Mikel Arteta says that the team has a problem with culture. Arsenal is now ten points behind Chelsea’s fourth in the race for the final qualifying place for the Champions League.
Progress under the Spaniard
Mikel Arteta identified the need to change the “culture” at Arsenal, insisting on a solid foundation for future success already operating at Emirates Stadium. Mikel was framed as the permanent successor to Unai Emery on December 20, having spent three and a half years as Pep Guardiola number two at Manchester City. Encouraging signs of progress showed up under the Spaniard, primarily in a 2-0 victory over Manchester United on New Year’s, but the Gunners remain in the middle of the table. Arteta scored just three wins since opening in nine games, and Arsenal is now ten points behind Chelsea’s fourth in the race for the final qualifying place for the Champions League.
Mesut Ozil supports the new head coach
Despite the team’s inconsistency, in recent weeks, several players have come out in support of Arteta, including Mesut Ozil, who says that significant tactical improvements have been made since the new manager arrived in the Emirates. Arteta is sure that Arsenal is heading in the right direction, but hopes that his side will be able to “Speed up the process” by completing the season as much as possible. “I am convinced that we will do some great things together,” He told reporters. “We have all the elements that we need to be successful and bring the club forward – and do it the way we want. It’s important to feel that the players are using it and that they believe in what we are trying to do.
Players must show passion and commitment
“Now, we need to speed up the process as much as possible without killing the process, but winning as many games as we can.” The first thing to do was to make these changes in terms of our culture. How we live together, some of the behaviours that I expect from players and the staff, and some of the values that we must have in this club. “I think we changed the energy in this club. I think we put together a team and the fans, which was not easy.” And then, on the game side, I think we begin to see some signs of how I want the squad to play, how I want it to behave, and the type of passion and commitment that players must show with me.”
Further, Mikel insisted that patience be needed since Arsenal is trying to raise the table, while the reality of their current situation dictates that serious changes will not happen overnight. “This should be a long-term project,” he said. “In the short term, we can’t achieve all that this club needs. It wants to fight with top teams in this country and in Europe now, but this is impossible. At the moment, we are very far behind, and everything shows how much we are back “We need to make this gap shorter and shorter. But that will require a lot of the right decisions and a considerable amount of energy and commitment.”
Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares debut
On Sunday afternoon, Arsenal is due to return to action, as they welcomed Newcastle in the Emirates for a win in the Premier League. Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares could be in line to make their launch after joining Arsenal on loan from Flamengo and Southampton. Regard, in the January shift window. Still, Arteta warns that future recruitment may be difficult if the team doesn’t will open their “Personality.” “Without a personality, you cannot plan and cannot convince a player to do what you want,” he said.
How to recruit a player if you don’t know what exactly you are trying to do? “How do you convince a player of how you want to play, if you don’t have clarity, why do you want to do this?” This is the first, I think. You must say: “This is the direction, and this is what we want to do.” Then you have to assure the players and get them on board with what you are doing, and after that, you can start building. But identity is the basis for everything.”