Mikel Arteta could feel his nightmares at the City Ground float away. He had been here twice previously as the Arsenal manager, losing on both occasions and with degrees of ignominy. There was the FA Cup exit in 2022, after which he ranted in the dressing room about the attitude of his players (footage courtesy of Amazon Prime). And then the Premier League defeat at the end of last season, which officially ended his team’s title challenge.
Arteta needed something to keep the spark about Arsenal’s challenge for the trophy he so covets. And for the opening 45 minutes, when his players passed and passed but seemed curiously reluctant to shoot, it was possible to fear that more frustration could be incoming.
Continue reading…Mikel Arteta could feel his nightmares at the City Ground float away. He had been here twice previously as the Arsenal manager, losing on both occasions and with degrees of ignominy. There was the FA Cup exit in 2022, after which he ranted in the dressing room about the attitude of his players (footage courtesy of Amazon Prime). And then the Premier League defeat at the end of last season, which officially ended his team’s title challenge.Arteta needed something to keep the spark about Arsenal’s challenge for the trophy he so covets. And for the opening 45 minutes, when his players passed and passed but seemed curiously reluctant to shoot, it was possible to fear that more frustration could be incoming. Continue reading…
