Arteta an option for Everton?
Several papers are today reporting that Arsenal have decided not to appoint Mikel Arteta as their new manager. Does this open the way for Everton to consider the Spaniard for the Blues vacancy?
Former player Arteta, a very popular figure when he played for Everton, certainly meets several of the key criteria for the Blues.
For example he is a young coach with it appears plenty of ambition to succeed. He would also bring with him the successful Manchester City philosophy, which has taken City to a record-breaking title win.
It seems that Arsenal are going to go for the ex-PSG boss Unai Emery instead of Arteta. The Metro are reporting that the North London club don’t think he has enough experience for the role at the Emirates.
Might this open the door for Everton to make a move?
Arteta of course has a strong connection to the Blues as well as Arsenal. He was a superb player in fact one of the best Everton have had in the last twenty years.
His coaching experience is limited though and he’s never had a managerial job in the Premier League. So he would represent a risk.
But again he has the background of having worked with Pep Guardiola and will have undoubtedly gained much from that experience.
Manchester City’s football has set new standards this past season. Could Arteta transplant the City philosophy to Everton?
First of all some people might argue that the Blues shouldn’t try to replicate City’s football. That’s a fair point.
And I have argued in the past for consideration of coaches like Sean Dyche and Eddie Howe. Arteta would in some respects represent a different type of choice.
Essentially though he has spent much of his playing and coaching career here in England and understands the Premier League and English football.
But also the City philosophy that he might bring with him could be an effective way for Everton to address some of the team’s flaws.
For example the Blues, like every side that has struggled in the league, are poor at keeping hold of the ball. Basically if 50% plus is the benchmark then Everton are falling short.
In addition the Toffees are also poor at passing, with an accuracy of just under 75%.
Why does all this matter?
Defensively Everton have been dreadful this past season. The Blues conceded a massive 58 goals, only five teams conceded more.
In the Premier League these days it is becoming harder to defend effectively.
Rule changes (such as offside), the fact that tackling, (especially in the penalty box, which has become almost a no-contact zone), has become more difficult and the resultant decline in traditional defensive players, all contribute to this.
It’s why so many teams (like Everton) resort to defending very deeply in great numbers to try to stifle better sides.
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The game is also very counter-attacking placing a premium on teams being able to break quickly on opponents.
All this makes keeping hold of the football more important.
Manchester City’s attacking football took all the headlines but actually City also had the best defensive record in the Premier League last season.
No one would argue City had the most robust set of defenders so how did they achieve this – by holding onto the ball. City had the most possession of any team in the league.
This meant they were very rarely under any sustained pressure and so conceded very few goals.
I’m not arguing Everton can re-produce City’s football with the players they have or are likely to have next season. And again some might argue the club shouldn’t try to.
Bringing in a coach like Arteta would be a gamble but might be just the kind of statement to Everton fans that the club was prepared to invest in a young manager with the right approach to the game.
And recognising the growing importance of controlling possession and improving the team’s ability to pass and move the ball effectively, can surely help the Blues achieve a more solid base to move forward.