Arteta’s major Arsenal managerial flaw must be fixed

Mikel Arteta divides the supporters. Near enough everything to do with Arsenal divides the supporters. When it comes to the man in charge, though, it’s slightly more important.

One may dislike Nicolas Pepe or love the guy, but that’s minor in comparison to the person who is in charge of overseeing this rebuild, improving the players in the squad and making the club competitive on the European stage again.

For all the elements of Arteta as a manager that are undeniably strong and admirable, he does have one major flaw: indecision.

As with every aspect of the Spaniard a certain degree of patience is urged on account of this being his first ever venture into management. It’s been said numerous times and will be repeated numerous times again that he learning as he goes.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s major flaw is how indecisive he is with certain members of his squad – constantly changing his opinion on their ability

But when it comes to being decisive in regards to members of his squad he leaves a lot to be desired.

One minute there will be a player in the squad who is the best thing since sliced bread, and the next they’re being cast aside in favour of someone else, oftentimes with little explanation from the outside looking in. This season that has rang true on numerous occasions, just as it had in previous campaigns.

Eddie Nketiah is a prime example. A striker who Arteta has issued public displays of affection for and repeatedly tried to tie down to a new contract still doesn’t appear to have a place. He changes his mind on Nketiah, says one thing and then does another.

Arteta has found strength in the way he’s developed the core group at his disposal to build an increasingly improving unit. But this is about managing a whole squad. If it were down to him he’d be content with working with just 16 players and leaving the rest to train elsewhere.

Having gutted the squad extensively, and set to continue doing so in future windows, when he does bring in ‘squad’ players he has to manage the group better than he has to date. It’s very much either ‘you’re in’ or ‘you’re out‘. But what about in between that?

Ainsley Maitland-Niles had his moment before he didn’t. Cedric was the guy in the Premier League before Calum Chambers took over and then the mantle went back to Cedric. They’re but a few examples.

How he deals with the middle ground of his squad and maintains a harmony outside of the players he wants to be fielding week in week out is an essential part of his development as a manager. Constantly changing his mind one week to the next does nobody any favours.

With the squad set to bulk up after this season there has to be an improvement from him when it comes to unearthing a balance and being decisive. Do you like the player or not? They can’t keep being left in limbo. It’s for that reason that Maitland-Niles was so desperate to leave.