Arsenal on the rise under Arteta

This week Arsenal find themselves in a disappointing home draw against Leicester City which sees them finish eighth in the Premier League with 50 points, five behind Manchester United in fifth place.

We would forgive ourselves if we looked at the ranking and thought that Arsenal was still in crisis, but as they say, never judge a book by its cover.

While a huge and proud club like Arsenal sitting eighth is something that seemed unfathomable only years ago under Arsene Wenger, fast forward to 2020 and this is exactly what the Gunners are facing, in the same way another season without the football of the Champions League, something that was a staple diet in the Emirates for a record 19 consecutive years under Wenger.

Considering the financial strain this puts on a club the size and stature of Arsenal and with fans asking for changes on the pitch, you will be forgiven for thinking that Arsenal is a sinking ship. In fact, it is exactly the opposite.

Since Unai Emery was shown at the door and Mikel Arteta was in charge of the changes, the changes have been enormous. Despite managing only 13 games, his record is nothing short of decent, with six wins, two defeats and five draws.

It shows that Arsenal is slowly growing.

While Champions League football seems unlikely – although mathematically they still have a chance, even the most positive fan would say it’s a bridge too far this season – all is not lost.

Arteta has impressed in every aspect of its management since it arrived. From his ability to bring the team together and play football together and play for each other to manage senior players who are not up to his expectations and standards, especially Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi, with both players they will hardly be at Emirates’ next season as a result of attitude and form problems, everything indicates Arteta who knows what she is doing, despite being her first managerial position.

In the cases of Ozil and Guendouzi, Arteta made it clear that if you don’t follow his style and embrace what he’s trying to instill, you simply won’t play no matter who you are, regardless of status or salary. It’s a tough line that’s very necessary and refreshing for fans, and shows that it won’t be pressured by players to address their needs.

He also took a practical approach regarding transfers, having personally a hand are the young people who sign new agreements. The stars Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, clearly the future of the club, have signed on for Arteta’s will to offer personal insurance to both players.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang was believed to be leaving the club until Arteta intervened and made a personal effort to help persuade Gabon to resign. Aubameyang is reportedly wanting a three-year deal worth £ 250,000 (A $ 452,648) per week, which would make it the club’s second-highest earning, behind only Mesut Ozil, and negotiations seem positive at this stage. Fans hope their captain stays around.

In addition, Mikel also changed field performance. He has not been without obstacles along the way, but it is clear that all Arsenal players have purchased what Arteta is trying to do, and he proves it, particularly in the last five games. From a 2-1 defeat away against Brighton, Arsenal has turned a corner, unbeaten, winning four games on the rebound. In truth they would have beaten Leicester if it hadn’t been for Eddie Nketiah’s red card.

Arsenal showed a glimpse of their old selves with an impressive first half in which they should have been three or four times less than half the time, but in the end the bad result ultimately cost them and Jamie Vardy drew. However Arsenal is on the rise.

Everything is looking for the Gunners under the guidance of Mikel Arteta. The results are improving, the players are united and playing for each other, they have a central group of young stars who are getting precious minutes of the first team and putting in great performances to go with it and the fans are returning on board in support of what the Spaniard is trying to do.

This season may have gone for Arsenal, but if Arteta continues to improve Arsenal on and off the pitch as it was, it won’t be long before the Gunners return to where they need to be, finally challenging the Premier League title.