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5 ways that Mikel Arteta has improved Arsenal already

By Kian Long

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta and his winning team after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 1, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta and his winning team after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 1, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
(Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images) /

4. Teaching the basics rather than the advanced stuff

Question: What would YOU do if you were asked to manage a side that had clearly lost their footballing identity and were struggling to string the most simple of passes together? Would you A) try to teach them advanced football and be stubborn about a complicated tactical system or B) go back to basics and take things slow?

Well, if you chose option A, then you are the doppelganger of the afore mentioned Unai Emery. If you chose option B, then you are Mikel Arteta. Both are beautiful men, there’s no denying. Anyway, back to my point.

Mikel Arteta is teaching the basics of football to an Arsenal side that clearly forgot this. He is taking his time with the players and in due time, he will implement more advanced football like that displayed by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. This is exactly what Arsenal players needed and is one of the many reasons why they’re playing the way their price tag suggests they should be.

5. Competing against the big sides

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One of the main problems last decade, particularly during Mikel Arteta’s playing days, is that Arsenal struggled to keep up with the big sides. In fact, they were made to look silly at times, being on the end of a few embarrassing losses against the traditional big six.

During Mikel Arteta’s short-stint in charge, he has faced off against two of those in Chelsea and Manchester United, and in both of those matches, Arsenal looked like the worthy winners. Obviously, they let things crumble towards the end against Chelsea but nobody can deny they outplayed Frank Lampard’s men throughout most of the 90.

The next challenge will come in around three weeks time when Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League. Arteta will be assessing this match and he will lecture his players in a way that guarantees his revenge over Frank Lampard.

Next. 5 January signings Arsenal need to make. dark

What do you make of Mikel Arteta’s early work at Arsenal?

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