Arsenal: The 5 massive positives Mikel Arteta has inspired

Mikel Arteta is now three months into his tenure as Arsenal head coach. Here are five massive positives he has inspired during his time at the club.

It has been three months since Arsenal made one of the riskiest managerial hires in Premier League history. With just three-and-a-half years of coaching experience, all of them coming as an assistant under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Mikel Arteta arrived at the Emirates in his first-ever senior management position. And after three months, the Spaniard has proven what all the fuss was about.

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Here are five massive positives that Arteta has inspired at Arsenal thus far.

5. Played the kids

The development of young players and trusting them in high-pressure, first-team situations that has long been a key characteristic of Arsenal football club, but Mikel Arteta has continued it in his first few months at the helm. Where other clubs would turn to more experienced but limited veterans, the Gunners roll the dice with young players.

Under Arteta, 18-year-old Bukayo Saka has started consistently at left-back, producing four assists in the process and establishing himself as one of the brightest young talents in the Premier League. Gabriel Martinelli started in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s stead, scoring twice during his three-game suspension.

Then Eddie Nketiah has displaced Alexandre Lacazette as the centre-forward, scoring three goals in 431 minutes. And Reiss Nelson has been rewarded with starts when fit, producing a superb display upon his return to the team against Portsmouth in the FA Cup. Throw in Matteo Guendouzi and Joe Willock and Arteta has shown both a willingness and ability to develop the young talent in the squad.