Welcome to The Athletic FC's KZhead channel, where best-in-class journalism meets video.
Arsenal are currently top of the league after beating second-place Liverpool and then thrashing West Ham, Burnley, Newcastle and Sheffield United. They've also qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years.
Mikel Arteta is making history at Arsenal, but how did they get to this point?
Joe Devine, JJ Bull and Jon Mackenzie are joined by James McNicholas to discuss how Arteta made Arsental title contenders.
This is The Athletic's Week in Football.
#arsenal #premierleague #arsenalfc
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:39 James' key milestones for Arteta's Arsenal
06:29 Arsenal's evolution via recruitment
17:07 How Arsenal became the best defensive team in the world
26:43 How can Arsenal improve?
35:02 Do Arsenal need a new striker?
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Music sourced from Epidemic Sound
Additional footage sourced from AP Newsroom
Sorry babe, tifo dropped a 42 minute video on Arteta's Arsenal Revolution
This is so me, lmao. Just texted my gf and told her I'd be busy 😂
Mine ended up calling her sister because I checked out.
@@raunvkgotta tell her there’s no other way😂😂
😂😂😂😂 world class comment
🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
I just watched a 42 minutes video about my team like it was nothing, time flew by like crazy. The production value and level of discussion in this channel is incredible.
I was on my way to the bathroom…42min later I still haven’t gone to the bathroom. This is amazing
Yeah they really got my attention!
These guys make Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane look like idiots. This is the most factual and rational analysis one can come across.
Great analysis and banter. Like the old weekly show but a little faster and without as many (funny but not informative) tangents
@@alexanderomucheyi1857couldnt have agreed more
i think one of the games that really solidified the idea that arteta was building something for me atleast was that 1-2 match against city in 21/22 , the fact that we were for the most part keeping up with a city team that had consistently demolished us before showed that there was something there.
Did you not feel something similar after coming to Anfield in the Carabao Cup and drawing 0-0? Keeping Liverpool quiet was a big feat, especially since they scored 50-something goals in the first 19 games.
Agreed mate that 1-2 match against City at the Emirates where we were leading by one goal then Gabriel got sent off and we crumbled. That was indeed the turning point for Arsenal. Also the FA cup win that Arteta managed to do it in his first season in charge where we knocked out Chelsea and Man City. It showed the fans that we can back this Manager.
@@liverbot4854 definitely especially since we had a red card that game , but i think i just dont remember that game as fondly due to the second leg that proceeded it haha
You are absolutely right, I still remember after seeing that match, I told my friends who support Chelsea, Liverpool and united, “this team will do wonders”. Thank you Arteta ❤
I completely agree. I don’t think I ever been more proud of my team losing a game than that match. That match on New Year’s Day convinced me that the players were willing to fight for the manager. Even though I sometimes still have some disagreements with some of his approach. I have been Arteta IN ever since then.
the 2-1 loss to city during the covid period was the beginning of great belief in the process. arteta caught the virus hence was absent. arsenal went riot throughout that match. city players couldn't believe their eyes. despite the loss, the fans were all in applause for the spirit the gunners showed in that match. it was then i knew the process will bang
Arteta reconnected the Arsenal family: Fans to Players, players to fans, etc. The Emirates stadium too sparked into life. He really did well. He has shown that he is really passionate about the team. I can't thank him enough 🙌🏾
I think that first 45 was when the players really saw where they could go with Arteta , also the fans to .
We absolutely pestered them when they had the ball and when we had it we ran riot. Just couldn't finish the chances. However, I have to mention this, Ederson got away with a foul on Odegaard which would have been a penalty. Referee missed it, It went to VAR, but the referee was NOT called to the screen. Later in the match, Bernardo dived (Yes, a dive, that Robben would be proud of) when Xhaka tackled him inside the box. The referee missed it again. VAR immediately called the referee to the pitch-side screen and he gave the penalty. Arsenal should have gone 1-0 ahead with a penalty early in the game and should have won that game. You are absolutely right. That was definitely the beginning of the belief in the process for me.
I remember rival fans mocking Arsenal fans for celebrating a loss. In reality, Arsenal fans could see how far the team had come and were just optimistic for the future. They've been proven right.
@kevinsiniya7985 we know now that they would never have give us any respect even if they'd seen the game
i giggled when joe stared at the camera right after jon said he's going to start talking about out of possession stuff
19:34 ❤for those wondering
lol same! I burst out laughing though
I just got to it and it's perfect. Joe being a little less over-the-top lately has really made the show better than it was a year or so ago when Joe was a bit more disruptive, IMO.
