Arsenal: 6 reasons Arteta deserves huge credit this season

The tenure of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal has been, shall we say, tumultuous. During his time at the helm he’s broken countless unwanted records, held silverware aloft, as well as overseeing, and being part of, remarkable change.

Arsenal are not the same Arsenal they were little over two years ago. No even remotely close.

There has been a structural reshuffle, an unprecedented turnover of playing staff, new coaching appointments and even a promotion for the man in charge. More is still to come.

At present the focus is on this group of players, one that went through the month of February with three wins from three matches, capped off with a 95th minute winner over Wolves in the most recent outing.

Arsenal: 6 reasons Mikel Arteta deserves huge credit this season as Gunners remain in Premier League top four hunt

That match leaves 14 left to play in this Premier League season, with just one target in sight. Last season the aim was to be in Europe in whatever capacity after some atrocious form in the first half of the campaign, whereas now it’s all on being among the continent’s elite.

It’s hard to overlook the work that Arteta has done this season. It deserves immense credit. Equally, as he has done on numerous occasions across his tenure, he’s made mistakes. Pretty sizeable ones, too.

But just as the team is developing, so is he. The youngest manager in the English top-flight, and one of the youngest in Europe’s top five divisions, is, as they say, learning on the job. Many at Arsenal are in the same boat.

But shifting focus to the positives, it’s hard…well, impossible, in fact, not to sit back and see this project going places under his stewardship. How can you not be excited for the future? For a man who has endured his fair share of criticism, it’s time to give Arteta some credit for six main aspects this season.

1. Being in Top Four Contention With the Youngest Squad

Starting with the obvious.

It’s not just that this is the youngest squad in the league; it would be different if it was the youngest squad in the league whom all happened to have known each other since they were kids.

That isn’t the case. This is the youngest squad in the league who, for most, have only played alongside each other for 20 Premier League matches and, despite that, are currently ahead of the pack for a top four finish.

Getting this group, who for many are still in the early stages of their development and English football experience, into the top four conversation, one they hold a narrow advantage in, with 14 games left to go has to garner praise.

Granted, it’s praise that in four weeks time could turn into hollow words if Arsenal were to embark on a losing streak, but that isn’t the case now. A team this young has been moulded together and is pushing hard for Champions League football. Considering that they’re in the mix now despite many of the players not due to reach their peaks for a few years, is immensely encouraging.

They’re all going to get better and if they can finish in the top four this term it would be a special achievement. Just as the players need applauding, so does the manager. The two work in tandem.

Arteta has got them in with a real chance.

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2. Talent Identification – Brilliant Signings

When it comes to talent ID and Arteta it can’t be ignored that this is the same manager who sanctioned the signings of Willian, Cedric Soares and Alex Runarsson. How much of a say Arteta had in those is up for debate, but he gave them all his blessing.

That all changed over the summer.

Well documented was that Edu had eyes on Neto (shock connection) and Emerson Royal as his goalkeeper and right-back. Arteta disagreed. The Spaniard had his heart set on Aaron Ramsdale and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Neto has made three appearances all season, Emerson has been atrocious for Spurs and cost a fortune, while Ramsdale and Tomiyasu are two recruitment gems who will go down as some of the finest signings in the Emirates era.

Throw in the dynamic Nuno Tavares, the emerging Sambi Lokonga, the exceptional Benjamin White, and the heir to Mesut Ozil, Martin Odegaard, and you’ve got six superb acquisitions that were not in the lenses of rival clubs. These signings required more than just an eye for talent, but also an understanding of character and personality; the players who joined had to fit into the culture being established.

It’s fair to say last summer was a triumph. Three of the six are in the top five for minutes played this season. They’ve been more than integral.

Not too shabby for a bunch of reserves.

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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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4. Arteta Has Improved the Young Players

"“He’s scoring his first Premier League goal. An incredible season for a number 10 of Arsenal means he needs to score 15 goals and give 10 assists,” Arteta said of Emile Smith Rowe in May 2021. “Then you are right up there with the top guys in Europe and in the league. He’s got the ability to do it but he hasn’t done it. We need to stay calm with him, give him the right support and step by step I think he will be getting there.”"

