Exclusive
ART BREAKER
Harry Redknapp: They say England job is ‘impossible’… but Arsenal runs it close with fans incredibly divided on Arteta
Arteta has a tough task to take his injury hit team to face Tottenham away on Saturday
YOU can’t please all of the people all of the time, so the saying goes — and no one knows that better than a football manager.
There wasn’t a week of my 40 years in the job when I didn’t realise as much... and 40 years from now they will be saying the same.
5
Yet I must admit it wasn’t a phrase I thought would be used when Mikel Arteta signed his new three-year contract at Arsenal on Friday. How wrong can you be?
After finishing runners-up twice on the run, you would imagine his new deal was something of a no-brainer.
And if the title goes anywhere but the Etihad this time, it will probably be to the Emirates.
I realise most Arsenal fans agree with me, too, in thinking Arteta is doing such a great job he should be there as long as he wants to be.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Not everyone, though. Some have had a pop at extending his contract after four years without a trophy.
Probably the same ones who said he should be sacked if he didn’t win the title this season. Incredible!
It’s always baffled me why Arteta has copped the flak he has off some supporters.
They say Graham Taylor had the impossible job with England — but Arsenal is close at times!
Most read in Football
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
He has got them playing amazing football, at a great level, they have been second twice and could so easily have been heading to Tottenham for Saturday’s North London derby as Premier League champions.
If Spurs’ Son Heung-min had scored that one-on-one against City in May they would have been.
Why Saka needs to beat 'ghost defender' to keep Arsenal's title hopes alive against Spurs
That’s how close Arsenal were to winning it… and they’ll be bang there again this time.
OK, maybe there’s no out-and-out centre forward but you tell me where they can find one — someone good enough for the top, top level.
There’s only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane but in terms of who’s available, there is no one.
And 91 Premier League goals without a big No .9 wasn’t too shabby.
Apart from that, Arteta has built a great side, with cover everywhere... and let’s face it, he’s going to need it on this afternoon.
Arteta has built a great side, with cover everywhere... and let’s face it, he’s going to need it on Sunday afternoon.
Harry Redknapp
Declan Rice is banned, Mikel Merino injured and now no Martin Odegaard for three weeks with a damaged ankle either.
His entire engine room on the sidelines against their biggest rivals... what a chance this is for Tottenham. I’m sure they’re rubbing their hands.
There aren’t many clubs who can better their midfield of James Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr.
But then again, Arteta has got so much depth to his squad these days that Jorginho isn’t a bad player to bring in!
So for all those missing names, I still can’t see Arsenal losing.
5
5
5
Maybe they will have to settle for a point but certainly nothing worse than that.
Which wouldn’t be great news for Ange Postecoglou, because if either of these managers is going to be under pressure this year, it’s him.
He got off to a flier last season but there is no margin for error now — it’s got to be the top four, or at least deliver a trophy.
The way the League Cup is these days, top teams coming in halfway through and how the draw is done, the big guns have an even greater chance of lifting the trophy.
So Ange should have a good look at winning it, rather than picking a reserve team, as going to Coventry on Wednesday won’t be a walkover.
But let’s face it, it’s all about the derby — and Spurs should be going into it with nine points from their first three games.
So for all those missing names, I still can’t see Arsenal losing.
Harry Redknapp
They should have had it won by half-time at Leicester on the opening weekend, yet let them back in and ended up with a 1-1 draw.
And if they had taken half their chances at Newcastle before the international break, the late goal they conceded would have just been a consolation and not the winner in a 2-1 defeat.
Instead, it has turned into Tottenham’s worst Premier League start in four years, so the spotlight is on Ange, not Arteta.
If he is anything like me, though, he will be relishing the challenge, because games against Arsenal were always so special.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
I loved every one of them — especially when we won!
Sadly for Ange, I think he’s going to have to wait a bit longer to know how good that feels.
5
Topics