I miss disruptive Joe.
😂😂😂😂
its almost like this could be made into a podcast
I'm actually glad this was done through a video. The line-up visuals and especially the screen-grabs really helped me understand how good Arsenal's counter-press is, and how every single outfield player has a role to play to keep the structure intact. Also, the section on what Porto did to nullify Arsenal and use our counter-press against us - it's masterful analysis. And it also shows just how tactically astute Porto were. It really looks like a great win the more I think about it.
I agree, and there should be references to goblins and maybe people’s gates ?
@@Kemi2416Many podcasts are videos these days. I don't think OP was saying that there shouldn't be video.
@@reececonway8579Nobody has gates except Seb Stafford-Bloor. Or at least no gates that matter. If you see gates, they're either an illusion or they belong to Seb.
@@noblehelium3794I think the way this was done required the visuals though. You can (obviously) do football podcasts, but it's a *lot* harder to talk about things like pressing tactics, as this video does very well.
This went straight into my veins. From a lifelong Arsenal supporter - thank you, lads.
When Joe said the squad now looks almost iconic with all the big players, I could totally see it. The Invincibles were also quite huge lads
I'd like to point out that Lacazette especially wasn't a lazy defensive player. He pressed and linked up constantly in the last season at Arsenal. However he didn't have much engine left so that energy spent in midfield meant he wasn't an attacking threat at all, thus no goals.
Exactly. The guy ran his socks off. More than anyone, he almost played as a 10
I loved the guy when he played for us.. He didn't have an ego that Aubameyang had, and always did what Arteta told him.. Jesus actually reminded me of Lacazette from time to time, especially when Jesus was able to hold the ball to allow other players to move forward..
Laca is my guy he ran so much wen he got chances he scuff them cause he shattered love laca forever ❤
@@zachkri8418except JG does it in a hurry Lacazette in his own good time
@@briansmith975 hence the upgrade in JG and Laca left
The way Arsenal hierarchy recruited players over the last few seasons makes Manchester United and Chelsea look like idiots
Arsenal have the consistency.. they are so fortunate
Well it's not necessary arsenal, bcs all other team doing that as well. And that makes man utd and chelsea more stupider
@@RRP6632 all the people involved should be on the same page.. the owner.. board member.. director manager players.. unfortunately for Chelsea keep changing manager didn't workout.. and for manu they buy players that didn't suit the manager or is the manager good enough for the project? 😉 There is so much pressure for both teams that ruins their plan.. arsenal also didn't know if arteta will work out but their consistency in decision making let the seed grow at least.. how far they grow? That's fate
Complete idiots
Facts, a divided house cannot stand
I think what helped Arteta massively was his passion and energy as well as being a former captain. We trusted he loved the club and wanted to put things right. Mostly though it's seeing the team progress constantly and moving in the right direction you can see the results on the pitch even without necessarily getting the results. Even up to the Dubai trip the team has constantly improved. Trusting the process is much easier when you can see the process working.
Great to see Joe Devine in the flesh
Same! One of the best voices in football
Such lovely flesh
Oh man, I love Ødegaard so much! Before his loan over in 2021, I was playing FIFA career mode and Arsenal acquired Ødegaard in a transaction. I was like "oh, that would be so cool! But it would never happen, he's La Real, audible sigh". He's everything the hype ever advertised! As the skipper, he sets the standard in line with Arteta's expectations and policies. He runs more km than anyone else on the team - Ben White is close to top, incidentally - and he digs in at the tip of the spear when the press kicks in. His close control is like a cheat code, he's the consummate press resistant player. Audaciously creative. He loves the fans. Saka and Saliba (and now Rice) get the world class shouts, but I'll be damned if Martin Ødegaard isn't every bit as talented as de Bruyne. He's graceful and brutal. He'll kill you but then buy the flowers for your funeral. What a treasure he is.
What JJ seem to miss is that Arsenals way of playing atm isnt about being as entertaining as possible, its about getting the absolute maximum out of the teams strengths while allowing the absolute minimum exploitation of their weaknesses. Thats why eg their Xga is so low. Portos mid-block did well to counter that but most teams dont manage that, so Arsenal control games very well.
Our draw against Bournemouth was a 1-1 draw under arteta but you could see from the start what arteta wanted to do
ESR saved Arteta that day. I still remember game that day . Since so many kids wereplaying in starting 11 , I though Arsenal are going to get slaughtered. But was so surprised and got hyped after Arsenal beat Chelsea. Although Arsenal were losing in next games but watching ESR, Martinelli, Saka and Odegard was so refreshing.
