It is a strange sensation to be finishing the league season in 8th place, as of yet, without European qualification, with so many questions surrounding key members of the squad to answer and still have a greater sense of hope compared to the end of last season.
Feet first
What Mikel Arteta has achieved this season will ultimately only be understood come the beginning of the next and likely beyond. The Spaniard was dropped into a disorganized, demotivated and declining football club. Five whole games had passed since Unai Emery’s dismissal including a 3-0 home loss to Manchester City where the then Pep Guardiola assistant watched on in the opposing dugout visibly frustrated at the club he had once captained.
Whether or not this was the motivation for him to make his decision to leave a vastly different environment for this one we may never know, but from the moment he stepped into the position things changed.
Arteta’s character was headstrong, his principles unrelenting and his philosophy burgeoning. The term “non-negotiables” was suddenly buzzing around all forms of social media related to the club. Arsenal fans were titillated at the possibility of a coach who would instil responsibility and accountability on the pitch. A coach that would not entertain excuses or a lack of effort. A leader who would provide direction and clear communication to his players.
His time has come
The examples are not shackled to one area of the pitch and present themselves throughout. The goalkeeping position came under threat when Bernd Leno was injured due to a reckless leap from Brighton’s Neal Maupay. Arsenal’s longest serving player Emiliano Martinez, still just 27-years-old, came in and failed to stop the match’s antagonistic figure Maupay from stealing all 3 points for the seagulls.
However, what would follow has been nothing short of tremendous. Martinez has kept 5 clean sheets, including against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. He has made on average over 3 saves per game, some of which have been utterly brilliant – the best example a deflected effort from Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold to secure a valuable win at the time.
Arteta’s goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana has worked hard on the Argentinian international’s short game. Martinez has averaged nearly 15 short passes per match with a near perfect accuracy and his long-passing ability has been put into good effect as well. This element was noticed during a loan spell with Getafe where Martinez was averaging over 9 long-passes per match with over 75% accuracy.
The lost boy
It must be said that Martinez has been protected well by his backline in the latter stages of the season. One such player to see significant improvement has been Shkodran Mustafi. The German international faced consistent criticism across the fan base for key errors, lunging fouls and several penalties being given away.
Since the restart, he has been reborn. Against Manchester City, Mustafi won 8 of his 9 defensive duels, against Spurs, 8 of his 8 aerial duels and at Sheffield United made 15 ball recoveries. In addition to making nearly 5 interceptions per game, receiving news that he will miss the FA Cup final through injury has been a massive blow for Arteta and the fan base. A testament to how much he has improved.
Midfield maestros
The decision to switch to a back 3 to aid the likes of Mustafi and David Luiz has meant a decline in bodies in the centre of midfield. Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos have been tasked with more than their typical roles and have become pivotal to Arsenal’s defensive stability and threat in wide areas.
It would be naïve at this point to avoid talking about a loss in central creativity and the hope is that with the defence and midfield being addressed in the summer that a midfield 3 will return very soon.
Yet the Swiss and Spanish combination has excelled. The mere absence of Xhaka appears to have a dramatic downturn in the team’s fortunes and when on the field it is easy to see why. Key passes to the wide areas to keep Arsenal’s counter attacking threat alight and Ceballos’ excellent technical ability to bring the ball out and beat high-pressing opposition has led to an outcry for the 23-year-old to be signed permanently.
The hope is that if Arteta can re-sign Ceballos and strengthen the midfield with the likes of a Thomas Partey to partner Xhaka. This could enable Ceballos to have further creative freedom and be akin to the young Spaniard who set La Liga alight at Real Betis.
Flipped a flop
In the forward areas, width has been imperative. Nicolas Pepe to many could have been considered a ‘flop’ after the £72 million move from Lille saw a return of just 8 goals. However, to the keener-eyed onlooker, there has been a significant impact on the Ivorian since Arteta’s arrival. One of the wingers faults was the incessant need to run at players but as shown in Arsenal’s second goal against Manchester City, Pepe has learned to check back and play more maturely, laying the ball off for his colleagues who have more options and ultimately leading to better chances.
Signs of hope
Off the pitch, the new contracts for Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka show a clear faith that Arsenal is the right place for these young talents to develop and improve. Occurrences which should see Arteta praised for gaining their respect and confidence. If Arteta can convince Aubameyang that this too is the right place to see out the final years of his career, it would be hugely impressive.
The summer is unrivalled in its importance and whilst we have seen Arsenal invest in recent seasons, Arteta will need to be backed if what potential we have seen so far is to be unlocked. I have faith that the hope I harbour within will be justified and that our former captain can take this club back to the heights of where it should be.
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