When the manager made the above claim last year it felt like too much too soon. While he didn’t say it would be a disappointment if he didn’t reach those numbers, it felt like a target he believed Smith Rowe could aim for. In order to match those figures, the No. 10 needs six goals and eight assists in 14 matches. The latter number he’s unlikely to reach, but he’s not far off.

The fact that he’s in with a shout – and probably would be even closer were it not for Martinelli’s form – is down to a combination of Smith Rowe’s outstanding attitude and talent, as well as Arteta’s coaching.

One need only look at Bukayo Saka to see where Arteta’s guidance has paid dividends. Of course, it shouldn’t have to be said that Arteta isn’t solely responsible for their performances, but his track record with Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling is evidence of his individual coaching ability. Saka is one of the best 1v2 forwards in the league now, with that and the tactical side of his game coming on leaps and bounds.

Across the squad there have been vast individual improvements, including the handling of Martinelli whose future has been managed expertly, drawing widespread praise from all across the football world.

Having players with development potential is wasted if they’re being led astray. Fortunately, Arteta is a man who knows what he’s doing.

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5. Defensive Improvements & Positioning

Across the entirety of Arteta’s time as Arsenal manager there has been a clear emphasis on fixing the defence. The team he inherited from Unai Emery conceded chances at an alarming rate, were woeful in defensive transitions, and was swarmed with average players who were poor building out from the back.

It’s required money, and players, to fix. There is no avoiding that. But Arsenal are now one of the most defensively solid teams in the division.

One of the fundamental aspects of defending is team shape; positioning across the pitch from front to back with and without the ball. Arsenal’s shape in almost all situations is excellent.

Boasting the fifth fewest goals conceded in the league, Arsenal also rank fourth best for shots conceded, shots on target conceded, and sixth for npxG conceded. All the metrics paint the picture of a solid unit, one backed up with 11 clean sheets and bogged down by two heavy defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.

Add to that the ridiculous number of red cards the team has received and we see a different Arsenal, albeit an equally strong one. With 11 men on the pitch this side keeps most teams at bay, yet with ten they revert to a 5-3-1 shape that’s as effective in low block football as some of the more defensive oriented outfits around.

Arsenal already had a strong defensive record last season despite a forgettable campaign – conceding 12 goals in the remaining 14 matches will equal last season’s tally of 39 conceded – but this season they’ve found more aggression in how they play and their ability to turn defence into attack swifter is vastly improved.

When was the last time Arsenal got punished playing out from the back? Notable about Gabriel’s mistake against Wolves was the length of time it’s been since a similarly poor error happened. These aren’t coincidences.

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6. The Connection Between Club & Fans

"“One, I had to set the right culture in the club,” Arteta said after the 2-1 victory against Wolves on the changes he had to make at the club. “The second, is to establish that connection [club and fans]. “Without those two things, I don’t think you can do anything sustainable in time. I really enjoy it [doing the job].”"

The second of those points is key. We can praise the manager for the tactical work he’s done with the team as well as the shrewd nature of his signings, but just as important was reforging the bond between the supporters and the club.

Arsenal was fractured. The atmosphere around the club was toxic, and there was a growing disillusionment over what direction the club was heading in. Arteta can be fortunate fans were absent from stadiums for so long because they would have made their feelings well known last season.

But it’s changed this term. Considerably so.

Recruiting young players has given the fans a project to buy into, just as the respective characters of the signings are people it’s impossible not to adore: they have the charisma, passion and dedication that supporters cling onto and connect with. Supporter arguments now include who should be captain, not who shouldn’t be.

Of course, being back in grounds after the pandemic and reduced expectancy off the back of two eighth place finishes has played its part, but one can’t ignore the united front in and around the club. The Emirates hasn’t been like this in years – possibly ever – and Arteta’s role in rebuilding those bridges deserves extensive credit.

You can’t watch what is unfolding at Arsenal every week and not be excited by what is to come. As fans we don’t just feel it, we see it.