Arsenal Tipped for Major ‘Cultural Overhaul’

Arsenal have been tipped for a clear-out and ‘cultural overhaul’.

Mikel Arteta is in the midst of the toughest moment of his entire career. He’s made history with Arsenal over the last few weeks for all the wrong reasons, and every possible managerial curveball has been thrown his way.

From the second he walked through the door the issues he’s had to deal with have continued to mount, the like of which most bosses wouldn’t have dreamed of having in their entire careers, let alone just one year into their first ever job.

Too many to list, already enough will have sprung to mind painting a picture reflective of the size of the task at hand. Even still, with all the trials and tribulations he’s endured, the simple matter of having a weak squad full of failing players unwilling to adapt to new methods has added layer upon layer to this rotten cake.

A squad seeping full of deadwood – earning way above what they’re worth – is in serious need of trimming, the like of which has been tipped to take place over the coming months by football.london.

"“football.london understands that Arteta has the full backing from Arsenal owners KSE (Kroenke Sports Entertainment) and the long-term plan is to create a ‘cultural overhaul’ which will see a number of players leave the club over the next few months.”"

Music, meet ears.

Of course, it’s all bark and no bite at this stage. Neither Arteta nor Edu Gaspar have spoken publicly about the need for a major squad overhaul (obviously) but the situation couldn’t be clearer, and the man leading this team out everyday will know better than anyone.

Three out of four of the senior group doing nothing but take (albeit not their fault) at this stage – Sokratis, Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi – all have their contracts expiring in the summer, and while David Luiz‘s contributions are more regular, he too is out of contract then.

Plenty of others need removing, but what’s most pleasing is that KSE are fully enveloped in what Arteta is doing, aware of the clear-out required and willing to bite their tongues with a view towards the long-term picture.

Could it be better than it is now? Absolutely, and Arteta is far from infallible, but it’s the understanding of weakness that is most reassuring. The road, however, is still long.