Ex-Gunners Strikers Believes Arteta Has Made Many Rookie Mistakes As Manager

Alan Smith reveals that Mikel Arteta might have made too many mistakes as a first-time manager.

The signing of Willian and David Luiz’s contract extension isn’t looking too good for Arteta, says the former Gunners striker. The rookie Gunners manager is now left with players who lack drive and desire. Smith believes that now Arteta must rely on the younger players in the team.

Smith told the Evening Standard: “Too many senior players are letting him down. Too many appear to lack the desire and hunger for what is turning into a long, cold winter.

“I said last week Arteta is bound to make mistakes as a rookie manager. And he has.

“Extending David Luiz’s contract cost the club a lot of money without giving the team anything extra. Likewise, the expensive acquisition of Willian didn’t look good business at the time. It looks even worse now following several anonymous outings that reek of a player with little to prove or achieve towards the end of his career.

“These two, of course, are not solely to blame for the worrying position Arsenal now assume. The other two main attackers — Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — can’t buy a goal or indeed find any inspiration for the uphill task.

“As a manager, that’s got to make you think. Standing on the sideline at Dundalk, Arteta saw some young players busting a gut to impress, eager to make a mark at senior level. We’re talking about youngsters with lots of potential such as Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock, Folarin Balogun and Emile Smith-Rowe, a player rated very highly by many at the club.

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