Arsenal: 6 reasons Arteta deserves huge credit this season

3. Getting the Squad to ‘Trust the Process’

There is undisputed upside to recruiting younger players. Firstly you can pay them less than more established names, secondly they have re-sale value, thirdly they their best years ahead of them, and lastly they’re more impressionable.

Arteta’s positional play philosophy isn’t an overnight fix. These principles take time to develop and learn, which would explain why certain aspects of the approach have taken longer to bed in than others. The 4-3-3, for example, only really starting coming into effect around December.

But, as the Mandalorian would say, it’s clear that ‘this is the way’. This brand of football is Arsenal now, and both in terms of the style of play and the culture everyone involved is fully invested in it. Players (bad eggs or otherwise) who hadn’t bought in aren’t here anymore. They’re gone. And it’s been evident at stages over the season just how significant the cultural reset has been.

Beyond matters off the pitch, where we see unity and camaraderie, on the grass this team truly believes this is the way to achieve success.

The winning goal against Wolves perfectly illustrates that. With seconds left of injury time there were no hopeful lumps into the box, men committing themselves with aimless runs or pop shots from distance trying to force the issue. Arsenal were patient and probing, playing the way they’ve been taught; the way they know they can win matches. Lo and behold, Arsenal scored a well worked goal, albeit with a slice of luck.

From every single angle you view it from, this group of players trust the process. There is no other suitable definition. Even the way they speak about the youth of the team in interviews, or about Arteta the man and the manager, their passion shines through.

Arteta has got them believing.

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