Arsenal: Does Henrikh Mkhitaryan happiness reveal a flaw?

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has stated that he is happier at Arsenal than he ever was at Manchester United. Good news, right? Well, yes, but does it reveal a key flaw that has undermined this club for years?

Henrikh Mkhitaryan swapped places with Alexis Sanchez in January. Neither player was happy where they were, both Arsenal and Manchester United wanted to upgrade on a grumpy, unhappy, uncommitted and ostensibly lazy footballer, and the fresh, new environment that the trade offered seemed like the perfect opportunity for all involved.

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And so, here we are six months later, with both players, especially Mkhitaryan, much happier in their surroundings, inevitably comparing every sinew of their new club to the inner details of their former club.

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Mkhitaryan, therefore, during the preseason tour of Singapore, was asked about what is different between the Gunners and United, particularly given the furore surrounding Jose Mourinho’s man-management and the introduction of Unai Emery as Arsene Wenger’s successor, the first time there was a new manager at the helm in over two decades. This is what he had to say:

"“Everything about Arsenal is totally different to United. As soon as I came to Arsenal I felt the warmth. It’s like a family where everyone’s taking care of you. The philosophy, the playing style, the club – nothing is comparable. It’s like a new page in the book of my life. Arsenal always played offensive football but under Jose the team at United was playing differently. I’m not criticising him or blaming him. It was just a different philosophy. But I am enjoying myself more at Arsenal.”"

His comments are fascinating to me. The first thought is a positive one, ‘so Emery and his players must be creating a better, more positive, happier atmosphere than what Mourinho was at Old Trafford.’ And while that is still true, there is an underlying issue that I have with these comments. I don’t want to be Debbie Downer, but there’s a growing naivety, and innocence, hidden in these words.

I am not a Mourinho fan. Not in any sense. But what cannot be denied is that he knows how to win. His hard-nosed, clinical, ruthless nature may not lead to prolonged, sustained well-being at a club, but it does bring titles and trophies, things that have alluded his north London rivals for many years — three FA Cups is all well and good, but it does not compare to a Premier League title or Champions League success.

Mkhitaryan may be enjoying himself more at the Emirates, but is he going to win more? The fancy attacking football that Arsene Wenger always demanded of his players. The positive, cushty atmosphere in the dressing room that he always protected and encouraged. The lack of leaders, the absence of critique and challenge. There has been a naivety about this club for far too many years; the ruthless winning edge that other clubs have has never quite shone through.

Does that mean you can’t be happy to win? Absolutely not. And I am not trying to argue that. Rather, if not managed properly, happiness can lead to comfort which leads to complacency which leads to naivety. It is a path that this organisation has been down before. Let’s hope they don’t go down it again.