Mikel Arteta is becoming one of the best managers in Europe, and his recent decision to axe Emile Smith Rowe shows that, unlike Arsene Wenger, he is not afraid to make tough decisions.
Wenger was Arsenal’s manager for two decades, and he helped groom some of the best talents to ever wear the Gunners’ jersey.
The Frenchman bought some stars and promoted many from the club’s academy, and one theme of his tenure was that he was almost always loyal to his players.
Ray Parlour admits that Arteta is a little different in that aspect. While the Spaniard loves and trusts his players, he is never afraid to make tough decisions.
Parlour said this to The Sun after the sale of Emile Smith Rowe. He said:
“Arteta is ruthless. He has learned that from Pep. If you’re not doing your job, you’re out.
“It could be argued that in my time, Arsene Wenger was too loyal and wanted continuity with the same players — but Arteta is fearless.
“Managers live by decisions and he hasn’t made many bad ones.
“I doubted him for dropping Aaron Ramsdale for David Raya but now no one talks about it.
“Fair play to him for having the balls to leave people out and sell them.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
The world of football is changing fast, and if a manager fails to make a decision nowadays, they might regret it at a later date.
Arteta has done brilliantly to ensure that his team keeps improving, and it will inevitably cost some players their careers at the club.
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Yes, he’s fearless, ruthless, loving, trusting, he even has testicles.
I’m glad – and a little relieved – to read all of that.
Yet hadn’t achieved what Mr Wenger has ?
No …….
Dan, it was sarcasm in response to Parlour’s dribble.
Wenger had become too nice to his players. He had taken on that “Grandpa” position towards then players and they absolutely took advantage of his niceness.
Most of the Players were clearly underperforming but wenger just cuddled and pampered them. Which led to his own demise.
Yet Mr Wengers final 5 years were more successful then Arteta’s first 5 ?
Strange lol
Yet Mikel’s first 5 years were more successful than Wenger’s 9 years from ’06-’14.
Strange lol.
Can you refute that with sound argument and facts?
Of course you cant!
Depends ,League positions were better lol
Says the fella who moaned about us finishing second lol.
Didn’t moan
Just am humble
I wait for a manager or players to achieve something before I call them great
Well Mikel won the FA Cup in his first of 5 years, while Wenger won nothing for 9 years.
Now that’s a FACT !
Of course HD, Arsene kept us in the top four and European football for those nine years and Mikel took us out of the top four and European football after just one year and didn’t get us back in either for another two years and that’s a double whammy FACT! !
Pleased to note that both Arsene and Mikel went on to correct those FACTS, with the former winning THREE further fa cups and the latter getting us BACK into the CL once again.
Every cloud has a silver lining!! 👍
Oh sorry Ken, I forgot about the top 4 trophy.
So if your impressed by top 4 , literally what has Arteta done that is so much better
Where have I posted I’m impressed by top 4 ?
So if your not impressed by top 4 , what has Arteta done so special?
You were asked last 5 years of Wenger vs First 5 years of Mr checkbook. Your attempt at twisting it has failed miserably.
I wasn’t asked anything 🙄
In response to Herr Drier, talk about twisting the story to suit your argument.
You say Mikel won the FA Cup in his first five years.
You then say Wenger never won anything for nine years.
Outrageous, absolutely Outrageous statement to make.
In Wenger’s first eight years at the club, he won 3 Premier League titles and 4 FA Cups. Granted after that he wasn’t as successful.
But come on, are you trying to compare Mikel’s start to that of Wenger.
No Derek, I was comparing Mikel’s first 5 years, where as an inexperienced Head Coach/manager he had a lot of shit to sort out, to a vastly experienced manager who had a trophy less run of 9 years.
Can you tell me of any other Arsenal manager who went that long without winning a trophy and not get the sack ? Don’t bother looking it up, as the answer is none !
Don’t forget the INVINCIBLES WERE 2003/ 4.After going all season without defeat,they then went another 11 games without defeat Total 49 games without losing.I think that was a top time for the Gunners and one that Nobody else has achieved yet.Making big decision doesn’t have to be made with an angry attitude or whether you like or dislike someone,Wenger had a compassionate side to him.Question,how would any of you you like to be Aaron Ramsdale right now.You all know what he has been through and the way he has been treated.I for one think it’s shameful and he certainly does not deserve the treatment he has got from Arteta.Arteta also lied when he said that he was going to rotate both keepers and felt keepers should be able to be subbed just like any other player.As we were going to be playing more games going into Europe I was alright with that statement.Again as we all know Arteta didn’t do either of those items, even when we were 3/4 nil up at times. Rambo only played 6 games all year.So what is the problem that Arteta has with Rambo.Why can’t he rotate them like he said he was going to do,he is in my mind still a very good keeper,and I believe very well liked by his team mates and fans alike
Good post Eagle. I believe what you are mentioning in your first few sentences is a part of the reason why I labelled what Parlour said as dribble. There is more than one way to manage a club successfully from both on the pitch as well as in the dressing room. Testosterone driven superlatives and other exaggerations are irrelevant and just media click bait.
imo what you’re alluding to in the rest of your comment is the fact that what is told to the press may have little to do with what is actually felt or known about a player or the situation. Unfortunately, it is part of how the game is played off the pitch so I can’t fault Edu, MA, Kroenke or anyone else for being forced to play it. What I do dislike is when others take it as gospel just because they want to sing the praises of the speaker while ignoring impartial analysis and using it as a basis to justify their own arrogance on a matter.
Both of them are Arsenal through and through They love this club and both of them impress me When Arsenal finally makes it back to the top, it will be a great feeling
That’s the point mate
In everyone’s desire to see Arsenal back at the top we act like that’s where we are and it’s cringe
If Arteta left today he’s done a good job but not a great one
I suppose Ray, Wengers management worked because he won leagues with those players he nurtured. We are yet to see Artetas buy buy buy tactics work. When/if they do, maybe there is a conversation about Arteta and Wengers different tactics. The question also is. Why were the youths better under Wenger, than under Arteta?
It would be much more helpful if people would stop trying to compare managers who were operating under very different circumstances.
The premise of your question is also highly debatable.
Well debate it then David.
@david, I don’t see any premises in Reggie’s post because he only ask question.
To answer @Reggie’s question, I don’t think youth being poor under Mikel is valid because they’re not getting to proove themselves in the first team so we can’t know if they’re good or poor.
So if we’re to consider Arsene success with the youths in terms of their integration into the first team compare to Mikel I will say the former have to due to financial restrictions he found himself while the later don’t have to due to the financial position he met the club.
The fact is big teams rarely promote except if they found themselves in such a situation that they’re compel to or the talent is exceptional and obvious. The question is this, If man United doesn’t have their injury crisis last season do you think a mainoo will be given a chance?, If Chelsea did not found themselves in a transfer problem some years ago do you think players like Reece James, Abraham and mount will be given a chance? Do you think the recent influx of youth players into the first practice by Barcelona will be possible if they’re not financially restrained? Even during the Arsene era compare the number of youth in the first team before the financial restrictions to after the financial restrictions and Arsene is one of the best manager if not the best when it comes to youth development. Even if Mikel change his approach towards youth development am not sure he has the ability of the legendary manager when it comes to handling of youth.
What i meant was chronicle and i will put it another way. If the youths were good enough under wenger to play in cup comps and ultimately progess to the first team, then why is this not happening at all now. In fact i will go as far as to say. To this point they have had no meaningful game time at all in the 5 years under Arteta. So I will ask. If they are not poor, why are they not getting game time in cup comps.