3. Trust in Mikel Arteta…For Now
On a scale of rebuilds; if Manchester United were at the bottom while Liverpool for example were at the top, Mikel Arteta’s side would be closer to the latter than the former.
Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka are the only players that remain from the Spaniard’s maiden line-up – a Boxing Day clash against Bournemouth, Aubameyang salvaging a 1-1 draw. This offers insight into the advanced nature of the renovation underway, with the Arsenal boss not afraid to clear out any and all dead wood.
Very few – if any – players remain that are outside of Arteta’s plans. There is a clear vision at the Emirates Stadium regarding a range of factors including transfer policy, style of play and mentality. It also goes under the radar that Arteta had the youngest team in the Premier League at his disposal in 2021/22 with an average age of 24.4.
Admittedly, Arteta is entering his season of reckoning and if backed sufficiently in the transfer window, he should be judged upon the outcome of it. It is a case of sink or swim for Arsenal as we near the 2022/23 campaign but any lingering doubt needs to be left at the turnstiles.
A success for Arsenal next season has to include Champions League football. The means in which they achieve this isn’t set and a victorious Europa League campaign could mask a below-par season domestically. However, Mikel Arteta will be desperate to improve on his side’s fifth-place finish last time around and if he doesn’t, questions can rightfully start to be asked.