Arteta’s Arsenal flaw shows improvement with Pepe & Cedric

Mikel Arteta, taught in the school of Pep Guardiola, is still learning his managerial trade. Throughout his time at Arsenal there have been flaws and triumphs in his work.

Across this season there are reasons aplenty for him to be garnering praise, just as last season the criticisms outweighed many of the positive aspects.

One side of his management has been found noticeably lacking, though, and that relates to how he manages his whole squad. Guilty of flip-flopping on his view of players, with them going from first team regulars to training ground extras in sudden fashion, he has needed to establish a means with which to keep all members of his group on the same page.

Opting to trim the squad down to just 20 senior players over the winter window, that decision did appear to lean on a preference to take charge of a smaller group. There were multiple reasons why those departures were sanctioned, yet leaving Arteta with a tighter core of players will have been one of them.

Arteta’s managerial flaw at Arsenal is showing improvement with the performances of Nicolas Pepe & Cedric Soares in the Premier League

But with the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Calum Chambers and Eddie Nketiah, his indecision and ever-changing emotions have seen them lose interest and seek exits.

Guardiola, whom Arteta bases so much of his approach on, insisted this aspect of management, maintaining squad harmony, is the toughest of all.

"“Handling the guys who are not selected [is the hardest part of management],” he told Sky Sports. “If you are able to, more or less, have the group as a unit, and handle well the guys who don’t play, you will be happy in your job.”“If there is turmoil in the locker room and a mess in the locker room, there is nothing you can do. You’ll be happy, but no success.”"

While it isn’t entirely attributed to him, there are signs that Arteta is improving this element of management based on the performances of his fringe squad players since the winter break.

Cedric Soares is a prime example, someone who is firmly second choice right-back in the squad. In the three matches he’s come in since Tomiyasu’s injury, including two tough ties against Wolves, he’s put in arguably his finest string of performance since joining the club.

Another player who appears to have changed his ways is Nicolas Pepe. Barely getting a sniff in the Premier League since October – 24 minutes to be exact – he’s turned up for Arsenal with two fine cameos off the bench in both of the last two matches.

Looking sharp against Brentford, he was exceptional against Wolves, showing a hunger unlike any seen in the Ivorian when he steps up off the bench, including a superb equalising goal and an assist (uncredited) for the winner. Arteta speaking so highly of him in public was a clever ploy.

Even Nketiah came on against Bruno Lage’s side with a desire and energy to his game that wasn’t noticeable in many, if any, of his recent substitute appearances. Of course, Arteta can’t take all the credit for what the players are producing in these moments, but he appears to be creating an environment for them to prosper, one they’re relishing even without regular minutes.

There is still some way to go for the manager in this regard. At present there are only inklings of an improvement. The biggest test will come when the squad is increased, hopefully on account of Champions League football, and he has to manage a larger group once more.

It is clear, though, that certain attitudes won’t be tolerated under his watch. But he does have to show flexibility and care to all those whom takes charge over. Of late, it looks like he’s learning how to.