Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal thoughts show shift in mentality

In the immediate post-match of beating Norwich 1-0 in the Premier League last time out, Mikel Arteta stated that the 10-15 days prior to that fixture were the best he’s experienced as Arsenal manager.

Calm down, Arteta. It was only Norwich at home.

But joking aside, what he was referring to was the internal cooperation of everyone at the club to work towards the same goal with unity and passion.

He witnessed a level a trust at Arsenal that supporters would have been forgiven for believing didn’t exist. Especially after the opening day defeat to Brentford where division reigned supreme any vision of the future was a blurry mirage.

Mikel Arteta see light at the end of the tunnel for Arsenal ahead of Burnley after atrocious start to the Premier League season

"“I don’t think today’s performance shows anything different to what we’ve already seen”, Arteta said following the loss."

Damning words.

This was a squad still bloated, still unbalanced. This was a manager still lost, seemingly fearing the path ahead.

Ahead of facing Burnley in matchweek five of the Premier League looking for consecutive victories, the manager’s tune has changed. Dramatically.

"“I can really see the light,” he insisted. “I’m telling you I’m very positive most of the time. I’ve seen the light and I can see bright lights. There can be bumps in the road within that light, but I can see a lot of light.”"

From discussing the transfer strategy to outright hyping it, the visible difference in Arteta’s voice , demeanour and in his words is stark. To think his press conference post-Brentford was only four matches ago, where sees this group now, and in the club around them, indicates a significant shift in belief.

And all this having beaten the worst team in the division by a solitary goal.

Words are only words and football is spoken on the pitch. Talking the talk pre-Burnley – and Arteta was hardly going to play down his side’s chances this season – is only one part but the squad rebuilding has clearly made a difference to harmony and structure.

Actions speak louder than words. Yet, if the feelings and positivity of the manager are reciprocated within the squad and coaching staff then at least there isn’t the division that saw Unai Emery watch the ground crumble beneath him.

Lose that spirit and you lose your job.

As a young manager – the youngest in the division and one of the youngest across the continent – he’s still learning his trade and while there remain big question marks over his suitability for the role, he’s undoubtedly growing as a leader. He’s had to.

Now win some football matches.