Has Mikel Arteta silenced those doubting his position as Arsenal manager after the win over Spurs or is it far too soon to be making that call? (Photo by IAN KINGTON/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images)
After serious calls for his Arsenal sacking from fans and media personalities alike just weeks ago after a horror start to the year, Mikel Arteta is now basking in the glow of four consecutive wins, one of which was a complete demolition job against Tottenham.
Several weeks ago Arteta was rumored to be given just five games to save his Arsenal job. With games against Norwich, Burnley, Tottenham, Brighton, and Crystal Palace to decide his fate, there was a fear that Arteta would not survive this stretch of games based on what was seen in the opening weeks.
Alas, that was not the case. Instead, after a narrow but deserved,1-0 win over Norwich to get the momentum going thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tap-in in the second half, the Gunners then traveled to Burnley and produced an outstanding defensive performance. Again, it was a gritty 1-0 win, and the jury was still out on Arteta, albeit with a little less conviction.
Then came the North London Derby at the Emirates, one billed as a game Arsenal simply had to win given several factors. The first of those being Spurs were not in the best of form despite fielding their full-strength line-up, and the other being that Arteta put out arguably his best and strongest XI with all of his summer signings present. Tottenham was there for the taking.
Has Mikel Arteta silenced those doubting his position as Arsenal manager after the win over Spurs or is it far too soon to be making that call?
Just about everything was on the line for Arteta. It was his team, with his signings, the tactics, everything. It was all on the Arsenal boss to show not only the fans but the football world that ‘trust the process’ was in fact meaningful and had substance.
It has serious substance now. What Arsenal produced under Arteta in the first half of the game was nothing short of breathtaking as they ripped Spurs apart.
Everything Arteta did from team selection to how he set his team up tactically was spot on; something that can’t always be said but give credit where it is due.
From the way he set his team up to pounce in transition to how he kept Bukayo Saka out wide to exploit Sergo Reguilon’s positional weakness was measured and effective. Nuno Espirito Santo was caught cold.
On top of that, the players that Arteta signed in the summer have had a big say in how the team has turned its fortunes around. They’re utterly paramount in Arteta aiming to silence his doubters.
Continued on next page…
against Tottenham</a>.</p>
<p>Several weeks ago Arteta was rumored to be given just five games to save his Arsenal job. With games against Norwich, Burnley, Tottenham, Brighton, and Crystal Palace to decide his fate, there was a fear that Arteta would not survive this stretch of games based on what was seen in the opening weeks.</p>
<p>Alas, that was not the case. Instead, after a narrow but deserved,1-0 win over Norwich to get the momentum going thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tap-in in the second half, the Gunners then traveled to Burnley and produced an outstanding defensive performance. Again, it was a gritty 1-0 win, and the jury was still out on Arteta, albeit with a little less conviction.</p>
<p>Then came <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/arsenal-suffer-defining-xhaka-injury/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the North London Derby at the Emirates</a>, one billed as a game Arsenal simply had to win given several factors. The first of those being Spurs were not in the best of form despite fielding their full-strength line-up, and the other being that Arteta put out arguably his best and strongest XI with all of his summer signings present. Tottenham was there for the taking.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🗣"They came here to do what we spoke about before the game and they put it in an incredible way."</p>
<p>Mikel Arteta can't hide his emotions with how impressed he is with his Arsenal side today <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://t.co/WOZThkROUv">pic.twitter.com/WOZThkROUv
<p>— Football Daily (@footballdaily) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1442189510553444353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>September 26, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>Has Mikel Arteta silenced those doubting his position as Arsenal manager after the win over Spurs or is it far too soon to be making that call?</h2>
<p>Just about everything was on the line for Arteta. It was his team, with his signings, the tactics, everything. It was all on the Arsenal boss to show not only the fans but the football world that ‘trust the process’ was in fact meaningful and had substance.</p>
<p>It has serious substance now. What Arsenal produced under Arteta in the first half of the game was nothing short of breathtaking as they ripped Spurs apart.</p>