ESR ?
@@gaurav_koiralaEmmit Smith Rowe(the one who wanted to move to Everton for guarantee in starting lineup). He's good at Arteta first/half season but unfortunately the midfielders keep upgrading so we tend to forget about him.
introducing ESR into the side-was a lightbulb moment.There was just no creativity before that.Amazing to think that he's struggling to get into the side
James is such a gripping storyteller. The way he structured that synopsis was soo narratively satisfying.
What an intelligent and articulate bunch of blokes. These lot really know ball.
James' shirt text is essentially Arteta's response to Edu last summer when asked if there is a Declan Rice alternative
W comment
This is by far the best football podcast on KZhead.
I'd go as far as saying it's the best football show in the world right now.
That cut from Joe to John and instantly back to Joe killed me
"Joe Devine - Such a lovely boy" Ngl, I laughed out loud at that. Well Done Athletic.
“ We’ve got SUPER Mik Arteta… He knows EXACTLY what we need ! “
Another 2nd or 3rd place finish and no trophies for 4 years.
Odegaard, then Zinchenko and Saliba were the players that had the most transformative effect in terms of how we play. The game where I first saw us freely moving the ball between the lines (not the highly coached, mechanistic passing we used to win the FA Cup) was the Spurs game, Fall 2021. Couldn’t believe my eyes. But the real game changer that turned the fans into true believers was the New Years Day game vs City at home. That first half was unbelievable. Still a ways to go (particularly in terms of rotation) and I’m hopeful about this ssn but I really think next ssn we will solidify ourselves as one of the 2-3 best teams in Europe
Zinchencko 😂
@@moreish7193what’s funny though ? I don’t get it lol zinchenko defensively is a liability but the majority know that Zinchenko is very skilled with the ball at his feet. A technically gifted footballer who is very adept at breaking the lines.
@@moreish7193 Yes, Zinchenko inverting allowed us to form the box midfield, adding an additional creative midfielder to a deeper position, and become a strong possession based team that moved through the lines. It made us more vulnerable defensively (which Kiwior, who doesnt invert, has addressed), but there's no question, Zinchenko was a game changer for our midfield.
Arteta is “trust the process” personified. Watch the league and broader football word adapt to that mindset as well. Imagine how many great teams could’ve developed if owners and back room staffs trusted their new coaches than buckling under the pressure.
Rich
"There some big scary boys there" joe is hilarious man😂😂
He's not wrong
Coaching is not a joke; what Arteta has done for now even without trophies is monumental! We need to note this and give it credit in light of others who tried and failed in attempting to do the same thing. For example; The biggest problem for Thierry Henry, is translating the immense knowledge he has from his mind to another mind, in a titrated and distilled manner,so that others can take those pieces and accordingly form the concepts thereof in their own minds and see football the way he does and be able to translate that knowledge to actionable sequences on a daily basis and most importantly , in game situations! That’s why I keep talking about guys like Lampard , Gary Neville, Thierry Henry, Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Gareth Southgate, Tony Adam’s, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerard who should have all been great managers but so far aren’t; It’s an issue of communication more than anything. When you listen to Wenger, Pep, Arteta players, they always have one thing in common; they talk extensively about the extreme attention to detail that these guys bring to their coaching. Everything is exposed and explained in a deep and rich manner, in a specific way to a specific layer! That’s why these coaches always talk about the “right profile” of a player! What they mean is that they need first of all smart, curios and eager to learn profiles, students of the game. Some players don’t care about the education side of the game and just want to play…most of those guys will never be great coaches later in life! They’ll just do what THEY know, and when their career is over, they’re finished in football too…it’s just the memories and stories. But others, who invested in communication skills, are able to get these lofty coaching concepts on board during their playing days and then later on transfer them to others in a coaching capacity, thereby elongating their football experience and rewriting history in different phases like Grasshoppers, if you know what I mean. I love Thierry Henry as an Arsenal fan, but I hear he was terrible as a coach! Aggressive, Impatient, easily angered by repeated failure to do “what he demands”… and all this time he didn’t see that the problem was his inability to simplify his ideas for others to grasp! This is the same problem for these young guys , Gary Neville Lampard Scholes Gerard Rooney and them. That’s why you see them do what they do as Pundits! Force us to believe they know enough; what matters is to make it clear to your players in the shortest time possible! I hope this helps many who try to go into coaching. Pundits really spoil football sometimes when you don’t know this about most of them.
