Mikel Arteta faced the media at London Colney on Thursday, and said he is keen to make some additions over the coming weeks.
“We’re going to try to be in the market to see options that can strengthen the team,” our head coach said. “That’s for sure and that’s our obligation, and we’re going to be working on that. My obligation is to give my opinion on the things we can improve.
“Obviously we have some bad injuries, like Calum a few days ago. That’s obviously going to change our plans at the back, but the reality at the moment is that we’re not going to be able to do much.
“I’m more concerned at the moment about getting people back from injuries than I am the signings. I want to improve the players I have here, get everybody on board and understanding what we’re trying to do. If something extra comes up and we think it’s the right opportunity to improve what we have, let’s do it.”
Granit Xhaka has been linked with a move away in January, but Arteta stressed that he sees the Swiss international as a key member of his squad.
“I had a conversation with him and I wanted to understand his feelings,” our head coach added. “That’s first, and his reasoning why he was thinking it probably wasn’t the right place for him to continue his career.
“I gave him my opinion, my perspective, and I told him that I was ready to support him from the club perspective, and I wanted his team-mates to have his back to help him to change his mind. We need him.
“I believe that if we’re able to do that, the fans will respond in a positive way. I’ve seen him act every day, how he trains and how he lives his profession, as well as the quality of the player. I think he could be a really important player for the club. From my perspective, I don’t want him to leave. I said no to the club and I said no to him! After, in life, I cannot control what happens.”
Arteta was also asked about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and he had a clear message on our club captain’s future too.
“I don’t even think about that possibility [of him leaving] with Auba. I want him here,” he said.
Arteta talks transfers
Jan 4th, 2020 by goonerholicsforever
17 Drinks to “Arteta talks transfers”
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First!
Good to see GSD keeping the traditions alive.
COYG
We will all have to be have (sort of). Remember how Holic would magically appear
when things started getting a bit * feisty ?? Smiles. He was our leader (my older brother
who always knew best) 🙂
As for Granit (who needs to control his temper & stop pouting), I want to know how you all feel about him. Go or stay?
@3 ABB
Personally, I’d like Xhaka to go.
In January would be best but only
if we find a replacement. Despite
several managers liking him I
think he is too slow, too error
prone and his temperament is
suspect for the PL.
However, AW, UE and Mikel have
all played him and talked him up
so my best guess is he will stay.
Hey OsakaMatt, Agree about his temperament. Watched him carefully when the camera
had closeups on him in our game against United. He’s a powder keg, begging for a red card. What I do like about him is he’s not afraid to take a long shot. Definitely not captain material.
I like that about him too ABB.
Also a good mid/long range
passer – better than our other
CMs with his left foot.
He has improved his temper a
bit too, but not enough for me.
Nothing much we can do about
his basic speed on the turn and
he hasn’t really improved his
concentration either. Too sloppy.
He’s been very good for us at times
and I don’t have the sort of intense
dislike that I’ve seen from some
of our supporters but I just think
we can find better.
Abb,
Re Granit
I believe, as I long have done, that as for managers, so for players; if there’s an improvement available we should change; if there isn’t, we should stick with what we have.
I believe this should clear the air and allow a more useful discussion of what constitutes “better”. Is being neither Swiss nor of Albanian descent enough? Would being quicker of mind and/or foot and more even tempered offset a worse range of passing?
Hanged if I know.
COYG
Morning Gents & Lurking Ladies,
Agree OM. Hi Pangloss, well that is the crux of the matter, isn’t it.
For those who follow @VictoriaMScott on twitter, she made an interesting observation
about Granit & Arsenal. Said that we seem to play better when he is on the pitch, paraphrasing here.
On a sober note, wanted to convey my heartfelt sadness to all ‘holics from Australia,
we are keeping you in our thoughts & please stay safe. xx
,
Thanks Arthur and everyone for bringing this up so quickly.
Cannot think of Arsenal without fellow ‘Holics.
Cannot think of life without Arsenal.
Ergo …
A question: do we still keep the conversations going in WhatsApp group about the management and aesthetics of this new site or do we move those here too?
People are posting drinks in four different places this morning. 🤯
Hello to all who are here.
At the moment people are, probably a bit overoptimistically, giving Arteta all the credit in the world despite only having won four of the nine points on offer. His decision to back all the senior players may be a very astute one to get everyone on his side, but it goes firmly against my instincts to rely on Xhaka when we have already been down that road so many times. If we get a good offer he should be out the door for me.
@Doctor Faustus at 6:05pm
Just my 2p worth.
I’d suggest we discuss football and The Arsenal on this site and keep the #HolicsForever for discussion of the site.
You can probably make a good case for doing the opposite, and I’ve a nasty feeling I may have changed my mind since yesterday.
COYG
Getting close to time for cleaning the clock of dirty Leeds
Curious to see what team Mikel
puts out for Leeds tonight.
Given that Leeds won’t put out
their first XI (according to reports)
MA must be tempted to rest most
of the first XI. Hopefully Rob and
Dani are ready for a start.
Haven’t heard anything about
Hector.
abb@3
If Arteta thinks Xhaka is useful until the summer then fair enough but I’d like to see the back of him as soon as we can find a replacement. He is too slow, has a poor temperament and is not brave when it counts. His passing can be excellent, but it can also be conservative, laborious and he loves a backward pass to his centre backs directly after they have passed it to him- if only he could turn with the ball.
In a variety of ways I think he’s a liability in football terms. I can’t see us winning any competition that he starts as first choice in.
And I’d be a lot more enthused about his long shots if he scored more often!
His behaviour against Palace was disgraceful and he has never taken responsibility for it and apologised.
I trust Arteta, and I hope Xhaka does well whilst he plays for us but I’ll be glad when he leaves.
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