ARTETA TREATED IT LIKE THE MICKEY MOUSE CUP
MIKEL ARTETA, of all people, ought to have recognised the importance of the FA Cup.
Winning that competition last season bought him brownie points for his precarious position now.
People doubt him as Arsenal manager but then they remember he won the FA Cup and for that, maybe, he deserves to be cut some slack. He did that in his debut season as a head coach, so let’s give him time, right? That’s wearing thin.
Now, it’s Gdansk or bust for Arteta. Arsenal have to get to the Europa League final in Poland for this to not be a season to forget.
Why not start Kieran Tierney at Southampton? Why not start Emile Smith Rowe? Why not start Bukayo Saka? Why bring in Willian at No 10? The Brazilian has been about as useful as a chocolate teapot this season. Nicolas Pepe hasn’t been much better. He’s been more of a £72million problem than solution.
This isn’t the Mickey Mouse Cup.
This is the FA Cup, and the XI that Arteta selected at St Mary’s screamed surrender. Southampton went strong, Arsenal didn’t — and the result was predictable.
Maybe Arteta would have lost even if he’d fielded his first team. Southampton’s players look like they would run through brick walls for Ralph Hasenhuttl. We talk about their high press a lot, but it doesn’t get any less impressive when you see it in action. They hunt in packs. They win the ball then use it well. But Arsenal supporters could accept going down with a fight.
Saturday didn’t feel like that. It felt more like a waving of the white flag. Doing what he did only puts more pressure on Arteta.
He should have stayed loyal to the competition which has helped him keep hold of his job.
Speaking of resting players, why is it that clubs drop their first-choice goalkeepers for the FA Cup?
Chelsea played Kepa Arrizabalaga yesterday instead of Edouard Mendy, and look what happened. He lets a tame shot slip beyond him.
Millwall drop Bartosz Bialkowski and his replacement, Frank Fielding, gives away a needless penalty to kickstart a 3-0 defeat.
Nottingham Forest drop Brice Samba and Jordan Smith concedes five in a 5-1 loss. This is something I’ve always found baffling.
A manager should always want his No 1 in goal in the Cup. That’s one selection Arteta didn’t get wrong!