Steve Nicol reckons that Mikel Arteta is just making “excuses” before Arsenal’s season even starts

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Luton Town and Arsenal at Kenilworth Road in Luton, north of London on December 5, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s a real shame that Arsenal didn’t clinch the Premier League title last season. Undoubtedly, many people have discussed this issue extensively. Arsenal put up a strong fight against Manchester City in the Premier League title race, which could have had a different outcome if things had gone their way on the last day of the season. There are different suggestions about how Arsenal can improve to reach their full potential next season.

Do you think Arteta’s team, like it was last season, was strong enough to win the league? Do you think they don’t need major transfers to be PL title favorites, because they already are?

While you’re considering that, allow me to share my thoughts: I’ve been listening to Steve Nicol go on about why Mikel Arteta should really address the media, and it got me thinking.

The former Premier League player insinuates that the Arsenal manager must trust his team and not openly suggest that he may need additional players to reach their full potential. He thinks the Spaniard should focus on spreading optimism and believing that we are winning, rather than thinking that we need certain signings to win.

“Do you know what, I don’t want to listen to Arsenal and Arteta talking about ‘what we need to do, we want to improve in positions, we need a bigger squad’. I don’t want to hear that at this time of the year,” said Nicol on ESPN.

“I want to hear some positivity. ‘We want to win the title. We think we have enough to win the title. We just have to get better. We have to take advantage whenever we get ourselves in front’.

“I don’t want to listen to ‘oh, we need more cover in positions’. Shut up, please! How about you go… ‘We can do it this year. We have the ability and we have the players to win this’. That’s what I want to hear. I don’t want to hear excuses. Once they start playing the games, there will be plenty of time to make excuses. I don’t want to hear it before a ball is kicked.”

The other day, we were discussing how Arsenal doesn’t really need a “superstar signing” and that luck might be all they need to win the league. It was a statement, but those who understood it appreciated that Arsenal is a good team, and not winning the league next season may be them being unlucky. I’m feeling pretty optimistic about Arsenal’s chances in the 2024–25 season. I don’t think we should let the transfer window dictate our expectations.

Darren N


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Tags Arsenal title challenge Arteta excuses Steve Nichol

17 Comments

  1. Nicol, former longtime Liverpool player, is going on about nothing as he seems to so often do. How many times have you ever heard any manager especially in the heat of the transfer window say something to the effect of “we don’t need or want any additional players” or “we don’t want any improvements in positions”?

  2. Arteta has been telling his players they are good enough to win it He would have imprinted that point on them last season Just because he’s answering the questions reporters are putting forward does not mean that’s all he believes I’m sure Steve Nicol has seen that we relied too heavily on Saka I’m sure he knows of Party’s injuries and I’m sure he has seen the uncertainty at left-back and I’m sure he knows that Nketiah Nelson and an injured ESR are just not good enough compared to cities backups He knows all this so am not sure why he wants to moan Of course Arteta tells his players that at their best they are good enough to claim titles

  3. A checkbook manager needs time to buy his squad, so let him finish the “project / process.”

    We have seen Arteta prefers buying players rather than coaching up current ones.

    It’s fine as long as money is available, but sooner or later you have to coach up your players. Is this the year? We shall see, no one knows.

      1. These narratives again.
        *Every elite team buys talent if they can. This was the same for Arteta’s predecessors and is true for all top level teams in Europe.
        *There is no good evidence that Arteta “prefers” buying players. He has been able to mould some young players into a top level side. Does that not count as coaching?
        *Arteta has articulated something that many fans would agree with. Is it really inappropriate for Arteta to be honest that we need strengthening in some parts of the team?

        1. We are on our 4th GK under Arteta. Look at Ramsdale; better shot stopper than Raya, but instead of improving his distribution he goes for Raya.

          We are on our 5th LB? Tierney, (couldn’t invert sufficiently), Zinchenko (still can’t defend properly), Kiwior, Timber, now the new transfer.

          You really think he doesn’t prefer buying before coaching up?

  4. Steve or what Name please, get a coaching license and use pep talk to win premiership. Let Arteta breath please.

      1. Dan? 😊 oops sorry, my potty mouth, apologies to all .
        By the way, whatever happened to Jon fox?

        1. I just replied to your comment and wrote it out what you’re signed showed 😂
          Not sure on jonny boy ,I must admit I do miss him ,think he got sin binned ,been there myself a few times over the years .

  5. I’m not sure about the sentence in the article: “I don’t think we should let the transfer window dictate our expectations.” Surely, most fans agree that Arsenal’s squad (not necessarily the best eleven – but it’s a squad game nowadays) came up short last season so strengthening the squad in key areas is a priority for a successful PL challenge.

    Calafiori will be a start, but other players are needed, aren’t they. If they’re not signed for any reason is the addition of a single defender really the solution? I suspect expectations won’t be as high for 2024-25 if he’s the only signing Arsenal make.

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