in despair* and Chambo were out but he might have taken some minutes away from Gnabry.
They way things have worked out they could both be useful next season. Smart thinking. From someone. Somewhere. What has happened to my beloved Arsenal?
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Imagine this front line if Giroud needs a rest or they want to try something different to Sanogo/Giroud.
Chambo/Campbell – Walcott – Chambo/Gnabry
Pace!
In front of any variations from the Arsenal midfield.
Walcott looked ready to go against the tinies, though we must remember he was up against Dawson, not a genuine test.
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goonerkam
February 26, 2014 at 2:09 pm
lol what do you mean? i thought it was well known …their owner/president was in english newspapers for match fixing and other scandals/frauds not to long ago … and has to face trial….of ocurse he will be freed of charges…very powerful guy….they are the dirtiest club in europe. Panathinakos was playing in finals and last 4s, 8s when olympiakos didnt even know what european football meant…… after stealing for 17 years running to secure champions league money they manage a good result after epic failures and comedy nights and suddenly the world is talkign about them….if yu run a search on their owners presidents you will find a fraudster jailed fro 20 years after ripping off the government…..a stazi agent who is among 50 richest in the world and telecommunications and sports betting tycoon and now a shipowner who goes round with 20 bodyguards like the mafiosi in moscow,naples etc……. i was expecting the equally hateable united to at least stuff them and not give them reasons to claim moral victories and such bollocks……they are insufferable now…. olympiakos in the champiosn league was a source of comedy for us ……watching them stubble from embarassment to embarassment 3-0 loss here 7-0 loss there 4-1 loss at home 5-1 loss at home etc etc ………we play them on sunday and i cant wait for our players to bring them back to earth…..obviously we cant rely on chumpions manu anymore…..
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No: that is too much. How dare you get hopes up like that.
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finsbury
February 26, 2014 at 2:24 pm
But…but…..Wenger has lost touch with modern football …how could he foresee 4 5 or 6 or 7 years before where/how to utilise theo/ox etc , how to develop them….what education they needed to be ready to face the pace in europe or epl……how could he foresee and move as fast to secure talents from germany ..
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Dawson? i had forgotten about him….clearly a mistake we didnt secure his signature when he was setting the serie a on fire….
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they both could be useful next season, but the small problem is campbell would have played in the world cup as well as QF of champions league. it may be difficult to convince him to be patient and fight for his place in the team. especially when champions league clubs line up to sign him. make no mistake, this guy will make it big in world football.
two things in our favour are the fact he is our player and he claims to reject manure to play for us because he is a fan.
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I imagine Campbell would like literally nothing more or better than to join the ranks at Arsenal. Olymps is not exactly super A-grade, more B+ in Europe terms. He’s passed that test, but is yet unproven at the higher levels. He’s had an eye for a goal for some time though and what appears to be a superb record at Olymps (assists and goals). Yes, what a mouth-watering prospect with Sanogo, Campbell, Giroud, Theo, Gnabry; although none of those have left sided qualities. Add Lukas (I doubt he is regarded as superfluous, but rumours are rumours). On the other hand Ox and Santi both have left sided qualities. Importantly all these players are on our books already, and it seems to amount to a fearful strike department depth to match the midfield depth.
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Olymps is not exactly super A-grade, more B+ in Europe terms.
F-
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Why they have started to take these kids like Sanogo and Chambo out of the side for their first six months, working on conditioning and tactics, I’ll never understand.
They need to practice their drills.
And crosses. Getinthemixer.
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GetITinhemixer
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That Ozil has some pretty decent left side form too.
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Oh dear I wish I could type. And write. And spell. I blame this stupid phone that thinks it is smart. Meh. I need to spend some farking money on a new phone. And maybe I could also learn how to use spellcheck? nah, I’ll just spend the cash.
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Why is it can we see that AW and the few top managers out there all copy each other? Why did Brendan Rodgers who worked under Maureen, say in one of his more graceful moments after a defeat against the Arsenal that he was happy to copy what had happened at AFC, and that he understood that it would take him years? I have no idea. 😉
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finsbury’s Arsenal trivia for the day:
Danny Karbassiyoon scouted both Zelalem and Campbell. Good work! Who needs portugeezer contacts, the desire to consistently overpay (can’t imagine why…) for players with third party interests on their contracts?
Looks like Grimandi has some competition.
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finsbury
February 26, 2014 at 3:15 pm
and tackling of course…you dont go far in modern football if you cant tackle like barry and parker …
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finsbury
February 26, 2014 at 3:35 pm
shhhh …we got a great thing going here with zahavi and mendez and roman ….. why wreck it..?..stop it walter….
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Finsbury @ 3:24pm
Displaying a marked lack of ambition there.
In Fins’ we Rust!
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Manure fans in total meltdown today on social media and radio. They just can’t handle failure.
Entertaining.
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Arteta has been my favourite Arsenal player since he joined. Fantastic intelligence and discipline, always calm, fully focused at all times, a consummate professional. Injuries have disrupted him this season and I don’t think he’s been at his very best but he will continue to be a valuable member of the squad for a while yet. At almost 32 perhaps he won’t be able to carry as heavy a workload in future as he has so far but if we continue to rotate I hope that, like Rosicky, he can maintain fitness and form for a few more years. That he has never been called up for Spain is a shame for him but also a boon for us that can lengthen his career. He gets a rest in the international breaks and every summer he has a long holiday and full pre-season.
Two great videos of Arteta’s game:
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HUNTER 13
dude, I say the hell away from English newspapers. Its going on six years now. Even on complimentary articles on THE ARSENAL they could not help it but to be critical. Overtly. The frustration became so bad I just said F•••IT.
We must take JOEL bad asap and/or loan him to pana if there is still work permit issues. Can’t let the kid be corrupted at that mercenary club.
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The funny thing about that particularly stupid troll that tried and failed to troll every sane Arsenal blog out there (now it’s probably stalking George on twitter!) is that it did not realise that rust can provide a layer of protection.
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Tacking?
Like Rosicky (who, according to an esteemed MOTD plundit cannot tackle!) or Ramsey or Arteta? How about that slide in the centre circle by the BFG against Sunderland? Phwoar! Koscielny? Has reduced the likes of Tevez and many or most opponents to tears.
Slide Tackle of the week? Easy. Jenkinson against Sterling (I think). A beauty. And probably a foul Away, or with one of the, um, the more predictable refs.
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no not to pana …we are ruined …our owners effed us in the a ….dropped their pants to oly years ago ….. abandoned us and we cant even get licence for uefa…lol..our budget is 2,000,000 euros for the whole season …. 4 years ago we had gilebrto silva in our roster and beating mourinho 0-1 inside san siro…… and arsenal fans complain….lol
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The top Greek and Turkish sides, punching above their weight, losing their best players to top leagues compensate quite well I think and make the difference in being incredibly difficult place to play away and added, sometimes all-out emphasis on defense (especially Greek sides). Olymps is an example as Moyes has now discovered. And by the way is a great learning curve for Campbell as Greek defenses are notorious.
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Arteta, artful, gentle, tough, fit, intelligent, graceful, hard-working, takes responsibility, never malicious, under-rated. And he takes penalties. I say we keep him.
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I second that ZP
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Does Jose Mourinho actually not like football very much?
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