Arteta is making them mentality stronger... That alone is worth supporting Mikel fully
Do Arsenal fans really believe this? 😅 🍼
@@Nippleless_Cage yes
100% ❤ Arteta
Editor with the Man Of The Match performance today, James McNicholas leading the line, Joe Devine with the constant threat, in all, an impressive performance from the team!
This was brilliant as an arsenal fan but I think if you're an outsider, its even more interesting to see a progress map of what has happened the past few years and how we have evolved, nice one guys, i miss the longer vids on the tifo channel.
So they can stop saying 8th 8th
Kudos to Arteta, Edu and the Board that has always backed him. There was a time the Board backing him appeared insane but they never lost interest in him. Arsenal is looking more like the Arsenal I started supporting in the late 90's. Arsenal is buying players who are getting it quickly 26:38 ? Edu has explained the new recruitment process we use now. We added statistical analysis to our scouting system before going for prayers. Depay said the same thing when he moved to Lyon. He asked his agent to help with statistical analysis before joining Lyon. And it worked really well. Well done you lots!
Who needs a weekend premier league game when you get The OG gang with James on a Saturday morning. Amazing and loved this analysis!
Arteta slowly recreating the new Invincible 2.0 👍❤️✌️👑🏆
I waited forever for Tifo to come back to these longer videos. Finally!
Missed this trio so much. I know it's been ages but the lack of the old podcast still hurts! As an Arsenal fan I enjoyed this watch thoroughly. James is quality as well.
For Mikel to be challenging 2 of the greatest teams in premier league history in his first managerial job is actually amazing once Pep and Klopp leave i think Mikel will dominate the league... hopefully *looks nervously at Xabi Alonso*
James is so well spoken, a pleasure to listen too
Thank you.. its nice to have long videos once again.. not just 1 minute shorts.
Arteta changed the culture of the club. He demands that everyone performs every day at their best…be it the players, management or staff. “When I lose a duel, I’m upset”. Details like body language to connect with the fans during the game matter to him. No more Mustafi throwing his hands and blaming everyone else for his mistake. Need to commend the club for believing in his vision and supporting him through tough times when it’d have been easier to sack him and go for the next shiny manager.
Elite content once again. Great job boys. Educating us all!
Thank you for the long form videos ❤
Best Football content on the internet. Absolutely love these
9:00 I agree with the notion that Arteta built his team from the back forward. The recent “arsenal need a proper 9” movement is a perfect example. We were struggling to score once we hit Christmas, and everybody was crying for a striker. But instead Arteta reworked his whole team to holistically mend the issue - whereas just buying a striker might have felt like just slapping a patch over the issue. And now that we’ve built that goalscoring structure with our current players, we can buy a top striker and properly implement them instead of just chucking them at the issue.
This episode is amazing, thanks lads for making this video, you guys nailed it ❤
Great job.. Mikel is the Real DEAL❤
This is really good content, it's so educating. Keep up the good work 👍🏾
always a pleasure to listen to you guys. so much better than those TV pundits :)
Wow this was excellent on all levels. I fully expected such a long video to be a bit more meandering - sort of podcast style. But it was so dense with thought out, well explained analysis and storytelling and edited together so well. Dream team.
Literally so happy the Joe x JJ x John dynamic is back, without doubt my favourite videos. I long for the days of the TIFO football podcast
One of the best vids you've made in a while, interesting and gripping 42 mins like it was nothing, kudos
Excellent post guys informative & entertaining 👏🏽👏🏽
I loved it. Especially the Porto tactics part....
Just illustrates the point that a lot of our fans reducing Porto’s approach to “anti-football, time-wasting” is so off base and reductive. Their manager deserves a ton of credit (as annoying as he may be)
@@whiteglovepcI have heard a lot of praise for him, but the ball was only in play for 61 minutes of the 120 (51 out of 90 in the first leg) so there is plenty of justification. It is more fun to watch football happen (than not happen)
@@bighamster2 you cannot possibly attribute all of that “ball out of play” time strictly to Porto tactics. We time-waste too and there are always additional extenuating factors at play
I love athletic analysis more than any pundits. They criticizing and praising something that's fair and make sense.
Loving these longer form sit down talk videosaltely!
I think one side of the evolution this year that I see is a blend of styles emerging; Liverpool's gegen press & chaotic transitional game v City's tiki-taka possession & control. In Arsenal you see both- maybe not quite as good as either Pool/City in their style- but equally far stronger in the other. For me this is behind some of their big wins this year- goals have come from both within different phases of the same game, and has given teams problems with how to setup as Asrenal can hurt / nulify you with both/either. With 5 tough away games (more transitional) and 5 relatively easier home (more low-blocks), it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Phenomenal, phenomenal content
This was a fantastic watch. Well done gentlemen
Jon Mackenzie brilliant analysis, loved seeing your work as always!
