WHY ADDRESSING REALITY AND OWNING THE TRUE NARRATIVE IS A SMART PR MOVE
Mikel Arteta doubled down on our Champions League credentials again and it’s made the media—and some fans—angry.
‘IT’S JUST EXCUSES’
I really can’t stand this way of looking at managerial commentary, like the only acceptable analysis after a loss is‘the boys were shit, total reboot needed.’
LE GROVE is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
That’s not how you deal with problems in the real world. To get to the truth, you need to analyse how you landed there.
PSG didn’t create better chances than Arsenal. They didn’t defend our quality of chances better. They didn’t press better than Arsenal.
They had X Factor on the night—and that came in the form of an inspired keeper and some players scoring highly improbable chances.
That’s the game, people. If you can’t accept that as the reality as a coach, then you can’t fix the issues moving forward.
Paris had 13 attempts at CL glory before Arsenal this week, and this is only their second final. They have the biggest wage bill in the world. They threw 600 million euros atone player. And we’re the team with fans calling for the sacking of Arteta after his second attempt at this competition failing? Get out of here. As a Reminder, Arsene Wenger didn’t make a CL semi-final until after the Invincibles were in the process of being broken down.
Pep Guardiola took seven attempts to win it with Man City. I don’t think he even reached a semi-final until try four.
These are two teams that have basically done whatever they wanted with unlimited cash. The Kvarasckelia deal that happened with PSG was so crazy with agents fees that only one club in Europe would go near it. But PSG can do that. I’m telling you that because this idea that they’re a plucky upstart team doesn’t quite align with the reality that they have a £645m wage bill. Arsenal spend £327m on wages for context.
And let’s talk about the realities of being PSG. They don’t play games like Premier League teams do every week. Paris are monstrously dominant in their league. They’re playing Ligue 2 sides most of the time. They don’t get monstered fitness-wise. We know how bad the non-Champions League teams are in Europe because in the second-tier competition, two of thevery worst teams in the Premier League this season made the final.
Paris beat Arsenal. They did what was needed. Arsenal did not. But don’t tell me a manager can’t speak to the manner of the result or stick up for his players in the media. I think Scott over atCannon Stats pulled a graph that showed over the whole Champions League tournament, there’s avery fair argument to say—based on non-penalty xG for and against—Arsenal were the better team.
These things are important for fans to know because you have a lot of journalists rushing to tell everyone that the Arsenal project is in danger, that Arteta has hit a plateau, and that our season was a massive failure. Those sorts of comments tend to wound our fans, and perception is reality. Arteta is just setting the record straight.
Arsenal are really fucking good.
Arsenal have very clear problems that we will solve this summer.
Goal scorers.
Load management.
Once those problems are solved, Arsenalwill win major trophies.
Get me to the end of the season as soon as possible. Let the work on the final build of this squad begin. And let’s pray that at the end of the window, we’re looking at the finished product.
Then salivate. We’ll have Odegaard, Rice, Saka, Saliba, Gabriel, Raya, and Timber all in their prime, about to give us their best five years.
Then look at MLS, Ethan, and Dowman all about to start their journey as future star boys.
Then imagine Sesko or Gyokeres monstering as our main number nine.
Then add Zubimendi to the base of midfield.
Then get yourself an explosive winger that can bully teams and do to the left what Saka does to the right.
Imagine rolling into town knowing you have to deal with Kai Havertz and Declan Rice as the 8s.
Imagine going up against our fully fit back five.
If we can get to a Champions League semi with a depleted team, imagine how good we’ll be if Arteta learns to keep players fresh like Arne Slot did this season.
That’s the narrative, people. If you want to listen to people tell you the project is over, be my guest. They’ve been saying it every year for five years—and each year, we make progress somewhere.
Next year, we need a trophy. The players, the fans, the club. To crystalise the work that has been done, that trophy cabinet needs a Premier League or a Champions League trophy. Those will come under Arteta.
When they land, just remember the folk in the media that poured cold water on Arsenal. Remember the people in the group chat calling for wholesale sackings. Remember the weak-kneed commenters on blog platforms that whittered on and on about how bad things are.
They can have their moment now. They don’t appreciate the journey. Those who do will be rewarded in this life or the next. Sorry, I mean, next season.
Chin up. Glory is coming. We’re on the right path, and this summer will address all your pain. Next season will be special.
Big love. x
P.S. End of season special offer for those that want all the HOT transfer content this summer. x
Blog## PARIS (A) - ON THE WHISTLE
Pedro
·
May 7
PARIS (A) - ON THE WHISTLE
Gonna be Pedro, Jacob Hawley, and Johnny Cochrane.
Read full story