this post was submitted on
26 points (93% like it)
28 up votes 2 down votes
all 38 comments

[–][deleted] 22 points23 points ago

Only Arsenal fans (not even all Arsenal fans) seem to appreciate his quality and how he's one of the best in the league.

[–]JBWill 30 points31 points ago

Methinks Everton fans appreciate it too :P

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

I thought of them after I left the comment and didn't feel like editing :P

[–]englebert 0 points1 point ago

appreciated

[–]limitz[S] 10 points11 points ago*

As far as passing quality goes, Song + Arteta is one of the best partnerships in the league. IMHO, both are very underrated. Song provides the necessary presence/physicality to give the space necessary for Arteta to work his passing magic.

All bias aside, I would only consider Parker + Modric a better partnership.

[–]cptsteve21 6 points7 points ago

Arteta allows Song(inho) to work his magic as well. Arteta's calming presence gives Song the comfort to make dem killer passes.

[–]rymin91Keeper of the Faith 1 point2 points ago

Arteta also sits very deep most of the time allowing Song to make forward runs without having to worry about leaving the defense exposed.

[–]cptsteve21 6 points7 points ago

Yup, very true. Arteta is just the perfect midfielder for us right now. He's extremely EPL-experienced, a great passer, and a solid defender. Great buy.

[–]pahina1 2 points3 points ago

Just imagine the control our midfield could have over a game if Wilshere was playing the CAM role with Arteta and Song playing the other midfield roles. Such a shame he wont be fit this season.

[–]limitz[S] 0 points1 point ago

Next 2 seasons will be crucial for Arsenal, especially if we hold onto RvP and make 1 or 2 smart buys.

Our entire defensive axis is entering their prime: Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song, Sagna. Arteta has still several seasons left in him, he's still 29.

I love the idea of a Arteta, Song, Wilshere midfield with Koscielny, Vermaelen, and Szczesny backing them up. This will be a very strong core to build from.

[–]goonerredandwhite 0 points1 point ago

I don't think that is the case at all. In fact everybody very much appreciates the presence of Song and Arteta.

[–]yourmumcalledtosaySzczesny's Right Pinkie -1 points0 points ago

No way man, Scholes + Whoever SAF pulls from the wing!

[–]FunFrock 4 points5 points ago

It'll be De Gea tomorrow.

[–]Teszer0 1 point2 points ago

amen

[–]iamveryharshVan Perfect 7 points8 points ago

We replaced Cesc with Arteta just as United replaced Ronaldo with Valencia. It's never going to be a like-for-like replacement with players that good.

[–]limitz[S] 5 points6 points ago

We replaced Cesc with Ramsey. Arteta sits back much deeper than Cesc.

If he had to "replace" anyone, it would be Wilshere. He's filled in for Wilshere's injury by occupying his central midfield position, and partnering up with Alex Song.

[–]ImmanuelXavier 5 points6 points ago*

No, we didn't replace Cesc with one player. Wenger split playmaking between all three midfielders this year. Ramsey isn't Cesc's replacement. The only similarity is that Ramsey is the furthest forward of the three.

[–]Trilderos 0 points1 point ago

When Wenger's system works, it really works. The fact that all three of our midfielders can play that killer ball is such an asset for us, there's simply no way to prepare against us on a good day.

[–]shoobiedoobie 0 points1 point ago

Exactly. Wenger is not stupid enough to think the passing quality of Cesc can be replaced by anyone currently in the EPL. Young Jack will eventually take over that role though.

[–]rymin91Keeper of the Faith 4 points5 points ago

More broadly, I thought our midfield was virtually flawless today. I know it was only Blackburn, but Song-Arteta-Rosicky looks like the perfect balance of attack and defense. The trio has strength, skill, and the ability to retain the ball.

Hopefully we'll be seeing more of this combination.

[–]limitz[S] -2 points-1 points ago

I can support any combination that allows me to see less of Ramsey.

This midfield trio should have been starting long ago. Ramsey only had 2 assists in over the last 4 months... just awful.

[–]goonerredandwhite 0 points1 point ago

Where did ramsey go today? Was he rested or just wasn't played?

[–]shoobiedoobie 1 point2 points ago

Rested.

[–]beatlesmith 2 points3 points ago

A friend and I played a game during last night's match. We select a player for eachother, and whenever that player touches the ball, you must drink. I had Arteta, now I have a hangover.

[–]lambdacomplexRosicky's biggest fan 1 point2 points ago

Always wanted to see him at Arsenal, so glad he joined. He's Arsenal through and through.

[–]malaydude 1 point2 points ago

Extremely happy with the way he played. What's the source for these stats anyway?

[–]9jack9 3 points4 points ago

Denilson used to have great stats and everyone hated him.

[–]goonerredandwhite 5 points6 points ago*

Everyone hated Denilson because he became kind of a like a scapegoat for Arsenal downfall. He did not have pace, and appeared lazy when he lost the ball and did not bother to run back to at least make a challenge. At that time Arsenal was also not doing so great, and he joins the list of Arsenal fall out guys for Arsenal's failures including - Gallas, Silvestre, Squilacci, Rosicky (for a while, until now when nobody wants to see ramsey), Arshavin, Walcott, Bendtner, Chamackh, Ramsey, Clichy (For a while, when his crosses went no where), Alumnia, Fabiansky, Pat Rice (for not being vocal enough), and Arsene Wenger ("you don't know what you are doing"). The names goes on as fans need to find someone to blame for Arsenal's bad form.

And denilson was the person to blame, now Arteta is applauded by fans yet he does similar things to Denilson. Why? Because the problem is no longer in the defense where Arsenal isnt as weak against set piece, nor is it in the midfield, where the mid fielders have been give the ball to the forwards, rather it is on the creative midfielder (i.e. Ramsey) and the wide attackers (i.e. walcott and gervinho) where they can't finish on target nor can they look up before crossing the ball.

[–]Robotochan 0 points1 point ago

Spot on.

We're quick to throw blame and On the whole, I think we're terrible fans. I've never known a team in the top 6 get so many boos over the last 4-5 years.

[–]goonerredandwhite -1 points0 points ago

It truly is an enigma, bur Arsenal is a top tier club and should have players putting world class performances, any thing short of that is criminal

[–]limitz[S] 1 point2 points ago

That's because they were padded by the sheer amount of backpassing he did.

Arteta attempts, and completes most of his forward passes. He also has a proven PL track record of consistency, and calmness in possession.

Denilson was just shit in most of the games he played.

[–]9jack9 2 points3 points ago

Denilson used to pass the ball sideways the same as Arteta. They both play the same role in recycling the ball.

Arteta is definitely an improvement over Denilson, I'm pointing out that Denilson wasn't so bad.

[–]ScaredycatMatt 1 point2 points ago

Denilson's sideways passes were usually useless and slowed down an attack. Most of Arteta's sideways passes yesterday were out to the winger with space, and the pass would usually come after him receiving the ball from the defence and sprinting forwards as fast as possible. He's brilliant. Please stop thinking Denilson is similar to him as you're quite wrong.

[–]ImmanuelXavier 0 points1 point ago

Arsenalcolumn did a really good comparison between these two players a while ago. I can't provide a link as I'm on my phone, but you might be interested in it.

[–]sheffers 0 points1 point ago

I wish we got him 2/3 years ago, think of what he could be like now!

[–]shoobiedoobie 2 points3 points ago

You mean think of what we could have won.

[–]goonerredandwhite 0 points1 point ago

How did Rosicky go?