A nightmare week comes to a close with a trip to Wolverhampton to face the Wanderers.
One big discussion point this week has been rotation and over-playing. Mikel had this to say:
"Mine is to protect our players and the amount of minutes and games they’ve played in the last two season is not great. If they have to play that much in the next two years it’s not healthy for sure, so somewhere we have to reduce the calendar."
I am a supporter of Arteta and what he has done, but this comment has boiled my urine. He has missed plenty of opportunity to rest certain players, chances for rotation, chances for using the squad, chances for blooding youngsters. And he has passed on all of them.
The minutes played by Saliba, Saka, Gabriel, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz and White compared to many others shows his lack of interest in rotating players. If Timber and Jesus had been able to stay fit you would have been able to add those to the list. Arteta has a clear mentality that says players can play every minute of every game.
This, to me, points to short term thinking. I doubt anyone would be surprised if Saka went down the Wilshere route in terms of injuries and early retirement. Arteta wants to get every last bit out of him in the time Arteta is boss. After that it is someone elses problem.
Anyway, back to tonight. Left back is up for grabs, left wing is up for grabs and it will be interesting to see if Havertz starts in midfield or up front.
The team can clearly do with freshening up, but there are massive doubts as to whether the squad players have the match fitness to come in and perform after spending most of the season sat on their rears.
A chance to go back to the top, a chance we simply cannot pass up against a Wolves side missing their two most dangerous attackers, Neto and Cunha.
Arteta, rotation and Wolves...
posted on 20/4/24
You might be right or wrong. Tonight he wont rotate much. Rice, Odegaard, the two CB's, White, Saka and probably now Havertz are automatic starters.
We have to win tonight. The only position he will make a change is Martinelli, LB and CB. That's it.
posted on 20/4/24
CB????
posted on 20/4/24
The club should’ve learnt from the Wilshere case but they haven’t. Saka’s played an unreal amount of games, broke the record for most consecutive PL games for the club.
Modern game requires full squad, not just first 11 plus 3 as Arteta is so keen to use.
posted on 20/4/24
I get starting them for virtually every league game unless it's one of those weeks like the Christmas period. I'm not saying he should do it but I get it.
What's fecking infuriating is failing to sub these guys off when we're cruising in games.
Ideally you rotate the squad, Arteta needs to learn to effectively rotate a squad but I guess we'll just see out this season with a full strength side every game now.
posted on 20/4/24
It is also about subtle changes, like resting Odegaard against a bottom dweller when the other starting attackers play. But to start Saliba in dead rubbers and play him 90 when we are 4 up at half time is neglecting great opportunities to rest and give others minutes.
posted on 20/4/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 23 minutes ago
CB????
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Forget that.
posted on 20/4/24
I think one of the reasons he doesn't take Saka off as much as others is because he seems to be able to coast at times though games. Although the reason he does that is probably because he's nowhere near 100%
I was debating this with some mates, if we had Partey, Jesus, Timber, Tomiyasu etc fully fit all season. Would we just have better players on the bench playing less time but Arteta still only trusting 12/13 to play important minutes rather than dead minutes when the game is done. I think he's done okay managing the squad this year given the injuries but I was quite excited with players coming back for the crunch point of the season, but other than the Luton game, he's not taken advantage of that luxury. Players will lack match fitness and sharpness but you have to give them chances. Tomiyasu played pretty well the other night and that was his first start for months.
posted on 20/4/24
They were saying it on the Guardian pod a couple of months ago that yeah managers are at clubs for a short periods of time and prolonging players careers is barely on their radar, why would it be?
The shame is that is so clearly affects us this time of the year and as everyone here is saying, there were so many good opportunities to rest and rotate
posted on 20/4/24
It’s a shame Chris that Arteta thinks this way. He’s already been here 4 years plus and that in football terms is long term. So why he persists with short term think no for players well being isn’t good.
posted on 21/4/24
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 20 hours, 56 minutes ago
What's fecking infuriating is failing to sub these guys off when we're cruising in games.
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We were doing that. Nelson for Saka was quite a common one for example. The guy who appears to never get a break is Odegaard. I mean Saliba plays every minute but he's so chilled it's probably not a problem for him.