During the latter stages of Arsene Wegner’s tenure, the Arsenal football club crumbled. It was regularly embarrassed by its rivals and failed to even challenge for the title for many seasons. When Wenger left, he was replaced by Unai Emery. Still, the club failed to progress, and a combination of toxic players and disorganized backroom decisions caused the once proud and successful Premier League team to flounder.
When former Arsenal player Mikel Arteta was appointed as first-team coach in 2019, there was a lot of ridicule from the football world. Arteta had previously worked as an assistant coach for Pep Guardiola, but this was his first ever managerial role. Despite his inexperience and a somewhat shaky start, Arteta has led a revolution at the club that looks set to take them back to the glory days. You can find the latest soccer betting odds, including Arsenal’s odds for the Premier League title, online at licensed sportsbooks.
Arteta’s Impact
The last two seasons have seen Arsenal compete for the title, going toe to toe with the biggest and best teams once more. Coupled with an obvious change of attitudes from the players, removing deadwood, and a return to the Champions League, it’s clear that Arteta is doing something right. After just three games, it was clear that the Spanish manager asked a lot from his players, with the team almost immediately increasing their intensity on the pitch.
The main change that Arteta introduced was an effective press. Under previous managers, the team needed to be more organized, failing to win back the ball when out of possession and often conceding shots and goals from poor chances. All of the players in an Arsenal jersey have been instructed to press in packs, winning the ball back high up the pitch to gain possession after losing it.
In addition to changing on-pitch tactics, Arteta has been very clear about the attitude that he wants from the players. Those unwilling to do their part for the team have been quickly rooted out. Talented players such as Mesut Ozil, Mateo Guendouzi, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have suffered the wrath of Arteta, being cast out from the team due to his failure to uphold his high standards.
Excellent Recruitment
Building a winning Premier League side goes beyond the tactics on the pitch. Teams have to cultivate the right culture and develop new talents. In addition, they need to recruit the best players constantly during the transfer window. Arteta has played a role in identifying the team’s weaknesses and working with the backroom staff to bring in key players.
Since he took over, Arsenal has signed the likes of Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus. While some of these signings were criticized at the time, they’ve all proved to be excellent additions to the squad, helping Arsenal progress to the next stage.
The Future of Arsenal Under Arteta
As it stands, Arteta has won a single trophy with Arsenal, securing the FA Cup in his first season in charge. While they’ve been in title contention and returned to the Champions League, they’ve yet to add to their silverware collection. However, based on the side’s talents and the results they’re getting, it may not be long before they lift another major trophy.
Perhaps more importantly than the trophies they’ve won, the crowd is fully behind the team, and it’s clear that the positive culture change has done the developing players a world of good, too. The future of Arsenal looks bright under Mikel Arteta, and even if he were to leave, the foundation for future success has been laid down.