😍🔥 thank you for Bringing back the Tifo football podcast; in spirit. This is definitely my preferred format and team of hosts.
"A murmuration"!!...very poetic to describe the tactical movement of Arsenal's offensive and defensive transitions.
Sensational wrap up you intelligent gentlemen! Bravo tutti 🎉
Goated panel. Do this every week, and yes it is a threat.
Really enjoyed this. Edu and Arteta deserve the top trophies for all the work they’ve put in.
One of the biggest improvments was bringing in that new set piece coach.
Very informative and delivered by such articulate group of people. Amazing job guys
JON MACKENZIE WEARING AN ALIANZA LIMA TOP IS ABSOLUTELY A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. LOVE IT MY TIFO CREW
Quality video guys thanks
I lovedddd the video. Amazing analysis
Proper journalism and analysis. Thank you guys
Great perspective and stats here guys. Top analysis
One player that continues to surprise me is Havertz. What a turn around. I didn't give home much chance initially but he is deceptively slick. ❤
Thank you KZhead for this recommendation! Excellent breakdown guys!
Jon with a shirt from my peruvian home team, I love this channel so much
check out born again prints I screen printed the Club Alianza Lima sweat Jon is wearing
We all love James
new to this channel this is gold thanks for this. can you gies talk about their chances against Bayern Manchen
Great analysis. Great production. 👍
A massive credit has to be given for the flexibility and the anticipation for any given situation. Injuries, transfer targets not met, tactical adaptability, it’s incredible how arteta steered arsenal forward despite the odds in the most meticulous manner. Just reassured any gooner
I’ve missed the beautiful Mr Devine. And how he asks about’s Seb’s gates (hope they are good).
Fascinating 👏
Great stuff 👏🏾
James, Ive been listening to the Arsecast extra podcast for about 5 years and this is the first time Ive seen your face. Our takes are pretty similar and spot on.
Joe, John, James and JJ. Nice.
I'm just happy Joe Devine is back
Looks like Arsenal is locked into signing a player with almost the exact same perks as Odegard, just like you were talking about, a right-foot player to play the same rule on the other side of Odegard, next to Martinelli. He is the new Wonderkind top prospect of RB Salzburg, and he's only 19 years old, so he perfectly fits the profile. This summer biggest signing: Oscar Gloukh
Perfect video to watch on the wknd that The Arsenal are playing
Insightful conversation. Intelligence meets passion.
I think odegaard was the turning point. World class.
Amazing video!
This is perfect, if only they had more to discuss, perhaps more topical topics to discuss, here me out, what about a weekly video with jon joe and jj analysising the previous weeks games, maybe you could even turn it into a podcast
James has such perfect takes, more of him.
If you compare the style of Tavares with timber, you will see the similarities and see the artetas desire
Where the hell have you lot been? Thank God you are all back!
Great idea Alanna! Thanks.
Excellent, excellent video!
Brilliant analysis
This dynamic reminds me of something.
Reminds you of better days. Good times 😔
I forget which writer said it, but the Athletic had a piece a few months back explaining how Arsenal have become proficient in all the metrics Klopp cares about as well as the ones Pep cares about. They're 1 or 2 in all those categories, above or behind those 2.
Brilliant summary James
Here for the Jon show ❤
Omg what a great video from the Athletic. I just did a research on Dani Olmo and we really need to go and get that guy. What a complete baller, he can play in 6,8,9,10, and 11 roles. A typical Arteta swiss-knife kinda player. His goal scoring shooting from distances outside box is impeccable. If we can get him and Victor Oshimhen we will be unpredictable cause Dani is a player that can take on players one v one and provide that final deadly pass just like Martin. But then again isn’t this why we signed Viera?
Dani olmo has missed 61 games over the last 3 seasons with injury, rather consistently getting injuries. He wouldn't be worth the money
@@hf3923 thanks for the heads up, injury isn’t good at all. Let’s see how the summer transfer market will develop.
Odegaard dropping deep has helped with fluidity and chance creation since the new year. Rice has also helped as the 8 and allowed a bit more combination with Martinelli on that side. Don't forget we still have Smith Rowe and Vieira who I think deserve more game time, either of them as the RCM next to Saka would take the team to another level!