Arsenal and Mikel Arteta: You better be committed

Mikel Arteta is reportedly set to be unveiled as Arsenal head coach this week. If the players want to play regularly for the Spaniard, they better be committed to his approach.

Well, Arsenal are entering a new era. Again. Just 18 months after committing to a new head coach to take them into the future, they are doing it all over again. 22 years of one manager and then two come along at once. Like London buses.

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This time, the club is committing to a much-lesser-known commodity, Manchester City assistant, Mikel Arteta. Arteta is a former player and captain, so there is some relationship there, of course, but as a manager, it is somewhat of a guessing game as to how he will approach his first senior job.

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However, when piecing together how he might manage the Gunners, should he indeed arrive in north London this week as reported, there are some clues in past interviews. And there is one in the Arsenal magazine from 2014 that is rather revealing.

In an extensive piece on Arteta, his playing career, his role at the club as captain, and his intentions go into coaching following his retirement, the then midfielder was asked how he would act if he were the manager of a team. His response was telling:

"“My philosophy will be clear. I will have everyone 120 per cent committed, that’s the first thing. If not, you don’t play for me. When it’s time to work it’s time to work, and when it’s time to have fun then I’m the first one to do it, but that commitment is vital.”"

This cutthroat approach to management also comes from Guardiola, the man he has been learning his trade from in recent years. Many players have fallen foul of Guardiola’s indignant tactical style, cut from the team entirely because they do not fit the tika-taka style, or are unwilling to try.

Joe Hart was sold because he could not kick a ball, Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto’o were shipped out of Barcelona, while plenty of other players have fallen out with Guardiola because he has demanded them to adapt to his style, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero. The latter example is extremely pertinent. Aguero was dropped from the team for the more industrious Gabriel Jesus who helped to better execute the high press in advanced areas. But recognising that that is what Guardiola demanded from his centre-forward, Aguero adapted, worked hard, proved that he could execute how Guardiola wanted, and forced his way back into the team.

Make no mistake, the Arsenal players will have to do something similar under Arteta. They will be demanded to play in the way that he wants. Guardiola is infamously detailed and demanding, focused on every minute aspect of every situation in a match. Expect Arteta to be the same. And the onus will be on the players to adapt to him.

Arteta will demand 100% commitment. He will expect the players to perform precisely how he wants them to. And if they do not, there will be little mercy. If you want to play under Arteta, you be better be prepared to work, to learn and to adapt. That is what he expects. Anything less is unacceptable.