<p>Everything Arteta did from team selection to <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/27/arsenal-4-tactical-moves-arteta-spurs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how he set his team up tactically</a> was spot on; something that can’t always be said but give credit where it is due.</p>
<p>From the way he set his team up to pounce in transition to how he kept Bukayo Saka out wide to exploit Sergo Reguilon’s positional weakness was measured and effective. Nuno Espirito Santo was caught cold.</p>
<p>On top of that, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/28/arsenal-backup-summer-signings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the players that Arteta signed in the summer</a> have had a big say in how the team has turned its fortunes around. They’re utterly paramount in Arteta aiming to silence his doubters.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Arteta's signings silencing doubters </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-119570" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1235521223-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Aaron Ramsdale" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 26: Mikel Arteta manager of Arsenal celebrates the win with Aaron Ramsdale and Ainsley Maitland-Niles during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Mikel Arteta’s Summer Signings Have Hit the Ground Running</h2>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/19/arsenal-tomiyasu-ramsdale-arteta/">Aaron Ramsdale</a> seems at least in the short stretch we have seen to be the perfect keeper for Arteta’s vision. A good shot-stopper, acrobatic (that fingertip save was a thing of beauty), and perhaps most importantly, he is superb with the ball at his feet as Arteta wants to play out from the back. On top of that, his passion and drive is infectious to the rest of the squad and finally it seems Arsenal has a keeper that they, and the defense, can rely on.</p>
<p>Then there is Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu. While White had his issues against Brentford in the Premier League opener, since his return he has hardly put a foot wrong and like Ramsdale, with the ball at his feet, he can start attacks from deep. He is the cream on top of a partnership with Gabriel who is fast becoming the heart, soul, and leader of the defense.</p>
<p>After several pundits questioned White after the Brentford game, he has produced consistent performances and blanketed Harry Kane superbly well.</p>
<p>As for Tomiyasu, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/28/arsenal-win-tottenham-takehiro-tomiyasu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what else needs to be said</a>? Many have said he’s one of the best right-backs in the league – that might be a <em>little</em> premature – but you can’t argue with what he has produced in the opening three games of his Arsenal career.</p>
<p>Tomiyasu has now established himself as a quality defender who can do it all, and he effectively shut down the entire right-hand side of the field against Spurs, taking Son Heung-min out of the game in the process. His pace, aerial prowess, defensive doggedness coupled with his willingness to get forward and support make him an all-purpose right-back.</p>
<p>The players mentioned are all players Arteta has signed himself for his vision. Not to leave out Albert Sambi Lokonga, who while raw has already shown his promise and has been superb whenever called upon, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/28/arsenal-unsung-hero-tottenham-win/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as well as Martin Odegaard</a> whose made an impressive start in his second spell at the club.</p>
<p>Arteta deserves high praise for his signings after fans and journalists have torn him to shreds over the players mentioned. And, so far, it is looking like superb scouting as all have fit in sensationally well. This shouldn’t go unnoticed.</p>
<p>So, has Arteta silenced the doubters to his Arsenal position? To an extent, yes, but it is only a minor sample size so far. We have seen just what Arteta can do with a full squad in a handful of outings. It is about consistency now.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Huge Granit Xhaka setback" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/arsenal-suffer-defining-xhaka-injury/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/arsenal-suffer-defining-xhaka-injury/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Huge Granit Xhaka setback </a> </div>
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<p>For Arteta to quiet the naysayers then he needs to oversee wins against Brighton and Crystal Palace in the next two <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/29/mikel-arteta-silence-doubters-arsenal/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a> games to begin putting his stamp on the club and the position he has. Going by what we have seen over the last month, Arsenal and Arteta are showing signs of life after years in the wilderness and that makes the Emirates an exciting place to be.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
