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By Tony Attwood
Much of the chitter chatter in the media is about Arsenal not having the right mind-set to win tonight’s game, or the Champions League in general. And it is interesting that a bunch of journos can proclaim themselves experts on “mindsets” and similar psychological issues, when as far as I can see they don’t actually have a single degree in the subject between them.
Reading the mindset of an individual is something that is done by psychologists or psychiatrists, not by football reporters who have no training up to and beyond degree level in what is a very complex subject. And indeed, that comment is primarily related to reporting on an individual. Reporting on the changing behaviour of a group of 11 men, of whom one or more have, it is suggested, psychological issues, is extremely complex. And yet these people, seemingly with no training in the subject, make pronouncements on the behaviour that they claim results from these interactions, all the time.
And then worse, people who have been to the match or watched it on TV, make comments on what should be done. Which is dangerous because, as we have often seen (and Tottenham are a perfect example), changing the team around can cause more harm than good. And making negative pronouncements about who should play and who not, can have a huge negative impact on the team.
In short, what we have now is a bunch of journos praising ManC and decrying the performances of Arsenal, and these pronouncements become self-fulfilling prophecies.
What most writers are saying, and on this perhaps have a bit more information, is that Saka is still injured and so won’t be playing. Indeed, it is being written that he won’t make it for Sunday’s match away to Manchester City either.
Guardiola made the point, however, that the game will be about “mindset, not tactics,” and here I do agree with him. And this is why his mates in the media are pouring out the negatives about Arsenal, for they know that there are a lot of so-called supporters who will take his criticisms of Arsenal and repeat them just to make themselves feel important and knowledgable, and thus make Arsenal players more and more nervous about each game. They shouldn’t be nervous, of course, and it would be great if it did not happen, but that is the nature of the human psyche. Negative comments affect most people much more strongly and for a much longer period of time than praise.
Arteta said recently, “We have proved that we have the mindset to do all the things that we’ve done up to this point. Now we have to show on the pitch that we have the mindset to do that. That’s where we are. We have to prove to everybody, to ourselves.” And how right he is.
Asked how he was feeling after the most recent defeat, he replied, “Fire. I’m on fire. I’m on fire. Nothing else. I’m dreaming so much. I’ve done so much to be in this position because I know how this club was. I just see beauty, opportunity, and I want to get it done for all these people that have been on this journey with us. And because they deserve it, because it’s been unbelievable.
“That’s what has driven me every single day. I have zero fear. Fear I had when: ‘Oh, if we don’t get this done… I don’t know what is going to happen.’ That was fear. Now, there’s no fear. It’s just purpose, fire, direction and conviction that we’re going to do it.”
And that of course is exactly the right answer.
There’s only really one important game tonight of course, but while that’s going on I note that one of Tony’s local sides, Northampton Town, are playing Luton. Now I expect that, like me, most Gooners will be at best agnostic about the Cobblers, but I think we can all agree we don’t like Luton. So… SHOE ARMY!
COYG goes without saying…