Okay so this is my take on the Arteta, Pepe situation. I feel that we need to look at what the manager wants and what Pepe actually is.
Arteta wants 5 channels of attack and defence, he wants consistency, he wants intelligent and choreographed movement. He wants patterns. We have scored identical goals. That's through practice. There is a way we play out from the back. Its regimented football. There is very little room for improvisation and flamboyance.
Come back to Pepe. He rolls the ball with the sole of his foot. He drops shoulders and feints. He has to do some kind of feint before he passes it when on the flank. In Arteta's eyes, that probably misses the moment a perfectly timed underlap occurs. Pepe ****s about too much on the ball when on the wing. Nelson is similar, but he releases it much quicker. Pepe is supremely arrogant in possession, he loses it half the time because he is doing something with the ball when nobody is even trying to tackle him.
So when is Pepe not like this? The only time when he doesn't **** about with the ball is on the edge of the box. That is where he takes minimal touches, that is where he is looking to shoot, to play people in, to create a moment to shoot or play a pass. It's the only time he is efficient. In Artetas system Pepe will never be central when he want to be. So it wouldn't surprise me if we end up selling him. If Arteta was presented with both Pepe and Zaha as signings he could make, I bet he wouldn't want either.
So is there a way around it? I'm not sure. Nothing Arteta would try in this moment anyway, bar a massive injury crisis. I reckon his best bet would be as a CF in a 2 or in the current system. Why? Well what does Arteta demand of his Cf? Pressing, tracking back, holding the ball, winning duels. All of those things before scoring. Can Pepe do those things? I'd say so. I'd say he would hold the ball better than Lacazete also. You can point to how many times he loses it when he faces someone up and just dallies, but how often does he lose it with a man up his arse?
He feels for the defender, creates distance between the ball and the defender and brings it under control. He doesn't back in and lean on the defender then try and break free taking 3 or 4 touches in the process. He rolls it with the sole of is foot, its Ronaldinho like. Could it work? Who knows. I think it's worth a try in the final Europa games at least.
Arteta wants 5 channels of attack and defence, he wants consistency, he wants intelligent and choreographed movement. He wants patterns. We have scored identical goals. That's through practice. There is a way we play out from the back. Its regimented football. There is very little room for improvisation and flamboyance.
Come back to Pepe. He rolls the ball with the sole of his foot. He drops shoulders and feints. He has to do some kind of feint before he passes it when on the flank. In Arteta's eyes, that probably misses the moment a perfectly timed underlap occurs. Pepe ****s about too much on the ball when on the wing. Nelson is similar, but he releases it much quicker. Pepe is supremely arrogant in possession, he loses it half the time because he is doing something with the ball when nobody is even trying to tackle him.
So when is Pepe not like this? The only time when he doesn't **** about with the ball is on the edge of the box. That is where he takes minimal touches, that is where he is looking to shoot, to play people in, to create a moment to shoot or play a pass. It's the only time he is efficient. In Artetas system Pepe will never be central when he want to be. So it wouldn't surprise me if we end up selling him. If Arteta was presented with both Pepe and Zaha as signings he could make, I bet he wouldn't want either.
So is there a way around it? I'm not sure. Nothing Arteta would try in this moment anyway, bar a massive injury crisis. I reckon his best bet would be as a CF in a 2 or in the current system. Why? Well what does Arteta demand of his Cf? Pressing, tracking back, holding the ball, winning duels. All of those things before scoring. Can Pepe do those things? I'd say so. I'd say he would hold the ball better than Lacazete also. You can point to how many times he loses it when he faces someone up and just dallies, but how often does he lose it with a man up his arse?
He feels for the defender, creates distance between the ball and the defender and brings it under control. He doesn't back in and lean on the defender then try and break free taking 3 or 4 touches in the process. He rolls it with the sole of is foot, its Ronaldinho like. Could it work? Who knows. I think it's worth a try in the final Europa games at least.
