Man Utd leaks show strength of Arsenal reset by Arteta

A lot has changed at Arsenal in the space of little over two years. Well, in just one year, actually. The obvious example being the playing squad, one that has been almost entirely remodeled.

The 20-man squad that beat Wolves 1-0 in the most recent Premier League match contained only four members of the group (five if Bernd Leno wasn’t absent) that Mikel Arteta took to Bournemouth in his first match in charge. That’s a considerable change.

But it doesn’t end there. Included in that is the age of the squad being lowered drastically, a re-balanced and more sustainable wage bill, deadwood being trimmed, the whole structure of the club being refined and, notable at present, the negative culture being eradicated.

At present Manchester United are going through a period of turmoil. They may still have a squad littered with world class talent that has been assembled with the help of an obscene amount of money, but there is unrest. Serious unrest.

Manchester United leaks show the strength of Arsenal reset by Mikel Arteta with the vast overhaul undertaken throughout his time as manager

Just over a year ago Arteta vowed that he would ‘destroy’ whoever it was leaking information from within the club. There were players undermining the club, revealing team news and generally casting a toxic cloud over north London.

That’s gone. Whoever the rumours proclaim it to be or whoever one may personally feel was involved no longer resides at London Colney. It has been a full cultural reset. From top to bottom the club was wiped clean of all those abandoning their oars and throwing down the anchor.

The situation became so egregious that whatever means necessary to absolve the club of its issues were taken. If that meant paying players off, those who clubs didn’t want to pay transfer fees for anyway, then so be it.

Manchester United are begging for the same.

Their club is rotten from the top down. Misguided and mismanaged. They may still possess an embarrassment of riches and talent but the concerning atmosphere from within their camp paints a different picture.

Information ‘leaks’ are daily occurrences. News of the players referring to assistant head coach Chris Armas as ‘Ted Lasso’ is just the latest example in a long line of reports highlighting the unrest at Carrington.

It’s prompted speculation from supporters and pundits alike, with members of the United squad having to come out and protest their innocence. These matters invariably affect performances on the pitch.

What United need is to undertake the process Arteta and co presided over. The Spaniard made it crystal clear from his very first press conference that the culture had to ‘sustain the rest’. The ‘tree is going to shake’. There was no mincing of words.

And while the process hasn’t produced the desired impact on the pitch just yet, it’s laid the foundations for future success. This is a different Arsenal now. A better Arsenal, in so many ways.

The ongoing situation at Manchester United is precisely what Arsenal were dealing with. It’s a depressing state of affairs from their point of view. Theirs is not a club where all parts are pulling in the same direction. They may have the money, the allure, and the stature, but they don’t have that.

Seeing how it can affect the biggest club in the world shows the strength of the reset closer to home. Arsenal have taken care of their own house. United’s struggles highlight how grateful we should be.