Signed thru 2027 🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Mikel Arteta agrees new three-year contract as Arsenal manager. 42yo Spaniard was into final 12 months of previous deal but any uncertainty now removed - fresh terms run until 2027. Huge boost for #AFC before north London derby @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/DbLHtFQpEx— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 12, 2024
Another focus on today's Arsecast was the situation with Jesus & Sterling. Both of whom are fit and yet neither of whom has contributed virtually anything to our game this season. Not surprisingly James & Andrew were in lock step about this critique. But they didn't mention something that's been in my head lately: Is Arteta a bit deficient in man-management skill? There have been some issues with other players in the past, e.g. Auba. But now with these two older, veteran players, who really should be adding more value, more utility, I find myself wondering if Mikel isn't managing these guys optimally? As individuals? Personally? Psychologically? Maybe even tactically? And is this one of his weak areas which needs to be improved for him to take us (or any team for that matter) to the next level?
Seems like most/many posters here believe Jesus and Sterling are all washed up. So why would they be playing? Either during the WHU or Fulham match, the announcers mentioned that Arteta almost apologized for not playing Sterling more.
Jesus doesn't have the mental strength to be the off the bench spark and isn't good enough to be starting over Havertz. He could be starting for someone. Personally I think he could be very good in Portugal or Italy if the money could be worked out. Sterling was a hail mary addition when other options didn't pan out. He plays very selfishly but no longer has the touch to play that way. If he'd learn to be more of a team player, I could see him getting more time.
Well that's one theory, which could be true but it's always hard to prove. Also it's a little hard to believe that our management believes that they're both washed. Not that I've ever been a big fan of Sterling's but shit we just acquired him 3 months ago, so Arteta et al considered him to have value then. And Jesus was lighting it up for us before WC'22/knee-injury, though he's not regained anything like that form for anything more than a few minutes at a time. Maybe his career is over, but wouldn't it be wise to not completely give up on him? Another theory might be that Mikel could get more out of one or both of them? He could unlock them somehow? With flexibility perhaps? There are many examples of players not performing for coaches and then going on to another club and doing a lot better for another guy. ESR might be the latest example but it's a bit early to say with him. And are you saying that you think Mikel is a bonafide good man-manger? Or IOW that Mikel is definitely not part of the problem with Sterling & Jesus? Obviously nobody knows, but I'm just raising the question. p.s. Arteta used to apologize for not playing Eddie also. Are you sure that's not him apologizing for not being able to get more out of a player??
Sterling wasn't even training with Chelsea. The hot streak for Jesus before Qatar in 2022 was 5 goals and 5 assists in 14 matches, that's a 13-14 goal pace for a CF assuming he made a full 38 starts. Havertz has 5 and 2 in 14 right now, FWIW. It was mythologized into a lot more than it really was because it represented such a step up from Lacazette. I honestly think Arteta is treating them both pretty well, he could be more "ruthless" but respects what they've done, especially at City. If they were in their early 20's he'd have frozen them out and looking to move them ASAP.
if arteta was bad at man management he wouldn’t have pushed city close in 2 races. where does this idea come from?
I think the issue is he sometimes struggles with in game rotations, which I think is more that he has the utmost trust in his starting 11 until theres an injury or a falling out. But its an area he is improving in. But there was plenty of games the last 2 seasons where we were up 3/4/5 goals and he could give kids minutes for the last 5/10mins and chooses not to.