Is It Too Early to Judge Arteta’s Work at Arsenal?
When should we judge a manager? At the end of their reign? When they’ve won a cup, the league?
Manchester City’s imperious domestic form over the last seven years has made second place a significant achievement, but Mikel Arteta won’t be content with keeping the Gunners there.
What Arteta has accomplished so far
In 2020, Arteta ended Arsenal’s three-year wait for a trophy by winning the FA Cup. He then won the following Community Shield, and that same trophy three years later in 2023.
Despite winning the cup in 2020, things were looking bleak by Christmas. Arsenal were down in 15th place with 14 points from 14 games. On Boxing Day that year, the rigid and cautious 3-4-3, which Arteta had used to lay the foundations early on in his reign, was ditched for a more positive 4-2-3-1. Arsenal beat Chelsea with a youthful starting lineup that included Gabriel Martinelli, who was soon joined by Martin Odegaard on loan.
Arteta’s squad and man management has been put to the test. Mesut Ozil, previously a key player but floundering when Arteta took over, was frozen out. Granit Xhaka was reintegrated after poor performances and boos from the Arsenal fans. Xhaka went on to play a key role in 2022-2023 as a number eight in what was now a 4-3-3.
Arsenal have since become the most consistent challengers to Man City. But the real target, the one that’s now eluded the club for 20 years, is becoming domestic champions. Arsenal came close last season: their 89 points meant the title race changed the face of online betting in the UK for a few weeks in one of those unprecedented, once-in-a-generation scrambles for the top.
Can we compare this team with The Invincibles?
Arsene Wenger and the 2003-2004 Arsenal side of Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry managed what would have been thought of as impossible. Arsenal went an entire league season unbeaten, winning 26 games and drawing 12.
Despite the plaudits Man City and Liverpool have won for their recent points tally, Arsenal’s achievement still hasn’t been matched 20 years later.
So given Wenger and the 2004 side did what nobody else has managed, can we compare Arteta’s Arsenal with The Invincibles? It might seem an outlandish question, and maybe it is, but last season’s 89 points was just one short of that unbeaten season’s total. Arteta’s side also broke records with 28 wins and 91 goals scored – Arsenal’s best ever in the modern era. Most observers would agree, though, that Arteta’s side need a league title to be compared to The Invincibles.
What Arteta wants to achieve – and how he might do it
On the final day of the 2023-2024 season, Arteta told the Arsenal home crowd, “Don’t be satisfied because we want much more than that, and we are going to get it.”
Although Arsenal’s squad had no major holes last season, with Thomas Partey and Jorginho both in their 30s, central midfield has been identified for an upgrade. The club are in talks to sign Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad. Merino won Euro 2024 with Spain and has been at Sociedad since 2018. He previously played for Newcastle, but at 21 years old wasn’t the player he is now. Rafa Benitez, Newcastle manager at the time, recently told The Athletic, “You could see he had class, but he also needed more time.”
Some fans are keen to see a new number nine signed after Kai Havertz played up front for much of last season. Gabriel Jesus will be hoping to play a larger role after only scoring four league goals last time around.
Arsenal were just two points off Man City with an equal goal difference, meaning if Arsenal had managed to turn one of their five draws into a win, they would have been champions. Those draws came against Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Fulham.
Arsenal are away to Spurs on 15 September. Arteta may have identified that match as one that could tip the title race Arsenal’s way.
