Rebuilding Arsenal: 5 steps to success for Mikel Arteta

Step 1: Arteta needs to set a timeframe

When Jurgen Klopp addressed the fans and English press for the first time as Liverpool boss in October 2015 he made one vitally important statement:

“When I sit here in four years I’m pretty sure we will have won a title.”

Now, of course, he was probably referring to any major trophy rather than just the Premier League title, but whether or not he eventually delivered upon his promise wasn’t why that statement was crucial.

It was a timeframe. It gave himself time to implement his style of play, to assess his current, newly-adopted squad and make moves in the transfer market befitting his personal desires.

More importantly, it gave Liverpool fans worldwide something that they had begun to lack again. Faith.

After having seen yet another Liverpool team bottle a shot at the title just two seasons prior, Liverpool fans had lost their faith again.

This is the scenario Arteta finds himself in now. A club with a stagnant, mid-table squad of players and with fans that are fed up to the point of pretty much having given up on their team for the past season or two.

Even if Arteta isn’t 100% sure what the next 3 years or so are going to look like at this stage, winning the fans over will ease the pressure placed on him personally whilst also giving the board the confidence that they have appointed the right man for the job.

He might not go on to get every signing he wants this summer, but he’d certainly have more luck in his pursuits if he appears confident and in control right from the start of next season.

Whilst he shouldn’t look to mirror Klopp’s approach to reforming Liverpool, there are many similarities between the 2 clubs at the point of both managers’ inaugurations.

Liverpool had lost out on a title challenge, had their star player in Luis Suarez leave for greener pastures, had spent the money from that transfer very poorly indeed and were sat in 6th in the EPL.

Arsenal meanwhile haven’t had a Champions League spot since under Wenger, had Aaron Ramsey leave for Juventus, poorly invested their money and are currently, at the time of writing, sat 7th in the league, some 8 points from a Champions League spot.

Arteta stating that believes Arsenal will have won a trophy again in 3 seasons time would do everyone at Arsenal the world of good.