A “stormy” and “intense” meeting involving Arsenal’s first-team players took place on Tuesday, according to ESPN journalist James Olley.
Manager Mikel Arteta wanted to talk about the club’s poor form, but after the meeting ended and the coaching staff had left, the squad took it upon themselves to discuss what has been going wrong:
Exclusive: Mikel Arteta called a squad-wide meeting on Tuesday to address Arsenal's disappointing start to the season. Coaching staff left, players then held second 'clear-the-air' meeting involving angry exchanges but ended with resolve to improve. Story: https://t.co/AjcN5SpBwh
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) December 4, 2020
It has been reported that there was a lot of shouting and finger-pointing but the discussion ended without any serious confrontations with the squad agreeing to get behind Arteta. Supporters on Twitter are worried that another story has leaked from the dressing room but they are hopeful that the meeting will help the team turnaround their poor league form:
why's this getting leaked ffs
— Artenal ? (@afcxman) December 4, 2020
We'll see how they play on Sunday then
— ? (@Meszoot2) December 4, 2020
Good, but majority are on their way out anyway in the next few transfer window.
Arteta would know they are not Arsenal quality, even spoke about it publically and you can see he wants new players that fit his mould
— Alex Pemberton (@Alex_afc3) December 4, 2020
Players getting fired up for the derby.
— AFCdominator (@Dominator_5) December 4, 2020
Why is all this getting out. Need to find the leak, this is dangerous!
— Yusuf Hasan (@YusufHa25114592) December 4, 2020
Immediately springs to mind. pic.twitter.com/QWNQSLv1yv
— Papps (@SgtPappa) December 4, 2020
Who’s leaking all this?
— louis ? (bagged at 2.8k) (@ftbllouis__) December 4, 2020
Soon we will find out what we got from all the finger pointing and air clearing. Sunday is the day.
— Ab (@AbPhilip1) December 4, 2020
They better have desire because Arteta is going nowhere lol ?
— I.R.L (@thereal1_97) December 4, 2020
These types of clear the air meetings can go either way. They can either galvanise the squad or create factions in the dressing room. Following the 4-1 win over Rapid Vienna on Thursday night, you would hope it is the former and they can take that passion with them into the North London derby against Tottenham tomorrow.
