“That’s Their Decision” – Arteta Offers Blunt Response To Supporters Leaving Early

By The Editor
on 9th January 2025

Arteta rather prickly about fans leaving early…

Mikel Arteta offered a cold response when asked about fans emptying the stands in the final minutes of our semi-final clash against Newcastle United.

Arteta’s side were trailing 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium with the visitors displaying the ruthlessness in the final third that we’ve lacked under the Spaniard’s reign.

Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon handed the Magpies a comfortable lead and while we huffed and puffed our way to the final whistle, a number of fans clearly felt as though they’d seen enough.

Those fans were proven to be right as Eddie Howe’s men played a 5-5-0 system and never looked like conceding a goal for most of the second half.

Arteta was asked about the swathe of empty chairs at the Emirates Stadium during the dying embers of the game and the Spaniard was indifferent on the issue.

“That’s their decision,” Arteta said after the game (via Arsenal Media).

“We try our best and it’s their decision to stay right behind the team or leave.

“I think I repeated a thousand times how important they are and how critical it is to maintain the level of energy and belief in the stadium to generate big moments at the end that we could have had and because we were very close to score [and make it] 2-1 and we would have needed that, but that wasn’t the case and that’s not good.”

There is a danger of undoing all the work done by Arteta and his team of reconnecting the fanbase to the team, which can be pointed squarely at the manager.

The recruitment over the past few years has disillusioned a section of the match-going fans and while results often dictate the mood, the way we play can also affect the atmosphere.

Ahead of the 2021/22 season, the signings made in the summer gave fans players that were easy to identify with and want to support – that continued for a few years.

However, signing cast-offs from rival clubs and ageing players who aren’t able to have an immediate impact on the team will tug at the PTSD of those in the stands.

The momentum at the club is going in the wrong direction and while Arteta is a talented coach, the area of the pitch that will remedy our slump cannot be coached.