Arsenal vs Burnley: 5 things learned in gross affair

4. Mikel Arteta is learning

More than anything else, the rest of the season is a learning experience for a promising footballing mind who has no managerial experience. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to let him grow into the role. We can’t start going off the deep end just because the results aren’t turning around right away. And to be fair, this was a really, really tough match. A nil-nil draw is far from the worst thing in the world.

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That said, you also have to know that Arteta is learning from these kinds of encounters. He’d have seen that playing from the back doesn’t always work. He’d have seen that the attack struggled with cohesion. He’s have seen a lot of things, and these are the lessons he will be condensing to form the future of the club.

I won’t hold it against him that I have questions about his tactics on the day. I won’t hold it against him that I have questions about his personnel choices on the day. He is working with the hand that was dealt to him and trying to make the most of it.

Next up, sorry that I have to do this at No. 3.