YOU'VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY

 

 

I've always found Mikel Arteta's position with Arsenal fans fascinating. It goes back to his early days when, as a matter of fact it was his turn to be the club's Captain for three consecutive seasons. Arteta was not a hugely popular or particularly unpopular in his playing days, which was quite remarkable given that the club was a true regular.

 

This was during a time where Arsenal was awash with marmite stars who caused a divide in the club's fanbase. Think Giroud, Walcott, Ramsey, Ozil- good players that were debated infinitum. The fact that Arteta was not noticed despite his regular appearances was probably a testament to the obscurity of the job he played in the middle in the middle.

 

In light of the excitement over the role that is captain-level at Arsenal It is astonishing for me that his selection caused little or no debate. As I said this week, I believe it is important to be discreet as the best captain. His position as a leader for the team was, in my opinion was accepted by the majority of his team.

 

The last two seasons with Arsenal were plagued by injuries, and when he played his last match for the club- in his playing career in the year 2016, he broke down with a brutally honest evaluation of his own weaknesses. "For me to be a part of this club, you need to be the best at your place. If you fail to do that I believe you should quit this club. I've been here for too long. Over the past few months, I certainly didn't merit to be here.

 

"For myself, what are the criteria that you have to meet in order to play for this team, can't be 8 out of 10. It must be 10 out of 10. If you can't meet this, you are not enough. Some people can do not have to worry about it. In my own mind, my body wasn't as clean, and when you're in this situation, I'd prefer to make the choice myself."

 

These quotes are very similar with the demanding coach we are now aware of. The thing that was strange about the last few seasons of Arteta's professional career is the continuous conversation regarding Arteta as a coach. Arteta himself made reference to it in the same interview "As well, what made me think it was probably time and the way I have been watching football in the last few months - or probably over a year - it was not as a player, it was more as a coach."

 

The way Arteta was able to speak in his role as a player and captain made a huge impression in my mind. I've always thought of him as being an Arsenal man', that was the most intangible, mysterious, and instantly recognisable characteristic. As as a player, he wasn't expecting to be at Everton for the length of time it ended up being.

 

He was linked to move to bigger clubs but eventually didn't materialize until he was offered the chance to join Arsenal at the age of 29. I believe he'd probably put aside the thought of joining one of the traditional Premier League big clubs and was happy to have the chance to participate and really put himself in to the Arsenal experience.

 

Comparisons aren't always perfect They are appealing because of their simplicity, but I think there's an analogy between the situation is happening in Arsenal and the beginning of George Graham's rule. An ex-player was appointed to the top spot with a promise to rid the Arsenal of its "soft culture, which had begun to resemble the look of a spa that was a luxury retreat for stars who were in their late peak.

 

Arteta's first pronouncements in his new role as Arsenal manager, in my knowledge, were a great way to unite the Arsenal fan base. I rode on the coach to watch the boring draw at Everton the following day, just after his announcement and the train stations were buzzing with conversations and excitement over the press conference. Following 18 months of not being able to make sense of Unai Emery's words, Arteta had conviction and authority. In his own words at the very the very least.

 

I was particularly interested in his comments regarding the Arsenal job. "I am back home," he declared. "On the day I left, and I made a decision to leave this football club, I said to the people that I am going outside, I'm going to learn, I am going to get prepared and hopefully one day I can come back here."

 

Arteta was never involved in a new managerial job. It was evident that Arteta was awaiting the Arsenal manager's post specifically. I could not help but be attracted by a player I really liked and who would like to become the Arsenal manager- for whom it wasn't just a job.

 

In the present, it's possible to say that Arteta's tenure was not without its ups and downs during his time in the position. I haven't strayed to the 'he ought to be fired' zone as the case with Emery. I was close, especially in the winter of 2020, when the game and the results were a mess and unproductive (as well as boring).

 

I haven't fully swung over to "Arteta out" territory as I'm convinced that there's an issue of supply and demand in the world of coaching in the present and believed that the process of naming a successor would be a real challenge. Moving forward to 2021-22, and right now in time, there's an underlying feeling that Arsenal are headed in the right direction.

 

It is important not to be apathetic about the way this season will end and aware that every coach or team is always just a draw away from becoming totally ineffective again. In this season's campaign, a new team, spurred by an influx of new players, is being roared at by the fans.

 

It's been more than a decade since I've felt this kind of connection among the club and supporters. The majority of this is influenced by a fresh group of players whose weaknesses that we don't have to be burdened by. Some of it is influenced by the post-peak pandemic environment and has led to an edgier and more active fan base in the in-stadium support.

 

The post-peak pandemic scene is a common one the bonds of affection aren't common to all players in the Premier League. The players we're connected to were recruited by the coach as well as the Technical Director. However, I think we can clearly see this as the case with the Coach, who is main player in this approach to recruitment.

 

What's interesting to me is the fact that Arteta is a largely neutral person in the heart of his fans. Although there are always a few opinions and opinions, particularly online I've never had any sense of a "movementin his favor or against him. I am beginning to get the impression of a base which is beginning to believe in the process' or otherwise, I'm wrong in thinking of my own opinion as unchanging.

 

My skepticism has been shattered during this campaign and my question is: when do Arteta himself emerge as a rallying point this among the fans? As a fan base we're probably in a state of shock from our relationship with Arsene Wenger, who, generally speaking, has slowly changed from admiration to scorn.

 

This led to unintentional choruses that read "we've got our Arsenal back" at the beginning of Unai Emery's tenure, which proved to be a misguided chant. Fans wanted to be loyal to Emery but they did not find the same level of enthusiasm. Arteta's tenure has been fluctuating, and despite his initial FA Cup success, there is a feeling today it is evident that Arsenal seem to be on the right path.

 

If that's the case in the future, when do we let go of the shackles and embrace him in public and his contribution to restoring the optimism of Arsenal supporters that was lacking for several years? It might be beneficial to retain this sense of distance during the current tense environment, as evidenced by Leeds the reluctant, humble exile of messianic character Marcelo Bielsa.

 

It seems like we are stuck in a 'wait and see' waiting pattern. In the event that Arsenal are able to return to Champions League next season, Arteta will be offered an extension to his contract (with a decent pay increase in addition!) and will probably begin to receive that kind of kindness from the fans. He has spoken about the importance of this connection numerous times during the season, and I am certain he's content for his players to wear the banners of it.

 

This is a question I have for me as much as anyone else- when will Mikel Arteta get a little piece of that love for himself?

 

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