{"id":1165836,"date":"2020-09-21T16:45:17","date_gmt":"2020-09-21T15:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1165836"},"modified":"2020-09-21T13:40:58","modified_gmt":"2020-09-21T12:40:58","slug":"arsenal-transfer-news-aouar-partey","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/arsenal-transfer-news-aouar-partey\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe’s ‘safest’ dribbler or a Messi favourite? Two competing solutions for Arsenal’s “very strange” possession problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mikel Arteta thought Arsenal’s performance against West Ham on Saturday was one of their worst since he became manager, despite winning 2-1.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Gunners waited until the 85th minute for Eddie Nketiah to hand them the victory after Michail Antonio cancelled Alexandre Lacazette’s opener shortly before half-time.<\/p>\n

After the match, Arteta revealed how his squad had just had its “best week” in training in terms of executing possession drills, only to see those signs of encouragement go out the window within the opening 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

“Yes, certainly in the first 15 minutes and it’s very strange,” Arteta responded<\/a> when asked if this was one of the poorest performances on the ball he’s seen from his side. <\/span><\/p>\n

“We were talking with the staff. [The players] had the best week in terms of decision making, quality and execution with the ball by far since I joined the club. But then the first 15 minutes, they give the ball to the wrong colour [shirt] too often. We need to improve on that.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, the Gunners’ victory leaves them with six points from their opening two games and Arteta even had to dismiss questions about a potential title tilt: “No, I think we are still very far away from where we want to be.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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William Hill’s 2020\/21 Premier League title favourites<\/a>:<\/strong><\/h2>\n