Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup Tuesday, after a dominant 5-1 victory at home to League One Sunderland, marking two years in charge for Mikel Arteta.
Since the Spaniard replaced Unai Emery in December 2019, it has been far from stable, to the delight of the Amazon ‘All or Nothing’ producers currently filming.
However, recent decisions and results have bought an element of security and identity back to this illustrious club, seeing them return to the top four of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s trust in youth and axing Aubameyang
A change in the club’s transfer policy, focusing on youthful players, and moving on their more experienced players, has enabled academy graduates to prosper.
Youngsters Bukayo Saka, 20, Emile Smith Rowe, 21, and Gabriel Martinelli, 20, have become the Gunners most relied upon players lately and all credit must go to their manager.
Arteta was criticised heavily for his handling of Mesut Ozil, who was their highest earner and rarely made an appearance last season before being sold to Fenerbahce, showing he isn’t afraid of making tough calls if he doesn’t believe players are working hard enough. More recently, he has stripped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the club captaincy, after the striker broke the club’s Covid-19 protocol – having previously been late to a derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Although many have argued these weren’t the correct decisions, Arteta has brought back much-needed discipline and an ethos that Arsenal have been missing for years. Having such a youthful squad means his decision to make an example of Aubameyang, a player with vast experience, a tough but, so far, right one.
Winning their last three league games comfortably against Southampton (3-0), West Ham (2-0) and an away win at Leeds United (4-1) now means the Gunners sit in fourth, ahead of Champions League-chasing Manchester United and rivals Tottenham.
Smith Rowe, Saka and Martinelli have predominately featured in all three games. Smith-Rowe is the top goal scorer (eight) this season, while Saka and Martinelli are on four goals each. In fact, the Brazilian only recently returned to the side three weeks ago against Newcastle United and already has four goals and two assists in six appearances.
These young talents have given Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Lacazette new-found form as these experienced operators have risen to the challenge this season.
Shrewd summer signings
Although these existing players have impressed lately, Arsenal’s summer signings have been the most influential in the league. Spending £150m, it was clear that the previous transfer window was a chance for the club to re-build and Arteta clearly had players he targeted for his 4-5-1 system.
All six transfers, Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Nuno Tavares and Albert Lokonga, have provided Arsenal with important squad depth, especially during this hectic Christmas schedule.
Odegaard, having previously impressed on loan, has become the linchpin for his side going forward. The 23-year-old has revitalised his career and is becoming an ever-growing danger to opposition defenders. Ramsdale, White and Tomiyasu have all provided defensive stability which in previous years has been missing. Having kept eight clean sheets, Arsenal are currently one of the toughest sides to score against in the league.
Arsenal dreaming of a top-four finish
This time last year, Arteta’s side lay in 15th position, and he was just one defeat from the sack. An upturn in results saw the London club finish eighth, which remained a disappointment. The club have targeted a return to Champions League football and the fourth spot is there for the taking but they’ll need to keep their current consistent form, which has previously been missing after defeats by Manchester United and Everton in November.
But their improved squad depth will enable Arteta to rotate his starting-XI without weakening the side. For instance, in their win against Sunderland, Eddie Nkeitiah scored a hat-trick amid ongoing contract negotiations, Nicolas Pepe was at his dazzling best and Tavares, Cedric and Rob Holding all provided effective defensive back up.
Arteta, who made 150 appearances for Arsenal, has begun to implement an exciting style of play on the pitch and some much-needed discipline off the pitch, seeing his side develop into a realistic top-four contender.
Arsenal travel to Norwich City on Boxing Day before hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers just two days after. Arteta and his players will be targeting, and expecting, two wins from these games as they look to continue their fine form.
