Arsenal: For all modern analysis, Mikel Arteta used old school values

Modern football is increasingly obsessed with statistics, analytics and tactical instruction. But Mikel Arteta has turned Arsenal around on the basis of old school values.

Modern football is smarter than ever. Tactical analysis is more detailed, statistics are more widely used than ever, the analytics departments in football clubs are growing and having a greater impact, and the game is improving as a result of all of these developments. It is a brilliant progression of the sport, one that is now played at a higher, more cerebral level than ever before.

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But while the obsession over numbers and statistics and percentages and positions only increases, there is still something to be said for the old school values that are so often derided and degraded by the modern football cognoscenti. In fact, it is on the basis of these principles that Mikel Arteta has turned around Arsenal football club.

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Yes, Arteta has made huge improvements in the tactical department. And yes, there is deeper analysis ongoing at London Colney into the fitness regime, the positional play of the players, their mental and physical wellbeing, and their performance on the pitch. And all of these elements have had a major impact on the team, without question. But from day one, Arteta has founded his reign on old fashioned characteristics: work-rate, attitude, discipline, commitment, a strong culture.

This is what Arteta said in his introductory press conference when asked about how he would change Arsenal:

"“We have to try to engage everybody, I have to try and convince the players about what I want to do, how I want to do it, they have to start accepting a different process, a different way of thinking, and I want to get all the staff and everybody at the club with the same mindset. We have to build a culture that has to sustain the rest. If you don’t have the right culture, in the difficult moments, the tree is going to shake, so my job is to convince everybody that this is how we are going to live, and if you are going to be part of this organisation it has to be in these terms and in this way.”"

He then echoed that sentiment in his first public interview with Sky Sports:

"“There are some non-negotiables. The demands we put on the team, the commitment, the energy we put in, that dominance.”"

The message did not stop there. After a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Chelsea with a man disadvantage, Arteta again praised these seemingly primal, outdated characteristics:

"“I am [proud]. The spirit they showed, the character, the fight and the leadership was there as well. You have to really stand up. When someone makes a mistake, it can happen in football, so someone has to take a red card for him. It can happen. What cannot happen is that afterwards we don’t stand up for him. Every single player did it with belief as well.”"

And it is not just Arteta. After Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Everton, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the club captain and leading figure in the dressing room and on the pitch, spoke about energy, effort, intensity, desire:

"“It was a tough week and it was hard today to find some energy at the end of the week, but we did it and I think everybody is doing well and giving more than 100 per cent to win this game.”"

Arteta has also ruled with discipline. On Monday, David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that Matteo Guendouzi was reprimanded on two separate occasions during the training camp in Dubai. He was dropped from the squad for the Newcastle United match upon the team’s return to action and has reportedly responded excellently to his punishment.

Arsenal are a better team because of the analysis, the tactical detail, the footballing nuance and instruction that Arteta has provided. But they are also better because of his old school management style that has challenged his players, demanded more from them, and seen the club unite.