Tipping the balance.

[Neiler]

Mikel Arteta is it any surprise that we have drawn 3 games on the trot while he has been out and on his return we beat a difficult Blackburn side at home (Chelsea, Man U) to become only the third team to do so at Ewood this season. Before hes most recent lay off we looked absolutley unbeatable.

He is that important to our team, im really begining to think that Arteta is the difference between us being an average top 10 team, to a contender for CL places. On recent results with him in the team you would have to say he is the difference between winning and drawing games!

What do other people think?

 

[DualityNSNO]

Mikel Arteta is it any surprise that we have drawn 3 games on the trot while he has been out and on his return we beat a difficult Blackburn side at home (Chelsea, Man U) to become only the third team to do so at Ewood this season. Before hes most recent lay off we looked absolutley unbeatable.

He is that important to our team, im really begining to think that Arteta is the difference between us being an average top 10 team, to a contender for CL places. On recent results with him in the team you would have to say he is the difference between winning and drawing games!

What do other people think?

Is there really any other opinion?

 

[Matt Damon]

Mikel Arteta is it any surprise that we have drawn 3 games on the trot while he has been out and on his return we beat a difficult Blackburn side at home (Chelsea, Man U) to become only the third team to do so at Ewood this season. Before hes most recent lay off we looked absolutley unbeatable.

He is that important to our team, im really begining to think that Arteta is the difference between us being an average top 10 team, to a contender for CL places. On recent results with him in the team you would have to say he is the difference between winning and drawing games!

What do other people think?

Agree. And think the "LCAB BIG FISH" refers to aquiring a similar sort of player that would require big bucks so we have a duplicate

 

[best little spaniard]

He is sooo important to us, may he never leave.

I think though, that we would have missed him less if we'd had a direct right winger playing to make things happen. Even Anichebe would have been useful. We just miss that penetration.

 

[Abraders]

I've said before but it's just that we lack Composure with Arteta or Fellaini. Without them we don't know what to do in certain situations, we would have beaten Villa with one of them two.

 

[chicoazul]

We can pretty much get over any player leaving, including Pienaar. Arteta though, him leaving would leave us much shitter.

We need an adequate stand in for him as when he doesn't play we struggle.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

We can pretty much get over any player leaving, including Pienaar. Arteta though, him leaving would leave us much shitter.

We need an adequate stand in for him as when he doesn't play we struggle.

Thing is, if we want to get a suitably good enough replacement chances are thats gonna cost.

And if they're that good they arent gonna want to be backup.

And if they both play that takes away a central mid spot so who drops out?

 

[chicoazul]

Thing is, if we want to get a suitably good enough replacement chances are thats gonna cost.

And if they're that good they arent gonna want to be backup.

And if they both play that takes away a central mid spot so who drops out?

I was thinking someone like Bullard, who would be happy enough to come and play second fiddle.

 

[Neiler]

Id be with you on that mate!

 

[evilwebby]

He can't be expected to "make the difference" in every close game - no player should be asked to do that. But he can and is the difference on a number of occassions, as are the likes of Cahill, Osman, Pienaar, Saha etc. They've all been the difference at times. But it's a team effort, isn't it? A hack off the goal line or a fingertip save is just as important, yet doesn't ever get as many headlines.