Mikel Arteta’s loyalty and love faces biggest test

What may be an isolated aberration does not necessarily mean he should rip up the blueprint. There may be cause for concern, however, that Gabriel Martinelli has gone six games without a goal or an assist as his form has dipped. His duel with the older, slower Seamus Coleman felt an unfair contest but Everton’s dogged captain won it convincingly.

Nketiah came to Everton with seven goals in his previous eight games and a forward who lacks Jesus’ natural all-round game still set up Martin Odegaard’s skied shot. He was nevertheless quiet: Arsenal’s hope must have been to surf a wave of goals until the Brazilian is fit again. Nketiah can feel like a Jermain Defoe of the 2020s, a specialist predator; he would seem an anomaly for a title-winning striker.

Arteta may face a decision: stick or twist? Had he signed Mykhailo Mudryk, he would have had a high-grade arrival who seemed designed to go straight into the starting 11. Instead, he ended up with Leandro Trossard, who has the air of a squad player. The Belgian has nevertheless been bright so far and offers an alternative to Martinelli or Nketiah.

Gabriel Martinelli has suffered a downturn in form recently

But only maybe. Arteta spent January strengthening the squad, but perhaps not the starting 11: Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho and Trossard can plug gaps on the bench. A fit-again Smith Rowe would add an enticing option, though even he seems a back-up now.

Arteta has conjured the best form of their career from several of his players: the difficulty may be getting them to repeat it. Odegaard scored more goals in half a season than any full campaign in his career. Granit Xhaka has been reinvented and a revelation. Nketiah has decided a game against United. Ben White is the makeshift right-back who has been better than Trent Alexander-Arnold or Kyle Walker this season.

Recommended

No-one deserves to be dropped. As Arteta professed his love, he implied a loyalty, too. But he has a meeting with his mentor soon. Pep Guardiola has a certain unpredictability which can backfire when his leftfield selections go wrong. Arteta tends to be far more predictable: the teamsheet usually contains no surprises.

His ruthlessness came when he exiled Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, not with the younger crop he has nourished and nurtured and, despite his words at St James’ Park, usually defended. Loving care has taken Arsenal further and faster than most anticipated. Managerial love has played its part in past title races: Kevin Keegan would have loved it if his side had become champions. Now it is Arteta who is taking on a Mancunian favourite with a team short of title-winning pedigree but who have built up a commanding lead.

Source: Read Full Article