Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, expressed his optimism regarding the club’s prospects this season, attributing much of his confidence to the team’s squad depth. After their opening fixture against Olympiakos in the Champions League last week at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta pointed to the value of a deep bench. He thinks it might be necessary in their long journey to silverware.
Arteta had already planned to make wholesale changes, rotating six players as he prepared to face a tough league opponent in the match. On one of the deepest benches in memory, he had Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Bukayo Saka in reserve. This decision speaks to Wilks’ desire for inclusion among each member of the team. I really wanted to keep everybody engaged and connected and feel like they were part of this game, so we made the choice to sub six players. It was amazing,” Arteta said after the match.
Arsenal made all the early running, quickly showing Manchester City their attacking talent, while producing a host of big chances in the opening stages. That tension made itself felt as the clock wound down. Then, just two minutes into stoppage time, Bukayo Saka scored the decisive second goal, alleviating some of the extreme pressure that had been building on the boys.
Strength in Depth
Arteta believes that Arsenal’s depth will be a decisive factor as they advance deeper into the Champions League this season. The manager made it clear that having such experienced players on the bench gives a fresh feeling for the whole team. Last year, they relied on untested academy graduates.
“With all respect, last season we were looking (at the bench) and we had five academy players there, that probably never played professional football in the Champions League, so it makes a difference,” – Mikel Arteta
The bench’s ability to swing a game one way or the other showed itself to be true in the game against Olympiakos. Stars like Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze had the tournament of their lives and were instrumental in driving the team to its ultimate success. Arteta said it was essential to have players who can step up and impact the game in other ways.
“The players came in as well to help the team when we were still lacking a bit of rhythm and needed to re-energise. Declan comes in, Ebz, Bukayo, [Cristhian] Mosquera, Jurrien [Timber] – anybody that comes in and brings another dimension to the team,” – Mikel Arteta
This kind of depth creates competition among the team. It further provides Arteta tactical flexibility as they face important matches on multiple fronts.
Odegaard’s Resurgence
Another key point of Arteta’s praise was captain Martin Odegaard, who really stamped his mark on the match with his skill and poise. Following a difficult return to England last year, Odegaard is starting to find his groove once again, playing a huge role in creating Arsenal’s attacking chances.
Arteta explained Odegaard’s contribution to chances being created for goals, explaining that “he assisted three people to score a goal.” His work ethic and pressing were key to keeping Arsenal’s tempo and intensity high for the entire match.
In a recent interview, Odegaard himself admitted that the quality and depth of the squad are playing a big role in how they perform on the pitch.
“Everyone can see the quality and the depth in the squad now. We have so much quality and so many players who can play,” – Martin Odegaard
The club captain has found his best form at exactly the right time for Arsenal. His timing couldn’t be better as the team continues to find domestic and European success.
Momentum and Future Prospects
Despite winning against Olympiakos, Arteta noted that his team’s physical performance declined due to an intense previous match against Newcastle United. Speaking after their successful start in Copenhagen, he admitted that keeping fitness levels high would be vital as they furthered their historic campaign.
Whatever your preferences, Arteta is confident that this is Arsenal’s year! By doing so, he’s created a culture where each player is made to feel like an essential part of the team. His tactical approach of rotating players keeps everyone involved, both physically and mentally, and ready to step in during more crucial matches when called upon.
“They know that they have a chance to play, to maybe make six changes and I want everybody to be a big part of that,” – Mikel Arteta
Beating Olympiakos in order to fuel Arsenal’s run in the deeper stages of their campaign. They are keen to add to that momentum with further friendlies on the horizon. Now, with a good mix of experienced players and emerging new talents, Arsenal is well placed to make a significant impact this season.
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