Back in January, Chelsea sacked club legend Frank Lampard and German coach Thomas Tuchel took over.
Last month, Manchester United sacked club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and brought in the Godfather
of German football Ralf Rangnick. It seems like the Premier League clubs have developed
an obsession for German managers. However, that’s for another day. We are here to discuss
Arsenal and how they have trusted Mikel Arteta’s process and how it’s finally paying off.
Much was expected from Arsenal and Arteta when this season began.
The Londoners spent the most among all the Premier League teams this season.
They spent over £140 million on new players. But they still started the season terribly.
The Gunners lost their first three games while scoring none and conceding nine goals.
This included a 5-0 thrashing against defending champions Manchester City.
But the storm at the Emirates Stadium has passed. They have won five of their past
six league games and are currently 4th on the Premier League Table.
Mikel Arteta's effective management has enhanced the team's performance.
So what caused this transformation?
Let's take a look at five things Mikel Arteta has done correctly at Arsenal.
Number 5: Improvement in Defence Mikel Arteta's first positive influence
has been in defence. Last season, Arsenal conceded 39 goals, good for third-best in the league.
Despite a slow start this season,
the Gunners have kept nine clean sheets in total. Arsenal’s youthful core of Gabriel,
Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Ben White has gelled nicely and proven solid at the back.
Number 4: Tactical Adaptations Mikel Arteta has shown that he is not
scared to make tactical changes when necessary. Despite his preference for the 4-2-3-1,
Arteta has experimented with a variety of formations, including the 4-1-4-1 and 5-3-2.
This has improved Arsenal's tactical flexibility and made the players more
adaptable enough to play in a wide range of systems. The approach of playing from the back
has also contributed to the development of the defence as well as goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale,
who has been masterful with his feet on the ball and in distributing play both near and far.
Number 3: Improving The Home Form Improving the home form The Gunners
have the third-best home record in the Premier League this season.
At home, the Gunners have won three, lost one, and drawn one. With spectators returning to the
stadium, Arsenal's confidence has undoubtedly increased. The win over Tottenham in the North
London Derby illustrated this, as Arsenal raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first half.
The lack of home form became a problem in the latter days of Arsene Wenger’s reign.
Unai Emery’s side also struggled at home. But,
after pulling a lot of strings Arteta has finally brought everything together.
Number 2: Massive Contribution From The Newly Signed Players
Arsenal spent the most in the summer transfer window of any Premier League team.
It was essential that their fresh additions played well.
While a few are still finding their feet, players such as Takehiro Tomiyasu, Aaron Ramsdale,
Ben White, and Albert Sambi Lokonga have shined. The first two names stick out in particular.
Aaron Ramsdale currently has one of the highest save percentages,
which is roughly around 80%, in the Premier League. Tomiyasu and White’s versatility of
playing as a wing-back or a centre-back has added further depth to Arsenal’s options. Sambi Lokonga
is another exciting addition to Arsenal’s midfield and is a player for the long term. Arsenal have
signed some great prospects who have the potential to do good for years to come. And of course, the
main man Mikel Arteta has started to make these players realize the best of their capabilities.
Number 1: The Youth Mikel Arteta has put
youth as the centrepiece of his project. He has stood by that and has created a
team that can play together for many years. With dynamic youth and experience to lead it,
Arsenal are starting to create a compatible long-term spine.
While that may not produce success immediately, it is sure to reap the same in the long term.
Players like Emile Smith-Rowe, Bukayo Saka, Sambi Lokonga and Tomiyasu offer an exciting,
young look to Arsenal. And of course, Martin Odegaard, how can I forget him?
He has been absolutely amazing for Arsenal in recent weeks. Odegaard is making the team
tick and his perfectly timed through-balls is something that was missing since Mesut Ozil
left the club. The Norwegian playmaker has scored 3 and assisted 3 in his last 6 games for Arsenal.
Out of the top 10 players with the most minutes for Arsenal this season,
six are less than 23-year-old. Therefore, it is evident that with the force of youth,
Arsenal can play more expressively. They are currently playing without any fear and look
like a team that once matures well into a single unit, could challenge for success and dominate
English football like their predecessors at the start of the century under Arsene Wenger.
Arteta is building a fitter and stronger Arsenal team. This is a team that is
working harder than ever before, and it shows in the passion with which they play
and train. There are always concerns about burnout, especially in international football,
but the fact that this squad is so young means they have the physical capacity to adjust.
Arsenal have direct ball runners who are now playing at a faster tempo in transition
and with more aggression off the ball. Having the necessary profiles to meet those demands
helps this progress, and it's clear on the pitch that this team is getting stronger.
And not to mention, the Fans are finding it far easier to
connect and support the club full of young, hungry and passionate players
who are all superstars in their own right on and off the pitch.
And there you have it - 5 reasons why the Gunners are cruising right now. So who do you
think Arsenal should sign in the January Transfer Window to compete for the Premier League title?
Let us know in the comments below. Don't forget to like this video and subscribe to our channel.
Thank you for watching and we'll see you next time!.