Arteta on ESR’s departure: “When I had the talk with Emile, I really felt it. First of all because I have huge gratitude. He came into the team at a tough moment. I think he was the player that made our supporters and the team click, in a way. I don’t know how to explain it but that was my feeling.”

> “Something changed when he came into the team. He created a different energy straight away. And I have a feeling like ‘argh’, that I have not got the best out of him. Obviously a lot of things happened in that time.”

> On academy players departing as a whole and what could change, Arteta added: “From my side it was really sad, because I know how those boys feel when they are in that building, how hard everyone works to get them close to the first team, so I feel a huge responsibility to give them the chance. And now, can they sustain this level and make us better? That is the idea.”

You and me both Mikel, a PL title would erase the pain tho

There is such a clear divide in Arteta’s tenure – before and after that Chelsea game. Ever since that game we have been on an upward trajectory and ESR deserves all the credit in the world for kickstarting that. Wish him all the best and hope he smashes it for Fulham.

I find Arsenal to be in a tough position right now, at the end of the day it’s a business and we’re in it to win it, and being so close it is not a time to be sentimental. I don’t know what it’s like at other clubs, I may be biased but I feel like the majority of level headed Arsenal fans are so loyal and in love with the team and some of the amazing players that have come and gone. We quickly evolved from a team that was just finding its feet again after a period of unrest, severely underperforming and falling flat, having to rely on young, hard working talent to bring individual moments of brilliance to get us out of the rut we’ve been stuck in.

But we have so quickly become a team that is at the forefront of challenging for one of the most hard fought titles in recent years as we try to prise it from the grip of team that has shown unprecedented dominance in the history of the PL, and with that goal coming very much within reach for us all of a sudden, comes some really tough decisions. ESR was not getting us closer to a title, Ramsdale isn’t, Nketiah isn’t, along with a number of other fantastic players in their own right. At a certain point and as no fault of their own (in regards to attitude and giving everything they possibly can), they actually hold us back, and us not playing them holds them back.

As much as we love them and they love us, it is in everyone’s best interest to part ways with a lot of these players. I’m sure I echo a lot of people’s thoughts in truly wishing the best for and an eagerness to see these players thrive, I’ll always remember ESR and the like as players that were a part of, for lack of a better term, a renaissance and resurgence of the Arsenal 🫶🏾

Great words and all.. but he could also just have played him last season.

We pray for that Keown career route


I feel like he suffered a perfect storm as in everywhere he could play we have
Trossard, martenelli on left wing probably top 4 in prem
CAM we got odegard one of the top 3 in prem
Right wing we got Saka top 2 in prem

Add to that he’s always coming back from injury he was always up against it .

Edit also our performances in cups meant he had little game time in then as well , and veira was still going to be tried ahead of him because he’s a new Investment

Thanks lads, crying again