Arsenal Vs Leeds: How does Mikel Arteta philosophy translate?

Mikel Arteta has implemented a new philosophy at Arsenal that has gotten the best out of the senior players. Now a rotated team will host Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup. How does his approach translate to others in the squad?

It has been quite the revolution for Mikel Arteta as the new head coach of Arsenal. Hired days prior to the packed festive period that would seemingly hinder how much input he could impart on his new squad, Arteta has blown all expectations well and truly out of the water, turning the performances of a formerly listless and undefined team on their head.

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From the intense high pressing and compact, high defensive line to the high-tempo possession play and creative play in the final third, the Arteta Arsenal is unrecognisable to the iterations that went before it.

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However, it has only been three matches and the team has been relatively settled in those three matches. Six outfield players have started all three games: Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, Lucas Torreira, David Luiz and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, as well as Bernd Leno in goal. And four other players have started in two of the three matches: Reiss Nelson, Granit Xhaka, Bukayo Saka and Sokratis.

The point is this: while Arsenal have looked mightily impressive in Arteta’s first two weeks and three matches in charge, these positive performances have largely stemmed from the same players; while the philosophy of the overall team has certainly changed, with some key tactical tenets having a major impact on the way the side is playing, it is still the same players that are able to execute as Arteta demands. But what happens when other, perhaps lesser players, are asked to contribute in the same manner?

On Monday night, the Gunners host Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup. It is an intriguing tie for many reasons, none more so than this being the stage of Thierry Henry’s triumphant return all those years ago, or the return of Eddie Nketiah after his loan withdrawal, or the fact that the FA Cup represents Arteta’s best chance of making a trophy-winning start to life in north London.

But one of the most interesting elements to this match will be how the reserve and youth players that Arteta will surely feature respond to their new manager. With five days between the New Years Day victory over Manchester United, this is the longest gap between fixtures that Arteta has had since he took over from Freddie Ljungberg to put in work on the training ground. He will also be keen to rest a number of fatigued senior stars who have played a lot of minutes in recent weeks.

The likes of Matteo Guendouzi, Gabriel Martinelli, Joe Willock, Emile Smith Rowe and other young and reserve players are near-certain to be handed a run-out on Monday night. Can they now prove that they are capable of executing as Arteta’s philosophy requires? Does Arteta’s coaching extend beyond the top players at a club?

Arteta has made a phenomenal start to life as Arsenal head coach. But can he now extend his influence beyond the select few that have flourished under his influence thus far? There is little reason to doubt it, but Monday’s match against Leeds will provide a glimpse of proof either way.