Trust the Process
When Mikel Arteta was appointed manager of Arsenal Football Club on December 22, 2019, Arsenal sat in 10th place in the Premier League. They were 7 points off a top 4 spot and there was a lot of work to do to get Arsenal back to the status they once held.
Arteta inherited an aging squad with very little momentum and during a very busy winter period in the Premier League. Within his first 5 matches in charge, Arteta was matched against Chelsea and Manchester United. The Gunners suffered a 2–1 loss to Chelsea but Arteta picked up his first victory against United with a 2–0 win on New Year’s Day. Arteta led Arsenal to an 8th placed finish in the Premier League, winning 33 out of 60 available points.
The pivotal moments of Arteta’s early managerial career came in the FA Cup against Premier League Champions, Manchester City, and Chelsea. Arteta managed Arsenal to a wonderful 2–0 victory over his former colleague, Pep Guardiola, where we saw Aubameyang score a brace. Chelsea stood in front of Arsenal’s 14th FA Cup title in the 2020 final. The most recent match against Chelsea in the Premier League was a heartbreaking 2–1 loss. Arsenal, in front of no fans due to COVID, got revenge on their London rivals, Chelsea, with Aubameyang scoring another brace in a tantalizing 2–1 victory. The Gunners not only took home Arteta’s first piece of silverware as Arsenal manager, but also qualified for the Europa League with the victory. These moments brought belief to a young squad that Arteta is the man for the job.
Over the course of the next two summer transfer windows Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar begin to change the culture of Arsenal. The two began to construct a plan for an aged defense that included the likes of David Luiz and Sokratis and allowed an average of 1.26 goals per match in the 2019/20 season. More worrying was the lead-defending ability of the Arsenal squad. Arsenal took the lead 25 times and conceded an equalizer on 11 occasions, corresponding to a 44% equalizing rate for the opposition. The champions Manchester City in comparison took the lead 33 times and conceded an equalizer on 7 occasions, corresponding to an equalizing rate of 21%.
During the 2020 summer window, Arsenal signed 22 year-old Gabriel Magalhães, a center-back from Lille for $28.6 million. This signing was met with great excitement from the Arsenal fanbase due to Gabriel being a left footed center-back who could fit into Arteta’s preferred 4–3–3 system. In addition to Gabriel, Arsenal made a marquee signing with Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid. The true number 8 entering his prime, joined Arsenal for $55 million after his release clause was activated on deadline day. This window also saw Arsenal make some free transfers to fill a few temporary gaps that would be addressed in the following window. I believe this is what was so intelligent from Arteta and Edu. They did not make reactionary signings and instead did their due diligence in research and this can be seen in the following window.
In Arteta’s first full season in charge, Arsenal finished in 8th place again with 61 points and an improved 1.03 average goals conceded per match. With the help of Gabriel and Partey the equalizing rate was cut in half from 44% to 22%. The results may not have always been exactly where they needed to be as Arsenal again didn’t qualify for European football, but there was progress in their defensive ability.
In the most recent summer window, Arteta and Edu really showed their research and how the plan was beginning to take shape.
Arsenal splashed spending just under $150 million and were widely criticized for who they signed. 23 year-old Ben White from Brighton and 23 year-old Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United were both considered way too expensive for their services. In addition, Arsenal added Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Takehiro Tomiyasu and completed the permanent transfer of midfielder Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid. All these players are under the age of 24 and have extremely high ceilings. Sambi Lokonga was a 21 year-old captain at former club, RSC Anderlecht, who compete in the top division in Belgium. Martin Odegaard is the current captain of his home nation, Norway. They also locked down the futures of bright young stars from Hale End including Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
Arteta and Edu have received a lot of criticism and rightly so, however, when decisions are made correctly praise is deserved. They have been spot on with their business in the previous two windows creating a new culture and bringing in talented young players. In the first 9 matches this season Arsenal have taken the lead on 5 occasions and have only allowed 1 equalizer. Although a small sample size this is the lowest equalizing percentage (20%) since Arteta has taken over.
In addition to improving the defense situation, Arteta has vastly improved the attacking side of play since last season. Through the first 9 games last season (2020/21) the Gunners had taken 80 shots with 35 on target. 4 games with more than 10 shots and a maximum of 13 shots in a single match. Through the first 9 games of this season (2021/22) Arsenal have taken 132 shots with 39 being on target. They have 4 games with 17 shots or more. A modern statistic, xG, more commonly known as expected goals for, is the probability that a shot will result in a goal based on the characteristics of that shot and the events leading up to it. Through 9 games this season, Arsenal has an xG of 13.4 and have scored 10 goals. Through 9 games last season Arsenal had an xG of 10.75 and managed 9 goals. Showing improvement in both quality chance creation and conversion.
The current Gunners team is the youngest in the Premier League with an average age of 25.01 years old. The defense includes Ramsdale (23), Tierney (24), Gabriel (23), White (23) and Tomiyasu (22) all under the age of 25. Edu and Arteta have built this young team and continue to grow and learn.
I always like to go back to a quote from when Arteta began to manage Arsenal. Arteta said, “This team is alive & if they are going to be alive, they need to enjoy to suffer together. If they are able to do that, good things will come.” This is as true as ever after the Gunners began the season suffering together with 3 losses to Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City. Since then, Arsenal has 4 wins and 2 draws in 6 matches and has outscored their opponents 10–4.
