Arsenal: Is Arteta right about Bernd Leno & Dani Ceballos mistake?

What Mikel Arteta Wants From His Team

Adaptation is precisely that Arteta is asking for. He doesn’t want an overhaul, he wants precision and, a characteristic not usually attributed to Arsenal, common sense.

Key in Arteta’s analysis is the ‘when’. He places enough emphasis on this to make it clear it’s his biggest gripe.

When done right, phases built from Leno upwards epitomise what is defined as attractive football. Utilising close to every member of the outfield team, involving telepathic movement, quick give and go passes and culminating in the ball hitting the back of the net, it’s as perfect of a goal as can be scored.

It isn’t flawless.

Arteta wants this system, with a midfielder, usually Granit Xhaka, dropping in between the centre-backs or on the left to allow the full-backs to push up, to be played with pace. Said speed is difficult to maintain when those receiving the passes are not particularly agile, or when the timing of the deliveries is off.

Arsenal have issues with some individuals who aren’t mobile enough to move the ball quickly on the half-turn, but the latter point can affect everyone. This is what Arteta highlights.

Against Olympiacos decision-making cost the team on 58 minutes. Who, though?