Mikel Arteta shows a ruthless edge as his Arsenal plans come together
Arteta did not back down on his stance to freeze out Aubameyang
Recommended
“I’m a pretty straight person,” Arteta says. “I have been raised in a way that certain values are non-negotiables and I have to apply that within the squad.” There was a coldness to how Arteta dealt with Aubameyang’s disciplinary breach last December – even admitting to keeping a dossier of his late arrival times – but once he looked into his captain’s eyes and saw the “trust” had gone, there would be no way back. Respect, commitment and passion are key to Arteta’s values and although Aubameyang remained sidelined throughout, the lingering shots of the striker isolated from the group during his final days at the club’s London Colney training ground showed that, in Arteta’s eyes, it had been lost along the way.
The decision put more pressure on Arteta, the intensity of which can be felt as his voice strains and cracks in the dressing room. “F**ing soft, soft as f***”, is one outburst. “It’s nowhere near, guys, it’s f***ing s***,” follows the defeat to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup’s third round. There were denials from Arteta that he saw an opportunity to seize total control and took it when Aubameyang was forced out, even if Arsenal appeared somewhat fortunate that it took Barcelona to be lulled into signing the then 32-year-old on a three-year deal for his exit to be sealed at the final hour. It was the key step of Arteta narrowing down on a group who fell in line with his terms, even if it left Arsenal short in areas at the end of last season.
The pressure that is on Arteta and Arsenal to end their wait for Champions League qualification comes from the fact that this is now, undisputedly, his squad. Away from All or Nothing, another image of Arteta now runs in parallel and is acting out in real time, with Friday’s opening Premier League win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park displaying the early fruits of those big calls from the previous campaign.
Arteta led his new-look squad to an opening win at Crystal Palace
Eight months down the line, a group that tightened over the second half of last season has been boosted by the addition of depth and quality, both of which stood out in the win at Selhurst Park. For that, there were new characters who played key roles. From the “electric” Gabriel Jesus and measured Oleksandr Zinchenko to the outstanding William Saliba’s presence in defence, this was a different Arsenal side to the one that was turned over by Crystal Palace only in April.
The speed of movement and thought in Arsenal’s front line during the opening stages spoke of the work on the training ground and suggested the intensity Arteta demands is now being reached at London Colney. Martin Odegaard made his first competitive outing as Arsenal’s permanent captain and naturally assumes the role of the player who drives Arteta’s values on the pitch. Emile Smith Rowe is still to return, Kieran Tierney’s introduction highlighted the options on the bench and there is hope new signing Fabio Vieira will be able to make contributions as well.
It all points in a positive direction, even what is unfolding once again in All or Nothing is a reminder that last season there were as many low moments as high ones. But in terms of Arteta’s journey, he has found a group who appear to have accepted his demands. Maybe now, there are no rabbits and only ducks.
Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism
By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists
{{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}
By clicking ‘Create my account’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.
Already have an account? sign in
By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.
Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism
By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists
{{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}
By clicking ‘Create my account’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.
Already have an account? sign in
By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.
Source: Read Full Article