Mikel Arteta has recently disclosed that Arsenal Football Club is currently on phase four of his five-phase plan. As a long-term strategy, it has the potential to create a sustainable footballing dynasty at the north London club. The Gunners are now entering a season full of promise and expectation. This thrilling trip comes on the heels of a record-breaking summer of signings and camp preparations.
In July, Arsenal brought in six new faces and completed their pre-season tour in Asia. This step embodies their pledge to answer the call heard above from Arteta and clearly from the rest of the footballing community. The summer signings are to shore up the depth — an important element entirely absent from last year’s squad. New signing Declan Rice, one of the marquee acquisitions, echoed the mood on last year’s unfulfilled promise when he said,
“Let’s be real, last year we hardly had any depth in any areas.”
The depth problem became particularly evident when Bukayo Saka, an irreplaceable asset on the right wing, suffered a near-four-month injury. In his absence, the Gunners turned to then-17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who proved to be the most productive fill-in for that role. Nwaneri’s versatility was on full display again when he filled in as the one-off backup for captain Martin Odegaard. He certainly did when stepping into the breach during Odegaard’s six-week absence from mid-September.
Arteta’s long-term vision for the club has been apparent from the very beginning. As he audibly and famously predicted at the start of 2021 that “this project will go bang.” As Arsenal embarks on a potentially transformative season, Arteta’s goals aren’t limited to just contending. Instead, he hopes to create a legacy that has an impact long after him, reaching well beyond specific campaigns.
Gary Neville, the former Manchester United defender turned pundit, agreed with the immediacy of Arsenal’s predicament. Lost in the Fernando fiasco was Graham’s declaration that some major silverware needs to surface this campaign for it to be considered a success.
“They have to bring trophies next season,” – Gary Neville.
Such are the stakes on and off the pitch in this season. History beckons already in a new era for the club. A lot of pressure indeed for the Gunners, especially as they have been thrust into a new era. Their new sporting director, Andrea Berta, has been an important figure in leading this evolution.
“Hopefully this season is going to be very different, and we can decide what is the best team with the best players to play against this opponent,” he stated.
The increase in televised Premier League coverage this season, with Sky Sports boosting its live matches from 128 to at least 215 games, ensures that Arsenal’s journey will be closely followed both domestically and internationally. Sky Sports will broadcast eighty percent of all televised matches. So that means Arteta’s project will bask in the close-up, displaying its clear short-term benefits.
As Arsenal looks to build on their remarkable season and returns to action, Arteta’s focus on continuing to expand the team’s tactical arsenal is clear. The team has been blessed with new depth and quality. This change in Arsenal’s mentality is a concerted effort to bridge the gap with their rivals and compete for the highest accolade and be crowned champions once again.
As Arsenal prepares for the upcoming challenges, Arteta’s commitment to evolving the team’s capabilities remains steadfast. The added depth and quality in the squad represent a significant shift in Arsenal’s approach, one that aims to close the gap with their rivals and contend for honors at the highest level.
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