Mikel Arteta has already had a huge impact on Arsenal, leading them to two trophies and lifting the mood of the club.
There is a feel-good factor at the Emirates Stadium again and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract extension is further evidence something is building in north London.
Arteta has also got a tune out of players many might have thought were finished at the club – and we’ve picked three out.
Mohamed Elneny
Elneny was out on loan at Besiktas when Arteta was appointed last season, and many might have expected him to make a permanent departure after that.
Instead, Arteta started Elneny in pre-season before putting his faith in him against Fulham on Saturday.
The Spaniard wants his midfield duo to keep it simple, shield the defence and press opponents.
Elneny is showing himself capable of doing exactly that. Arteta may well still want Thomas Partey or Houssem Aouar, but the Egyptian can still be a good squad option.
Shkordan Mustafi
Mustafi had become a figure of fun among Arsenal fans, but Arteta has coached improvement out of him nobody could have predicted.
Arsenal got results with the German in the side last season, and he looks set for a similar role to Elneny.
Arteta has got his own man in – Gabriel – with William Saliba also arriving too, but Mustafi has a role to play in the squad now.
That’s more than many Gunners fans might have expected this time last year.
Granit Xhaka
When Xhaka reacted angrily to his own fans after being substituted against Crystal Palace in October, he looked finished at Arsenal.
He lost the captaincy and a player who had never convinced at the Emirates looked to be heading in only one direction.
Arteta has simplified his role and brought some discipline into the Swiss international’s tackling and positioning.
It’s another remarkable transformation. In this era of constant transfer speculation, plenty would have you believe that spending is the only way to improve a team.
It’s not. Good managers work with what they have in front of them, realising that most players have something about them which got them to the top – something they can tap into.
Source: hitc.com
