Arsenal: 3 huge positives from Leicester disappointment

1. Mikel Arteta is making progress

While Arsenal harboured hopes of reclaiming Champions League status with a late run into the top-five positions, in reality, the latter weeks of this current season were more about the progress that Mikel Arteta could make as a head coach and not the results on the pitch.

Of course, Arteta wanted to win matches, as any manager does. But he is embarking on a long-term project at the club and the present results, if they do not count towards Champions League football, are relatively meaningless. This is about laying down the foundations for what is to come, and in that regard, Arteta is making great progress.

The first-half performance was Arsenal’s best since he arrived. Against a high-quality team, they dominated, created some excellent chances, pressed high up the pitch to suffocate their opponent’s play and control the game, and were unfortunate to not be more than one goal in the ascendency.

As the performance, if not the result, proves, Arteta is having a positive impact at the club. And for now, nothing is more important than that.