Ex-Arsenal player Mikel Arteta became the second permanent manager to take the reins at the Emirates Stadium since the departure of his former boss Arsene Wenger. He joined the club when they were 12th in the Premier League and cast well adrift of the European places, but in a brief period the Spaniard has restored hope and here’s what we’ve learned since he took charge.
Not a Guardiola clone
Before the Gunners were due to play Manchester City, the former Citizens assistant coach insisted “if you copy, paste it is always bad” when asked if he would be mimicking his mentor’s philosophy. He reiterated that the Premier League champions and Arsenal are in very different positions and require a different approach. His decisive words highlighted how the new manager will not be afraid to make his own decisions now he is the man at the helm. Arteta’s knowledge of the situation Arsenal find themselves in showed a touch of pragmatism which isn’t reminiscent of Guardiola.
Already changing Arsenal’s mentality
It was clear from his second game in charge, against Chelsea, that the Gunners’ style of play was going to change dramatically. The side lost that fixture after tiring to concede two late goals but positive seeds were sewn concerning their fresh high energy style. The proof it could work came in the Arsenal manager’s first victory, over Manchester United, where Mesut Ozil ran the furthest distance, 11.54km.
A sturdy base
In the ten Premier League matches Arteta has taken charge of Arsenal have conceded just nine goals, in the previous ten they played Bernd Leno had let 16 past him. A seven-goal swing is a remarkable upturn in the Gunners’ defensive fortunes, and it has not come about through luck. The most noticeable improvement at the back has been Shkodran Mustafi, who has looked increasingly assured and even admitted Arteta has revived his career in north London. The German international is Arsenal’s second highest-rated player to have featured in more than five Premier League matches with season with an average rating of 7.13.
Trusting in youth
Arsenal have a wave of academy graduates flooding the first team and the Spanish tactician has wholeheartedly embraced them. After recalling Eddie Nketiah from Leeds United, he has plunged the 20-year-old into the starting line-up, and he was rewarded with the Englishman’s first Premier League goal of the season. Additionally, Bukayo Saka has been a breakout star, and he is a genuine contender for the Gunners’ player of the season and some have gone as far as to suggest he could be featuring for England in the near future. At the same time, Gabriel Martinelli is a rough diamond who looks increasingly polished with each display.
Performances have translated to results
Most importantly, the upturn in displays on the pitch has translated into Premier League points. Since Arteta took charge, he has lost just one top-flight match drawing five and winning four and only Everton, 18, Manchester City, 19, and Liverpool, 27, have collected more points than the Gunners’ 17. Had Arsenal been travelling at this trajectory all season long they would be in fourth fending off Chelsea for the Champions League with 49 points. It is clear to see his plan is coming together and there has been genuine progress both on and off the pitch in a brief time frame, the real measure of his mettle as a manager will be if he can sustain the spike for an entire term next season.
